NoraB

You all keep me motivated. Yesterday, I got out my plastic bin of leftover batting scraps and pieced a batting large enough to use for a baby quilt. I think I have enough for the 2nd baby quilt I pieced yesterday too! RRyder, I kept the larger pieces of batting in 2 places....one on a roll that batting comes on and one in one of those large rubbermaid bins with a label (batting scraps) on it. I think I will use your idea and try to keep it in one place. Pieces of batting that are at least 5" X 5", I cut into those squares and give to our Quilts of Valor group to use for fundraiser coasters.
Larger pieces, I save and then use to piece batting for a quilt. Anything smaller, I cut up and use as stuffing (along with the other fabric scraps) for dog beds. But, it's a constant revolving door and you've got to keep up with it all as you finish quilts. Whooh! I'm tired just thinking about it! But, it gets everything used up and "out the door". I have a goal of a bag of something going out the door each week. This week, in addition to the garbage, it was a large bag of shred for recycling. I do have another bag for Goodwill, but not ready to take it yet...there might be more! Everyone have a great weekend and keep on organizing!

rryder

Good ideas for leftover batting, NoraB! I had been painting smaller scraps of batting and using them in art quilts, but I seem to have too many of those now LOL! I tackled my scrap bucket yesterday and got though most of it. I still have a number of scraps that are too small to get anything other than a 2" square out of, and I'll be working on those off an on for the next couple of days-- mainly when I want to take a break from doing other things.

My big organization accomplishment yesterday was sorting my "precuts" by color. I had previously only sorted them by size and value (darks versus lights) but that has gotten unwieldy. A couple of months ago I came across some nice three drawer units from Target where the inside of the drawers was 12" x 12" (or maybe 14" x 14")--- anyway, they are big enough to hold a 12" block and they are only 2 to 3" deep. I moved all my orphan blocks and several UFOs out of those drawers yesterday and instead devoted one drawer to each color-, red, yellow, blue, green, purple, orange, black, and white. Each drawer contains 5 inch squares in light, med and dark stacks, a stack of 3 inch squares and stacks of 2 inch squares in light, med and dark. So now if I want a dark red 5" square, I just go to the red drawer and there it is! How cool is that?

Rob

carriem

I did some picking up in my quilt room today...always something I try to do after finishing a project. Packing for a 3 week quilting time w/a friend. She is staying in a cabin nearby so we will sew there. I'll return home each night to take care of my family.

A few months ago I got my larger pieces of fabric sorted by color and folded to fit on shelves. I have scraps sorted by color in small tubs and have just started cutting into strips/squares. I need to keep plugging away at the scraps...I will be so happy to get those done. Here are a couple pictures of my craft room.

I love organizing and have been working in my house as well as in my craft room (a room my husband finished for me in his shop). It is heated and has a/c...maybe someday we can put in a couple windows.

oksewglad

Your space looks great, Carrie! So neat and tidy.

zozee

Carrie--I like that sewing room of yours. Way to go!

Rob--congrats on hiring help to free yourself of much of that nagging clutter. A professional organizer will be able to cover (or should I say "uncover"?) a lot of ground and make wonderful progress with you in 12 hours. Please show before /during/and after pictures. I'm super curious to see the transformation.

SusieQOH

Rob, that's such a great idea! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

I watched Mr. Domestic tackle his sewing room and his looked even worse than mine so I guess there's hope
One thing he did was take several bags of fabric he knew he wasn't going to ever use and gift them.

I would love to hire someone though. My brain doesn't do "organized" very well.

romanojg

While on vacation this week I decided to go thru my sewing room. Its been a while and it was to the point I just took my machines to the dinning room to sew. I went into the closet which wasn't really a storage for my sewing stuff and started pulling stuff out and there was a big tote in there. I had no idea what was in it. Can you imagine my surprise when I opened it to find it full of fabric. None of it looks familiar so I have no idea where or when I got it. Several years ago I thought I had pulled all of my fabric out of totes and put the fabric on shelves so that I knew what I had. Some of this I know I won't use but I really need to go thru it first. I know a lady several hours away that teaches kids how to sew so I'll probably donate it to her. She lives in a poor town in WV so most of these kids don't have money to buy fabric. Now, the question is, how many more surprises will I find before I'm done.

quiltergeek

Teen, I'd love to see a picture of that Murphy bed when you get it built! I'm building out a new studio, and scheming on how to design a horizontal-mount twin-size Murphy bed into the back of a cutting table made from kitchen base cabinets.

sunrise450

I have been following this thread, I really need to downsize but it is so daunting I can't seam to get started. Yesterday I decided to start with one thing. I pick one thing to give away and one thing throw away. Surely I can handle that! If I can get into this habit then hopefully I can increase this pattern to give 2, discard 2 on up.
What do you think? Do you have any suggestions?

oksewglad

sunrise450, you have a great start because you are starting! Nothing will get done if you don't. I'm still struggling with this, too, but I'm realizing unless I sew 24/7 for the next 30 years I won't use it all. I would love to be able to sew when I'm in my 90's, but I must be realistic. I keep a bag for giving to the local thrift shop. When some one in my guild talks about a project and needs a certain fabric...say kids fabrics or particular colors..I find the items for them and off it goes.

Ok...you are burning daylight..time to get rid of some fabric by sewing! Have a good one folks!