SillySusan

Ok, I finished complaining and banging my head on the wall, and decided to get back to the organization problem. I'll start by going thru the boxes and cleaning out the fabric I can get rid of. Those stacks can be donated when I figure out who can use them. That will be Step One in the Organizing Project. I'll let y'all know how that works out.

redstilettos

Question for the organizing group: We have a cottage we go to every weekend, which is where my sweet hubby made my sewing rooms (fabric and long arm in one room, working areas and cutting table in the other). So I do my sewing during the weekends when we are up there. Rarely do I have anything at home to work on. NOW, here's the dilemma:

Where I work, they got rid of a bunch of cubicles and filing cabinets. I have a large "L" shape desk with three filing cabinets under it for support. I'd like to put it in one of the spare rooms at home so I can sew when we are at home and/or when we have to stay home due to my hubby's on-call schedule.

I have an extra machine, mats, rotary cutters, etc. But how would you suggest splitting my material? Would you split evenly so there's similar things in each location, or would you only store one "project" worth of material at the house and keep everything else together? Same thing with scraps. Sometimes when I get bored with a project, I'll start playing around with scraps just to eat up some time and have some fun. Should I have those in both locations, too? Too restrictive?

I thought of maybe only doing my embroidery machine at home and quilting up north, but I'll need fabric and thread in both locations....ugh!

I'm beginning to wonder if this will be more of a detriment than anything else.

KalamaQuilts

little. but big!
I finished my version of the 365 challenge quilt yesterday. Little blocks. So yesterday I put away all the little bits associated with the project. sad but ecstatic!

As the final thing I then cut down my scrap piles left from cutting my current project with shirts.
I love my quilt room said so you can imagine that in all caps.

Mornigstar

Reds....I am in same situation as you but it is doable. In Fl I keep fabric, notions & machines, but I
also have same at house in Ontario. Found it easiest to keep least fabric in south because of space.
Divide notions . I make what I call ..a kit. Take see through plastic bag ..put in pattern,fabric,thread
and trims etc. for a project. If you have sufficient supplies do a few. When home just pull out a kit and
start sewing when you are in the mood.
Over time you will be surprised how things fall into place. Naturally have a ziplock handy for scraps.
Since you are a sewer you probably have all the supplies you need although it may require a trip to
buy fabric. At least if you make a top you can quilt it at the cottage. Lucky you !

Wanabee Quiltin

Red, I have a cottage on the Illinois. I have a small-used to be porch- sewing room. I have a few sewing machines, mat etc. I took the majority of my FQ’s there but I also have kits. At home I use a small bedroom as my main sewing room with the long arm in the FR downstairs. I have quilts started in both places and when they are finished, I bring them to the long arm room. It works really well for me. Because I have a design wall at home, I usually use my bed as a design wall at the cottage and keep patterns simple. I could not live without a quilt room. We are campers and usually my sewing machine goes with me too. I cut everything out and then sew to my hearts delight.

Greenheron

I MUST retrieve my 'rescue' tops and patches and arrange them away from the simply stashed goods. Since last July a bird flew back to the empty nest and begin a demanding new job, hub's survived a broken hip and one person is recovering from a timely mastectomy in June. All energies have been eaten up by just basic living needs. But I do LOVE those UFO finds.

Wait! I did clear the ironing board in the bedroom--some things to hangers and some to trash--enough to find the 1/2 finished top I was working on before it all hit the fan. And folded the ironing board.

oksewglad

That's progress Greenheron especially with the type of year you have had!

redstilettos

Morning Star and Wannabe, those are both really good suggestions! I'm just giddy with excitement wanting to be able to sew Everywhere! lol

My husband just smiles and shakes his head.

zozee

I've been systematically purging my house because our goal is to move in 2 years. I'm examining all the clutter with the questions, "Do I love it?" "Do I use it?" "Is it in my way or does it bring me down emotionally?" And this one: "Would I want to take it with me to my next house? Is it worth the weight the moving company charges by the pound?"

So far I've made progress in my dining room, kitchen, sewing room, guest room, and master bedroom. Today I tackled the second half of an upper shelf in my closet. All sentimental items (baby books, photos, kids' artwork, greeting cards) but I have gotten much more efficient at purging. It feels good. Really good to be honest with myself about my stuff. If I love it, I keep it. If I don't, I decide to rehome it. I'm not overthinking nearly as often as I used to. I don't miss anything I've gotten rid of.

Wanabee Quiltin

I’ve been purging too for the last few years. I agree with you zozee, anything I’ve gotten rid of, I don’t miss. I was doing really good cleaning up my sewing room until DH and I had a couple of weeks with doctor appointments and social activities. I kept on piecing while bringing in books, patterns and fabric. My little room looks like a bomb went off in it. No time to clean it now, I have binding to fix and another quilt to put on the long arm. I have realized how much my main quilting notions are scattered into different containers and I need them organized soon.