Clean up and clean out

I have done the reorg thing a few times only to realize I still have the same quantity of "stuff", just in different places. Now, I only buy fabric for a quilt if it's a gift and will be done in a short amount of time and IF I don't already have suitable fabric in my stash. I also started to purge those projects that I knew in my heart of hearts that I would never finish. Many of those were class projects that got started and then I decided that the technique wasn't something I'd use again. I turned those into small table toppers or pillows. I stopped magazine subscriptions. I finally realized that I have those few patterns that I do over and over again and I have a difficult time throwing magazines out. I promise myself that I will go through the stacks I already have and cut out tips and techniques and patterns and put them in plastic page holders in a binder. Got as far as loading the binder with the plastic sleeves. I moved all of my fabric to a storage room in the basement (was my son's bedroom so it has good light and cable TV) and labeled the bins. Stacks are by category so fabric is relatively easy to find. I have copy paper boxes filled with other patterns, print outs from quilt sites online, odds and ends and just general "stuff". As I go through each box, I empty it. I either find a place for everything that I know I will use, or I get rid of it (give it away or trash). Once the box is empty, I get rid of it too so I avoid refilling it.

So far, this is working. I have 3 years until I retire to Florida, so hopefully, I will REALLY be organized for the move! Stay tuned........

Alice "Do what you like, like what you do"

"Ginger in CA" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@p5g2000pre.googlegroups.com... : To start another project right now [craft-wise] would be insane. So I : am going to tear into my craft room [exH used to call it my crafty : crap stuff]. Reorganize, revamp, restore, rehome if need be. I : actually have a 2BR apt [it's a small bedroom] simply for the second : one as a craft room. But all my sewing is done on the table in dining : area where the good light is. : : So, for those of you who have multiple craft interests, what have you : done that was successful, or what didn't work? I have my quilting, my : crochet, my beads/macrame, my writing. One sewing machine in table, : two more portable. : : This may be a good topic for more than just me. : Thrift store pickup is in 2 weeks, so there may be a donation for : them. : : Thanks in advance, : Ginger in CA :

I went from a 10X10 spare bedroom (used for my quilting studio) in the last house to a 13X18 room in my lovely new/old house and I still don't have enough room! Amazing how we quilters can do that! Losing the bedroom closet for storage was a biggie. I have a cheap 6 ft. tall bookcase. I bought 30 shoebox sized plastic tubs at the Dollar Store. Each is labeled on the small end and they stack nicely on the bookshelves. Because of the height I can stack a LOT of supplies in it while giving up little floor space. Some examples of the labels- Velcro, elastic, beads, hand sewing needles, machine needles, zippers, sm feet, misc. craft supplies, various glues, small rulers and bias press bars, etc. The current room has three doors and two walls of windows, so every bit of available wall space is covered in kitchen type cabinets I have purchased over the years and move with me to each house. This includes my cutting table and sewing table which I made all by myself from cabinets. My ironing center is made from two cheap bookcases and has more storage underneath it- the plastic tubs stack under there, too. Here's how I made the ironing center- turn off your sound to ignore the annoying ads on Webshots... sorry!

Sewing machine table-

I'm getting it pretty well-tuned after all these years! But a BIG walk-in closet would be sooooo nice!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

I'm getting it pretty well-tuned after all these years! But a BIG walk-in closet would be sooooo nice!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

In the last year I have bought less than 10 yards of fabric. And only a couple of patterns. Starting tonight I am going to tape out and measure the room, come up with a scale drawing. Do scale cutouts of the cabinets/storage I have already. Try to come up with a floorplan before actually strapping on my back brace and diggin in. I forecast several nights of Tylenol PM in my not-too-distant future. Add to this all will be a release of old papers that are not needed anymore. If I had no crafts addicitions, I could easily live in a one BR apt.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

G> I just had to admit that I had grown away from certain crafts which I

On Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:01:02 -0500, JoanOH wrote (in article ):

I do try to keep like with like, but have found that supplies for one craft can also be used for another, so stuff tends to end up all over.

Silly as it may same, because stuff tends to migrate, I found its best to have several pairs of dedicated fabric and paper scissors so that at least one pair will be with the supplies for that craft (knitting, cardmaking, quilting, etc.).

Also, truthfully I have to ruthlessly clean and purge every couple of months. Otherwise I forget what I have or don't use it up and just buy more. Not exactly the best plan in this economy when I'm facing a potential layoff.

Maureen