Home, Studio, and Sewing - Efforts in Time Management

As I predicted last week, not a lot of sewing got done. But the big audit is over and hopefully I will be able to work fewer hours for the next little while.  By that I mean only working 8 hrs.

While I didn't get a whole lot of sewing done, I did do some organizing, as well as planning and prep work done.  Which in and of itself is an accomplishment for me lately. Between the renovations, work, and life, I very often feel overwhelmed.

So I am trying to break things down into bite size pieces. I have gone back to my 30-30-30 strategy. 30 minutes on the house. 30 minutes in the studio, and 30 minutes sewing. I've only been back to doing it for 2 days but I feel like progress is being made.

In the house category; I managed to fold several loads of laundry, and sort and match half a laundry basket full of socks.  Now that may not sound like a lot but I've managed to get it down from a whole basket of socks. A couple of months ago it was 2 whole baskets of socks.  I've been throwing socks away. Kim's new book shelves have cleared up some space as well.  We no longer have a mountain of books on the floor of our room.

In the studio category: I've cleaned up behind the long arm machine, well at least 1/2 way.  I've cleared the door to the front deck. Then I did some scrap management.  I have a basket that I was dropping scraps in as I was trimming. But then it was covered up so I started dropping them in a little box. I gathered them up and started cutting them into useful pieces.

I got this idea from Karen Brown at Just Get It Done Quilts. She has a video series on Scrap Management. She suggests that once a month (or once a week) you cut your scraps into useful pieces. She says to start with the end in mind. That being said, I have a scrap quilt I want to make. It's a basket weave pattern and I fell in love with it when I saw it on a wall at Sew Blessed Quilts in Hahira, GA.  This quilt takes 3 inch squares and 3x8 inch strips. But not all of my scraps would yield themselves to these dimensions.  So I set out with some standard sizes in mind. 2 1/2 inch strips/blocks & 5 inch strips/blocks. 

As I was cutting, I realized that I had some 2 inch strips, so those were set aside. Then I had some 4 inch by WOF strips that I had cut for a border and changed my mind. I saved those. I had some strips of fabric that were less than 2 inches but more than 1 1/2 inches so I classified those as strings. I also have some 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch strips and some 2 1/2 x WOF strips that I put aside. All in all I had a few different piles.  I decided to put them in sandwich bags to keep them clean and neat. To differentiate the sizes, I placed a Post-it note with the size and shape on it in each bag. 

As I was cutting, I started setting the bags in a little shipping box. I realized that it was the perfect size for the sandwich bags.  But it wasn't all that pretty. Since I didn't plan on stuffing the scraps into a box and shoving it in a closet, I decided to clean it up a little. I cut the flaps off and covered it with wrapping paper.  Now I would be able to leave it out on a shelf where it is easy to access and it wouldn't be ugly. The little sandwich bags fit in there so neatly, just like a file. It will be easy to keep up with the organization. I love my little scrap file.

I personally believe that in order to keep up any organization plan, it has to be easy to use and easy to access. I think the old saying "A place for everything and everything in it's place" is a great idea. But it falls short. If "the place" is difficult to access "the thing" will never get put in it's place. Basically defeating the organization plan.

In the sewing category - I cut a bunch of 2-1/2 inch strips for the sashing of the Batik quilt. Then I realized that I actually had two different colors of white. They weren't close enough to use together. I found some more of one of the colors and cut 2-1/2 inch strips before realizing I wouldn't have enough of that color either.  I put all of those strips into sandwich bags and in the scrap file.

I finally used my Missouri Star Quilter's cash.  I had 3 different sets of charm packs that I only had 2 packs of.  To make a throw I need 4 packs.  So I decided to buy enough of coordinating colors to be able to make throws.  I bought 2 each of a blue, purple, ad white.  I also bought 3 natural charm packs to go with a freebie I once got. And I bought 2 ivory charm packs to replace the ones I used on my last quilt top. I am ready to sew 3 more throws as soon as I figure what pattern I want to use.

I did decide to do a four patch quilt of half square triangles. Just all the triangles going in one direction like sails.  I got the diagonal sewing lines drawn on them this week.  So I am ready to start sewing the 1/2 square triangles after work this week. 

Killian cleared a path to my yardage storage. I was hoping I had more of the white fabric that I had started cutting sashing strips out of.  I did not find any. I did find a couple of yards of white fabric that should give me enough sashing strips.  So I will be pressing and cutting sashing this week as well.

Speaking of pressing, my iron died.  I plugged it in so I could press the scraps before cutting them and it didn't heat up.  Kim sent Perigrine a text telling her to pick up a iron for me.  She did an excellent job of selecting an new iron.  It is the Black and Decker - One Step Steam Iron. It has excellent steam power. I could press several layers at once. I am so happy with the purchase.   It also has a stainless steel sole plate.

So I've done some work on the house, I did some organizing/cleaning in the studio and I have planned and prepped for more quilting. It has been a good week.  Long and tiring but good.

How was your week? What are some of your organization tips? How do you manage your time?