Scrap and Stash Management

 So the declutter challenge ended and I didn't de-clutter much of anything. Oh, the trash went out and things got put where they belong. I even trimmed up some scraps. But I didn't really declutter. Partly because I've done this challenge 3 times now. Mostly because I don't want to part with anything. 

Yes, I have limited space, but instead of getting rid of stuff I want to use it up. So I need to find a better way to manage that. I need to continue to sew every morning. I need to start sewing more in the evening. That means I need to start coming home on time. That is a little trickier than I would like it to be.

I am also thinking about how I store my scraps and fabric in general. Right now I cut scraps into specific sizes. Then I put them in baggies. What I need to do is sort them by color and size. That will make it easier for me to use them. I do have some baskets to hold the baggies.

As for the fabric, the yardage is in clear storage totes. I have some separation of types of fabric such as Christmas, White, Batiks, 1930's, etc. I am thinking I need to sort by color and maybe pull out the solids and sort them separately.

Pre-cuts. well there are way too many of those. I have them mostly stored by size and collection. I need to just start using them. I do have a couple of pre-cut friendly books. I guess I need get them out and plan some quilts.

How do you manage/store your stash?

Breaking the Creative Funk

 I was listening to a podcast today that was talking about how to break out of a creative stalemate. Everyone gets into a funk now and then where they just can't seem to get motivate to create. This podcast was talking specifically about not being able to sew/quilt. 

I found it interesting that the first thing that was suggested was to clean your work space. Basically remove the clutter to free up your mind. I find that works for me, but only to a certain extent. Probably because I thrive in a little clutter.

Another suggestion was to do a different creative hobby. Basically take a break from what you normally do. So instead of sewing or quilting, try decorative painting, or jewelry making. I was in a very long funk that lasted about 2 years. When I started making the jewelry and flowers for my daughters wedding, that funk lifted. I got back to sewing/quilting. and have kept at it.

I have been in a bit of a funk lately. Partly because of the holiday let down. Partly because of outside commitments. But mostly, I have decided, it is because I have been trying to get all these UFO's done and what I really want to do is start on something new. We have to be careful not to stifle our creative instincts by holding ourselves back. Sometimes we need the excitement of a new project to keep juices flowing. 

I may start a new project this month. just as soon as I finish up a quilt. I have been made Queen of UFOs and have 2 weeks to get a finish done. Fortunately I just have to bind a quilt to make that happen.  

Another reason for the funk is not having enough time to get done everything I want to do. I need to ease up on myself. I have been working every morning on something. At first it was EPP stuff. Then is was cutting up scraps and taming that mountainous pile. I should mention that I love cutting up scraps. I like to cut fabric. I know some people see that as a chore or a necessary evil. But it is something I really honestly enjoy.

There is also the limited space, I don't have the space to set up my studio like I want it. Storage is at a premium. I needed to set up my big board ironing board to press some seams and some fabric. It isn't that hard to set up, I just didn't want it in my way. I need to figure out a better placement for it. But it is set up now and I am ready to stitch some rows together.

How do you break out of a funk?

Declutter Challenge and Queen of UFOs

 I have had a busy week. I did not get done all that I wanted too, but I have kept up with working on something in the studio everyday.  Having done the declutter challenge the past two years means that a lot of the daily challenges are not much of a challenge, rather more of a good reminder. I try to walk through the declutter steps a couple times a year, when it comes to my studio. I need to employ the steps in other parts of my home. 

I did resist buying a vintage singer sewing machine in a cabinet. It was a model that I wanted as well. To be honest if I had the truck instead of my car I probably would have bought it, even though I don't know where I would put it. 

I still haven't started the oil bath on the model 201 singer that my friend gave me. I just need to grab a pan to set it in and then I can start. 

As for UFOs, I still haven't finished the one I quilted last week. I have moved up to Lady in Waiting on the Queen list for my Queen of UFO's facebook group. That's the highest I've ever been. I just need to finish this one quilt and I will be bumped to the bottom of the list. But I think that will wait until after next Saturday. I may get the binding made this week. I just don't know how many hours I am going to have to be at work this week. We have new management starting tomorrow.

Sometime in the next couple of weeks I need to list my UFO's and plan out which ones are a priority and what order I am going to work on them. Last year (2022) was the year of finishing UFOs but mostly because I had started the grandbaby's quilts before December 31st.  I may not have gotten as many done if they hadn't qualified as UFO's on January 1st. 

I am going to make 2023 another year of completing UFOS as well as getting some grandkid's quilts done. this will require that I not only stitch for 20-30 minutes in the morning each day but also work in the evenings as well. That means keeping up with decluttering and organizing the studio. Continuing to tame Mount Scrapmore. Taking time to get quilts on the machine and quilted.  I have fabric and patterns pulled for so many quilts. Not to mention the kits that I bought that are waiting to be done. I doubt I will ever be free of UFOs but I sure can put a dent in them.  I also want to do at least one scrap quilt this year. And I want to do one foundation paper piecing (FPP) quilt this year. Plus, I expect to keep doing EPP throughout the year as well. That's a lot to accomplish but at least I will be busy.

What is your plan for 2023?

Day 6 Post 6 - Distraction

 Today I got a gift from a sweet friend and coworker. Angela gifted me an old singer sewing machine. She thought I could put it on a shelf for decoration, if nothing else.  I believe it was her mother in law's old machine.She knows I love old Singers.

This one is a model 201 and was built in 1948 at the Elizabethport, NJ factory. It's been sitting in a shed for years. It's in rough shape. The wheel doesn't turn freely when the drive is engaged. The needle bar and thread lever are definitely frozen. I may not be able to make it work again. But even if it just sits on a shelf in my studio, it will be worth the effort I put into it. Angela was so sweet to think of me

This brings my total of old electric Singers to 5; 2 from the 40's; 2 from the 50's and 1 from the 70's. I also have 2 Singer treadle machines and 1 New Home Treadle. All of which I need to give a little attention to.

This year I am planning on taking a course in sewing machine repair. At the end of the course, I would be certified in sewing machine repair. Both modern and vintage machines. I am getting my son, Killian, to take it with me. We think it might be a good side hustle. Especially since there aren't any places around here to get your machine repaired. 

In the meantime, I will watch some you-tube videos on machine restoration and contemplate getting started on one of these babies.

What is you distraction?

Still Decluttering and UFO/WIP Progress

 So I am finally back to doing my morning Zen. It is a lot easier when my husband isn't home and I am on my normal schedule. This week I finished up some small hexie flowers. I also managed to start back on Izora's quilt. I had to dig out my work surface first though.

The declutter challenge is in full swing. Day 3 was magazines. I pared down over the past 2 years. And I am not interested in getting rid of what I kept. I do think that I will cancel my subscriptions to the two I am subscribed to. I am not really reading them and honestly most of the patterns in them I could easily reverse engineer. It's not like I am going to use the same fabric or anything. I have plenty of patterns and books to choose from and I can always down load some of the many free patterns out there.

Day 4 is books. I really don't have that many quilting books. I still have room for more than what I have on my shelf. What I really need is some good bookends for my shelf. Not getting rid of any of the books.

Day 5 is patterns.  Last year I really went through what I had. I weeded out a bunch that I hd downloaded and never started or planned. I still have 2 binders with patterns in them. These are patterns I still want to make. I also have a few purchased patterns that I don't want to part with either. So I am making room for all of them. That's the thing with the challenge. You don't have to get rid of anything you just have to have space for it. So I will probably have to trade off on something else. That or commandeer the dining room full time. Just so you know, my husband is not against that happening, in fact he suggested it.

I have made progress in reclaiming the dining room. the floor under the table is almost cleared out. Still have a bunch of meat packing stuff to contend with but hopefully that won't be in there too much longer. 

I am getting my WIPS's into project baskets. My UFOs are already in bins. WIPs have been worked on in the past year, UFO's haven't. I want to get the WIPs completed and start on some of the UFOs that I have planned. Honestly most of my UFOs are planned but not started, basically kits that I have put together. Some are scrappy ones that I have started cutting scraps for. (The patterns for these are actually ones I have in my binders) I have two that are almost ready to start stitching.  A few have all fabric cut but not stitched. One needs to be totally reworked. One is the quilt top my great grandmother pieced for my Mother's 7th birthday. Mom turned 7 in 1934. That one is going to take some extra care and attention.

So the decluttering continues and WIPs are getting worked on. My mood is lighter and life is good.

How are your UFO's coming?

Declutter Challenge 2023

This is the 3rd year I've done this challenge and I'm off to a good start. 

Day one was garbage and I basically needed to sweep the floor on take out the trash. Having a small waste basket on my sewing desk helps keep things in check. I try to empty it when I am done sewing for the day. The kitchen size trash can in the studio gets emptied weekly so garbage isn't too much of a problem.

Day two was getting things that don't belong out. That wasn't too bad either. I have tried to do this at least quarterly. (Sometimes monthly) So mostly what is in the studio should be in the studio. It needs organized but it does belong there.

The thing is my studio is not the only place that I work and store stuff. My dining room is attached to my studio and that has become a temporary storage for the many projects going on in the house. For example meat processing equipment. (8 deer and 4 hogs so far this year) I have decided that I will work on that room each day once I've done the challenge in the studio. 

I'm making great progress in there. I feel good about the challenge this year. I think I will be able to affect more than just my studio.

January 1st

 It's been a month since I posted on this blog.  Partially because I haven't done a lot of quilting. Partially because we have been processing deer and getting ready for the holidays. I am happy to say my freezers are full. We also have shared with friends and family. We even canned some of the roasts and stew meat. We have made jerky and used our seal a meal and desiccant packs to store it. This has me feeling pretty proud of my family and our skills. It gives one a sense of peace knowing you have food on the shelves.

But the meat processing equipment has over taken the dining room which is my cutting area. Plus the tins of cookies and other Holiday prep are in there as well. 

My sewing desk has been used for other crafting and still needs cleaned up. Clutter has gotten out of hand and it's time I reclaim my studio and dining room. But not today. 

Today is the first day of the new year. Folk lore states that whatever you do on the first day of the year you will do all year. Today, I processed a canner of meat. (food processing is a good thing) I have cooked the traditional southern dinner. (cooking is a good thing) I am spending time with my family. (always a good thing) I am blogging on both of my blogs. (an area that I want to improve in) and I will be slow stitching tonight to cover the quilting. (another area I am working on). Finally I am going to spend a little time with my scriptures working on another goal. (spiritual study which is definitely important) 

I will start the Declutter challenge tomorrow and I will work on finishing a quilt that I didn't get to today. I am off tomorrow so I can do a little more than usual. Going forward I will have to be diligent in doing my morning routine. Especially if I am going to start reaching my goals. But that is a post for another day.

How is your studio looking?