Finish It {Studio Organization}

This is my FINISH IT pile for the week.

I’m going to be honest. I’m obsessed with finishes.

Projects at work, at home, and in my studio. I think about things I haven’t finished…a lot. I sometimes even torture myself.  But ooooh man. When a quilty or hand stitched project is finished? I feel like I’m on top of the world. The ultimate to do box checked is so satisfying!

But the reality is that life gets in the way. New pretty sparkly shiny projects become a MUST DO. I put projects in bins. I forget about them.

This summer I decided to take a real hard look at my UFOs and WiPs. I didn’t think I had a lot, but was curious about some of my “leftover quilt” bins.

 This weekend, I found a bunch of projects all jammed in several individuals bins. I made lists. Boy, I made lists. I separated into some empty shoe bins the ones I know I will make into projects before the meet the scrap bins. And new labels were made…no confusion on what’s in them.

Then I pulled these two projects that just had a patriotic feel and I had a great desire to work on finishing them this week since Flag Day and 4th of July are right around the corner.

A friend had sent me the vintage placemats a long while back. We never use placemats, so I thought I would applique them. I already have three completely stitched on and am loving it already!!

This needlepoint was tucked up with two other very patriotic needlepoints. Frames are on their way for the other two, but I really wanted to make this bigger one into a pillow. I figured it would be cute in in my large quilt basket.   I couldn’t resist starting the finished binding edge today. 

How am I going to manage my giant bin collection? 

I’ve made some deadlines, hard and soft. I’m not going to get stressed. I used my project planning sheets to make the long laundry list, but I am only going to go month by month in my planning calendar so it’s not too overwhelming for me.

But I can feel the excitement already of getting some finishes done!!!

 

It's Bad When.....

1) Your Facebook page reminds you that you haven't posted on it in a month.

2) When your friends ask you what is wrong because you are so "quiet".

3) Your email box is filled with inquiries and requests that have been neglected.

4) When you see your to do list and wonder if there is a special governmental department you can make an appeal to.   My proposal would be to extend the year 2014 several weeks past December 31st.   I mean, a extra month every year would be nice, right?  We could call it Catchyourbreather. 

Ironically.  I have no sad news to share.  No amazing story that has kept me away.  No fabulous trip to keep me away from the studio.

Nope.  

The studio ITSELF has kept me away. 

  The very organized soul in me just could not see past the massive clutter, chaos, and disorder to work on anything.  My computer was unhooked.  I didn't know where anything was.  Or rather, I did?  But it took about 6 hours to get all of my stuff out, I knew it was going to take longer to get back in.

However, the GOOD news is that is 98% complete.  A few fixer-uppers are needed here and there.

   I also found time to focus on some projects for the studio itself.  Especially my scrap bins.

They are COMPLETE!  

My lovely scrap bins.

In case you've missed my past post, these buckets are from the book, Sunday Morning Quilts, by Amanda (co-author) at Crazy Mom Quilts

I could not leave them in their original size, however,  I needed them to fit inside my cabinet.  So skinnier, longer, and taller were my goal.  

I also skipped her vinyl pocket to put the color of the bins.  I just pulled out my embroidery machine and played around.

The things I love about the project are:

They are custom made for my cabinets. 

I could take off the doors to my cabinet and look at this beautiful sight!

I used up strictly stash for this project.

 

Even the some of the interiors are pieced so I could stick to scraps/stash.

 I have been able to stick to my pledge of no new fabric because I already had so many stash busting projects to complete this year!

However, I must be completely honest. They seemed like they would be a really quick project.  I could not understand why so many quilter friends were not getting them done in a speedy manner. 

Project started in October

Twenty-eight weeks later,  I finally have it all figured out.  Approach them as if you are putting together a nice sized quilt.  Improv pieced blocks, quilt-as-you-go, construction of fabric, and fabrication of inserts are time consuming. I recently timed how long it took me for the last three and they took about an hour and a half each.  HOWEVER, that was including the fact that I already had all the fronts done, batting cut, and inserts prepared and fabrics chosen.  Otherwise, my guess is upwards of 2- 2.5 hrs each.  

Buuuuuuuuut..........

Can we reiterate?  

All my scraps are inside scrappy bins!

As for the rest of the studio makeover....stay tuned.

WIP Wednesday: Countdown to Christmas

There is no denying it anymore.  

Christmas approaches quickly....and I am not exactly ready.

Do making scrap buckets and potholders count?

Based on the scrap bins from the book "Sunday Morning Quilts"

 I was sitting in the carpool line today listening to Button hollering "when is it going to move?" while taking a moment to glance at some blogs.  Ironically, I have not read someone's blog in a very long time.  Possibly, spring?  I fell upon one of my favorite Aussie quilters.  Sharon at Lilabelle Lane.  She posted about accountability.  Ironically, I was thinking the same thing.

After rearranging my studio, I can no longer claim that I am overcome with disorganization! I can no longer blame it on a commissioned project.  The last three months of the year are all mine.

  It is time to get to business!

So how do you make yourself accountable?

Lists of course!  And no new projects. Whatsoever!

Quilt Gift MUST DOs

It's all about my parents and in-laws this Christmas!

Gramm's quilt

Pop's quilt (binding)

Oma and Opa's quilt (top in progress)

Quilt Gift Would Like to Have Done

I'd really like to have a quilt under the tree for each of my boys.  It's a lovely moment in my head and will be difficult to complete them in secret, even though they already know what their quilts are. So the surprise would be the unexpected delivery!

Teen Boy (#1): Argyle Quilt (still piecing hexies...)

Need to applique onto background

Bean Boy (#2): Highlighter quilt (top finished)
Just need to finish binding!

Bunny Boy (#3): Minecraft (pattern designed and fabrics chosen)

Baby Boy Button (#4):  Scoot Quilt (pattern designed and fabrics waiting)

Christmas Quilts I'd like Available for Snuggles

Blizzard (top finished, backing ready)

Winter's Lane (top finished)]backing ready.

Home Decor Distractions....

New Dog Bed Covers (tops pieced)

Stars and Stripes Quilt (needs border and backing pieced)

Bean Bag Pillows for Game/Toy Room

New Throw Pillows for Game/Toy Room

Button's Nursery Rocking Chair Cushion

 Library Window Treatments

Dining Room Window Treatments

Me Projects

Scrap Buckets (only 6 out of 12 finished)

 Sewing Circle Tote (pattern and fabrics ready)

Swap with do.goodstitches bee gals!

Write up Tutorials and Patterns that are cluttering up my mind. (1 out of 3)

And now that I see this typed out!??!!?  55ish days left?  

I know! More days than that, but I need to give myself time to wrap and/or ship!

Ha.  Wishful thinking. 

 But isn't that what Christmas is all about??!?!

Save Me From Myself....

Yup.  I am having THAT kind of week.  For some reason, I decided to move things. This is sorta how it went.

Doesn't make sense?  

It really doesn't make sense to me either.  All I DO know is that while the boys took over my studio for school projects on Saturday (4 projects that took SEVERAL hours), I hung out in case they needed me and became over involved with moving my things around.

It started with the first stage: DISTRUST. I really wanted to figure out a better scrapbook storage system. I had trays and the plastic things you see below.  I gave the trays to a scrappin friend and bought more of the other ones to hold all of my paper.

 I then was able to consolidate a bulk my scrapbooking into the tall cabinet.

It freed up a lower cabinet in the island.   I left it empty for two days. It mocked me.

Enter second stage: INADEQUACY.  

I hunted around the evil empire, better known as Pinterest. 

 Ideas abounded.

I decided to just move the the items from the bottom right corner cabinet into it because I didn't feel like painting, redoing window treatments just to look like a "Made for IKEA" catalog spread.   I refocused on organization!

The empty space made room for my printer and Cricut (from an upper cabinet).

I used to have my old printer under here and am not sure why I moved it in the first place?

I'm tired of Mr. Grubby hands turning it off and on, not to mention he loves to mess with the paper! 

Moving it also allowed me to chuck the old falling apart table that was holding the printer and paper to the curb.

It allowed me to add my favorite new addition.  Pre-cut storage!

Yumminess right at my fingertips and the top one empty for the WIP I need to quickly clean up to get out of the way for laundry and homework time.

Oh.  When I moved the cricut? It freed up space for the paper, labels, and my binders so it could be more accessible to my fingertips.

Here is the big joke.  I basically ended up moving a bunch of things around which left two free shelves for what?

  Nothing.  

  Stage 3: FRUSTRATION

I had a plan, but it all it seemed to create was the need to move MORE things around.

  Which caused me to attack my closet.

   ENTER Stage 4 and 5: VICIOUSNESS.  Fabric was gathered that I will NEVER use.  Yearbooks were moved to the boys rooms.  I'm not even clear why I had them in my room?  Empty bins and baskets are piled up in my garage.  Things are nightmarish at this point, to be honest and REALITY quickly set in.  

It all has to be dealt with.

 I vowed I will not work on a project until I get this done and reach Stage 7: HAPPINESS

 In the meantime, I'm stuck at stage six: 
OVERWHELMED!!!

My room is my definitely my WIP this week!!!

My Worst Enemy

ME!

I am on a mission to start hitting things hard.  I have a long list that needs to be tackled and I need to really spend every second I can working on it.  I just need to start ignoring "me" for a bit.

I have already been sidelined to make myself this cute Go Faster Box Bag the other weekend.

And I managed to work up a tutorial for my do.Good stitches bee blocks last week.

Card Trick Block in two different sizes!

Saturday, I managed to pull out all of my Fat Quarters out of their bins and get them out on a shelf so I can see them.

This past Sunday, I kinda-sorta tackled the list by finally making a new throw pillow out of placemats I bought for the family room.

And late night Mother's day, I was thinking about my little girl, and decided to design a Butterfly Kiss block.

It is paper pieced and am hoping to find a tester or two after I figure out how to get it into .pdf form.  I was able to finish it up yesterday morning.

Otherwise? I have been working on this.

I promised myself I would NOT take this up.  No knitting or crocheting.

But then I found the DVD I had thought I had given away and I just couldn't resist.   

The first starts were rough, and I do NOT plan on making sweaters any time soon.  But I have a project in mind for a simple square.  We shall see!

 Now to get focused on everything else on my list.  I can't even seem to blog regularly lately!  "Me" needs to settle herself down!!!

Linking up!

My Space

I didn't have any plans today for a blog post since the boys and I are in the midst of first week of school activities.

It seemed to be karma that Moda is having a linkup party to show off our stash!

Precuts  (Jelly rools, Fat Quarter Bundles) on the top of the bookcase

Recently, I was Sidetracked and I finally moved my quilting fabrics out of my closet into the main room of my studio.  I made mini bolts which seem to be all the rage.  Moved out a old rack that held my ribbon, and replaced it with a tall bookcase.

It was the best decision I have made in my room in a long time. 

I still have felt, fleece, and various home deco  fabrics in the closet.

 But by moving the cottons and quilting fabrics it has relieved some space for my WIP projects in bins and baskets!!

The rest if the room is quite a mess right now. 

I have school uniforms and other school paraphenelia being embroidered with school logos and names and monograms

I have my oldest son's bedroom curtains waiting to be ironed and hung. My new iron taking up space and waiting for a few more loads of laundry to be ironed.

Someday, I'd really like to take everyone on a detailed tour of the storage and such, but all those UFOs, WIPs and chores need to be finished by this day's end.

Go check out some other rooms at Moda Bake Shop. 

Click Image

I am going to go and get some ideas.