My dream was to Organize the Studio.   Yes, my quilting, sewing studio.  Dreaming is the key word because I’m usually too busy making messes.  However, wet carpet created new priorities on Tuesday.

Wednesday was day one of the fun.  We moved things out and placed fans strategically to dry the floor. While at home with the mess I quickly realized the upheaval opened an unplanned opportunity to deep clean.  Down with the curtains, I’ll make more.  Down with the stuff on the wall, it’s time to see new things.  Yes, I even washed the windows.

Have you ever heard the old saying, “in for a penny, in for a pound?”  it’s the “Go Big or Go Home” philosophy.   I decided to Go Big.  I decided to rearrange… e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Can you imagine the look on Mr McHugs face when I asked him if he would move my 12 foot long HandiQuilter machine?  I resorted to the “pleeeaasssse?” and he nodded yes.  He is my Hero!

Thursday was day two and the excitement of the project was quickly diminishing.  Seriously, how much crap stuff do I have?  Every time I opened anything it exploded into a ginormous mess.  This is quite common in my life and my purse does this every.single.time. I travel.  It goes from completely organized to chaos faster than I can spend money in a quilt shop.

Here’s an example and my thought process:  a freezer bag filled with vintage lace.  I open it and cannot get it all back in the bag.  I shoved and pushed and crammed and worked to get it all back in that bag.  Did the bag shrink?  So, then my thoughts went like this:  Where did I get this? Oh, it was given to me.  Do I need it?  Ummmm…no.  No. Not at all.  Is it sentimental?  No.  Do I want to keep it?  No.  What do I do with it?  Give it away, sell it or trash it?  Well, who would want it?  Oh, maybe I should take it to the Tyler Modern Quilt Group meeting tonight and see if someone wants it.  End of the story:  a friend took it.

Good, one of 4895 things gone.  For an unplanned purge, it was a start.  Friday, today, is day 3 and I’m so over it.  It’s at this stage in any purge that I become totally able to eliminate, toss, throw-away or put in a box to donate.  And, at this point in my adventure, I am able to organize quickly.

I also realized that I have some organizing tips to share with you.

I use a mug tree for my small scissors and my rotary blades.

I dedicate a rotary cutter for use with paper and mark it with sharpie.  Tip: I never put a new blade on the paper cutter.  I reuse my fabric cutting blades for paper.

I use a paint brush container for all of my scissors.

I also use multiple wooden ruler holders that Mr. McHugs makes.  They are awesome!  If you’d like one check out my store on Etsy.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnieMcHugs

I save plastic pant clothes hangers to use with projects.  You know, the ones with clips on the ends that hold pants.  Also, I’m particular about having a hook that rotates.  If the hanging hook does not rotate, I do not keep it.  I find that this method keeps things neatly ironed unlike folding projects.  I do this with quilt tops, blocks, quilt backs, etc.   BTW: In this pic, you are seeing a January BOM, ironed and waiting patiently for the February and March blocks to join it.  (And, I’m rearranging!  Oh well!)

I save all of the packaging from sheets or bedspreads.  You can see one here… plastic, zippered bag. I remove the paper.  Often the package has a hole where they hung in the store.  I slip the hole over the rotating hook of the clothes hangers.  I fill the zippered bag with the BOM instructions, small pieces of fabric, notes, etc.  This lets me hang the block and the information together so I am not searching for things.

There are more tips to share if you’d like. What ideas do you use to keep your things organized?

Now my dream of organizing my quilting, sewing studio is a reality so I’ll get back to it.  I must finish so I can do some quilting!   Have a great weekend, friends.   Goodbye for now from Texas.

Annie