Transcript Getting More Done - Des Moines Area Quilters Guild

Getting More Done
Organizing Yourself and
Your Sewing Room
DMAQG
January 27, 2015
Attacking those Projects!
• Why keep a list?
– Helps focus
– Do I have everything I need?
– Track your accomplishments
• Add a photo
• Summary information
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Pattern/design source
Why I made it
Who it was for
Where did I exhibit it
– Help develop your skills and demonstrate your growth
Ways to keep your list
• Quilt Project Documentation
– Inbox Jaunt – Lori Kennedy
• www.inboxjaunt.com
• Your complete quilt life, storing all your ideas
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Page for each quilt
Websites you visit
Unfinished Projects page (more on that later)
Works in Progress
Mastered Skills
Techniques to Try
Twelve Essential Skills Every Quilter Should Know
Ways to keep your list, cont.
– Computer Lists
• Spreadsheet
• Word
• Other software
– Martha’s Planner Contents
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Annual progress
Tops
UFOs
Projects I want to do
First, Make a List of Projects
– Add ALL projects
– Go through all of those boxes and bins!
– Add notes about where you are on the project
• Is it a top?
• Is it blocks?
• Is it a stack of fabric?
– Evaluate your list
• Does it still excite you/will it bring you joy when finished?
• Do you have everything you need?
• If I don’t want to finish, what then? Revise the project.
Donate. Consider the “Mall in the Hall”
• Don’t feel bad about changing your mind about a project
Ideas to Manage the List
• Sort into three categories (The Inbox Jaunt)
– Your Best Work (Important, Heirloom, the work
you want to keep)
– Easy/Fun or quilts you can finish in a short amount
of time
– Deadline quilts (babies, graduation, group
projects, quilt show, etc.)
• Pick one from each category to work on
concurrently
Examples from members to help make
their space work for them
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Different things work for different people
You don’t have to go purchase a new system
See what you have that you can make work
New items are fun!
Cutting tables/worktops
• Use bed risers under the legs to make them higher for
better back comfort
• Kitchen islands or similar worktops designed for other
uses (may be less expensive than custom sewing tables)
• Fabric/thread
– Use plastic containers with partitions for thread, including containers
marketed for other purposes (e.g., MatchBox toy storage containers)
– Use golf tees to keep bobbins and matching thread spools together.
– Sort fabric by color/style.
– Stand folded fabric on edge in bins to easily see all fabrics.
• Ironing stations
– Use door as ironing surface; cover with batting and fabric
– Use elevated wall hook for cord to keep cord from getting tangled.
– Shelf or bag attached to right end of ironing surface for spray starch,
pressing bar, etc.
– Attach power strip to ironing board for iron and lighting.
• Organizing tools
– Use peg boards on walls for easy access and easy storage of
accessories.
– Lazy susan beside the sewing machine for easy access to markers,
scissors, small rulers, etc.
– A rolling tool chest for taking supplies to workshops/retreats
• Other
– Install separate electrical circuits for ironing
station and sewing machine
– Save magazine articles in sheet protectors in
binders rather than saving complete magazines
– Store rulers in a desktop file organizer rack
Additional Storage Ideas
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Ice cube trays for small supplies
Pedicure toe separators for bobbins
CD cases for templates
Silverware dividers for scraps and strips
Altoid or mint tins for safely disposing of needles and
blades
• Cardboard tubes from aluminum foil or plastic wrap for
fat quarters or fusible interfacing
• Spice Cabinets for notions
• Galvanized buckets with chalkboard labels on pot rack