I really do appreciate all the wonderful comments on yesterday's post. Having something of a "cheering section" will certainly go a long way towards motivating me to get my act together.
I got about a third of the table cleared off today, and in the process found a blouse that I had cut out A YEAR AGO. The cut pattern pieces somehow survived the move back to Redwall, and have been languishing under the mess on the table since DECEMBER. Ugh. So I figured I had two options: throw the pieces out, or start sewing the blouse. I opted for sewing the blouse. Now I have the front and back sewn, but I didn't want to fire up the iron because it's just too darned hot today. Still, once I press the seams I can put the bodice together, add the sleeves, add the facing, and do the finishing work. I'm hoping to get it all done tomorrow.
Part of the issue is, I'm sure, the fact that this sewing room actually has less storage space than the other house. There is storage space in the basement, but the last time I went that route it became too much "out of sight, out of mind." It was just way too easy to forget the huge stash in the basement. Now I've decided that all my stash must be stored in the sewing room itself, so I can have a clearer picture of just how much I have. There is some sorting to do, and decisions to make: do I really need 15 pillow forms, left over from my drapery business days? How about the huge box of Robertson self-tapping screws for installations?
I've really had to admit to myself that this accumulation of stuff is not helping my creativity; instead, it's distracting me so much that I can't focus on what I want to do. It's going to be difficult to find the balance between stash and space.
I got about a third of the table cleared off today, and in the process found a blouse that I had cut out A YEAR AGO. The cut pattern pieces somehow survived the move back to Redwall, and have been languishing under the mess on the table since DECEMBER. Ugh. So I figured I had two options: throw the pieces out, or start sewing the blouse. I opted for sewing the blouse. Now I have the front and back sewn, but I didn't want to fire up the iron because it's just too darned hot today. Still, once I press the seams I can put the bodice together, add the sleeves, add the facing, and do the finishing work. I'm hoping to get it all done tomorrow.
Part of the issue is, I'm sure, the fact that this sewing room actually has less storage space than the other house. There is storage space in the basement, but the last time I went that route it became too much "out of sight, out of mind." It was just way too easy to forget the huge stash in the basement. Now I've decided that all my stash must be stored in the sewing room itself, so I can have a clearer picture of just how much I have. There is some sorting to do, and decisions to make: do I really need 15 pillow forms, left over from my drapery business days? How about the huge box of Robertson self-tapping screws for installations?
I've really had to admit to myself that this accumulation of stuff is not helping my creativity; instead, it's distracting me so much that I can't focus on what I want to do. It's going to be difficult to find the balance between stash and space.
It sounds like you are on your way. Just keep breaking the whole clean up job into small steps. You are probably on track for finding some type of storage system for your WIPs, fabrics, notions etc. I find interfacing the most difficult to find a storage solution to.
ReplyDeleteRemember, you don't have to stop and finish every WIP you come across. It's OK to have a 'WIP bin' maybe with a stickie note on the outside listing which WIPs are in the bin so you don't forget about them. Then set a very reachable goal -- something like finishing one WIP per month.
My big craft table for cutting etc is my dining room table. So planning big family dinners serve as my catalyst for cleaning up.
"this accumulation of stuff is not helping my creativity; instead, it's distracting me so much that I can't focus on what I want to do. ". That is so true for sewing and and every other aspect of our lives, from the bathroom countertop to the cookbook shelf.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking this same thing two days ago and how I need to start purging things in our house. And I have cut and uncut, unfinished projects from more than a year ago!
ReplyDelete"this accumulation of stuff is not helping my creativity; instead, it's distracting me so much that I can't focus on what I want to do. " Beth is this the story of my life :). Really need to start setting small projects and get cleaning all this mess up.
ReplyDelete