Time to Tidy the Studio

The new year always has me cleaning, organizing, and trying to get my world pulled together so I can tackle some great goals. This year is no different and I've got several big projects to tackle. Since my two biggest accomplishments of last year weren't even a glimmer this time in 2015 (My Craftsy class- Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine (50% off link there!)and opening my online shop, Amy's Quilting Adventures, to sell my favorite supplies for ruler work and other tools), I'm extra motivated to prepare myself for whatever lies ahead!

 The first order of business was to corral my plethora of papers, pictures, and Post It notes. A quick trip to Staples and I brought home some pretty magazine holders in my favorite colors of turquoise and white to put next to my "inbox". I'm using them on their sides to hold files files and papers. (Got that idea from David Allen's Getting Things Done system) The Post Its were put into my bullet journal. Here's a video on the bullet journal. I can't ever stick with a pre-made planner, but I've gravitated to this from making to-do lists on far too many separate pieces of paper, Post-It's, and other notebooks. Here's a link to Bullet Journal Joy, who has a prettier, more artsy vibe. Both folks use some fancy notebooks, but I use a simple Walmart blank journal.

quilt studio honest craft room
Not too shabby.

Now that the papers and computer were taking up only half of my work surface, it was time to make sure I had space to iron and cut efficiently. I had two ironing surfaces and one was too big for the space, the other was too small. I made a new ironing board out of a piece of plywood 18x22 inches, a layer of batting, and some natural twill. After using my trusty staple gun to put it all together and pulling a 3/8ths inch staple out of my finger (Yeeeouch! Big oops.) I made it a pretty cover of (What else?) turquoise and white.


Now to get to my creative work! I did work on a sample using the TopAnchor Celtic Knot templates. I hope to have them available in the shop soon. Take a look see where I ran out of bobbin thread below. Less than an inch left to stitch and my bobbin comes up empty.


How about you? Are you getting organized? Have some great goals for yourself too, quilty or otherwise?

16 comments:

  1. Wow, impressive. Your sewing room looks soooo organized. Do you used that sewing board with steam also?
    One of my goals for 2016 is to sew every day even for 30 minutes. It makes a huge difference in projects completed and I want many project completed. I guess maybe I am being self indulgent because the goal of 30 minutes means that I satisfy my own creative needs in my happy place.

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    1. I haven't yet, but I plan to use it with steam. I've done so with my other boards.

      I think we need to be in our happy place regularly(whatever it is) in order to be our best for others.

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  2. The link for your bullet journal does not work. Can you please update as I am very interested in this. Thanks!

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    1. Ha! I didn't work because I forgot to put the link in. Let's here if for my organization skillz! It's fixed and I added another link too.

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  3. Amy, have you heard of anyone having success with the Janome adjustable ruler foot (low shank) working on other brands of sewing machines? I have an Hausquavara Viking Designer Diamond Deluxe and really would like to have an adjustable ruler foot, and they don't make one.

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    1. Yes! There are quite a few people using the Janome foot on other brands of machine. Since you already know it's a low shank machine, you just need to get the low shank version of the Janome Convertible foot set (which is pretty amazing on its own), add the Frame Quilting Foot set (version doesn't matter) and you're set for ruler work. (To be fair, the Westalee is a more economical choice for a ruler foot, but it's not as versatile, nor easy to adjust.)

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  4. Great minds think alike . . . now that I'm over my sick spell, the first thing that i've been doing is getting out and organizing my Art Barn. What a mess . . . but little by little it is coming together nicely. Yours looks marvelous, wish you lived closer I would have you come over and help me with organizing ideas :)
    Keep Smiling!
    Connie :)

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    1. When you have a little cottage and the front door opens into the studio, you learn to be organized!

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  5. I use a variation of bullet journal and it's the only thing that works for me. Separate lists / book for quilt stuff though. that list is endless. :)

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    1. All my lists are endless. That's why I used to stick to index cards or post it notes----I was constrained by the space to not overdo the number of tasks!

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  6. I too am reorganizing. My husband repurposed our old TV cabinet by adding shelves to the inside for fabric storage. The shelves ar nice and deep, perfect for storing my stash. Like falling dominoes, that new cabinet has led to a total reorganization of my workroom. When I was done I wanted an ironing station to the right of my sewing machine but could not find one the right size. Thanks so much for sharing yours! I will be buying a piece of plywood tomorrow to make myself a copy! Did you staple the turquoise and white cover to the board as well as the other layes?

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    1. Good for you! The turquoise cover isn't stapled down, rather I made a casing for it and threaded elastic through it. This way I can easily wash it when it gets a bit grubby.

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  7. What brand of tables are you using for your cutting/ironing surface? They look to be counter-height.

    Love your quilting cave, especially the window view by the sewing machine!

    Happy Quilting,
    DR

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    1. They are counter top height, but they're not actual tables. You can read about them here: http://www.freemotionquiltingadventures.com/2015/08/reorganizing-studio-part-2.html I love them!

      Yes, the window are nice! I was trying to convince myself to move my studio into a different room but realized I'd lose my nice natural light.

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  8. Your studio looks great! What type of iron do you use? And does it have auto shut off? I don't like that feature and it seems hard to find a good iron without it.

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    1. Susan, that's a Panasonic cordless iron. I'm still trying to decide if I like it. Love that it's cordless. It does have auto shut off which does drive me batty. Turn it on, do something else while it heats, come back, turn it back on, repeat.

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