I've been whining about my cutting table and how I can't seem to get it completely clear. Well, I've been whittling away at it, and this is what it looks like. Well, I should say, this is what it looked like last night. It looks even better this morning.
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| The cutting table |
The nice thing is that's it now only ONE layer that covers it! I hope you notice how much of the cutting mats we can see! Not a bunch of stuff stacked up. I'm going to keep whittling away and try to get it clear for Monday? I have a few quilts that need borders, and it would certainly help to have this table clear! So slow and steady, and the trick is to try and keep it clear in the future.
The key is to put things away immediately after using them. I mostly do, but what about those things that you don't have a home for? They get left on the table. My table used to be much worse than it is currently, so I don't feel so bad, but I'll get there! So close!!!
This quilt top had been sitting on the cutting table waiting for a quilt backing and a binding. I quickly searched through the backing shelf and found a piece of fabric PERFECT for this quilt. I checked for some binding, which got made, so this one moved to the "to be quilted" pile.
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| Moved to the "to be quilted" pile |
I have to say that I love the fact that I took all those large pieces of fabric that would work for backings, and they are organized with the yardage indicated on each piece.
There are only two pieces of backing that are still waiting to be put on the shelf.
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| Two pieces of backing waiting for a spot on the shelf |
Isn't that exciting? I just love the fact that I'm getting my stash room in order, and it's making it super easy to find things and to put them away. It's not perfect, but it's sure a HUGE improvement from the mess it used to be. I remember hopping over HUGE piles of stuff to get anywhere in the room. You could barely open the door!
And here are all the backings neatly labeled and on the shelf. The entire bottom shelf and half of the shelf above are all backings. Thanks again to Ronda for helping get that organized.
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| Backings for quilts |
Once I find a home for those remaining two pieces, I will start going through the fabric baskets to find other pieces - anything 3 yards and over will become a backing! Nothing is sacred - we MUST get this under control and used up!
I still have a "few" bolts of fabric that I can also use for backings, so I won't run short any time soon! They are all neatly stacked on another shelf.
This is one thing that I moved off the cutting table. I had a bunch of half-square triangles that needed to be trimmed, so these are now gone to the box where the other little half-square triangles reside. Slow and steady -- these things will get under control, but the problem is that more triangles get generated whenever I make a binding or a border, so it's never-ending! But that's OK -- they make good enders and leaders when I'm chain piecing.
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| More half-square triangles are trimmed |
Then back to the long arm, and here's the latest customer quilt. It turned out great, but it seemed to take a long time with everything else that happened yesterday. Anyway -- it's now waiting to be trimmed.
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| Customer quilt - DONE |
I'm ripping through my rolls of batting. I loaded the next quilt on the long arm this morning, and there goes the last of that roll of batting. I have one roll left, so it's time to order more.
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| Empty roll of batting |
This was the moon as I arrived at the gym yesterday morning. Very cool, and YES -- it's so dark in the morning now. I don't really mind whether it's light or dark. It's just a time of day!
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| The full moon |
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| The mileage left for the cross-Canada walk |
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| Almost at the end of the cross-Canada walk |
That's so exciting - I can't believe I've walked so many KMs in the last two years. It all adds up when you start to keep track, and I LOVE the Conquer Challenges to do just that. I set a goal each year to track my daily mileage because, with the other challenges, they track for that challenge, not for a specific time frame.
Hmmm -- where will I walk virtually next year since I'm coming to the end of Canada?
So another busy day -- I have some paperwork that HAS to be done today, plus two presentations and a quilt to quilt. Just keep smiling and keep on sewing!!!
Don't forget the Virtual Retreat this weekend. I can't wait as I have big plans to get a lot done. Borders, blocks, and well, whatever else I can get my hands on. My goal is to get those sewing and cutting areas completely cleared up. The end of the year is coming, and it would be nice to have a nice clear space in which to work. I'm close, but I also need some time to make that happen, and I have samples that need to be put away. Anyway -- I digress - here are the links.
You are soooooo close to be totally organized. It looks like a big embroidery hoop that can go by the embroidery machine (can you install a big hook on the underside of the table to hang it front-to-back so it's at your beck n' call?). Some belongs there as it looks like you're in a trimming project. Can you create a location for current reading to get those fresh magazines off the table? I know you read in the gazebo in warm weather but I bet you have a favorite reading spot inside as well.
ReplyDeleteOh so close! You are right that once everything has a home, you'll place items you finish using right there without giving it a thought or having the temptation to simply "lay it down".
Cheering you on from the Pacific NW :-)
Thanks for cheering me on!!! AS a matter of fact, those two items you mentioned are ones that have a home -- they just hadn't got put away. They are safely stowed. It's the little bits of project cutoffs or a partially finished project that I was supposed to work on that are hanging around. It's in good shape. No updated photo this morning, but hopefully Monday morning! Have a great day!
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