What a month! A member of Stashbuster mentioned a book called "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" written by Peter Walsh. I have seen him on the Oprah Show and was interested in reading one/some of his books. So I ordered the one mentioned. While reading this book, Peter referred to one of his earlier books. Turns out that I had that book in my to-buy list at Amazon, so I moved it to my cart and bought it. I got inspired. That's all I can say. Before the other book had arrived, I was already de-cluttering.
I started with the master bedroom and master bath. I cleaned out "stuff" from the under-sink cabinets. I cleaned out the shelves in the top of the closet. I removed "stuff" from the closet floor. I emptied out 3 dresser drawers and 2 nightstand drawers. I removed more stuff from the hallway storage cabinets. I have even started removing unused items from the (gasp) kitchen!
In the past 3 weeks, I have filled up the curb-side trash bin 3 times. Trash pickup was 2 days ago. Today I made a small dent in the garage, and the curb-side bin in nearly full again. Oh, that's not all! I filled 3 boxes and 3 large shopping bags with clothing and other usable stuff, then I called Salvation Army and scheduled a pickup. They came today. In addition to the boxes and bags, they also took with them 2 office chairs, 1 other chair, 2 cake carriers, and a pressure cooker.
Since there is enough room in the curb-side bin for this week's regular trash, I guess that most of my tossing-out is done for this week. Yes, it feels good to get rid of all this stuff. And I still have more to go. After I make a complete pass through the rest of my home and garage, I will reasses where I stand. I may need to repeat this exercise and look at the things to which I am emotionally attached. For now, though, there is still plenty of "easy" stuff to toss or give away.
Kathy
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Catching Up
Well, here it is the very last day of 2008. Here's how I stand on my 6-month challenge. For easy reference, I am repeating the description of the challenge.
For the rest of 2008:
1. I will not start another new project. If it is a project I have already started, I may keep working on it. A project counts as "started" if I have started cutting fabric. But if it's nothing more than a collection of fabric plus a pattern, it will have to wait.
2. I will keep true to the no-buy challenge: no more fabric will be purchased; nor will another piece of fabric enter my home, regardless the source or the reason.
Before the end of 2008, I will
1. finish the bindings on 4 quilts before the end of the year.
2. finish the pineapple wall hanging before the end of the year. (finished top)
3. finish the small applique wall hanging. (finished top)
4. add borders to my Tennessee Waltz quilt.
5. finish reorganizing my stash
So, how'd I do?
I have not started any *new* projects (approved exception: I decided that using my President fabrics was OK, and I have selected 3 patterns and started cutting for one of them).
I did OK on the no-buy part of this, not a perfect adherence, but not way overboard either. I bought a few FQs in fallish reds to add to the fabrics that I want to use for my Autumn quilt. In addition, I bought some fabric for my niece's quilt. I offered to teach her how to make a quilt. When I asked what colors she wanted, she said "purple, black, and silver". I had a solid black in stash. I had a lovely floral with pink, blue, and purple flowers with green/teal leaves on a black background. I had some purples that went with the floral. But silver? So off to the quilt shop. Do you think I could find silver? Noooooo. Any gray that would look OK with the floral? Noooooo. So I selected 2 white prints that might work. But now there was too much contrast between my purple and the white. I started looking for a lighter purple to add to the mix. Do you think I could find one that would go with the purple I already had? Nooooo. I ended up buying 2 purples that I am happy with. Maybe a week later, light bulb moment ... What about Fairy Frost? Is there a gray Fairy Frost? Off to the internet. Yay! It exists and will be just
great for what my niece requested. Whew. While I did buy those 5 fabrics, none of them were for me. And had it not been for my offer to help her make a quilt, I would not have made that trip to the fabric shop.
But, now for the rest of my challenge... Yay! I finished the binding on the 4 largest of the 5 quilts that needed binding, and the 5th is halfway done. (Do I get extra credit for this?) I finished my Pineapple wall hanging over this past weekend. I decided that my applique wall hanging is a good project to use as a take-along (small and very portable). So I kinda moved that project off the "must get it done" list, but I do take it with me when I visit my parents. I also take it with me when I meet with friends once/month. Big, big YAY because I finished reorganizing my stash. The only thing that remains in my Tennessee Waltz quilt that needs borders. Since I started working on another UFO (something I can work on in a more confined area than the TW borders would have used) I decided it was OK that I haven't yet started working on that project.
While not an A+, I think it was a very good 5 months (Aug - Dec = 5 months). No regrets.
Now what?
Do you really need to ask? Definitely another challenge. I had already made up my list of projects for the next 6-month challenge and taped it in plain sight. Then I was challenged by another Stashbuster member to use my oldest fabric in a quilt, and I accepted the challenge (with a deadline to have the top finished by end of 2009). At this point, I may have more than I can do in 6-months and I also want to keep working on at least one project that uses my President-fabrics. Oh, what the heck. This time I will extend the challenge for the entire year of 2009. Here's my list:
1. Finish my Storm at Sea quilt
2. Finish my Stack & Whack quilt
3. Add borders to 3 quilts (my planned projects, but my Mother actually did the piecing)
4. Finish my Potted Flowers wall hanging
5. Complete my Oldest-Fabric challenge
6. Any/all of the 3 quilts that I have planned using my President fabrics.
Let's see if I can't post updates a little more frequently.
Kathy
For the rest of 2008:
1. I will not start another new project. If it is a project I have already started, I may keep working on it. A project counts as "started" if I have started cutting fabric. But if it's nothing more than a collection of fabric plus a pattern, it will have to wait.
2. I will keep true to the no-buy challenge: no more fabric will be purchased; nor will another piece of fabric enter my home, regardless the source or the reason.
Before the end of 2008, I will
1. finish the bindings on 4 quilts before the end of the year.
2. finish the pineapple wall hanging before the end of the year. (finished top)
3. finish the small applique wall hanging. (finished top)
4. add borders to my Tennessee Waltz quilt.
5. finish reorganizing my stash
So, how'd I do?
I have not started any *new* projects (approved exception: I decided that using my President fabrics was OK, and I have selected 3 patterns and started cutting for one of them).
I did OK on the no-buy part of this, not a perfect adherence, but not way overboard either. I bought a few FQs in fallish reds to add to the fabrics that I want to use for my Autumn quilt. In addition, I bought some fabric for my niece's quilt. I offered to teach her how to make a quilt. When I asked what colors she wanted, she said "purple, black, and silver". I had a solid black in stash. I had a lovely floral with pink, blue, and purple flowers with green/teal leaves on a black background. I had some purples that went with the floral. But silver? So off to the quilt shop. Do you think I could find silver? Noooooo. Any gray that would look OK with the floral? Noooooo. So I selected 2 white prints that might work. But now there was too much contrast between my purple and the white. I started looking for a lighter purple to add to the mix. Do you think I could find one that would go with the purple I already had? Nooooo. I ended up buying 2 purples that I am happy with. Maybe a week later, light bulb moment ... What about Fairy Frost? Is there a gray Fairy Frost? Off to the internet. Yay! It exists and will be just
great for what my niece requested. Whew. While I did buy those 5 fabrics, none of them were for me. And had it not been for my offer to help her make a quilt, I would not have made that trip to the fabric shop.
But, now for the rest of my challenge... Yay! I finished the binding on the 4 largest of the 5 quilts that needed binding, and the 5th is halfway done. (Do I get extra credit for this?) I finished my Pineapple wall hanging over this past weekend. I decided that my applique wall hanging is a good project to use as a take-along (small and very portable). So I kinda moved that project off the "must get it done" list, but I do take it with me when I visit my parents. I also take it with me when I meet with friends once/month. Big, big YAY because I finished reorganizing my stash. The only thing that remains in my Tennessee Waltz quilt that needs borders. Since I started working on another UFO (something I can work on in a more confined area than the TW borders would have used) I decided it was OK that I haven't yet started working on that project.
While not an A+, I think it was a very good 5 months (Aug - Dec = 5 months). No regrets.
Now what?
Do you really need to ask? Definitely another challenge. I had already made up my list of projects for the next 6-month challenge and taped it in plain sight. Then I was challenged by another Stashbuster member to use my oldest fabric in a quilt, and I accepted the challenge (with a deadline to have the top finished by end of 2009). At this point, I may have more than I can do in 6-months and I also want to keep working on at least one project that uses my President-fabrics. Oh, what the heck. This time I will extend the challenge for the entire year of 2009. Here's my list:
1. Finish my Storm at Sea quilt
2. Finish my Stack & Whack quilt
3. Add borders to 3 quilts (my planned projects, but my Mother actually did the piecing)
4. Finish my Potted Flowers wall hanging
5. Complete my Oldest-Fabric challenge
6. Any/all of the 3 quilts that I have planned using my President fabrics.
Let's see if I can't post updates a little more frequently.
Kathy
Monday, September 29, 2008
September 2008
I did not realize that so much time had passed without any posts. So, here's what's been happening:
Binding
Folding stash
More binding
More folding stash
(you get the idea)
I can now announce that my stash folding is done! I have a few smaller pieces of fabric to put away (some FQs and 1 yd cuts), but otherwise all fabric has been returned to the stash closet. Yay!
In addition, I have finished the binding on 2 quilts, one close to twin size and the other about 65" x 65". Two quilts still need binding: one small twin and one large queen.
The only new project that I am allowing myself as part of my challenge (see Aug 5, 2008) are the quilts that I will make using some fabric I was given by my guild. I have already selected my patterns and have started cutting fabric for one of them.
I'd like to be further along in my challenge, but life seems to interrupt. Working with a personal trainer 3 evenings per week eats up a fair amount of sewing time during the week. In spite of that, I'm not giving up. I still think my goals for this 6-month challenge are do-able. I persevere.
Kathy
Binding
Folding stash
More binding
More folding stash
(you get the idea)
I can now announce that my stash folding is done! I have a few smaller pieces of fabric to put away (some FQs and 1 yd cuts), but otherwise all fabric has been returned to the stash closet. Yay!
In addition, I have finished the binding on 2 quilts, one close to twin size and the other about 65" x 65". Two quilts still need binding: one small twin and one large queen.
The only new project that I am allowing myself as part of my challenge (see Aug 5, 2008) are the quilts that I will make using some fabric I was given by my guild. I have already selected my patterns and have started cutting fabric for one of them.
I'd like to be further along in my challenge, but life seems to interrupt. Working with a personal trainer 3 evenings per week eats up a fair amount of sewing time during the week. In spite of that, I'm not giving up. I still think my goals for this 6-month challenge are do-able. I persevere.
Kathy
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Stash Report
I hit the wall. Done run out of steam for all the folding, folding, folding of fabric. But it took more than 140 pieces of fabric to reach this point. So I'm taking a break. Whew, I need it.
As for this past week's goal, well, yes I managed to fold stash. I folded much more than I had intended. That's what interfered with getting anything done on my other goals. I'm not whining about not working on those other items. I'm glad I accomplished as much as I did with my stash-folding marathon. And... I have not yet strayed from my 6-month challenge that started this blog. Yay, me!
This was the weekend for the San Diego Quilt Show. At the beginning of the month, I asked for this past Friday off, intending to attend the show. But when I woke up on Friday morning, I just was not in the mood. There's still tomorrow, I thought. May be a good thing I did not go as my car battery suddenly died that day. Spent part of Saturday morning at the dealer while they diagnosed the problem, then spent the rest of the morning stranded at home (folding fabric) while waiting for my car to be fixed (they found another problem besides a dead battery). Life happens.
Now, for the good stuff... Photos of my stash:
Here's the "stash room" that hosts most of my stash. Three photos - starting on the left wall immediately as you enter the room there are 4 stacks of plastic drawers that contain PIGS:
The tallest stack of drawers is about 6' tall. Immediately to the right of these drawers is a bookcase of "smaller" pieces - top 2 shelves are 1 yd cuts, next 2 shelves are .5 yd cuts, and the bottom 3 shelves are FQs:
That wall is about as full as it can be without having floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves. On to the closet! (turning right)
The leftmost shelf holds finished quilts. Another 5 finished quilts reside on the closet's built-in shelf (up top). The shelves in the center and to the right are all stash in lengths of 2 - 3 yds. This weekend's marathon resulted in all the fabric on the bottom 2 shelves plus an amount equivalent of the brown, orange, and peach fabrics (center-right). The stack of fabric that still needs to be folded will nicely fit in the gaps in the bottom shelves. (*next* weekend, please) As if that wasn't enough, on to the UFOs...
The first photo is in the living room. The table "closest" to the camera usually stays there when I'm sewing. I put tools, beverage, extra fabric there. The table that usually hosts my sewing machine was moved to the right of the first table so that I have room to work with 2-yd pieces of fabric. Under those tables are more plastic drawers. Two of those stacks house UFOs, one stack houses scraps that I want to cut up, and the last stack houses scrap strips that I will use in some kind of strippy quilt. More drawers of UFOs & PIGS can be seen next to my bookcase of cookbooks (in the dining area), and even more drawers (PIGS) in the linen nook.
Finally, the last set of photos, taken in the master bedroom. Yet another stack of plastic drawers containing more UFOs located under the window, 2 more drawers and a box (UFOs) just in front of the closet, and lastly, more PIGS stored in the bottom of the closet.
Well, folks, that's the tour. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm heading for the living room to try to catch up on last season's TV programs before the new season starts in a few weeks. I'll be working on binding at the same time.
As for goals for the week, I think I'll skip that for now and just work on whatever strikes my fancy (as long as it's part of the 6-month challenge).
Kathy
As for this past week's goal, well, yes I managed to fold stash. I folded much more than I had intended. That's what interfered with getting anything done on my other goals. I'm not whining about not working on those other items. I'm glad I accomplished as much as I did with my stash-folding marathon. And... I have not yet strayed from my 6-month challenge that started this blog. Yay, me!
This was the weekend for the San Diego Quilt Show. At the beginning of the month, I asked for this past Friday off, intending to attend the show. But when I woke up on Friday morning, I just was not in the mood. There's still tomorrow, I thought. May be a good thing I did not go as my car battery suddenly died that day. Spent part of Saturday morning at the dealer while they diagnosed the problem, then spent the rest of the morning stranded at home (folding fabric) while waiting for my car to be fixed (they found another problem besides a dead battery). Life happens.
Now, for the good stuff... Photos of my stash:
Here's the "stash room" that hosts most of my stash. Three photos - starting on the left wall immediately as you enter the room there are 4 stacks of plastic drawers that contain PIGS:
The tallest stack of drawers is about 6' tall. Immediately to the right of these drawers is a bookcase of "smaller" pieces - top 2 shelves are 1 yd cuts, next 2 shelves are .5 yd cuts, and the bottom 3 shelves are FQs:
That wall is about as full as it can be without having floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves. On to the closet! (turning right)
The leftmost shelf holds finished quilts. Another 5 finished quilts reside on the closet's built-in shelf (up top). The shelves in the center and to the right are all stash in lengths of 2 - 3 yds. This weekend's marathon resulted in all the fabric on the bottom 2 shelves plus an amount equivalent of the brown, orange, and peach fabrics (center-right). The stack of fabric that still needs to be folded will nicely fit in the gaps in the bottom shelves. (*next* weekend, please) As if that wasn't enough, on to the UFOs...
The first photo is in the living room. The table "closest" to the camera usually stays there when I'm sewing. I put tools, beverage, extra fabric there. The table that usually hosts my sewing machine was moved to the right of the first table so that I have room to work with 2-yd pieces of fabric. Under those tables are more plastic drawers. Two of those stacks house UFOs, one stack houses scraps that I want to cut up, and the last stack houses scrap strips that I will use in some kind of strippy quilt. More drawers of UFOs & PIGS can be seen next to my bookcase of cookbooks (in the dining area), and even more drawers (PIGS) in the linen nook.
Finally, the last set of photos, taken in the master bedroom. Yet another stack of plastic drawers containing more UFOs located under the window, 2 more drawers and a box (UFOs) just in front of the closet, and lastly, more PIGS stored in the bottom of the closet.
Well, folks, that's the tour. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm heading for the living room to try to catch up on last season's TV programs before the new season starts in a few weeks. I'll be working on binding at the same time.
As for goals for the week, I think I'll skip that for now and just work on whatever strikes my fancy (as long as it's part of the 6-month challenge).
Kathy
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Weekly Progress #3
I crossed most things off of this week's to-do list: trimmed 2 quilts, made and attached binding to both quilts, I'm in the middle of prepping the last of my applique pieces for the small wall hanging. When that's finished, it will be time to put the folded fabic away, clear off 2 tables, and start folding stash yardage. I did stray a little off this past week's to-do list - I finished the hand-work portion of binding on another quilt (but this quilt was on my current 6-month challenge).
So, what's up for this next week?
Fold stash (at least 1/4 of fabric on couch)
Start cutting pres. gift fabrics for quilts
Do some hand-work on binding
Design border for Tennesee Waltz
Kathy
So, what's up for this next week?
Fold stash (at least 1/4 of fabric on couch)
Start cutting pres. gift fabrics for quilts
Do some hand-work on binding
Design border for Tennesee Waltz
Kathy
Monday, August 18, 2008
Updated List
I finally decided on a pattern for one of my WHIMMs, the one where I spent more than 6 hours looking at patterns. I also managed to assign patterns to another 4 WHIMMs. I have updated the list in my post of Aug 14 to include the new PIGS. I have also color-coded items in both lists. RED indicates that it is still active on my to-do list. BLACK indicates a "dead" project. As I start to finish some of these items, I will probably use either green or blue to indicate "completed". As I continue to post, I may need to bring a copy of the list forward. But we'll see how things go.
I did get binding sewn on to the front of my small wall hanging. Yay!
Forgot to mention - last week when I was freeing-up floor space in my computer/stash room, I uncovered several more pieces of large yardage (sigh). Having also removed a couple of WHIMMS from project drawers, it was time to return fabric to general stash, which in turn meant cutting large pieces to "stash size" (2 - 2.5 yds). Whew! That task is also done. All pieces 1 yd or smaller have already been folded and are ready to be placed on appropriate shelves (based on size). But I still have those 2 stacks of "medium" pieces to fold and put away. Before I can start folding, I need to get binding attached to two more quilts and then clear off my sewing tables.
This is a good point to set goals for this week:
trim 2 quilts
make binding for 2 quilts
attach binding to 2 quilts
clear off tables
put smaller, folded fabric away
prep last of applique pieces so they are ready to be glued on
That ought to do it!
Kathy
I did get binding sewn on to the front of my small wall hanging. Yay!
Forgot to mention - last week when I was freeing-up floor space in my computer/stash room, I uncovered several more pieces of large yardage (sigh). Having also removed a couple of WHIMMS from project drawers, it was time to return fabric to general stash, which in turn meant cutting large pieces to "stash size" (2 - 2.5 yds). Whew! That task is also done. All pieces 1 yd or smaller have already been folded and are ready to be placed on appropriate shelves (based on size). But I still have those 2 stacks of "medium" pieces to fold and put away. Before I can start folding, I need to get binding attached to two more quilts and then clear off my sewing tables.
This is a good point to set goals for this week:
trim 2 quilts
make binding for 2 quilts
attach binding to 2 quilts
clear off tables
put smaller, folded fabric away
prep last of applique pieces so they are ready to be glued on
That ought to do it!
Kathy
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Weekly Progress #2
It feels like I accomplished absolutely nothing today. Which is not realy true...
I spent 4 hours with 3 other guild members, and we worked on finalizing a draft of by-laws for our guild. Somewhere back in time, our by-laws got lost. We now have a solid draft. Our note-taker is going to re-type the document and send it to the other 3 of us to review. If we are all OK with the draft, we will present it to the Board for review & discussion. Once the new set of by-laws are approved by the board, we will finally present them to the general membership for official approval.
I no sooner came home from that project than I started going through 2 full bookshelves of quilting books looking for a pattern that I can "assign" to a particular WHIMM. Oh, my word! More than 6 hours on this. Well, I have narrowed down the candidates to just 9. ("just")
One of the projects on my list is going to be removed: Anniversary Waltz.
It was a kit I bought from a quilting catalog. Based on the tiny photo in the catalog, I thought I would like it. I do like the pattern, but I don't really care for the fabrics in the kit. Life is too short -- out it goes. I'll probably keep the cover picture for the kit so that I can make my own version from stash. (Note to self: DON'T BUY ANY MORE KITS UNLESS YOUR ARE ABSOLUTELY *CERTAIN* YOU WILL *LOVE* WHAT YOU BUY!!! sheesh)
No sewing since last Sunday. So, I hereby promise myself that tomorrow I will dig out the 3 quilts that are awaiting the start of the binding process and then machine sew the binding onto the front of the quilts. These are not queen-sized quilts -- a small wall hanging, a larger wall hanging, and a couch quilt. Since I hand-finish bindings, these will have to wait for cooler weather before I tackle that aspect.
Kathy
I spent 4 hours with 3 other guild members, and we worked on finalizing a draft of by-laws for our guild. Somewhere back in time, our by-laws got lost. We now have a solid draft. Our note-taker is going to re-type the document and send it to the other 3 of us to review. If we are all OK with the draft, we will present it to the Board for review & discussion. Once the new set of by-laws are approved by the board, we will finally present them to the general membership for official approval.
I no sooner came home from that project than I started going through 2 full bookshelves of quilting books looking for a pattern that I can "assign" to a particular WHIMM. Oh, my word! More than 6 hours on this. Well, I have narrowed down the candidates to just 9. ("just")
One of the projects on my list is going to be removed: Anniversary Waltz.
It was a kit I bought from a quilting catalog. Based on the tiny photo in the catalog, I thought I would like it. I do like the pattern, but I don't really care for the fabrics in the kit. Life is too short -- out it goes. I'll probably keep the cover picture for the kit so that I can make my own version from stash. (Note to self: DON'T BUY ANY MORE KITS UNLESS YOUR ARE ABSOLUTELY *CERTAIN* YOU WILL *LOVE* WHAT YOU BUY!!! sheesh)
No sewing since last Sunday. So, I hereby promise myself that tomorrow I will dig out the 3 quilts that are awaiting the start of the binding process and then machine sew the binding onto the front of the quilts. These are not queen-sized quilts -- a small wall hanging, a larger wall hanging, and a couch quilt. Since I hand-finish bindings, these will have to wait for cooler weather before I tackle that aspect.
Kathy
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