Today and tomorrow are good ones :-)
Its week-end, so you have time ... well ... in theory at least ...
Go to your sewing-room.
Look.
Where is the worst mess ? YOU know :-) The graveyard of all indecisiveness and "I'll get around to it tomorrow" piles.
Focus and decide on one of those piles, be it on the floor, table, shelf, drawer or whatever.
Get your waste-basket next to it ... oh, and your donation-box too :-) if you think it might be worth your while
Now : Put on your music.
* stretch out your hand and take the closest item in the pile (usually the one on the top)
deal with it *
Repeat from * to * for as long as your music plays.
Oh, and "deal with it" means : put in its proper place, toss or put in donation-box.
You can do this !
And if you really have lots of time, do it more than once today. Don't work yourself to a stand-still by trying to do it all in one session. Do one song's worth, do something else and then - should you feel like it - do one song's worth again later today
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Day # 23
Today your focus is on your sewing-machine.
One of them at least :-)
The one that sees the most work, for preference :-)
When did you last change the needle ?
When did you last oil it (for machines that needs this and not all do !) ?
When did you last remove the lint around the bobbin-house ?
When did you last take it in for service ?
Deal with this ! NOW !
If it's more than a year since it was last serviced, odds are that it needs it.
If it's more than one quilt-top since it last had a change of needle, odds are it needs it.
If it's more than one quilt-top since you last removed the lint, odds are that it needs it.
In days of yore, the rule of thumb was, that a machine should be serviced : new needle, oil, lint-removal and some TLC, whenever it had run for 50 hours. Please consider taking up this "ancient" tradition if your machine is a necessary part of your quilt-life.
And yes, I know, it is a pain to take it to the shop, but ... it is more of a pain to have it break down completely, right ?
You can do this !
One of them at least :-)
The one that sees the most work, for preference :-)
When did you last change the needle ?
When did you last oil it (for machines that needs this and not all do !) ?
When did you last remove the lint around the bobbin-house ?
When did you last take it in for service ?
Deal with this ! NOW !
If it's more than a year since it was last serviced, odds are that it needs it.
If it's more than one quilt-top since it last had a change of needle, odds are it needs it.
If it's more than one quilt-top since you last removed the lint, odds are that it needs it.
In days of yore, the rule of thumb was, that a machine should be serviced : new needle, oil, lint-removal and some TLC, whenever it had run for 50 hours. Please consider taking up this "ancient" tradition if your machine is a necessary part of your quilt-life.
And yes, I know, it is a pain to take it to the shop, but ... it is more of a pain to have it break down completely, right ?
You can do this !
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Day # 22
Ironing board.
Is it good for you ?
The right height and size ?
Is it stored in a good place ?
... where you can get at it ?
... where it is not in the way ?
Is the cover good ? or does it have holes ?
Is it the receptable of any or all of the "I really don't know what to do with this right now" stuff ?
If it is : clear it ! and then ponder the above.
If something is wrong with your ironing-board, please consider what would be a good ironing-board for you. You may just do as a freind of mine does : a folded towel on her kitchen counter ! Or you might want to go fancy and get "That Perfect" ironing-board.
IF getting a new one is a priority : put it on your wish-list.
You can do this !
Is it good for you ?
The right height and size ?
Is it stored in a good place ?
... where you can get at it ?
... where it is not in the way ?
Is the cover good ? or does it have holes ?
Is it the receptable of any or all of the "I really don't know what to do with this right now" stuff ?
If it is : clear it ! and then ponder the above.
If something is wrong with your ironing-board, please consider what would be a good ironing-board for you. You may just do as a freind of mine does : a folded towel on her kitchen counter ! Or you might want to go fancy and get "That Perfect" ironing-board.
IF getting a new one is a priority : put it on your wish-list.
You can do this !
Day # 21
Ready for a seriously big one today ?
It might be a VERY big one, depending on the "one place" you put your gatherings into or ... on ...
Today it's the table !
Put on your music.
Start at one end of one table.
*Pick up whatever is closest to your hand.
Decide ! to either :
Keep, and put in its proper place
Donate
Toss*
Repeat from * to * as long as your music plays.
If you're having fun, take one more song :-)
If you have NO TIME !!! Pick 3 items from your table and deal with them.
It might be a VERY big one, depending on the "one place" you put your gatherings into or ... on ...
Today it's the table !
Put on your music.
Start at one end of one table.
*Pick up whatever is closest to your hand.
Decide ! to either :
Keep, and put in its proper place
Donate
Toss*
Repeat from * to * as long as your music plays.
If you're having fun, take one more song :-)
If you have NO TIME !!! Pick 3 items from your table and deal with them.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Day # 20
Needles and pins.
Now, you probably have lots. In lots of different spaces. On pincushions. In drawers. With projects.
Your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to gather all the ones that are not in active duty. IF you have them already gathered in more-or-less one place :
Go through them. If there are any packs or tubes or ... with needles that you really don't care for, put them in your donation-box or toss'em !
Oh, and make a mental note (or a big, visible sign) reminding you that :
When a needle or pin is uncomfortable bent, you toss it.
When a needle or pin looses it's good "gliding-quality" you toss it.
When a needle or pin "grips" the fabric, you toss it.
Neither needles or pins are family heirlooms (thank you Linda), so ... whatever you don't enjoy and which hampers your enjoyment : get rid of it ! one way or another.
If you have NO TIME : Take the closest-to-hand pincushion and take out the ones you don't care for / never use / don't need / that are bent or in other ways wrong.
You don't have to be in the sewing-room to do this, you can take the pin-cushion to your TV-room or wherever else you physically need to be, and do a wee bit of multi-tasking :-)
You can do this
Now, you probably have lots. In lots of different spaces. On pincushions. In drawers. With projects.
Your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to gather all the ones that are not in active duty. IF you have them already gathered in more-or-less one place :
Go through them. If there are any packs or tubes or ... with needles that you really don't care for, put them in your donation-box or toss'em !
Oh, and make a mental note (or a big, visible sign) reminding you that :
When a needle or pin is uncomfortable bent, you toss it.
When a needle or pin looses it's good "gliding-quality" you toss it.
When a needle or pin "grips" the fabric, you toss it.
Neither needles or pins are family heirlooms (thank you Linda), so ... whatever you don't enjoy and which hampers your enjoyment : get rid of it ! one way or another.
If you have NO TIME : Take the closest-to-hand pincushion and take out the ones you don't care for / never use / don't need / that are bent or in other ways wrong.
You don't have to be in the sewing-room to do this, you can take the pin-cushion to your TV-room or wherever else you physically need to be, and do a wee bit of multi-tasking :-)
You can do this
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Day # 19
FABRIC !
Any and all bits of fabric that are NOT in use, i.e. are not an active part of the project/s that you actually work on (as opposed to dream about working on) will be gathered by the determined whirlwind that is yourself. Gather it ALL !!!
Don't say that you'll pick it all up up once you have thought out that perfect storing-system. You might, but do you really want to wait for that ? Besides, you have no chance of making a fair decision as to what your perfect storing-system might be, if you don't have a clue as to how much you have.
Which is why your challenge today - should you choose to take it - is to gather any and all fabrics that are on the loose in your sewing-room, and put them in one place !
If that place is each their proper place, so much the better ! but putting it all in one pile, huge or tiny, is a very good step towards reclaiming your sewing-space and of becoming aware of what you are doing and with what you are doing it.
It's no use dreaming up "That Perfect" sewing-room, and realize that you didn't take all your fabric into account.
And while you gather, have both your waste-basket and your donation-box ready, 'cause you might as well toss or put into donation the fabrics you know you'll never use. And remember : if it's because the quality is too bad : just toss it !
If you have NO TIME ! you pick up 3 stray pieces of fabric and deal with them.
You can do this !!
Any and all bits of fabric that are NOT in use, i.e. are not an active part of the project/s that you actually work on (as opposed to dream about working on) will be gathered by the determined whirlwind that is yourself. Gather it ALL !!!
Don't say that you'll pick it all up up once you have thought out that perfect storing-system. You might, but do you really want to wait for that ? Besides, you have no chance of making a fair decision as to what your perfect storing-system might be, if you don't have a clue as to how much you have.
Which is why your challenge today - should you choose to take it - is to gather any and all fabrics that are on the loose in your sewing-room, and put them in one place !
If that place is each their proper place, so much the better ! but putting it all in one pile, huge or tiny, is a very good step towards reclaiming your sewing-space and of becoming aware of what you are doing and with what you are doing it.
It's no use dreaming up "That Perfect" sewing-room, and realize that you didn't take all your fabric into account.
And while you gather, have both your waste-basket and your donation-box ready, 'cause you might as well toss or put into donation the fabrics you know you'll never use. And remember : if it's because the quality is too bad : just toss it !
If you have NO TIME ! you pick up 3 stray pieces of fabric and deal with them.
You can do this !!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Day # 18
Quilt-blocks on the loose
YOU know. When you made too many blocks for the project you were doing. Or when you tested a colourway and it turned out all wrong. Or the project that you started gung-ho and never got past a few blocks.
THOSE blocks.
Gather and put in a box or bag or the like, making yourself a BOB. Bag / Box / whatever Of Blocks. Its good to have these orphan blocks for when you need to make a gift in a hurry. Or are at a loose end with what to do next. Or ...
Gather and put in one place.
If the reason you didn't make anything is, that the quality was just too bad, toss them !
If the reason is "wrong colour" remember that one persons posion is another persons nectar :-)
If the reason is that no points meet, please refer to your Dear Jane book, and "read" the pictures of Jane's original closely. Her points don't meet either :-)
And if you're really disgusted with what you find : just toss'em !
YOU know. When you made too many blocks for the project you were doing. Or when you tested a colourway and it turned out all wrong. Or the project that you started gung-ho and never got past a few blocks.
THOSE blocks.
Gather and put in a box or bag or the like, making yourself a BOB. Bag / Box / whatever Of Blocks. Its good to have these orphan blocks for when you need to make a gift in a hurry. Or are at a loose end with what to do next. Or ...
Gather and put in one place.
If the reason you didn't make anything is, that the quality was just too bad, toss them !
If the reason is "wrong colour" remember that one persons posion is another persons nectar :-)
If the reason is that no points meet, please refer to your Dear Jane book, and "read" the pictures of Jane's original closely. Her points don't meet either :-)
And if you're really disgusted with what you find : just toss'em !
Friday, September 14, 2007
Day # 17
Stencils and hoops !
A couple of weeks ago on the WIProducers list, we discussed how to store stencils and hoops that are not in use, and someone mentioned a big ring that can open and close, and can hang in your closet with your clothes or on a peg in your sewing-room.
Getting some sort of big ring that can hold several stencils (or patterns) and another one for your hoops could be a good thing. A bit like a key-ring, only bigger !
If you need something like that, but don't have one : put it on your shopping-list ! and make a BIG mental note to look for it.
Disregarding whether you have one or not or want one or not, gather your stencils in one place and your hoops in another. And don't tell me all the reasons you have to not do so. You need to know where your things are, so that you don't waste time and creative energy trying to find "THAT" one, and it is much easier if "hoops and quilting-frames" have one place. Maybe your not used right now hoops can find a place close to your big frame ? (and if you never use the big frame, please consider whether you want to hang on to it, or whether it would be better for all parties to find it a new home)
Same goes for stencils / quilting-templates. Decide on one place where they belong. Gather and put them there !
A couple of weeks ago on the WIProducers list, we discussed how to store stencils and hoops that are not in use, and someone mentioned a big ring that can open and close, and can hang in your closet with your clothes or on a peg in your sewing-room.
Getting some sort of big ring that can hold several stencils (or patterns) and another one for your hoops could be a good thing. A bit like a key-ring, only bigger !
If you need something like that, but don't have one : put it on your shopping-list ! and make a BIG mental note to look for it.
Disregarding whether you have one or not or want one or not, gather your stencils in one place and your hoops in another. And don't tell me all the reasons you have to not do so. You need to know where your things are, so that you don't waste time and creative energy trying to find "THAT" one, and it is much easier if "hoops and quilting-frames" have one place. Maybe your not used right now hoops can find a place close to your big frame ? (and if you never use the big frame, please consider whether you want to hang on to it, or whether it would be better for all parties to find it a new home)
Same goes for stencils / quilting-templates. Decide on one place where they belong. Gather and put them there !
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Day # 16
Patterns !
Take a whirlwind tour through the more readily accessible parts of your sewing-room AND the rest of your house (if you have the time / inclination), and gather up any and all patterns you can lay your hands on.
Gather them up and put them where they belong. If you don't have one place for your patterns, consider making one : box, shelf, drawer, basket. One place.
It is not hard ! or difficult.
Just gather and put in it's proper place.
Then, when you have the time (and the inclination) you can sort and toss and put in your donation-box. But believe me when I say, that it is much easier to organize and re-arrange when you have a realistic idea about how much (or how little) there is to deal with.
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up whatever patterns you can see immediately when you look into the sewing-room, and put them in one place. Their proper place would be nice :-)
Take a whirlwind tour through the more readily accessible parts of your sewing-room AND the rest of your house (if you have the time / inclination), and gather up any and all patterns you can lay your hands on.
Gather them up and put them where they belong. If you don't have one place for your patterns, consider making one : box, shelf, drawer, basket. One place.
It is not hard ! or difficult.
Just gather and put in it's proper place.
Then, when you have the time (and the inclination) you can sort and toss and put in your donation-box. But believe me when I say, that it is much easier to organize and re-arrange when you have a realistic idea about how much (or how little) there is to deal with.
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up whatever patterns you can see immediately when you look into the sewing-room, and put them in one place. Their proper place would be nice :-)
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Day # 15
Magazines on the loose !
Like yesterday : go through the readily accessible parts of your sewing-room (or house), like a determined and selective whirl-wind.
Pick up every single magazine you find !
As you put them on a shelf (or in a box, or basket or wherever you keep your magazines) toss the ones you very obviously do not want any more ! Yes. I know. It is a fine thing to see a complete collection of a magazine, all ordered and beatiful on shelves in the living-room but ...
I'm sure I don't have to paint a picture, do I ?
I'll just ask : is that where you are ? is that where you'll ever be, when keeping within the real world ?
Don't spend hours going through them all today or while you do this ! That can come at another time. BUT, gathering them, and putting them all in the same place is a wonderful start to that project ! At least you won't have to guess about what you have and what you haven't and where it is.
So : Gather and put in one place.
For those of you with NO TIME : Just pick up whatever magazine/s you eyes fall on as you move through your day, and put them in the same place. Home dec. Child-care. Quilty. Whatever ! Just gather them up where they have fallen and put in the same place. At some point of your life, you will get to them ... and your job will be much easier if they are in one place rather than all over the house.
Like yesterday : go through the readily accessible parts of your sewing-room (or house), like a determined and selective whirl-wind.
Pick up every single magazine you find !
As you put them on a shelf (or in a box, or basket or wherever you keep your magazines) toss the ones you very obviously do not want any more ! Yes. I know. It is a fine thing to see a complete collection of a magazine, all ordered and beatiful on shelves in the living-room but ...
I'm sure I don't have to paint a picture, do I ?
I'll just ask : is that where you are ? is that where you'll ever be, when keeping within the real world ?
Don't spend hours going through them all today or while you do this ! That can come at another time. BUT, gathering them, and putting them all in the same place is a wonderful start to that project ! At least you won't have to guess about what you have and what you haven't and where it is.
So : Gather and put in one place.
For those of you with NO TIME : Just pick up whatever magazine/s you eyes fall on as you move through your day, and put them in the same place. Home dec. Child-care. Quilty. Whatever ! Just gather them up where they have fallen and put in the same place. At some point of your life, you will get to them ... and your job will be much easier if they are in one place rather than all over the house.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Day # 14
Today it's books
Take a whirlwind tour through the more readily accessible parts of your sewing-room AND the rest of your house (if you have the time / inclination), and gather up any and all quilting-books you can lay your hands on. Including the ones you read in bed to ensure yourself quilty, cozy and comfortable dreams :-)
Gather them up and put them on the shelves / shelf where they belong.
This is not hard ! as long as you don't imagine that this is your golden chance to re-organize all your quilting-books.
It isn't.
Just gather and put on the shelf.
Then, when you have the time (and the inclination) you can re-arrange them. But believe me when I say, that it is much easier to organize and re-arrange when you have a realistic idea about how much (or how little) there is to deal with.
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up whatever books you can see immediately when you look into the sewing-room, and put them on a shelf. Any shelf will do for now ! 'cause at least they won't be in the way of your moving around or working on your table/s
Take a whirlwind tour through the more readily accessible parts of your sewing-room AND the rest of your house (if you have the time / inclination), and gather up any and all quilting-books you can lay your hands on. Including the ones you read in bed to ensure yourself quilty, cozy and comfortable dreams :-)
Gather them up and put them on the shelves / shelf where they belong.
This is not hard ! as long as you don't imagine that this is your golden chance to re-organize all your quilting-books.
It isn't.
Just gather and put on the shelf.
Then, when you have the time (and the inclination) you can re-arrange them. But believe me when I say, that it is much easier to organize and re-arrange when you have a realistic idea about how much (or how little) there is to deal with.
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up whatever books you can see immediately when you look into the sewing-room, and put them on a shelf. Any shelf will do for now ! 'cause at least they won't be in the way of your moving around or working on your table/s
Monday, September 10, 2007
Day # 13
OK. Today we're going for the tough stuff.
I want you to reclaim your cutting-mat !
I want you to clear off ALL the stuff lying there which does not belong ... and seeing that you have proper places for most of the stuff anyway, it's just a question of dumping thread, rulers, writers, thingeies in their proper place !
Right ???
:-)
I know. I'm being wicked now :-) But ... whether you have it or not, what you need is a fixed and proper place to put your things, so that you CAN clear your cutting-mat without having to dump stuff on the floor, the ironing-board or the rest of the table. Besides, if its on the rest of the table, chances are you can't use your cutting-mat anyway, because it'll be a forlorn valley inside a mountain of stuff.
If you have NO TIME : Pick up the 3 top-most items ON your cutting-mat and deal with them.
You can do this !
I want you to reclaim your cutting-mat !
I want you to clear off ALL the stuff lying there which does not belong ... and seeing that you have proper places for most of the stuff anyway, it's just a question of dumping thread, rulers, writers, thingeies in their proper place !
Right ???
:-)
I know. I'm being wicked now :-) But ... whether you have it or not, what you need is a fixed and proper place to put your things, so that you CAN clear your cutting-mat without having to dump stuff on the floor, the ironing-board or the rest of the table. Besides, if its on the rest of the table, chances are you can't use your cutting-mat anyway, because it'll be a forlorn valley inside a mountain of stuff.
If you have NO TIME : Pick up the 3 top-most items ON your cutting-mat and deal with them.
You can do this !
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Day # 12
Writing tools !
Pens, pencils, markers, slivers of soap, whatnots.
Gather them, then go through them and ask yourself the following :
Do they work ?
Are the pencils sharp ? If not, sharpen them. If the lead is broken : toss'em.
And do you have a decent sharpener ? That you can lay your hands on ?
Pens : is there any ink left ?
Can they write ?
Do they blob all over the place ?
No matter how expensive a pen was : if it ruins what you try to write, it isn't worth holding on to. Get it fixed or get rid of it.
Do you keep your erasers with your writing tools ? If so :
do they still erase anything ? or are they just hard brick/s ? If the latter is the case : toss !
And if no erasers or pencils are left once you've been through it all : Write the relevant implement/s on your shopping-list for when next you. This also goes for spare lead for your mechanical pencil/s. If you don't have any in the house, put it on your shopping-list and pick it up when next you are shopping. Here, most supermarkets carry standard sizes :-) and a good sharpener for your pencils. Remember that ! you need it :-)
You can do this !
One song's worth !
And if you have NO TIME !! Do yourself the favour of tossing pens that don't work, whenever you get them in your hands ... and you will ... today too !
Pens, pencils, markers, slivers of soap, whatnots.
Gather them, then go through them and ask yourself the following :
Do they work ?
Are the pencils sharp ? If not, sharpen them. If the lead is broken : toss'em.
And do you have a decent sharpener ? That you can lay your hands on ?
Pens : is there any ink left ?
Can they write ?
Do they blob all over the place ?
No matter how expensive a pen was : if it ruins what you try to write, it isn't worth holding on to. Get it fixed or get rid of it.
Do you keep your erasers with your writing tools ? If so :
do they still erase anything ? or are they just hard brick/s ? If the latter is the case : toss !
And if no erasers or pencils are left once you've been through it all : Write the relevant implement/s on your shopping-list for when next you. This also goes for spare lead for your mechanical pencil/s. If you don't have any in the house, put it on your shopping-list and pick it up when next you are shopping. Here, most supermarkets carry standard sizes :-) and a good sharpener for your pencils. Remember that ! you need it :-)
You can do this !
One song's worth !
And if you have NO TIME !! Do yourself the favour of tossing pens that don't work, whenever you get them in your hands ... and you will ... today too !
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Day # 11
Rulers !
Today you go for the rulers and any other tools for measuring you may have in your sewing-room.
Gather from where they have fallen and put in their proper place/s !
If rulers etc. don't have a fixed place : find one ! or make one.
If you have a space : try organizing it so that the rulers you use the most are the ones closest at hand and the easiest to access.
It's a small thing, but it is a good thing to have in order :-)
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up 3 items and put in their place. If its rulers, so much the better :-)
Today you go for the rulers and any other tools for measuring you may have in your sewing-room.
Gather from where they have fallen and put in their proper place/s !
If rulers etc. don't have a fixed place : find one ! or make one.
If you have a space : try organizing it so that the rulers you use the most are the ones closest at hand and the easiest to access.
It's a small thing, but it is a good thing to have in order :-)
You can do this !
And if you have NO TIME !!! Pick up 3 items and put in their place. If its rulers, so much the better :-)
Friday, September 7, 2007
Day # 10
Today it's thread.
Gather what is lying around and put in its proper place.
Toss the empty and nearly-empty spools, even if you once saw this really neat spread in some magazine about this really together person with that perfect studio who had a nice display of empty spools standing in that perfect glass-jar at that wonderfully decorated shelf
... I'm sure you know exactly the kind of picture I'm referring to :-)
It hasn't happened in ... how many years was that ? So ... if you get to a place and a time in your life where it can happen, and you decide that you - at that time - want it to happen, THAT will be the time when you'll start collecting spools for displaying, ok ?
Now, if you don't have any thread lying around, and are stomping at the bit to do some Cinderella-stuff today : put on your music, and take out your thread, and start weeding it.
Most of us have more than one spool of really lousy thread which breaks at the least provocation
Toss it !
You will never, ever use it yourself and it is too bad a quality for you to give to anyone so :
GET RID OF IT !
And that spool with about 2 yards left. Really. What are you thinking of ?
Out it goes !
Weed, toss, toss, weed.
A full song's worth !
Gather what is lying around and put in its proper place.
Toss the empty and nearly-empty spools, even if you once saw this really neat spread in some magazine about this really together person with that perfect studio who had a nice display of empty spools standing in that perfect glass-jar at that wonderfully decorated shelf
... I'm sure you know exactly the kind of picture I'm referring to :-)
It hasn't happened in ... how many years was that ? So ... if you get to a place and a time in your life where it can happen, and you decide that you - at that time - want it to happen, THAT will be the time when you'll start collecting spools for displaying, ok ?
Now, if you don't have any thread lying around, and are stomping at the bit to do some Cinderella-stuff today : put on your music, and take out your thread, and start weeding it.
Most of us have more than one spool of really lousy thread which breaks at the least provocation
Toss it !
You will never, ever use it yourself and it is too bad a quality for you to give to anyone so :
GET RID OF IT !
And that spool with about 2 yards left. Really. What are you thinking of ?
Out it goes !
Weed, toss, toss, weed.
A full song's worth !
Day # 9
Nose back on the grindstone.
One day of thinking is quite enough :-)
.... no ... you're welcome to think while you do today's task :
Today you deal with your cutting tools :
Scissors, rotary-cutters, snippers. Everything vaguely belonging in that category !
Put on your music and gather everything with a cutting edge you can lay your hands on :-)
Change the blade on your cutters, rotary-cutters, stencil-cutters, paper-cutters ... anything with a changeable blade. Odds are they need it :-)
Check your scissors. Anyone in there in need of sharpening ? Do you have a sharpener ? A DH who is a whiz at sharpening blades ? (mine is). See if you can find anyone within driving-distance who does sharpen scissors. Good scissors are (still) an investment, and need you to take care of them !
And that leads to the question : Are your scissors good enough ?
Do you have scissors appropriate for the work you do ?
Does you thread-clipper actually snip at the tip ? Or is it more like a dull, two-blade saw that you use for hacking up the thread ?
Are your paper-scissors good ?
Do you have both big and medium-to-small size fabric scissors?
Some of us have a zillion cutting-tools, and you know what ? won't help you a bit, if they don't work as they should !
So : Check out your cutting-tools. If you don't have what you need and/or if what you have doesn't work as it should : set about doing something about it ! For starters, change the blades on your cutters (as written above), and then put really good scissors on your wish-list for next b'day or christmas ... and don't gamble with this ! Write brand, type and size ! maybe you should even add address (web or street) so that your DH has a fighting chance to get you what you want :-)
And then : put all your cutting-tools in their proper place ! (see, I told you yesterday that you would need to know where everything belonged ! so, if cutting-tools don't
Don't make this into a "tear the room apart" search. Just whatever is out there in the open, or easily accessible in its proper place. You can deal with the rest as it surfaces :-)
You can do this !
GO !!!
One day of thinking is quite enough :-)
.... no ... you're welcome to think while you do today's task :
Today you deal with your cutting tools :
Scissors, rotary-cutters, snippers. Everything vaguely belonging in that category !
Put on your music and gather everything with a cutting edge you can lay your hands on :-)
Change the blade on your cutters, rotary-cutters, stencil-cutters, paper-cutters ... anything with a changeable blade. Odds are they need it :-)
Check your scissors. Anyone in there in need of sharpening ? Do you have a sharpener ? A DH who is a whiz at sharpening blades ? (mine is). See if you can find anyone within driving-distance who does sharpen scissors. Good scissors are (still) an investment, and need you to take care of them !
And that leads to the question : Are your scissors good enough ?
Do you have scissors appropriate for the work you do ?
Does you thread-clipper actually snip at the tip ? Or is it more like a dull, two-blade saw that you use for hacking up the thread ?
Are your paper-scissors good ?
Do you have both big and medium-to-small size fabric scissors?
Some of us have a zillion cutting-tools, and you know what ? won't help you a bit, if they don't work as they should !
So : Check out your cutting-tools. If you don't have what you need and/or if what you have doesn't work as it should : set about doing something about it ! For starters, change the blades on your cutters (as written above), and then put really good scissors on your wish-list for next b'day or christmas ... and don't gamble with this ! Write brand, type and size ! maybe you should even add address (web or street) so that your DH has a fighting chance to get you what you want :-)
And then : put all your cutting-tools in their proper place ! (see, I told you yesterday that you would need to know where everything belonged ! so, if cutting-tools don't
Don't make this into a "tear the room apart" search. Just whatever is out there in the open, or easily accessible in its proper place. You can deal with the rest as it surfaces :-)
You can do this !
GO !!!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Day # 8
We're moving away from the floor for now.
Today is a mostly think day.
For the next days, you will need to know where "everything" belongs in your sewing-room. And if "general categories" do not have fixed homes, today is the day where you start deciding where what goes. You will need to have made that decision when we proceed.
Which is why you will now go to your sewing-room and look.
Does "everything" have a place ?
Fabric ?
Thread ?
Scissors ?
Magazines ?
Books ?
Are these general categories appropriately placed ?
Can you access them freely ?
Are the category or categories that you use the most, within easy reach of the place where you sit (or stand) the most ?
Start pondering ! and start deciding :-)
Oh, and while you're in there anyway : pick up 3 items and deal with them !
Today is a mostly think day.
For the next days, you will need to know where "everything" belongs in your sewing-room. And if "general categories" do not have fixed homes, today is the day where you start deciding where what goes. You will need to have made that decision when we proceed.
Which is why you will now go to your sewing-room and look.
Does "everything" have a place ?
Fabric ?
Thread ?
Scissors ?
Magazines ?
Books ?
Are these general categories appropriately placed ?
Can you access them freely ?
Are the category or categories that you use the most, within easy reach of the place where you sit (or stand) the most ?
Start pondering ! and start deciding :-)
Oh, and while you're in there anyway : pick up 3 items and deal with them !
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Day # 7
Are you getting sick of the floor ?
Well, today is the last day (for now) of doing floor :-)
Repeat one of the prior challenges : "THAT" pile, or general floor and use the method of :
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
You can do this !
And remember, for days with NO TIME : Pick up 3 items and deal with them :-)
Well, today is the last day (for now) of doing floor :-)
Repeat one of the prior challenges : "THAT" pile, or general floor and use the method of :
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
You can do this !
And remember, for days with NO TIME : Pick up 3 items and deal with them :-)
Monday, September 3, 2007
Day # 6
You have now started to deal with your floor and even with "THAT" pile.
Good :-)
More floor today.
Can you move around your sewing-room ?
Safely ?
I mean :
No scrambling over anything, and not having to take mighty tall steps in some places, and not having to make interesting detours because something is "in the way" ?
If you can : good ! Give that woman a chocolate (or other sweet of preference)
If you can't : this is where your focus is today. On the thinges or stuff or whatevers that you have to move with your feet (or fall over when trying to move). The greater object is to clear a path, so that you can move around safely :-)
For those of you with NO TIME :
Go to your sewing-space.
Pick up 3 items from the floor.
Put away or toss.
Yep. That's enough :-) 3 items dealt with are 3 less items of chaos.
For those of you with 5 minutes :
Go to your sewing-space, complete with waste-basket and donation-box.
Look hard ! and make a decision as to which "lump" of stuff will be dealt with today.
Put on your music.
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
If your floor is (fairly) clear and crossable, you may continue to deal with "THAT" pile.
Good :-)
More floor today.
Can you move around your sewing-room ?
Safely ?
I mean :
No scrambling over anything, and not having to take mighty tall steps in some places, and not having to make interesting detours because something is "in the way" ?
If you can : good ! Give that woman a chocolate (or other sweet of preference)
If you can't : this is where your focus is today. On the thinges or stuff or whatevers that you have to move with your feet (or fall over when trying to move). The greater object is to clear a path, so that you can move around safely :-)
For those of you with NO TIME :
Go to your sewing-space.
Pick up 3 items from the floor.
Put away or toss.
Yep. That's enough :-) 3 items dealt with are 3 less items of chaos.
For those of you with 5 minutes :
Go to your sewing-space, complete with waste-basket and donation-box.
Look hard ! and make a decision as to which "lump" of stuff will be dealt with today.
Put on your music.
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
If your floor is (fairly) clear and crossable, you may continue to deal with "THAT" pile.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Day # 5
Yes. It's only the second day of September, but we've had some "pre-Cinderella" days, getting things in order before starting properly.
BUT, we proceed on the floor with a repeat of day 1 :
For those of you with NO TIME !!! :
Go to your sewing-space.
Pick up 3 items from the floor.
Put away or toss.
Yep. That's enough :-) 3 items dealt with are 3 less items of chaos.
For those of you with 5-or-so minutes to spare :
Put on your music.
Go to your sewing-space, complete with waste-basket and donation-box.
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
If your floor is (fairly) clear and crossable, you may continue to deal with "THAT" pile (see the chore from Day # 4)
Gold-star to anyone taking 3 items from it and dealing with it.
BUT, we proceed on the floor with a repeat of day 1 :
For those of you with NO TIME !!! :
Go to your sewing-space.
Pick up 3 items from the floor.
Put away or toss.
Yep. That's enough :-) 3 items dealt with are 3 less items of chaos.
For those of you with 5-or-so minutes to spare :
Put on your music.
Go to your sewing-space, complete with waste-basket and donation-box.
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor.
Put away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
And remember "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
If your floor is (fairly) clear and crossable, you may continue to deal with "THAT" pile (see the chore from Day # 4)
Gold-star to anyone taking 3 items from it and dealing with it.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Day # 4
We continue on the floor.
Today, I want you to go to your sewing-room (-space), and focus your eyes on "that" pile.
No ... not that one ... no ... yes
THAT pile ... on the floor !
The one that your eyes consistently passes over, and refuses to send any sort of neural message to your brain about. The one that scares you so much, that you will pretend (forever) that it isn't there ... only it is ... and it actually cause you a lot of stress and trepidation.
Which is why you will now go to "that pile" and take the 3 items that are on the top, and put them away.
Top 3 items is enough !
"That pile" is no longer an SEP-field (and for those of you not familiar with the great works of Douglas Adams, "SEP" means "Somebody Else's Problem"). It has - as of NOW - become your task to deal with in a constructive and sensible way.
Yes. Sorry, but there it is :-)
Now, if you have the energy, time and inclination, you will put on today's music (no more than 5 minutes ! remember that !!) and deal with "that pile" for as long as the song / number plays.
No longer than that !
And remember that "put away" covers :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
Go do it :-)
Today, I want you to go to your sewing-room (-space), and focus your eyes on "that" pile.
No ... not that one ... no ... yes
THAT pile ... on the floor !
The one that your eyes consistently passes over, and refuses to send any sort of neural message to your brain about. The one that scares you so much, that you will pretend (forever) that it isn't there ... only it is ... and it actually cause you a lot of stress and trepidation.
Which is why you will now go to "that pile" and take the 3 items that are on the top, and put them away.
Top 3 items is enough !
"That pile" is no longer an SEP-field (and for those of you not familiar with the great works of Douglas Adams, "SEP" means "Somebody Else's Problem"). It has - as of NOW - become your task to deal with in a constructive and sensible way.
Yes. Sorry, but there it is :-)
Now, if you have the energy, time and inclination, you will put on today's music (no more than 5 minutes ! remember that !!) and deal with "that pile" for as long as the song / number plays.
No longer than that !
And remember that "put away" covers :
1. In it's proper place
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
Go do it :-)
Day # 3
Today is "Floor-day" (we'll have a couple) seeing that you need to be able to move around safely in order to accomplish the rest of the Cinderella-challenges.
Before you go to your sewing-space, take an empty box. You will need this as a receptable for items you want to donate. Put it in your sewing-room / sewing-space.
For those of you with NO TIME !!! :
Go to your sewing-space. Pick up 3 items from the floor. Put away or toss.
Yep. 3 items is much, much, more than nothing :-)
For those of you with 5-or-so minutes to spare :
Put on your music (you picked that yesterday, right ? Right !)
Go to your sewing-space, complete with emptied waste-basket and donation-box.
Now comes the Cinderella-work- out :
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor. Put it away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
Remember that "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place (in the sewing-room or outside it)
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
You may have to move yourself a step or two in one or more directions as the song progresses. That's ok :-) as a matter of fact, that's fine :-)
And what do you do with the "I don't know where this goes" stuff ???
You make a decision, that's what !!
Either it gets a place of its own or it goes !
Don't make this into a soul-searching, hour-long session of procrastinating. Either you want the item, in which case it needs to have a home, or you don't want it, in which case you toss it ! Into the waste-basket or into the donation-box.
And do not, DO NOT !!! dig into the donation-box later. You have made a decision : stick with it !
Before you go to your sewing-space, take an empty box. You will need this as a receptable for items you want to donate. Put it in your sewing-room / sewing-space.
For those of you with NO TIME !!! :
Go to your sewing-space. Pick up 3 items from the floor. Put away or toss.
Yep. 3 items is much, much, more than nothing :-)
For those of you with 5-or-so minutes to spare :
Put on your music (you picked that yesterday, right ? Right !)
Go to your sewing-space, complete with emptied waste-basket and donation-box.
Now comes the Cinderella-work- out :
* Stretch out your hand and pick up whatever is next to you on the floor. Put it away *
Repeat from * to * until song is over.
Remember that "put away" can be :
1. In it's proper place (in the sewing-room or outside it)
2. In the waste-basket
3. In the donation-box
You may have to move yourself a step or two in one or more directions as the song progresses. That's ok :-) as a matter of fact, that's fine :-)
And what do you do with the "I don't know where this goes" stuff ???
You make a decision, that's what !!
Either it gets a place of its own or it goes !
Don't make this into a soul-searching, hour-long session of procrastinating. Either you want the item, in which case it needs to have a home, or you don't want it, in which case you toss it ! Into the waste-basket or into the donation-box.
And do not, DO NOT !!! dig into the donation-box later. You have made a decision : stick with it !
Day # 2
Today's list of Cinderella-things you need to do is as follows :
Yep. That's it.
Now, go do it !
- Empty your waste-basket
- Find a box (fairly big, but still carry'able), for things you find that needs to be donated
Yep. That's it.
Now, go do it !
Friday, August 31, 2007
Day # 1
Your first job in Cinderella-land is to do a little something which will help you a lot !
Find some music.
Yep.
Now, most popular-music songs / numbers takes 3-5 minutes to play, so I want you to find a piece of music that you love, and which sets your feet tapping on their own ! Don't care what it is, as long as it is a piece of "I can't sit completely still while its playing" music. New or old doesn't matter. Artist doesn't matter. Lenght doesn't really matter either (as long as it isn't more than 6 minutes). If you can find more than one piece, good.
And when next you do your Cinderella-thing, you will play one of the songs you have picked ! and your Cinderella-chore will take as long as the song. No longer !!!
Yep :-)
Its much more fun to do picking-up and sorting and tossing when you have some "Can't sit still" music on the stereo (or the MP3-player or ...)
And do not rely on your radio to supply it ! They can be trusted to play all the wrong music for your purpose.
And if you don't have the music readily available in your collection of records or CDs, there are plenty of places on the net, where you can listen to live music you love
YouTube is but one. Yes, I know they have videos, but you don't have to watch :-)
And I'm sure that you, our wonderful members, have other places you know of (and will share with the rest of us), where you can choose the music you want to listen to :-)
So, start tapping your toes, and find anywhere from 1 to 30 songs / pieces of music that will help Cinderella through her strenuous work during September :-)
My pick/s ?
Well... probably Genesis (Turn it on again, and Invisible Touch are present favourites) Police (what about Message in a Bottle or Roxanne), David Bowie (well, Absolute Beginners has an appropriate title for this endavour), some local bands ... and then - of course - Dolly Parton ! Well ... 9 to 5 is perfect ! music to Cinderella by in my not particularly humble opinion.
Find some music.
Yep.
Now, most popular-music songs / numbers takes 3-5 minutes to play, so I want you to find a piece of music that you love, and which sets your feet tapping on their own ! Don't care what it is, as long as it is a piece of "I can't sit completely still while its playing" music. New or old doesn't matter. Artist doesn't matter. Lenght doesn't really matter either (as long as it isn't more than 6 minutes). If you can find more than one piece, good.
And when next you do your Cinderella-thing, you will play one of the songs you have picked ! and your Cinderella-chore will take as long as the song. No longer !!!
Yep :-)
Its much more fun to do picking-up and sorting and tossing when you have some "Can't sit still" music on the stereo (or the MP3-player or ...)
And do not rely on your radio to supply it ! They can be trusted to play all the wrong music for your purpose.
And if you don't have the music readily available in your collection of records or CDs, there are plenty of places on the net, where you can listen to live music you love
YouTube is but one. Yes, I know they have videos, but you don't have to watch :-)
And I'm sure that you, our wonderful members, have other places you know of (and will share with the rest of us), where you can choose the music you want to listen to :-)
So, start tapping your toes, and find anywhere from 1 to 30 songs / pieces of music that will help Cinderella through her strenuous work during September :-)
My pick/s ?
Well... probably Genesis (Turn it on again, and Invisible Touch are present favourites) Police (what about Message in a Bottle or Roxanne), David Bowie (well, Absolute Beginners has an appropriate title for this endavour), some local bands ... and then - of course - Dolly Parton ! Well ... 9 to 5 is perfect ! music to Cinderella by in my not particularly humble opinion.
What this is all about !
Cinderella'ing is a new verb :-) Brought to you by yours truly and courtesy of the WIProducers mailing-list.
The verb, and indeed this blog, is about doing the things Cinderella does before she meets "The Prince". Cleaning. Tidying. And all the rest.
Now, most quilters I know - myself included - have a constant struggle to keep their sewing-spaces tidy. And most quilters I know would much rather sew than they would spend time doing the boring chores of house-keeping.
Still, if house-keeping is avoided for any lenght of time, your sewing-space will be impossible to work in ! and this is the reason behind "Cinderella'ing"
What this blog will do is bring you somthing like a month's worth of challenges, all of which takes no more than 5 minutes ! that will bring you ... no ... not "That Perfect Studio", but at least slightly less mess and hopefully, a plan to keep it up.
I will post a challenge every day here. And if you don't start out immediately, just start with # 1 and go through them one a day.
Some DO's and DON'Ts
DO NOT try to do them all in one day.
DO what you can.
DO NOT beat yourself up for not doing enough. 3 items tossed are 3 less items of mess.
DO pat yourself on the back for doing something.
Oh, and if your house in general looks horrible, go over to Flylady, and check her out. She might be able to help you ... if you do as you're told :-)
The verb, and indeed this blog, is about doing the things Cinderella does before she meets "The Prince". Cleaning. Tidying. And all the rest.
Now, most quilters I know - myself included - have a constant struggle to keep their sewing-spaces tidy. And most quilters I know would much rather sew than they would spend time doing the boring chores of house-keeping.
Still, if house-keeping is avoided for any lenght of time, your sewing-space will be impossible to work in ! and this is the reason behind "Cinderella'ing"
What this blog will do is bring you somthing like a month's worth of challenges, all of which takes no more than 5 minutes ! that will bring you ... no ... not "That Perfect Studio", but at least slightly less mess and hopefully, a plan to keep it up.
I will post a challenge every day here. And if you don't start out immediately, just start with # 1 and go through them one a day.
Some DO's and DON'Ts
DO NOT try to do them all in one day.
DO what you can.
DO NOT beat yourself up for not doing enough. 3 items tossed are 3 less items of mess.
DO pat yourself on the back for doing something.
Oh, and if your house in general looks horrible, go over to Flylady, and check her out. She might be able to help you ... if you do as you're told :-)
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