Resolution update: Week 3

Aaaaaaaaand I'm out.  Of fabric boards, that is.  That sure didn't take long.  While I'll admit that I still think that 100 tiny bolts should have organized much more of my fabric stash that it ultimately has, I'm much more pleased with this week's progress!  While I am NO WHERE NEAR the finish line, I feel so much better about what I have been able to accomplish this week.  Working my way through the second (and last) package of comic book boards, I wasn't quite able to clear out another whole storage cube-- but close!  (Just 3 fabrics short!)  I totally wasn't expecting that after the slow progress of last week...  I am so thankful for the visible evidence that I am actually making some progress towards my goal.  It is making me excited to see what I can accomplish next week!

I also tackled the disgracefully messy bottom two shelves I showed you 2 weeks ago.  I was thrilled to finally be able to organize the fabrics I have many yards of, the heavier weight fabrics, and most of my interfacing onto larger bolts.  (Side note:  if you ask the ladies at the cutting counter at JoAnn's if you can have some of the empty bolts that they are going to throw away-- they will look at you like you just sprouted another head right before their eyes.  Try it sometime, it's fun!)   And just so that you can truly appreciate how far I've come this week, I will remind you what my shelves which held these items looked like last week:

Yikes!!!

That photo still embarrasses me.  What a mess!  But now take a look at what those shelves look like today:

This makes me happy!!!

So that's what 100 fabric storage boards/bolts will do for you...  I like it!  But I have 2 more storage cubes and the WHOLE STINKING CLOSET FULL OF FABRIC left to be organized.  I've ordered more comic book boards (twice as many as the first time) which should arrive this afternoon.  I'm looking forward to seeing how far I can get towards finishing this project with 200 more mini bolts. Organizing the rest of those storage cubes should be a piece of cake!  It's the closet that scares the living daylights out of me...  I think before I start THAT challenge, a Hoarder's marathon on Netflix might be just the motivation I need...  What do YOU think?

Resolution Update - slow progress

Oh dear!  What have I gotten myself into???  Have I bitten off more than I can chew with this whole fabric organization project?  I guess only time will tell-- but this week has been a little disappointing...  I ordered 2 packs of 100 comic book storage boards (acid free) to wrap my fabric around (a la Kandra's Corner blog tutorial) and as soon as they came in the mail-- I was stealing every spare minute I could to start using them.  (Not too many free moments this week, though.  Lots of custom orders to whip up...)  I had dreamed of working my way through the first package of boards, and joyfully watching my current fabric cubes emptying out as I loaded the adorable little mini fabric bolts onto my shelves.  I do love the new look, and it's so much easier to see each fabric with this new system.  But I think each 100 board pack (only one side of them is acid free, so I use 2 of them back to back to wind the fabric onto) well, it just isn't going to go quite as far as I thought...  I've worked my way through one whole pack of boards.  (That should be 50 mini bolts, right?  Well, either I wasn't careful enough picking up just 2 boards at a time, or there weren't really 100 boards in this package.  Either way, this means trouble for me...  You'll see why in a minute.)  I love love love the look of them all lined up on the shelf!  Here's a peek:

Progress is good, no???

See how I have been cutting some boards in half to use to organize the fabrics that I have less than half a yard of???  This should help me see what fabrics I am running out of, so that I'll have a better idea of what needs to be reordered with just a glance!  Not too shabby, huh?  Almost filled up the top shelf.  That's 41 mini bolts, baby.  Whew!  I'm really making progress now!!!  Let's take a look at the storage cubes I showed you last week so that we can see how far we've come in one week: 

 

What???  You've GOT to be kidding me!!!  I can't have used up one whole pack of comic book boards for just ONE STACK of fabric.  (I only bought 2 packs, remember?)  Not even a whole cube worth of fabric?  How is that possible-- I don't have THAT much fabric.  I must not be remembering what the shelf looked like from last week.  Yeah, that's probably it.   Let's look at that again:

New Year's Resolution Thursday

OK, I've avoided talking about my New Year's Resolution so far, but since this IS the last week of January-- I figure I should finally fess up.  Accountability, don't you know, is a great motivator.  If I actually put it out there, it might actually shame  motivate me to take some action!

I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but during my recent vacation from my blog-- I've accidentally become somewhat of a Pinterest addict.  I signed up not even knowing what it was, but it didn't take long to figure out that I couldn't live without it!!!  :)  I have so much fun saving photos and ideas that I want to keep for later, and I also get to connect with friends to see what kind of cool things THEY'RE finding out there on the Internet.

It all started couple of months ago when I took an online marketing class.  (Which is the whole reason I even started this blog, you might remember.)  One of the exercises for the class was to start participating in social media marketing:  Facebook (already had a page-- check!), Twitter (sorry, but no thank you.  I just couldn't do it...), Stumble Upon (signed up-- check!), and Pinterest.  I still haven't figured out how using Pinterest works as a marketing tool-- but I have discovered I really don't care because I'm wasting so much time having so much fun there!

One of my favorite pastimes has been collecting photos (pins) of my favorite sewing/crafting/storage ideas.  I just can't believe how many organizationally minded geniuses there are out there!  You are my  heroes, truly.  And I want to be just like you when I grow up!  And so, with all of those spiffy sewing rooms in mind-- I come to my resolution:  I WILL be more organized in 2012.  In my sewing room, at least. 

And my first step towards completing my resolution...  I can't even believe I am doing this, but I am actually going to post the "before" pictures.  (The horror!)   After the frenzy of frantically sewing all those Christmas orders, I usually hibernate during January.   But by the end of January, with tax time looming over me-- I usually finally find the kick in the pants I need to start putting everything back in it's proper place.

My first focus is going to be sorting through my massive fabric stash and getting it in order.  How bad can it be, you ask?  Well, let me just show you:

Well, that's not so bad, you might be thinking.  But I just straightened this area up a couple of weeks ago.  So it's not "organized", but at least it's fairly tidy.  These are the fabrics I use most-- for my purses and aprons.  They have remained this tidy only because I haven't started "creating" again yet.  Since the new year has begun, I've only been filling orders.  I haven't added anything new to my shop.  Creating = messy (for me at least.)  That's where my resolution comes in!  I'm trying to turn over a new leaf.  This is why:

Yeah.  Um.  These are larger pieces, and bolts of fabric pretty much just smashed together.  Not pretty.  But it's just 2 very messy shelves that need some TLC, right.  However, I think you can see why organization needs to be a priority this year.  Still not that bad, you say?  Well, I hate to tell you but you ain't seen nothin' yet...

This is just ONE SIDE of my really very nice and spacious closet that my wonderful DH built just for my fabric.  (Actually, I think he thought we'd use it for OTHER storage, too-- but little did he know how fast it would fill up!!)  How embarrassing is THAT???  Oh my! Somehow I've got to whip this place into shape.  I can't wait any longer!!!  Inspired by this blog and this tutorial, I've ordered some supplies to get started on project fabric organization!!!

From now until I've finished (or until this project kills me-- whichever comes first) I'll try to post Resolution Updates on Thursdays to share my work in progress.  Here's my inspiration from Pinterest:

I've got a lot to do before next Thursday!  :)  I'm excited and scared at the same time!!!  Now if I can just stay OFF of Pinterest, I may just have time to make a dent in this project this week.  Wish me luck!  And, if you happen to have some time on your hands-- check out Pinterest!  You can even follow me there, if you dare.  http://pinterest.com/lauriesgifts/

Have a great week!
Laurie

Treasury Tuesday- Wood you like to be more organized?

I've got organization on the brain...  Just thought I'd get that off my chest.  I will be sharing more about my new obsession later this week, but for now I'm just going to be sharing a treasury I just made today with this topic in mind.  I tell you what-- it really makes me wish I was one of those dedicated shoppers who haunts second hand stores/garage sales/antique shops and always finds that diamond in the rough that they turn into a fabulously cool storage container.  Yeah, that's so not me.  I don't think I have the patience for it.  Usually when I'm shopping, I've got my blinders on-- I come with my list and if it's not on the list-- I won't be coming home with it.  (Actually, lately, even if it's on the list-- I may not be coming home with it...  Have I ever mentioned how easily distracted............Hey!  Look the sun is shining!  Wait a minute, when did I spill that on my shirt?  What was I saying???)

Oh yeah, Treasury Tuesday!  Since I'm no good at finding those cool vintage cubbies and such on my own, I decided to see what Etsy had to offer.  Quite a bit, as it turns out.  Here's a peek at some of my favorites.

'Wood you like to be more organized?' by LauriesGiftsBiz

Cubby Shelf Painted... EliWoodworks $170.00	Wooden Jewelry Orga... bluebirdheaven $108.00	Jewelry Box With Dr... ErinsArtwork $49.99	Handmade Wooden Mak... addressthemess $25.00
sewing machine draw... NayaStudio $28.00	Desk Organizer - Fa... LoveButlerVint... $18.00	Vintage Desk Organi... VintagePennyLa... $17.00	Vintage / Antique W... Seases $160.00
Vintage Drawer Ches... bluebonnetfiel... $56.00	Jewelry Box Mens Wo... AppelJar $38.50	Jewelry Holder Stan... lestudio2 $19.95	Large Painted Ribbo... RyliesCrafts $49.00
Vintage Cubby Cupbo... bluebonnetfiel... $125.00	Vintage Library Car... thehouseofoliv... $215.00	Earring Organizer w... BlackForestCot... $66.00	Mail Holder - Key H... LegacyStudio $24.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.