Organizing, again!!!

I wish the organizing fairy would  come to my house.  I try really hard to keep everything organized but no matter how hard I try, I still have a  mess.  I discovered that my thread was in just too much of a mess, I had no idea what thread I had and how  much.  This is a photo of the drawer where I had thrown all of my thread, and I do mean thrown. 

After seeing the neat thread organizers that my friend Becky had purchased, I decided that this was something that I definitely needed.  I ordered two of these thread cases from Connecting Threads.  They are wonderful, there is space on both sides of the container for thread.  I organized it by color, one cases has all neutral threads the other one has all of my different colors.  I still have some spools that wouldn't fit but for the most part all of my thread is now wonderfully organized.

After the thread came working on patterns.  I admit that I am a pattern alcoholic.  I have so  many patterns, some I have used others I just hope to use one day!  I had been keeping them in the original plastic bag they were purchased in a unfortunately had just been throwing them in plastic tubs.  Anytime I wanted a pattern I had to look through all of the tubs.  Not easy, which also lead to purchasing duplicates of several patterns.  I am in the process of putting all of my patterns in plastic sleeves and placing them in binders.  I have some already done, and thought that I had a photo, it must be out there in blog land somewhere.  Now if I can just keep everything organized and get to sewing.

Seam Stick

Earlier in the summer several people in my quilt group were talking about a new notion, a seam stick.  I try to keep up with all of the new notions but this was one that I had never heard of.  What did you do with a seam stick and what was it?  Finally, my friend, Becky, compared it to a tailor's ham and I knew what it was.  I could definitely see the advantage to having one of these, now that a lot of patterns recommend you press the seams open.  After looking up online to see how much they were I decided that there was no way I was going to pay 20.00 for one.  Plus more for the neat little fabric cover. 

 

I went to Home Depot with DH one day, we bought a dowel for 3.00.  DH came home cut it in half.  I sanded the cut edges and had two seam sticks for 3.00.  I dug through my stash and found some flannel to make a cute little cover for it and tah-da!!  My very own seam stick for only $1.50. 

Finished seam stick with cover.

Less is More

It has been a while since I have done any blogging or sewing of any kind recently, and I do mean a while.  (since school started, 6 weeks ago).  It has taken me this long to get back in the swing of things.  The first few weeks of school I was so exhausted when I came home that after cooking dinner I went to sleep on the sofa every night.  DH had to wake me up to go to bed!!  I finally feel like I am adjusted and can start doing some sewing in the evenings.  Last week I got on  a cleaning kick and decided that "less is more"  especially when it comes to closets.  I have four large garbage bags of clothes and other stuff that I haven't worn in ages that will be making the trip to Good Will later this week, or next week.  ( I want to do  some more closet cleaning).  I tried the trick where you turn your hangers the "wrong" way and if you haven't changed them in 6 months you should get rid of it.  I hated to get rid of some things, but if I havent' worn them in almost a year, I am probably not going to wear them now.  These four bags were just out of one closed and a dresser, I have another closet and dresser to go.  Wish me luck!!!

Never Forget

Another BOM

While surfing blogs earlier this week, I came across this new BOM that I just had to share.  The first instructions have just come out.  I have printed them and hope to get started on it.  I never make small quilts and have decided that I need to start working on some smaller pieces.  This BOM is from Sew Into The Fabric.  Check it out.

Enjoy the Day

So glad to have a day off!!! Can't believe that the first month of school is over,  (although there were days when I thought it would never get here.  Hope everyone enjoys this Labor Day!

Girls Night Out

On Monday night, Becky and I had girls night out  Our first stop was dinner at Taco Mac in Midtown, next stop was the Margaret Mitchell House to hear one of our favorite authors, Debbie Macomber. ( I am a huge Gone With the Wind fan, and can't believe that I have never been to Margaret Mitchell's house.  I will definitely go back for a tour.)  It was my first time to hear her speak, and Becky's second.  She is one of my favorite authors and I had been looking forward to this for a couple of weeks.  However, I knew that I would pay for it the next morning when I had to get up for school. 

Front of the Margaret Mitchell House.

Debbie Macomber, the podium was almost taller that her!!



Becky getting her book signed.



 I had purchased a copy of her new book, before heading out that evening.  I decided that I would get it autographed and give it to my mom for Christmas, of course I am planning on reading it before I give it to her!


As Becky and I were leaving I happened to look up and the sky was incredibly beautiful, so many different shades of blues, purples, and oranges.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  The clouds and lights were reflected in one of the office buildings in Midtown.  I have decided that I need to do more girls night out.