Sunday, January 16, 2011

Still cleaning..........

When I talk about cleaning for 4 days before my art quilters' group comes, I'm not talking about vacuuming.  My dilemma is always 'where to put all of the stuff'.  I'm a visual person.  Put something away behind closed doors or in a drawer, and I forget about it.  Having 'stuff' out all around me in my studio is the way I am and it sparks my creativity.  So when company is coming, it is time to round it all up, organize it, put it somewhere that I will remember, and start fresh with clean tables after they leave.  It's a good thing I have company on a regular basis or I probably wouldn't tackle this mess.  The basement has just one more table to clean off, and then we have to hope the weather is going to cooperate so they can come Monday.

25 comments:

Deborah OHare said...

Good luck with that cleaning Wanda!
Deborah

Sewing Junkie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mary said...

My sewing room doubles as a second guest room that is used when our grandsons visit. If I didn't have to make room for air mattresses from time to time, mine would never get cleaned up either. Good luck on meeting you deadline for cleaning and I hope the weather cooperates!

Jody said...

you are talented AND smart - how I wish that I could successfully clean my space so as to see the floor!

Quiet Quilter said...

I like to have things out where I can see them also. I work on this group of fabric, then that group, and then the other in the corner...eventually the groups change and I continue on....

Have fun with your company ..crossing fingers about the weather.

Sewing Junkie said...

I left such a grammatical mess on the first post I deleted it. I am glad to see others have the creative nature to spread out and use every inch of their space. Good luck with the cleaning. Chris

Cedar Ridge Studio said...

I am right there with you. Out of sight out of mind.
My stuff is spread out over the whole basement.
When Christmas or another event happens it all gets stuffed in closets and drawers to be discovered again when I am again by myself.
I find myself more creative when I can see everything.
Have a good day Wanda.
Mary Ann

Unknown said...

So funny, that is exactly what I mean by cleaning too!

Anonymous said...

I know just how that is!

I have a very informal gathering of quilting friends at my house every six weeks or so (whenever the five of us can agree on a date), and I use that as an incentive to do some cleaning up, too. It's less about putting fabric away -- it's a social group, not a working group -- but really, I feel better if I take time to vacuum the thread bits off the sewing room floor and clear any accumulated mail off the dining room table.

There's nothing like looking at a big jumble of fabric and thinking, "Wow, look at those two fabrics together!" Now that I have a Happy Wall -- inspired by you, by the way -- I'll be able to sew some of those combinations together and just put them up to enjoy!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

Know what you mean, I bet we all have stuff out on our tables - I had mine all cleaned up last month - it isn't now!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Dottie's Daughter said...

As an apartment dweller I use the dining room as a sewing "studio" so it can never get too bad but I would love a room with a door and I'm sure it would be a total disaster.

Vivian said...

Knowing that company is coming is the push I need as well. A separate quilting room would be my dream situation, but sewing on the dining room table does give me that cleaning shove now and then.
I would enjoying seeing your working "stuff" out and around your home--they would look like familiar friends from all the wonderful projects you share with us.

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

I know what you mean about if you can't see it you forget about it. That is why when I cleaned and reorganized, I got rid of all the boxes, and put in more bookshelves. I need to be able to see everything at once. You can do it, keep up the good work.

Vicki W said...

I'm the same, I like to have the stuff around me. But I invite people over just so I make myself clean it up periodically!

Sequana said...

Where are the pics of the cookies? *S*

Anonymous said...

Your sewing table made me feel so good. Today's post really hit home. I'm just like you with putting something away and forgetting about it. Plus needing the visual to spark creativity.

Wish I was a little mouse when your Art Quilters come in.

J~MT

Terri said...

Mine's a mess too, as I revealed a few posts ago, but it is mine. So company might be invited to come in and look at a quilt on the wall, but they are not there for very long. I keep my current project in flux and UFOs are in seperate box lids with the patterns, if any, and the fabric being used. It all works for me, but the cleaning part. It takes so much time, I hate to devote that much time to losing my momentum - which is no way as good as yours.
Terri

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I find that if I don't clean up fairly regularly, I just don't "see" what I have out to inspre me any more. I guess my eye gets used to seeing it there and it doesn't register. So, cleaning up is a good thing! Hope you have good weather and lots of fun with your art quilters.

Sherrill said...

That's MY problem..finding it after I've put it away! That's why I hate to put stuff away!! LOL

mad elena said...

Exactly the same here! Wish it wasn't so through the rest of the house too. I don't have people over so clean up gets put off and off and off. . . LOL.

Vicky F said...

Hi Wanda,
I'm with you. I "lose" projects when they are put away for other people. As soon as the company leaves, out come my projects again.
Hoping for good weather for you (or at least driveable). They're talking a nasty mix of snow/sleet/freezing rain for us for the drive home tomorrow and for Tuesday. I'd rather have straight snow.
Have fun with your group!
VickyF

Sharon said...

I'm the same way too. I think it's because most quilters are visual learners - we have to see the fabrics, etc. to have the ideas come. My sewing room only gets cleaned when it's so messy I can't move in it!

I have 7 under-the-bed boxes full of projects that got put away for one reason or another, and then I forget to ever look at them again. It's not a good system. But I do have a master sheet of what's in each box, so I can find the projects again.

Good luck with the cleaning and I hope your weather cooperates!

Cathi said...

My corner of the living room that is my designated sewing area is almost always a glorious mess. But I've started cleaning it up this weekend. This time I"m determined to keep it tidy. Who knows how long that will last!
Hope your weather cooperates and it isn't as cold as it has been here.

Leslie said...

I understand the need to see it all around me. My shelves are open, both in the closets and around the room. Even our garage is like that. If I can't see it, it isn't there!!!

hilary said...

Wow,I just got a glimpse of your stash. You must have a gazillion yds. No wonder you can cut up so much yardage. Boy,do I ever have stash envy. You make such wonderful quilts and I love the variety you have in them. Don't worry about chaos. If that's how you create, leave it out. That's your room, others will have to adjust. They're very lucky you have them over. I wouldn't care what state your sewing room was in. I'd just love being there surrounded by all that creativity.