PING:Nel

Thanks Leslie. I have two small boxes with drawers (I think I stole them
from DH!) with small things in them. I didn't label but, I have a directory
of just what's where. I am making a huge dent in the big over all mess! :-)

Nana

"Leslie& The Furbabies in MO." wrote in message
...
One of my favorite organizing 'things' is for my s/m needles. I found a
package of twelve small plastic containers- about 2X2 in. and 1 in. deep-
for $1. I sorted all my s/m needles and labeled each little container-
like Embroidery size 12, Metallica size 14, double needles & misc., etc.
The little containers go inside a larger plastic tub.

Whichever ever needle is currently in the s/m, I leave the top off the
little container inside the larger one- that way I know what needle is in
the s/m and approx. how long it's been used by the current project. Then
I can decide whether to toss the used needle or leave it outside the
needle packaging within it's little container to indicate the needle is
used but still useable. The lid on the larger tub keeps all organized and
neat. It sounds much more involved than it is!

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...60435514iwuSDL

Being organized is sooooo nice- keeping it that way.... not so much! ;-)

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

"Sartorresartus" wrote in message
...
If you've got this far, you're doing a great job. Look at those
before photos and see where you've been. And don't forget there will
be that horrible stage where things look worse than they did when you
started and the more you do, the more you seem to have left.

I put everything in boxes. Rememeber I am running a rearguard action
against things that fly crawl and chew! But I went by the same motto
as you. It's usually the gadgets that can't be catagorized. So I
have a rack I got from a closing-down card shop and I have put them
all into smaller stacking boxes on those shelves. The 'really' last
little bits get put in one box of 'last little bits' and then I know
where they are. Some things got stuffed in boxes-for-that-craft when
I ran out of ideas; so lace prickers went in with lace thread and the
shade-cards for Appleton's wools went with the wools.

I still have some boxes like the ribbons and buttons ones and the
scraps-that-need-to-be-decided-on that still need internal sorting,
but I have left those for cosy nights beside the fire in the winter,
where I can get down on the floor and decide on the criteria for
sorting them. The ribbons are mostly wound on cards and lined up, but
the buttons are all in a heap. They may stay that way. I quite like
the multicoloured shale of them.

What are the 'bits' of which you speak? Odd bits of elastic and one
inch pieces of velcro or half used needles and that odd holepunch for
leather?

I've put all the velcro together in a box of 'fastenings' that include
hooks, eyes, press-studs, fur-bars, frogs and clasps. Then I ended up
with lots more velcro that I thought I could possibly own (never
enough of the right side though ) so it got presented with its own
box. I have used these Useful Boxes that come in loads of sizes. I
got them on sale or return from Staples (DH calls Staples my Drug-of-
Choice! and asks me if I am going to 'use') and the investment was
well worth it. They all stack together, and some go inside each
other. All good stuff.

Holepunches and prodders and wheels and stuff all went in trays in a
box. I even have a box of boxes and tins and cartridge cases in-case-
they-come-in-handy. =D Couldn't throw those away, could I?

Lastly, the UFOs are sorted into projects with the fabric and pattern
(IF I think I will get around to them) and sorted away into their
constituent parts if I honestly don't. THAT was SO liberating! Some
even have got finished now. Others are moving up the list.

You can do it, but Rome wasn't built in a day. And beware the place I
got to... where everything was so tidy I didn't dare touch anything!
The room was sterile for about a fortnight until I made myself go in
and DO something. It's friendly now, but not yet cosy. That will
come, but productivity is improving.

Take care,
Nel
(Gadget Queen)

On Aug 21, 2:37*pm, "Nana.Wilson" wrote:
Nel, you are STILL my inspiration in the clearing and cleaning of the
sewing/creating space. *I have been s-l-o-w-l-y cleaning /clearing my space.
(I still have TOO MUCH! Another story for 'nother time! ) I CAN see some
improvement. *Now my question is: what to do with the last bits when you are
nearing the end of the chore? *I have taken the 'befores' pics but can't
seem to get to the taking of the 'afters'sigh I have small areas of what I
call tiny messes. Stuff I can't figure out just were to put. I am working on
the adage, 'everything in its place' sort of, everything should have a home,
like things together. *How did you manage the last few items? *It feel to me
like loosing the last ten pounds AGAINshrug

Nana... in need of some pushing * PLEASE???

Nel has done the most incredible job on her sewing room. I was up
here a few months ago: musty from lack of use, dusty and muddled, with
things just dumped here out of the way...

For the past two days I have been working up here. I brought my
little Elna Lotus Stellla Air Electronic (though there was really no
need:Nel has both her Bernina and her old Cub 4), and while she has
sorted lace and ribbons, and cut strips and pieces for a quilt, I have
sewed the lace on my saque gown petticoat, sewed my linen petticoat
together, and almost completed my lilac caraco jacket! There is space
to sew, space to set up the pooters so we can talk to you, and space
to sit in comfort! We have a large table to spread things on, and the
sewing tables at the edges, plenty of power, and furry company when we
want it!

I needed to get on with some of my garment projects so that I am all
set for next weekend, when the Mad Sewists of the Apocalypse have
another coven meet, otherwise I'd have brought along something like my
mum's lap quilt to work on. This room is definitely becoming a
quilter's retreat and sanctuary. There is a little structural work
required, and a bit more drying time (NOT happening today! It's
widdling down like a waterfall out there! The men were going to go up
ladders and clear gutters, but NOT TODAY!), and then paint and plaster
can be made good.

So, Nel's monumental clear-out and clean up is working. I am
inordinately pleased about this.

OKay Kate!! When can you come to my house & help me get my sewing/computer
room finished? It is like this every where in me house.........almost but
not quite done & organized, littles piles of 'I don't have a home so I'll
hang out here or there'. Just eye sores

Nana ...........ploding along ~*~*~*~Do you desire chocolate en mass for
your visit?


"Kate XXXXXX" wrote in message
...
On Aug 21, 2:37 pm, "Nana.Wilson" wrote:
Nel, you are STILL my inspiration in the clearing and cleaning of the
sewing/creating space. I have been s-l-o-w-l-y cleaning /clearing my
space.
(I still have TOO MUCH! Another story for 'nother time! ) I CAN see some
improvement. Now my question is: what to do with the last bits when you
are
nearing the end of the chore? I have taken the 'befores' pics but can't
seem to get to the taking of the 'afters'sigh I have small areas of what
I
call tiny messes. Stuff I can't figure out just were to put. I am working
on
the adage, 'everything in its place' sort of, everything should have a
home,
like things together. How did you manage the last few items? It feel to me
like loosing the last ten pounds AGAINshrug

Nana... in need of some pushing PLEASE???

Nel has done the most incredible job on her sewing room. I was up
here a few months ago: musty from lack of use, dusty and muddled, with
things just dumped here out of the way...

For the past two days I have been working up here. I brought my
little Elna Lotus Stellla Air Electronic (though there was really no
need:Nel has both her Bernina and her old Cub 4), and while she has
sorted lace and ribbons, and cut strips and pieces for a quilt, I have
sewed the lace on my saque gown petticoat, sewed my linen petticoat
together, and almost completed my lilac caraco jacket! There is space
to sew, space to set up the pooters so we can talk to you, and space
to sit in comfort! We have a large table to spread things on, and the
sewing tables at the edges, plenty of power, and furry company when we
want it!

I needed to get on with some of my garment projects so that I am all
set for next weekend, when the Mad Sewists of the Apocalypse have
another coven meet, otherwise I'd have brought along something like my
mum's lap quilt to work on. This room is definitely becoming a
quilter's retreat and sanctuary. There is a little structural work
required, and a bit more drying time (NOT happening today! It's
widdling down like a waterfall out there! The men were going to go up
ladders and clear gutters, but NOT TODAY!), and then paint and plaster
can be made good.

So, Nel's monumental clear-out and clean up is working. I am
inordinately pleased about this.

On 24/08/2010 12:34, Nana.Wilson wrote:
OKay Kate!! When can you come to my house& help me get my sewing/computer
room finished? It is like this every where in me house.........almost but
not quite done& organized, littles piles of 'I don't have a home so I'll
hang out here or there'. Just eye sores

Mine too! Things keep happening after I get tidied up...

Now that I'm home again, I have 3 pairs of trousers to alter for Auntie
Mo Next Door, the internal structure for a wedding dress to put together
and the toile to sew, beds to make up for the weekend, the GMNT comes
home after two weeks at annual camp on Friday, and the Bank Holiday
weekend is full of guests! Sp food to make and the sewing areas to set
up properly, so three of us can sew at once!

And I'm swimming at seven thirty tomorrow, and going out for lunch on
Sunday. Best call me again after February!

Nana ...........ploding along ~*~*~*~Do you desire chocolate en mass for
your visit?

I no longer eat much chocolate. It tends to have an explosive effect on
my innards in anything other than small and well spaced portions!


--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Glad you are home safely. It was a good weekend.

Lots of new toys to play with... but not too many!

Thank you for saying nice things about my heaven. It was a really
emotional road I had to travel to get to this point.

And we are tackling this house one room (part of room/cupboard) at a
time.

Last year it was the cupboard under the stairs and DS's room. This
year has been my sewing room.

We still have the Study; hayloft and stable and the garage to deal
with. Oh and we need to empty the conservatory (aka last Resort)
before the storms of winter take the roof off completely.

It's a big house, yes, lovely. But we have a family who have down-
sized, dumping all their belongings on us for storage.

And then they demand we be bandbox pristine and tidy. It just doesn't
happen.

And looking at it all just defeats me.

But one room down certainly feels like a good start.

Nel
(Gadget Queen)

On 25/08/2010 09:07, Sartorresartus wrote:
Glad you are home safely. It was a good weekend.

Lots of new toys to play with... but not too many!

Thank you for saying nice things about my heaven. It was a really
emotional road I had to travel to get to this point.

And we are tackling this house one room (part of room/cupboard) at a
time.

Last year it was the cupboard under the stairs and DS's room. This
year has been my sewing room.

We still have the Study; hayloft and stable and the garage to deal
with. Oh and we need to empty the conservatory (aka last Resort)
before the storms of winter take the roof off completely.

It's a big house, yes, lovely. But we have a family who have down-
sized, dumping all their belongings on us for storage.

And then they demand we be bandbox pristine and tidy. It just doesn't
happen.

And looking at it all just defeats me.

But one room down certainly feels like a good start.

Nel
(Gadget Queen)

Next time we'll bring paint and rollers!

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!