Archive for the ‘Organization’ Category

What are the Essential Quilting Supplies for Beginners

June 28th, 2009

Quilting is a hobby and an art form that has been around for years. There are many reasons to become interested in quilting. Maybe you are just looking for something to do in your free time, or maybe you are looking for a way to connect with a beloved grandparent.

Quilters often pass their skills down through their families, making it a family event and making the quilts precious family heirlooms. Before you can start it you will need your quilting supplies and this article will help you find them!

Although it probably seems very intricate and complicated, it is actually a no frills hobby. There are a few essential items that you must understand, yet once you have them down, you will be ready to quilt! The first thing you will want to do is to find a quilt shop in your area. If you cannot locate one, any craft store with quilting supplies will do.

If you are a visual learner, then you should consider getting a few quilting books. Books might have step-by-step instructions and even quilt patterns that you could follow once you are a little more advanced. The very first tools that you will need to get are the needles and thread.

Your needle and thread will be very specific and it will be very important for you to get the correct items. The needle should be a quilting needle and you should be able to find one with ease in a quilting supplies shop. The quilting thread needs to be thick and waxed so it can pass through the quilting fabric with ease.

You will also need a sewing machine even if you are stitching by hand. You will use it to put your patchwork quilt together. Lastly, you will need two other small tools that will be lifesavers for you! These are a clear quilting ruler and a rotary cutter.

The last quilting supplies you will need will be the most fun! You can now make your fabric choices. It can be anything you imagine, so go crazy with your quilting fabrics if you want! If you think that starting completely from scratch might be too hard, then consider getting a kit.

Your quilt shop should sell quilt kits of all kinds, from beginner on up. Once you have completed a kit you should be able to take the next step forward. Look for other quilters in your area and you just might make a few new friends along the way!

Want to improve your quilting skills? All is revealed about the quilting supplies at Mike Selvon portal. Don’t forget to leave us a comment at our quilting notions blog.

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Organize Room for More Quilting Time

June 27th, 2009

I quilt, I am a quilter, I love quilting, and I love to quilt. Quilting has enriched my life in ways I never dreamed of. I have learned interesting facts about history because of quilts. I have made a ton of friends; and I have traveled because of quilting opportunities.

To make quilting fun and to be able to start and finish projects with the less amount of stress and to avoid hunting for tools a well-organized sewing room is a must. Here are tried and true ideas and tips on how to organize a sewing/quilting room, no matter the size. If you use the room for other purposes such as an office, craft room or even a bedroom organization can create more time for you to focus on sewing and quilting.

1. Have your sewing machine, ironing board, and cutting table arranged so they are easily accessible. Get a system going so you can take fewer steps between the iron and the sewing machine which will save time and you will be more efficient. Or if you don’t have room for all of these in the same room just think you are getting exercise going from room to room rather than saving time.

2. Use baskets or other gadgets fabric and quilting stores store sell to store your tools in. Place them next to where they get the most use. Be sure to put them back in the same container after using them as this will save a ton of time. If you store your tools in a room different from where you sew, containers make it very easy to transport the tools to where you need them and then they can go back to be stored with a minimum amount of effort or time.

a. For example, place the tools you use at the ironing board near the ironing board. This could include a pressing cloth, spray bottle, pin cushion a small pair of scissors and a measuring gauge. I purchased an ironing board cover with measurements printed on the cover.

b. Next to the sewing machine you’ll need a pin cushion, scissors, seam ripper, waste basket for threads, or you can tape a plastic or paper bag to your sewing table for the threads. Also keep extra thread and bobbins near the machine. A magnetic board to hold the project directions is very helpful. I love my Side Winder portable bobbin winder that I keep on my sewing table.

c. At the cutting table have available a rotary cutter, rulers, cutting mat, pencil, pen, a note pad and pin cushion. Cutting directions for your project can start out here when cutting and then can be moved to your sewing machine area when you start to sew. Either tape them on the wall or pin to a curtain or attach a small magnetic board on the wall to hold them.

3. Sort your fabrics by color and then organize within color group such as batiks, novelty, florals, flannels and homespun. Or organize by lights, medium, and darks within the same color. Clear plastic boxes/bins work well to hold and contain fabric. When replacing fabric put it back where it belongs, this saves time and frustration later. If you store your fabric on shelves you could label the shelf with the type of fabric that goes on which shelf.

4. Vinyl project bags with zippers are great to use for short term storage. The plastic bags with zippers that sheets and other bedding come in also work for storage and are a great way to recycle. They can hold a project, strips or a kit. They are easy to grab and go if you have a project you are taking to a class.

By organizing your sewing room or sewing space in a way that your supplies and tools are easy to find and are convenient for use you’ll have more fun and more time to sew rather than spending your time hunting for what you need. It takes time to get everything like you want it but it will be worth it.

Happy sewing/happy quilting.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Bohn

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Scrapbooking Organization

June 24th, 2009

Scrapbooking Organization – Keeping It All TogetherScrap booking Paper

Scrapbooking is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. It is a wonderful way to preserve your precious photographs and most important memories. For many, scrapbooking is also a way to relieve stress in their hectic lives. But, if you’ve ever spent two hours trying to find the perfect embellishment for your scrapbook page, you soon realize that without organization, your wonderful hobby can actually be a cause of stress instead.

If you are a beginner scrapper make sure that you start the organization process immediately. If you are a seasoned pro but things have gotten a little out of hand in the scrapbooking supply area, there is hope. Commit yourself to taking the organization process one baby step at a time.

Keep in mind that your scrapbooking organization system should work in harmony with your personality and living conditions. If you are the type of person that likes things out of sight then an open shelving system probably wouldn’t work for you. Likewise, if you live in a tiny apartment and only have a small space to work in, large filing cabinets just won’t fit the bill.

The first step in your scrapbooking organization process is to arrange your photographs and memorabilia. Many people assume that the best method is to put them in chronological order, but a better way might be to organize them by events such as holidays, vacations or birthdays. Whichever method you choose be sure to store your photographs in “photo safe” or “acid-free” containers, like photo boxes, to protect them from light damage, curling or discoloration. Read the rest of this entry »»

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