It's the time of year when birds sing, flowers bloom, and people everywhere are Spring Cleaning! The cleaning bug bit me a few weeks ago and I began a complete reorganization of my sewing room. But, as quilters often do, I could not stay away from creating new projects! The fabric calls me...I know you understand what I mean! There is just so much inspiration around in springtime!
This does mean I have MANY new projects that will be ready soon; but alas, my poor sewing room is still in disarray. I will get back to it...soon. I just have to finish one more project. Or, maybe two!
I did come across some wonderful ideas to help control the clutter that so often runs rampant in crafting areas. Enjoy and happy cleaning!
- You can use pizza boxes to store quilt blocks. They are easy to stack, take up little room and keep your blocks organized. Just ask for an extra box the next time you pick up your pizza.
- Have an empty Altoid box laying around? You can make it into a magnetic pin holder! Just get a peel and stick magnetic strip at any craft store.
- You can use vinyl trading card pages for storing needles. Just cut felt to fit inside the pockets and insert your needles into the felt.
- When taking quilt blocks to your next class, you can use a large piece from a flannel backed tablecloth to roll them in for easy transport.
- Empty prescription bottles are perfect to store thread spools and matching bobbins. You can also keep one by your sewing machine to toss used needles into.
- Using a silverware tray is a great way to organize your sewing tools.
- An acrylic suction cup hook on the side of your sewing machine is a handy place to hang small scissors or thread clippers.
- Put a drying rack by your sewing machine to organize fabric strips.
- To brighten colors and remove age spots and yellow discolorations from quilts, combine 1 gallon of water, 1 quart of buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Soak the quilt in the mixture and then hand wash it with a mild soap for a bright, reconditioned quilt. The ingredients make it safe and there is no danger of damaging your quilt.
- A wooden cuticle stick is a perfect sewing stiletto.
- Rather than buy an expensive reducing glass, buy a door peephole from your local hardware store.
- Parchment paper works the same as expensive fusible-webbing sheets and also prevents glue from adhering to the surface of your iron.
