Over the last few months, I've been trying to organize the ole studio a bit, update a few things, and generally just freshen up. Nothing is really profound, but still, these things have made me happy.
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>> New pins. I made a point of going through all my pincushions and tossing any bent or rusted ones. How do they rust over time? I'm not sure, but I was tired of dealing with them. I tried the following, all recommended by quilting friends. They all felt a little fragile to me, or maybe I'm just a rough pinner. Basically, I think I'm just used to a thicker pin, and still on the look out for others to try, so suggestions welcome.
>> New rotary mat & cutter. Oh my cutting board was really showing some wear, and I found a great sale on a new brand to try by Quilters Select [https://youtu.be/sVPWP9UgRzw] at my local sewing machine repair shop. While I was at it, I went ahead and purchased a new rotary cutter, which I'm still getting used to. I'm not going to say I don't like it, but it works different than I'm used to, so I'm real conscious of using it safely.
>> Aurifil thread cases. Besides the beautiful threads, another benefit of being an Aurifil Artisan was that occasionally, there were extra thread cases available. I was able to receive two, which was just enough to really sort and better organize my thread stash. For the first time, I sorted solely by color, mixing the various weights of large spools together. AND I ordered several spools I was running low on, 50wt for piecing, and 40wt for quilting.
Thanks for sharing your organizing tips! Good pin choices, I like those too. And your ironing table is clever, yes! The cover fabric looks good with everything around it.
ReplyDeleteI have an old mint tin that I use for bent needles, pins, and used rotary blades. When it is full, it will be securely wrapped before I discard it. I also have a magnetic pin holder that has been a game changer. I separate my scraps by color and stash them in some plastic bins I found at Target. That made life much simpler. I need to refresh the cover of my pressing table soon!
ReplyDeleteOh, getting your thread organized by color looks really handy and functional - that's something that helps me a lot, too. I'll actually be sharing about an update I was sent to try on Monday; the Quilt Keeper sent me a set of Cascades to add to my Quilt Keeper so now I have 3 quilts hanging on display on my door in the studio.
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoy seeing how you're refreshing your space! I related to several things you are doing... like pins. I keep using bent ones to measure spaces, and those just aren't doing the job. (Sheesh Linda, just throw them away!) And your ironing board cover. I'm always surprised when a quilter uses a print for an ironing board cover. I guess it's just me, but I prefer a plain (preferably white) surface on which to press fabric. I'm afraid I might use the print - see it's pattern and/or lines - and think I had a stain. I also use the white surface as a background for photos. Apparently you do not. After seeing your new cutting mat and rotary cutter, I'm inclined to get a new 45mm cutter too. The Olfa one I have has never worked properly; the blade edge can't be "hidden." It has been a safety hazard since the day I bought it. And, I think I need a couple new rulers. Dontcha think that 30 years of rotary cutting using the same rulers would make them less than precise? :-)
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