It’s Time To Get Organized!

For many years I really had no excuse not to be organized. However, this year I am blaming it on our move to Fargo in 2007. My craft room has been in a state of chaos ever since. (Did you know that CHAOS stands for Can’t Have People Over Syndrome??)

With my things in various boxes, file cabinets, baskets, and totes, I spend a lot of time, money, and frustration trying to get ready to stitch. So this year my top resolution is to get my craft room organized. I even started working early on this project during Christmas break. Indulge me for a moment as I share some of the "secrets to success" I found about getting rid of clutter and organizing the rest.

Why Organize?

According to the National Association of Professional Organizers when you organize, you

• Free your mind of the extra chatter and clutter, and unleash your creativity.
• Let go of excess things that aren’t actively adding to your life.
• You feel better about your life, your space, and your work.
• You’ll have time and energy for the people and projects you care about.

If that isn’t enough motivation, have you ever figured out how much being disorganized costs you? Say you earn $8 an hour at work. If you spend a half hour looking for your favorite pair of scissors that would be worth $4. Then you need a size 26 tapestry needle and you only find a size 24 in your needlecase. You spend another half hour searching for the needles. You can’t find them so you drive to Nordic Needle to buy some (or log onto your computer and place an online order.) This has taken an hour ($8) plus the cost of the needles. Next you pull out your floss and it is tangled up. Over the next hour you locate the colors you need and get them untangled (you’ll work on the rest of them later!) There’s another $8. Not being organized has cost you 2 1/2 hours or the equivalent of $20. What would it be like to grab your project bag and got right to stitching? Priceless!

How Do I Start?

There are a lot of articles out there on organizing and clutter control. Here are some ideas I have tried that work for me…..

Have a plan. I make a check list of the areas I want to work in and my goal for each area. This works for cleaning also. I found a really interesting site that says I can clean and organize my house in 14 weeks. What a deal! Check out the 2009 New Year Grand Plan Challenge from OrganizedHome.Com. According to Katie Leckey’s Cleaning Grand Plan, working in small weekly bites makes a big job easy, while printable forms help organize and track cleaning chores (http://organizedhome.com/).

Set a time limit. I can get so overwhelmed looking at all the things that need to be done.

This is a trick I have used for several years. Get a kitchen timer and set it for 15 or 30 minutes. When it goes off, you have several options: stop for the day, reset the timer for another 30 minutes, or take a 15 minute break. The timer does a couple of things – it keeps you focused and it lets you know there is an end to the project, for at least that day! You will be amazed at what you can get done in 15 minutes.

Make it manageable. The stitcher who dies with the biggest stash, is not really the winner! You can’t take it with you and your heirs probably won’t know what to do with it. So, it’s time to get tough and downsize. (This part hurts!) Ask these questions:

• Is this something I truly plan to use, do or finish in the next year?
• Could someone else get more enjoyment out of this?
• Do I have a place for it?

If you find you are going to use it, find a place for it, otherwise gift it, trade it, or give it to charity.

Other ideas can be found at organize-house.com

Keep it simple. Every year I drool over the advertisements for cool storage systems guaranteed to make your life simpler. I rush out, spend lots of money, and I’m still not organized. I have finally learned my lesson. One clutter buster book recommends not buying storage containers until you see what you have and what you really need. I did that this year and boy was I surprised. I have lots of good containers and even some left over that will help organize the garage (when it thaws out in June!) Start with what you have got and then add things that will work in your space and life style. Many of us try to tackle huge projects thinking we will get it all done in a day and then get discouraged. We need to keep it simple and break it down into manageable steps. I want to recommend a wonderful website called FlyLady. She has fun while providing wonderful tools, tips, lists, and more on how to succeed at being organized. Her site can seem overwhelming, but as she says take "baby steps" (http://www.flylady.net/).

Let’s Get To It!

You just have to jump in feet first and start opening boxes, drawers, bags, and whatever other storage methods you are using. Don’t try to do it all at once. I’ll use an old diet saying…..it took years to get this way, so don’t plan on changing it all in one day. After you have decided what to keep, here are some suggestions for storing them.

Taming the Fiber Monsters

I love the beautiful Brazilian embroidery threads, but they sure like to get tangle up.

Keep them neat in the plastic thread storage sheet especially made for Brazilian thread. Plastic Thread Storage Sheet (BE106) A Brazilian skein threader (330-262-0001) comes in handy.

There are some wonderful products for fibers that come in skeins. Each one has its own attributes, so choose what works best for you.

• The Floss and Needlecraft Organizer is a clear plastic storage box is 10.25" x 7" x 1 5/8" with 17 compartments.
• Box with 50 bobbins (6400)
• Box with 100 bobbins (6401)

If you need more bobbins, here are some options:

• 28 DMC plastic bobbins (6398)
• 100 Bestway plastic bobbins with blank labels (6415) (these are a little larger than the DMC bobbins)
• 1000 Darice plastic bobbins (6408) (same size as the DMC bobbins) are on sale!
• Use the handy DMC floss number stickers (6546), 640 pre-printed stickers.

There are several floss organizing systems available:

The DMC StitchBow Organizing and Storage System features 5 unique accessories. Floss can be instantly loaded onto the Floss Holder (6393) which allows you to maintain the original shape and fullness of the skein. You can organize the holders into inserts and then store them in the binder (6394) or travel bag (6396).

Annie’s Thread Keepers are a comprehensive system of floss and fiber management. Simply cut thread to desired working length and insert it in the bottom hole of the sturdy acrylic 3/4″ x 1-7/8″ Annie’s Thread Keeper. A loose knot will hold the floss securely in the Annie’s Thread Keeper yet allow you to pull out your next strand without unknotting the thread. Use the round adhesive label to write the color number and stick it on the space above the hole. When you are working on a particular project, you may also draw the color symbol for that pattern on the label. Place your filled Annie’s Thread Keepers on either a 3″ Project Ring, or a 6″ Storage Ring, or in Project Slides or Storage Slides. The Starter Pac (6381) has 50 thread keepers with labels, 4 project slides, and a 3" ring.

The Floss-a-way (6554) instant organizer is wonderful way to store the thread without braiding or winding. You get 100 5" x 3" bags and 1 large ring. Each bag has a space to write the color description and a zip-close opening.

Darice has a similar floss organizing system (6570). You get 36 bags 4" x 5" with a ring. You can also get a binder cover and two large rings (6569) to keep your bags in good shape. The Floss-a-way and Darice systems will even work for threads on cards, spools or in balls. You would need to have a bigger ring or suspend the bags on a slender dowel to allow for the bulkiness of a spool or ball.

If you have fibers that come on spools, then you will want to check out Spool stockings (6416). You slip this mesh sleeve over your spool and your fibers don’t unwind. If they get stretched out of shape you simply dip them in hot water!

BEADS, BUTTONS and ITTY-BITTYS

There are the things I have the hardest time organizing. I continually lose the individual packets of beads and treasures in the bottom of my project bags. Here are some ideas for keeping all your little accessories under control.

The Beadcrafter’s workstation and organizer (6346) is amazing. Design, work, and store all with one product. It has 18 clear stackable canisters with hinged lids, a flocked bead board, and a large tool compartment. The workstation can detach and lay flat on a tabletop or lap.

Clear bead storage system (6329) with 24 clear, round boxes.

This aluminum bead storage case (6333) holds 20.

If you need something a little smaller, try the Aluminum Storage Case and 12 jars (6331).

I especially like this clear storage box (315-877-0001) that measures 6.25" x 4.25". It holds 40 1" clear vials with easy pour lids.

BE READY TO GO!

Have your projects organized, so your stitching will be ready to go when you are.

The DMC Needlework Travel Bag (6396) is a sturdy navy canvas tote, 12″ x 14″ and will hold your unfinished projects and all the materials needed to stitch, including the StitchBow Floss Holders. Tote has two adjustable handles, three inner zipper pockets, needle holder, and a transparent StitchBow Binder Insert which holds 15 loaded StitchBows.

The Project Tote Bag (370-079-0001) – Tens of thousands of fiber people will attest to the practicality of this wonderful bag. With 17 pockets designed to hold needles, stitch holders, scissors, yarn, and even a special one for pattern books, this bag sits on a sturdy metal stand and can be easily carried over the shoulder with its adjustable strap. Constructed of 100% cotton canvas. Measures 12″ x 12″ x 9.5″.

Click here to see all the bags and totes.

LOOKING FOR YOUR NEEDLES

You may want to separate needles by project, or by size, or by type using needle cases, needle books, and small boxes. Even a needle minder is a type of storage system. There are way too many options to list, so click here to take a look at the needle accessories category.

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Do you wish you had a list of everything in your stash? Check these out:

Dena Selmer is a stitcher and designed a program for stitchers saying "TheStashCan (6930)" was carefully laid out with all the amenities … I used a Needlework Shop’s inventory scheme as a basis for the database. It’s pre-loaded with over 6,000 items!!!!! Beads from Mill Hill…Floss from Anchor, DMC, Caron, Weeks, Gentle Arts/Sampler Threads, Kreinik …Fabric from Crossed Wing and Wichelt…Patterns from Stoney Creek, TW Designworks, Mirabilia, Lavender & Lace, and many more!!!!"

One thing I really liked about this software is the ability to load new categories in order to personalize it. To learn more and to see some of the screens, visit her site at http://www.thestashcan.com/. When you purchase the software from Nordic Needle keep the case the software comes in, there is a number in the case. Load the software on your PC and it will give you a registration number. (There will also be a request for payment but you can ignore that if you purchased it from us). Email Dena with the registration number, the number on the case, let her know you purchased it from Nordic Needle and she will email you back your access code. Be sure to keep that also!

Organized Expressions (6928C) has a software program for Needleworkers. This program has some special features such as a diary to record your projects and will track the classes taken. It will record all your Needlework supplies, charts, books, and magazines with fill-in-the-blank options. There are several printable reports including one you for your insurance company. You can even scan in pictures of your projects. There are some great tools already available such as some of the popular thread conversions. The software is preloaded with listing of threads, ribbons, and beads for over 25 companies! I enjoyed working with this program and it has a great potential of keeping track of my stash. Organized Expressions also has software for scrapbooking and other types of needlework. Be sure to read all the documentation and README files before you begin. I didn’t and ended up losing some of my data at the very beginning because I kept hitting buttons instead of following instructions!

TIPS AND TRICKS

Donating your unused items to charity is good for you (more space), good for the charity (fundraising), and good for the environment (didn’t go into the landfill.) If you itemize, you’ll want to make a list of the items you are donating, along with their value. I usually make a pile of the items and take a couple of pictures, which I develop and put with my list of donated items and the organization’s receipt. If you are audited, the more documentation you have the better. It is up to you, not the charity, how much you show your donations are worth. Goodwill has a great site with some price ranges and guidelines for keeping track of your donations (http://www.goodwillsew.com/page.asp?dbID=295). The IRS also has some tutorials and documentation on charitable donations: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=201076,00.html.

INQUIRING MINDS

We would like to share several emails we received regarding the Tatting newsletter.

Anitra S from Raleigh has been "knotty since 1980". She clarified the information on making the knots and some advise to help flip the knot. "A left hitch and a right hitch do not make a square knot; they make a double hitch or a reverse lark’s head knot. The difference is in the tension of the threads. If the tension is the same between the 2 threads, you get a square knot. If one thread is pulled taught first allowing the other thread to loop around and slide along the straight thread, you get a hitch. You said you were having problems getting the knot to flip when you try to tat with a shuttle; it sounds as though you may be cinching the knot up first (and hence on the wrong thread) or you’re trying to do both movements simultaneously. When you make the knot, relax the fingers of your left hand (except for the pinch), then straighten the thread between your left hand and your right hand holding the shuttle. Straight and tight like a tightrope and like the tatting needle. This should force the knot to flip to the correct position and then you can raise your middle finger of your left hand to make the knot slide towards your pinch." Anitra recommends NOT using sugar water unless your tatting is in an airtight container. She has heard horror stories of people using sugar water, only to find later that ants had eaten the lace. There are several tatting groups on the internet, and quite a few conventions held throughout the year in various locations, so Anitra encourages tatters to network with everyone. Anitra has volunteered to assist readers if they have a question. You can email her at MADTATTER@AOL.COM.

Cynthia S also emailed us about a yahoo group newshuttlesandneedles site. They have classes starting (both needle and shuttle) on January 15. Here is that site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newshuttlesandneedles/. The classes are 6 weeks for beginners and repeat after a 2-3 week break until summer and then there is a break until fall. Here is her blog location: http://tattingaway.blogspot.com

We hope these "helpful hints" make your stitching easier and more enjoyable!

For those interested in using this article or others published by Nordic Needle, Inc., please use this copy when referencing the information:

“The following article was written by Debi Feyh of Nordic Needle and published in their weekly e-mail newsletter. Permission was granted by Nordic Needle to share this article in (name of your publication). For information on subscribing to their weekly e-mail newsletter, visit www.nordicneedle.com. A free mail-order catalog is available to you upon request if you live in the USA or Canada.”