Cleaning Up to Be Creative, Quilting Friends Podcast #94

This week I’ve done a major clean and clear up of my sewing room in order to be more creative. This is something I have to do regularly because I’m just not a tidy person. In this podcast episode I share a new perspective on keeping things clean to be my most creative self:

Enjoy this podcast by watching above or listening using the player below. You can also download the audio to your computer to listen offline:

This is the first podcast I recorded in my new sound booth (bedroom closet)! Let me know what you think of the sound in the second half of the show and this different format. I loved rising to the challenge of writing and narrating this week. This has helped me take the first step on a much bigger goal of narrating my own audiobooks!

Click Here to check out the new Ms. Bunny sewing tutorial! I shared a long video on how to sew her dress, and a second video on three different ways to finish the back with buttons and button holes, velcro, or snaps.

How to Sew a doll dress tutorial

There are so many creative ways to play with this simple doll dress!

Pantographs are coming soon! This is just taking a lot longer than I expected, but I hope to have the first tutorial ready on Friday.

I got quite a lot accomplished on my new goddess quilt Eye of Calm. I decided to switch to turned edge, freezer paper applique and this is going very smoothly now, but it will take more time because I’m going to hand applique all the pieces together.

Eye of Calm Goddess Quilt

I’m struggling to pick the last two colors of this quilt. I think this work… what do you think?

And just in case you’d like a picture of the little shed James and I started building together:

Homemade Garden Shed Project

I got the basic idea of my new garden shed laid out this weekend.

This little project is just going to use up scrap wood I have around the yard and be used to hold garden tools and equipment. I love being able to put things like this together myself and teach my son the basics of construction.

Cleaning Up to Be Creative

This week I’m thinking about all my STUFF. I have a lot of different interests from quilting to wood working to sewing dolls and each of these crafts have a lot of tools and materials that come along with them.

I tend to jump into projects on the fly, following inspiration and ideas as soon as they pop into my head. But I’m also one of those people that never learned to put her toys away after playing with them.

Lately I’ve been very busy and distracted, and I can tell because the surface of almost every table, every cabinet, the top of every drawer is covered with at least one, if not two projects in some stage of completion. It’s not Buried Alive Hoarder level yet. I can still walk into every room of my house, but it’s very distracting.

This is honestly driving me crazy.

Because the tables are covered and every room is a mess, I can’t follow my inspiration. I can’t run with that idea that just popped into my head. There’s so much stuff in my way, I can’t make anything.

When things get this messy, it’s like a physical barrier to my creativity. When I walk into a room where I want to work and just seeing the clutter is a turn off. Where is this stuff going to go?

I should clean up, I should get this under control, but when it’s gotten this overwhelming, it’s hard to know where to start.

I usually just turn around and walk right back out of the room.

Unfortunately the clutter follows me to new places like my dining room table or couch. Wherever I park myself to make something, a work in progress and accompanying bag or bin of materials soon follows.

It’s exhausting just looking at the messes. I don’t want to take it on. I don’t have time or the energy. And the clutter just builds.

I start schlepping the junk off one table and setting it on the floor while I use that surface, then I throw it all back on the table when I’m done. It isn’t any fun to work this way. I’m tripping on stuff the whole time. It’s more stressful than fun and I rarely produce my best work in this state.

The fact that I know this, but continue to let my life clutter up to this degree is beyond frustrating.

My current mess of dolls, fabrics, quilt patterns, and Lino cutting materials would probably have continued to build if it weren’t for something new that happened this week.

This week my neighbor started cleaning up. I think the best way to describe this property is a junkyard.

When we first looked at our house, this was the biggest detractor from buying it. We drove up and saw ten rusted law mowers and tractors lining the edge of the property.

The neighbor, an elderly man, had been hoarding lawn equipment for decades and dozens of rusted hulks littered his yard.

After seeing our house, Josh and I decided having a junkyard next door wasn’t a deal breaker. As soon as we moved in, we put up a fence and planted trees to block the view.

That neighbor passed away last year and this week his family hired a crew to clean up the yard.

That’s right – a crew of people.

Because it turns out the rusted lawn mowers we could see, were just the ones on the surface. Everything is trapped under layers of weeds and brambles. A chainsaw has been running all week to chop down the trees that grew up through the middle of his tractors.

They have a little bobcat they’re using to pull things free and get the equipment on trucks. But as they dig out one rusting hulk, two or three more pieces of machinery are revealed. This junkyard only seems to be growing.

It is five times more STUFF than I ever thought was out there. They’ve opened the doors to a big barn and you can see boxes and bins filled to the rafters, packed so tight they can barely walk into the building.

To say it straight – it’s a hot mess.

I’m not sure if the landscaping crew knew what they were getting into. They’ve been making progress, but every day the job seems to be getting bigger, not smaller.

It’s also a cautionary tale that I immediately took note of. It made me think about my stuff and the things I’m keeping.

How much do I really need? And how much is getting in my way and stopping me from being creative?

Because I think my neighbor once was a creative person. He had that big barn after all and he could have been a welder or a blacksmith or any number of things.

But somewhere along the way, he stopped being creative and making things.

He just started buying stuff.

That stuff piled up and piled up and piled up and eventually he ran out of room in the barn and started piling it up in his yard.

And there it rotted.

Trees and brambles grew up through these things he spent his money on. And now his family is having to spend more money to deal with this mess.

I took this as a sign: I need to clean up my stuff.

I got started in my upstairs sewing room. This is where I stash books, paint, yarn, sewing supplies, and my best quilts in the closet. I’ve been sewing Ms. Bunny dolls in this room so one table was entirely covered with dolls in various states of completion, along with fabric, and pattern pieces.

But the problem is far bigger than just what is sitting on the table.There needs to be a place for the things to go. A correct place so that I can find these materials, patterns, and tools easily later.

Too many times I’ve cleaned and purged my craft supplies only to wish for something just a few months later. But no matter how many bins I check, I can’t put my hands on that tool or pot of paint. Did I get rid of it? I can’t remember.

Just last week I started searching for my small collection of Pearl X pigments for mixing with resin. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Did I stick them in the paint bin? Did I take them downstairs to go with clay or out to the barn with the resin? I can’t find that pack of pigments anywhere and it’s frustrating to not know for sure if I threw them away or just misplaced them.

So I’m trying to be careful about throwing things away.

I’m also being careful not to put things away too well, or else I might never find them again.

As I started to clean up, I found three big books sitting on my sewing machine table that should have been on the book shelf. But the shelves were bursting at the seams.

I stopped sorting the stuff on the tables and took a good look at the books filling this space.

Many I’d picked up when I thought I liked mixed media art and collages. Turns out I really can’t stand that messy style. I started yanking books off the shelves. More piles form on the floor as I pulled out dozens of books I no longer love.

Now there’s space for the books and magazines I want to keep and they’re better organized so I can find what I’m looking for.

But now I’m starving and I have to stop. The room is even messier than it started and I have an added trip to the used book store in mind.

This is the thing about cleaning up – it gets worse before it gets better.

Once the bookshelf is clear, it’s time to get back to clearing off the table. I’ve removed the top layer of stuff that was just set on the table to get it out of the way. Now everything left is in some half finished state of completion.

What do I do with a half stitched Ms. Bunny head and ear? I’ve made 6 dolls, do I need to make one more? But it seems a shame to throw it away.

I don’t really know what to do with it. It’s not done. I can’t give it a home.

Then I cleared off another set of shelves where I keep 3 ring binders and found a sash of plastic page protectors. These see-through sheets act like pockets inside a binder.

Suddenly I had a solution! I placed the Ms. Bunny pieces into the pockets, organizing them so I can quickly pull out the pieces when I need them. A quick label on the front and this messy set of pattern pieces and fabrics became a binder on the shelf.

I found many creative solutions like this.

If it’s flat enough to go in a binder – I stuck it in a binder. A lot of projects and materials needed to be moved downstairs so I made a pile near the door.

The hardest part is knowing what to do with the a project I want to work on RIGHT NOW but have no time to work on. Should it go on my machine or in a bin?

On my machine it will hang around guilty reminder of what I’m not doing. In a bin, it will be too easy to forget about it.

I selected one project to rest on my machine. All it requires is for me to wind bobbins and begin quilting. All other projects, even the ones I really want to pursue went into drawers nearby.

If I left them all out, after all, my sewing table would be so covered with stuff, I wouldn’t be able to find it.

As I cleared out this room, a lot of icky emotions came to hang out too. Frustration was like an overbearing librarian, constantly breathing down my back. So many things are in my way.

Guilt hung around like a black cloud. Why did I spend money on this thing? I thought, Why did I start that doll only to stop at that point where it will be very difficult to pick it up and finish it?

Anger nodded along with me as I berated myself, “Why can’t I be a neater person? Why do I do this?”

Because clearing out this stuff forces me to face not just the mess of my own making, I have to face the choices that have lead me here.

I’ve obviously fallen into the same trap as my neighbor – trying buy my creativity with more stuff.

I do this most often when I feel too busy to make decisions. Makings things, being creative, is all about decision making. What color thread should I use? How tight should that doll dress fit? How dense will this be quilted? What designs should I play with?

When I’m too busy or stressed, making decisions like this is impossible. I want someone else to tell ME how to do it. I can’t think for myself when my brain is overwhelmed.

So instead of taking action on one of those projects, it feels so much easier to go buy something new.

I rush off to the craft store and find some new gadget or gizmo to buy instead. Now I have these extra tools and materials and they need a home too. That’s more stuff to organize. More stuff in my way. More stuff to misplace and have to search for later.

This is making me less creative, not more.

I’m sorry, but I really don’t like the saying “she who dies with the most fabric, wins.” It’s disturbing and where do you think that fabric will end up?

One of my friends in college worked at Goodwill and explained that when things like fabric are donated, they’re usually thrown away. Unless the staff at Goodwill know how to package and price an item, it will end up in the trash.

I’m sure my neighbor thought his tractors were very valuable at one time, but I can bet his family isn’t very happy with him about it today.

Creating in a Clean Space

After clearing and cleaning my sewing room, I took a break from it for a few days. Last night I realized in order to finish this story, I needed the pay off of creating something new in my clean space.

I picked the small embroidery project I’d set on my machine. Over a month ago I embroidered the words Embrace Change, my words of the year, onto a small quilt sandwich. It’s been waiting to be quilted and turned into a hoop quilt ever since.

I sat down, planned my design, and quilted it in less time than it took my son to make a small batch of cookies.

As I popped the quilt into the frame, I took note of two things: that was very satisfying, and a lot faster than I expected.

That’s the thing about being messy – when that becomes the usual state of everything, all projects automatically take longer and feel more exhausting. I went into quilting this little quilt thinking it would take hours. It ended up taking twenty minutes.

I had time that evening to finish a second project. I’ve been trying out wood burning on a set of balsa wood doors I designed for Ms. Bunny’s closet.

It’s a weird project. It hasn’t turned out perfect, and even now I’m not sure if I’m going to use these pieces or remake them out of thicker, sturdier wood.

This is the kind of project that can easily get stuck on unanswered questions. Is this material too thin? Will it wear well or just fall apart? How am I going to attach the hinges?

Each question represents more decisions I need to make about this project.

But last night I realized I just needed to complete one task. I needed to burn the design onto the second door, then I could figure out the next step.

Again, this went much faster and easier than expected. It still wasn’t perfect. I’m not very good at wood burning, but it was fun and satisfying to get the job done.

Tomorrow I can answer the question about the hinges, attach the doors to the closet and see if this project is going to work.

I’m at the next step, I’ve answered questions, made decisions and this creative project is not getting stuck in process, but moving forward smoothly.

So this is the lesson I want to remember from this whole ordeal: being creative is fast. It’s very easy and fluid and peaceful, if my space is clean and clear and easy to work in.

I never got bogged down by all the stuff I had to schlep out of my way. I could easily find the tools and materials I wanted to play with. Junk wasn’t falling off the table top or getting clogged in my chair wheels.

I know not everyone works the same way. I’ve met many creatives that seem to thrive in a messy, disorganized spaces. I’m not advising a one-size-fits-all strategy.

But I wanted to share this just in case. Life is busy. Messes happen. If the idea of making something, or finishing a project feels heavy instead of light, that’s a sign something else may be going on.

What does your creative room look like? Is it the mess that is weighing on you, or a series of decisions you need to make in order to finish that project?

Does it feel easier to go to the store and buy something new?

If so, I promise you the weight and difficulty you feel have nothing to do with that project or being creative. If you clean up a bit, give yourself more space, you will find it easier and faster and lighter to work and be your most creative self.

So that’s it for this podcast! Let me know what you think of this different format. I certainly enjoyed the writing and narrating challenge this week and hope to bring you new lessons and stories from the Mally the Maker universe coming soon.

You can find all of the podcast episodes I’ve shared so far at LeahDay.com/podcast

Don’t forget to join in the fun of the quilt friends club and help support this show and all of the quilting tutorials I share online. Check it out at QuiltFriends.Club

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day

Check out more Hello My Quilting Friends podcast episodes!

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

44 Responses

  1. Your story of the neighbor was a perfect analogy. It is is small tipping point between being creative and escaping with more chaos. Cleaning up takes so much energy because everything is a decision when you just want to make something. It is essential in the long run. Thank you for sharing.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you Linda! Yes, I couldn’t watch the bobcat tractor digging at all that rusted junk in the yard without picking up something from the sight! LOL! I’d better not let it get THAT bad!

  2. Patricia Bryant says:

    This podcast about all your ‘stuff’ and creating in a clean space really resonated with me. Thank you for putting the feelings I’ve been having about my ‘stuff’ into words. The story about the man next door and all his precious ‘stuff’ was mind opening.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you Patricia! Yes, it’s been an interesting week seeing the layers and layers of junk get unearthed, then moved away. Let’s put it this way – there was a hill in his yard. Turns out it was actually a valley, but so filled with “stuff” that it made it look like a hill!

  3. Nancy says:

    Your neighbor’s place is a cautionary tale for sure! As someone who makes piles of stuff in every room I enter, I can relate. And many interests = many supplies, tools, materials. They all need to be managed. The sewing room is a constant effort. I find storage bins and a label maker are helpful. And have you watched the Marie Kondo method Tidying Up on Netflix? She’s a motivator. Well done on your clean up.

    • LeahDay says:

      It’s definitely a process! I still haven’t figured out how to keep myself more tidy without constant vigilance. I think it will take many months for this habit to build. The pay off is being able to create so much faster and follow any idea that pops into my head so it’s absolutely worth it!

  4. Susan Fache says:

    This is me!!!!! Sometimes, because my workspace is so chaotic, I just go in and iron all my fat quarters and refold them, hehe. As for your neighbour, all I could think was “I bet there are some awesome finds in there that I could use! Wish I was there.” (Obviously, I haven’t reached the next level of orderliness (eye roll)). Loved this written podcast. Made my day, thanks?

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you Susan! LOL! That’s a great idea just to go in and work on something, even if it’s just pressing some fabric. My neighbors yard just keeps getting worse. It’s honestly looking like something out of a war movie now… scary!

  5. Debra Carlile says:

    You describe this so well. I think this is something that many of us “creative” types have in common. For me, it was a cross-country move that was the catalyst for real change. For many years I struggled to stay on top of the mess: I bought books on organizing sewing space, i bought bins and tubs for storage, I put WIPs and planned projects in small bins, etc. Like you, I do a number of different kinds of sewing and crafts and they all require different tools and supplies. I culled fabric and colored glass before the move (sorry I got rid of the glass now) but on unpacking, the amount of stuff was overwhelming. And I hated the bins because they became catch-alls and there was the problem of where to store the bins. I aleady had a couple of bookcases and IKEA cabinets and added a cube storage unit with baskets for fabric. That made me start feeling better about my workspace and the ball was rolling. I made a rule that I can only have one project out at a time. If I want to work on something else, I put it away. I tidy up every day. I organized my electrical cords. Small things added up and my space felt like a good place to be. I hung pictures on the walls. I eliminated visual disturbances. Recently, I upcycled two dressers: one big, one small. The small one got cut down and casters added and it fits under my sewing table. The large one was cut down and added to some cheap cabinets to make a work table island on casters that eliminates my rickety old folding cutting table and adds even more storage. No more bins. Nothing on the floor but furniture. I know this is long but I appreciate you describing your journey so much and wanted to tell you about my parallel path. What I discovered is that by honoring my stuff with purposeful storage and organization, I honor myself and what I do. And every so often I watch an episode of Hoarders for reinforcement.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you so much for sharing Debra! I’ve also moved to a one-project at a time rule too. Well, one project per sewing machine / creative room. That way when I walk into that room, I know what I’m supposed to be working on. I like your idea of putting it away if I don’t want to work on that project and organizing every day. Yes! Josh has watched a Hoarders show too and it was so bad I couldn’t stand it. I walked out of the room and started cleaning up! LOL!

  6. Brit says:

    Great podcast! Thanks for sharing. Along with clearing up and tidying, I would like to suggest adding tools based on “pain points.” I picked up quilting and sewing two years ago, And I started with scaresly any tools. My first quilt was cut with a scissor and no ruler or at least part of it was done that way. So a mat, ruler, and rotary cutter was purchased. I have added my other tools as I encountered the need and felt the “pain” of working without them.

    Love your podcasts!

    • LeahDay says:

      Very good suggestion Brit! I have at least 5 cutters so my duplicates can definitely be moved, or put away instead of having them all out. Thank you for listening / watching!

  7. Mary in Maryland says:

    I’m 68 and have been quilting for about twenty years. I have a friend with so much stuff she can’t get into her sewing rooms–and she called to tell me she bought 14 yards of fabric yesterday. More than enough is too much. I am sometimes tempted to save duplicates in case things wear out. Then I remind myself that I still have the tape measure I got for home ec class in 1964.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you for sharing Mary! You’re totally right. If your friend can’t get into her sewing room, does she really need more fabric?? I also have my first tape measure – given to me when I turned 8 years old. Some stuff wears out, and then we can go buy another. But having so many duplicates of everything just doesn’t make sense.

  8. Zita Lohr says:

    So happy to read this. I am in the process of reorganising my sewing space that has always been referred to as “it just a shed” by my husband and I have relealized that this is one of the reasons way it has been allowed to get out of hand. He has never appreciated or valued what I do in my space. Now is the time to stop letting his attitude dominate my space. I am sorry looking forward to starting again on my creative journey in my newly refurbished “me” space.

    • LeahDay says:

      Very good Zita! It is not “just” anything – it is your creative space! Start calling it your studio, or your sewing room. Put your foot down when you hear those dismissive words again because you’re right – it is effecting how you perceive your work and therefore your value.

  9. Martha says:

    You really described my conundrum! My sewing room looks quite neat, but I know all the stuff is lurking and I just have so much. My interests change as well, though the woodworking bug hasn’t hit me yet. We are now retired and I’m feeling the pressure on myself to clean out, but what to do with all my treasures is just added stress!

    • LeahDay says:

      I understand Martha! One thing I’m doing is thinking about a project the materials I have could make. Do I really want a new wool sweater? Nope? Then why am I keeping all that wool yarn? I’m thinking in terms of the new objects I want to decorate my house and to live with me, rather than the raw materials that are taking up so much space. Then it’s easy to take those raw materials, make that project, and let go of the rest.

  10. Cheryl Nadeau says:

    Loved your podcast! I keep putting off organizing my sewing room after removing everything in it to paint it 12 months ago! Lol I do find I feel guilty and distracted every time I walk in there. Your podcast has given me the motivation to put my favorite room back in order and to keep it that way! Thank you!!!

    • LeahDay says:

      That’s great! I’m so glad you found this podcast helpful and will tackle remaking this room in a way that works, brings you peace, and helps you be your most creative self!

  11. Sunnye says:

    You and I could be twins in this department but, of course, you are much more talented than I.

    But I make a mess, buy more stuff, throw it anywhere I can find a space and then “lose it” when I want it! I get stuck on a project until I FINALLY decide on what and how to do the next step. I also have many books and patterns on my shelves and in my computer that I no longer care about. It is so hard and time consuming to clean it all up! I have started a “buy more fabric moratorium” and that helps. Makes me use what I have.

    • LeahDay says:

      I completely relate to getting stuck on a project until I know what to do next! I struggle with that a lot, particularly when I start thinking “oh, it would be better this way.” but then I don’t know exactly how to proceed that way and get locked in place. Thank you for sharing!

  12. Kathy Howard says:

    It is good to know that even famous makers can have organizing trouble. I need to pick up now.

    • LeahDay says:

      Oh yes! LOL! We’re probably the worst because it’s easy to excuse the mess as my business. But it’s really gotten out of hand and starting to effect what I can get done. Not good at all!

  13. Billie Shannon says:

    I can really relate. We have a neighbor like yours except it’s old cars among the junk. His kid were here off and on all summer toting stuff away and they hardly made a dent. I’ve also been trying to organize and clear surfaces in my sewing room. Too much stuff. Some of it has to go. I unearthed a dozen rotary cutters when I was toddler proofing the area (no doors) before Christmas. Hanging my head in shame.

  14. BARBARA LEVEL says:

    Wow. Reading this while sitting in my office/craft room and in the next room my sewing room. Same thing. I am old enough to be your mother but we are definitely twins when it comes to this. I watch the TV show Hoarders and get up and straighten up my mess. It’s the perfectionist in us. I have to stay away from tools because I love them. Thanks for this reminder.

  15. Pam says:

    Loved your words Leah. I recently cleaned up my studio with new shelves and storage to put like things together. Like you, I realized how many unfinished projects I had in different stages of completion with no real plan to get them done. I’m now committed to no new projects and no more purchases until I finish or purge the 12 unfinished projects I unearthed. I made notes with each project and a master list. If I don’t have a final destination for a project, it goes lower on the priority list. Now I know what I need to finish, and what’s needed to get there. It’s helping me to say “no” to the shiny new things. And I’ve finished 3 of the 12 projects! Good luck with your continued efforts. I think it’s hard to balance the creative and the practical.

    • LeahDay says:

      I’m with you Pam! The new and shiny is so tempting, but with so many projects already in progress, I don’t think I need anything new at all! I like that idea of balancing the creative and practical. I’ll have to think on that some more!

  16. Char says:

    Thank-you Leah for your podcast. You express yourself very well . I enjoyed listening.
    My sewing space is one section of my master bedroom. I do not worry about straightening up till cleaning day. I have three projects staring back at me right now and they do not make me feel negatively at all. I am caregiver to my Mother-in-law and only have four hours a day free to myself so all the colors and patterns staring at me actually brings me joy. I am in my church’s quilt group which means there are projects that are time senstive. Seeing them laid out keeps me excited to finish them. I do wish I had more time so I could try new techniques more often. I love using my stash and precuts for saving time factor.
    That said I will take away the point you made about enjoying the process and how everything is not about the speed. Thanks for that pearl of wisdom that I can take time to process and enjoy.
    Char

    • LeahDay says:

      I think everyone experiences clutter differently Char and if it’s not feeling like weight or a burden, then that’s great! You’re a projects-left-out kind of person and that’s the opposite of me, and that’s great! I wish I could be like that, but it just starts to drive me crazy when things are too cluttered. Yes, let’s take more time to enjoy the process and go slow if needed!

  17. Susan Mann says:

    I enjoyed your podcast. It made me realize that I’m not alone in having trouble keeping everything neat and tidy. Periodically I clean up and vow never to let my sewing room become a disaster again but my good intentions are soon overwhelmed. So with your podcast as motivation I am again clearing projects off of all flat surfaces in my sewing room. Thank you

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you for sharing Susan! I’m so glad this podcast has helped motivate you to keep the flat surfaces clean. I find it SO much more relaxing and easier to work now with the room tidy.

  18. Joan F Ruffing says:

    OMG! I thought I was the only one with disorganized stuff on every available surface of my home! I just tried to downsize from a 7 room house to a 2 BR apartment. I sold a lot of stuff, but I didn’t get rid of enough. My 2nd BR was for my sewing and (like you) assorted other interests plus a decent place to sew
    didn’ t work out. Now I’m tripping over things and it is dangerous to walk into that room.! What to do?? I just look at the mess and close the door.

    • LeahDay says:

      I know it’s hard Joan, but you have to face the mess and work one foot at a time. Open the door, and focus on one specific area. Sort, purge, or move things to a storage container. You’re probably going to have to downsize on certain interests. I’ve found some things I can let go of and just enjoy seeing pretty pictures on Instagram instead of making it myself.

  19. Rebecca Kingston says:

    Thanks for sharing such a personal story Leah. Reading about your emotions really effected me. I didn’t know perfect people (to my eye) could have the same issues as us peons (ha). Thanks for sharing.

    • LeahDay says:

      Ummm… I’m really no different from you Rebecca! I make a living at this which means I have more excuses to make a bigger mess. And I’m VERY far from perfect!

  20. Dana Lee says:

    Great conversation Leah. I can tell you what I have come up with in my sewing room. My husband and I have converted our “formal living room” into my sewing/craft room. This room is one of the ones that are right in the front of the house after you come in the front door and I don’t want it to be a mess for people to see when they come in. I have tuns and tuns of bins. I use to have them all labeled and stacked up and in a shed outside however, when I needed something I would have to go out there, pull down almost all the stacks to get to the bin that I needed. So, in my new room we made a HUGE quilting table. So I got clear bins so I could see what was in there and lined up the bins. I then made a ruffled skirt and attached it to the sides of the table with Velcro so I could remove it when I needed to. I have organized fabric in one, sewing supplies in one, batting in one, yarn in two, paints in one, etc . The most important bin – the unfinished projects bin is in the front. I told myself I buy no more supplies until the others are finished. It is working for me so far.

    • LeahDay says:

      That’s great Dana! Yes, it’s no fun to have people walk into a mess. It makes me feel uncomfortable too. I’m glad you were able to find this solution!

  21. suzanne simpson says:

    Hullo from Australia. I have only just found your blog and read with great interest this ‘cleaning ” one and all the comments too. How true how true. We are all the same aren’t we. I have been feeling I have too much fabric as it is in a few rooms. I moved house 2 years ago and did cull a few things but obviously not enough. I realise I have had a change in thinking – I now feel I have too much, I won’t use it all and also, I don’t want to. I’m not happy with it all, give away so much to my quilting group for the gift /charity quilt program because I am so sick of it all. My tastes have changed, the fabric fashion changes hence the desire to buy more. Well, I’m fed up with it taking up so much space in my house and mind.I’m not enjoying it either. I am surprised at my change in thinking but feel happy about it. I don’t want it being thrown out, I have spent so much money on it so then I get upset about me donating it. One shelf or drawer at a time, it’s easier that way. I have enjoyed the article and all the comments . Good luck everyone, thank you for reading my comment and remember if you have changed your thinking about it, then it’s correct and you need to go for it. It’s the right thing to do

  22. Mary Ellen Owen says:

    Hi Leah,
    I’m pretty new to your podcasts, but I wanted you to know that I enjoyed this one very much. It is so timely for me to discover this particular one, because I am organizing and purging things out of my craft room. I have an extra bedroom that I converted the room and had the closet specially set up for quilting and other crafts. It was to be a beautiful, calm, and special room just for my quilting mainly. Then things that didn’t have a home started making their way there, and I ended up with a beautiful junk room that I couldn’t use.
    Just this past week I had started clearing this room out, purging things, labeling clear bins for the closet shelves and finding a home for the wayward stuff.
    I’m not finished, but it is again beginning to be the lovely room that was in my mind. The more I organize, the happier I become. I’m excited about returning to quilting and all of the possibilities this room holds.
    You can see how this podcast fit right into my mindset and current activities. Thank you for that!
    Your sound quality is great, but I admit that I miss seeing you throughout the entire podcast. You’re so expressive “in person” and I did miss you for the second half, but I enjoyed it very much nonetheless. Thank you for keeping the household update segment intact.
    Mary Ellen

    • LeahDay says:

      I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this episode Mary Ellen! I think it’s far easier to “buy” creativity by accumulating more stuff, but eventually that stuff will get in your way and stop you from making beautiful things. I’m so glad you’re reclaiming your space and releasing what you don’t need so you have the room to make what you want. I’m actually doing the same thing today!

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