Spring Cleaning

I got SICK of tripping over junk in the garage so I got mad and I got to cleaning. This is my side of the garage where I park. The top is the before and the bottom is the after.

I filled half our trash tote, organized everything to fit on shelving, and swept out about 1,000 bugs and fall leaves. It will likely last 2.5 seconds but it felt good to purge some items and be able to get in and out of my van easier.

Now, what you don’t see is the dumpster fire that is my husband’s side of the garage. That’s a mountain for another day! It’s time to start the weekend and soak up some sunshine…

Happy Cleaning!!

I Have A WIP Problem

Spring has sprung and I have been cleaning organizing. I got my to bedroom and discovered I might have a WIP problem…..

In this pile are two blankets (long term), enough yarn for three shawls, three pairs of socks, several random cakes of yarn for hats one glove project….oh and a knitted knocker.

I think I need to dust some of these off and either Finish or Frog. But not today George, lol. I think I’ll just knit in another room…

Happy Knitting!!

Procrasti-Cleaning

One of my greatest skills is something I call “procrasti-cleaning” aka cleaning or organizing something in my life so as to avoid work or a task I really don’t want to do.

This week’s target? My home office. I had been collecting boxes and files just on the floor under my counter and it was annoying. So a few dollars at online Wal-Mart and some pictorial assembly instructions I have a five cube shelf. I have just enough space for my bags to the side and all the junk from the counter now lives nice underneath.

The cleaner and more organized space really helps me feel calmer and more productive. And then I can usually get back to the task I was avoiding. Anyone else out there have skills like this?

Happy Organizing!!

Finish It or Frog It

Jellybean is napping and I’m taking advantage of it. It’s the end of the year and it’s time to go through my WIPs in a “finish it or frog it” frame of mind.

Here is what I’ve decided so far..

The Baby Bunting from Jellybean’s nursery…Frog it!! With Jellybean coming early I just couldn’t finish this and honestly don’t have the time or energy to work this now. I’d rather knit him cute clothes now that we now that we know he’s a he, lol./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2036.jpg

A random ribbon scarf from at least two years ago…Frog it!! I was working these for craft fairs, and in which I’m no longer interested. So into the frog pond this went and the yarn back into my stash./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2037.jpg

Fingerless Mits from who knows how long ago made from leftover bits from some sweater yarn? …. TBD. I don’t want to frog these as I could really use some fingerless mits, but I don’t have the urge to knit them currently. I’m going think more on these./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2038.jpg

My Plain Rye socks…Finish them!! These woolen socks are perfect for my cold feet. I’ve finished the first sock and then fallen victim to the dreaded SSS. I’ve put these on my night stand to finish this winter!!/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2039.jpg

Random sock project…Frog it!! These pre-date my Ravelry tracking. I don’t even know what in the heck these are, lol. Nuff said../home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2040.jpgMy Cuff to Cuff Sweater…Finish it! I’m excited to wear this. It might not get done this winter. But get done it shall! I’m enjoying this knit so I’m not in any hurry.

IMG_0679

 

There you have it! My craft room feels so much better already and my project bags are organized and ready to go for 2015. Anyone else out there do any purging these last few days of 2014?

 

 

A Little Organization for My Tuesday

I’m the first to admit….I’m a little OCD when it comes to organization. After too long messiness and clutter make me unhappy and grumpy.  The husband calls me a neat freak. I prefer to think of it as overly organized. And my knitting is no exception. I keep all my projects in bags and yarn holders. I even used clear storage bins in my new craft room! I keep my important patterns in a three ring binder…

20130609-161457.jpg

 

If I like a pattern and can possible foresee using it again. It gets a spot in my binder. I especially find that my notes and markings from the first (or second) go around are helpful weeks, months, or years down the road. I try to erase the check marks but leave the suggestions and changes. I also like to put the in self sealing pouches to laminate them. That way I can use a dry erase marker for the next time I use it. When I’m done I can wipe it clean.

20130609-161507.jpg

 

Joining the binder this week (from left to right) Mud Season, Knit Tutu, Snug, and Shalom Cardigan! I’m such a dork I even have tabs in my binder for clothing, washcloths, baby items, and about four other things. It makes finding all junk all that much easier.

Ahhhh, it feels good to be organized! Happy Tuesday!!!

FO Friday: My New Craft Space!!!

One big item is crossed off my vacation t0-do list, setting up my craft room! I spent most of Wednesday getting everything unpacked and situated. I’ll apologize for the photos. I took them with my DSLR but there is no natural light in this particular room and Photoshop can only do so much.

Here are the before shots:

_MG_0360

 

_MG_0362

 

_MG_0361

 

About half of those boxes are my craft supplies and the other half is just boxes that got dumped in the room as we set up the rest of the house. I’m happy to say that most of the house is now set. We are still waiting on a new bed to be delivered and my parents to bring the upstairs living furniture that we are “inheriting”.

But I digress….now the after photos. And I’m really proud of how it turned out!!!

_MG_0392First up is my yarn stash, all my reading books, and finished scrapbooks. I picked up some clear storage bins at Big Lots and thanks to my all 2013 destashing efforts all my yarn fits in the bins on the right. I can see what I have now and no more under the bed storage. I prefer to organize my yarn by fiber type rather than weight/category.

_MG_0395

 

This is my fabric storage, sewing machine, craft books, and other craft bits. I hope to find a chair so this will become my regular blogging spot. I mostly likely will sew upstairs on my dining room table but will store everything down here.

_MG_0393

 

Behind the door is where I put my old notebooks and my WIP scrapbooks and other assorted bits. I don’t want to store too much here as the furnace is on the other side of the peg board and puts out occasional dust.

_MG_0394

 

And finally our second guest bed and my new “couch” in the craft room. We are getting a new master bed and moving our old master bed to the guest room. So this bed had to go somewhere. It will be a nice place to stretch out and knit and when we have extra company we can pull it out for guests.

I can’ t wait to get to crafting in my new space!! TGIF!!!

 

Viva La Vacation!!!

Today marks the beginning of 10 days of freedom from the big kid job!!! I have to take five consecutive business days once a year and since we have the new house I couldn’t think of a better time. I have a mini vacation to-do list:

1. Visit my best friend who also just bought a new house and is expecting her first baby later this year

2. Visit my college friends who had a baby 2 months ago and whom I have not yet visited (I’m a terrible friend)

3. Start Stashbustin #15 and work at least two color stripes

4. Finish my Snug baby sweater (Stashbustin’ #16)

5. Finish my Mud Season #2 sweater (Stashbustin’ #17)

6. Walk 2 miles a day with the puppies

7. Get back to my regular Mon/Wed/Sat classes at the Gym….I really miss my fitness ladies

8. Start the set up of my craft room….my very own craft room!!! (I don’t have all the necessary storage devices as we are bit tight in our budget and can’t afford them yet. But I need to do some cleaning and sorting before I get to putting away anyway)

I may or may not get all this done….but I like having goals that stretch me. Wish me luck!!!