Thursday, May 31, 2012

Radio Silence

I know you are used to me posting a little more often, but during the month of May, I have been taking some much needed time away...away from the computer and away from my phone...keeping my social network posts minimal...and only taking care of specific BRD business...my dear friend Elizabeth calls this (appropriately) "radio silence"...and I have learned, radio silence can be quite beneficial. Although I love keeping up with all my stitching and sewing friends, I have had a few personal things to deal with and the quiet time has been good for me. Along with countless hours of model stitching and fulfilling BRD deadlines, I have been taking care of our yard and doing some major spring cleaning in our home.

I have been wanting to move my BRD warehouse for quite sometime - it has occupied one of our spare bedrooms for almost ten years. I had ceiling to floor plywood shelving built for my in stock chart inventory and over the years, the "warehouse" has filled to capacity. Once I reached and passed the 100 designs mark, I knew things would have to change. Part of the issue?? - the warehouse is located above our master bedroom and all the weight of thousands of packaged designs was worrying me - BIG TIME. I can't tell you how many nightmares I had worrying the floor was going to give way and I would be suffocated under a pile of charts and rubble in my sleep....seriously....I lost so much sleep. I voiced my fears to my husband, who laughed at me and said we have a sturdy house and not to worry...but that did not bring me comfort. So over the last couple weeks, I hatched a plan and started moving all my chart inventory down to our finished basement - yes, piles and piles and piles of heavy charts down two flights of stairs...and in the process, I learned I need to use my leg muscles more (wow, was I sore!). So all the charts are now downstairs, waiting for their new shelving...and the spare bedroom is now part of my studio. I kept the plywood shelving to help organize my work space and started to move things around a bit. I decided the old warehouse would be perfect for housing my cutting table, my AccuQuilt fabric cutters and dies, and my ironing board...using some of the shelves for my Etsy store items, my shipping/packaging supplies, my teaching materials, and most of my crafting tools and supplies. My main studio room now houses my fabrics, threads, work desk, sewing and serger machines, and my library. During this move, several wonderful things have happened - I have been sleeping much better, I've toned-up my leg muscles, and I am quite a bit more organized...plus I have both my sewing and cutting tables under windows, where I get fabulous natural light...all good great things!






After the major warehouse move, I have been focused on spring cleaning...trying to do one room each day...cleaning, organizing, trashing, and donating simplifying. It is a good feeling...and I almost have the entire upstairs completed...next I will tackle main floor of our home...I will have to make it to he basement by next Tuesday, as it is our neighborhood spring cleaning garbage pick-up and I plan to make good use of the curb.

I have also been working on several sewing projects - squeeze bags for my husband and his friend for their upcoming hunting trip (I'll tell you more about those in the next day or two), a couple special orders, and I have a quilt I want to get backed and binded...plus, I have started piecing some new needlebook/scissor cases for my Etsy shop.

I will be putting in the final stitches on my framed class design for Salty Yarns tomorrow (at least, that is the plan)...then while it is being framed, I will work on the two special coordinating needlework smalls. I am so pleased with how it is turning out and can't wait to share it with you very soon. I am also doing some charting for future class pieces...and a magazine design for The World of Cross Stitching (to appear in WOXS issue 199 on sale in the UK on January 3, 2013). Yes, I have a lot on my plate, but I will do my best to post a little more during the month of June (especially with my BIG AccuQuilt trip towards the end of the month)...thank you for your patience over the last several weeks and for visiting...

10 comments:

  1. You have been busy. Everything looks organized.

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  2. Holy cutters...what a collection you have! :) Everything looks great, and what fun to have it all organized!

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  3. Oh my goodness, Belinda! Your spring cleaning and organizing looks terrific! I know you are beyond thrilled to have your charts moved down 2 levels. Looking forward to seeing the upcoming reveal for your latest class piece as well as the new items for your Etsy shop!

    Robin

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  4. And here I thought I had a lot of stash, between the sewing, spinning, knitting, and embroidery! Wow! So glad that you got the worrying charts downstairs, and have gotten everything organized! And I'm jealous you can have all of your machines/tables under windows... can't manage that here yet!

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  5. ohhhhhh love your organised stash .. and I totally agree it did need to be moved too ..lol that stuff weighs a ton and cooooo you must remind me to get the magazine when it is out over here ....:)
    enjoy your peace and quiet and hope you get all you need to finish done and dusted so you can sleep even better :) love mouse xxxx

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  6. Wow, everything looks great.
    You've been busy! :)
    Marilyn

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  7. Everything looks great! You must feel wonderful (and exhausted!). I'm really looking forward to seeing the Salty Yarn project. I'm already signed up and raring to go!

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  8. It all looks great! I need to take a page from your book, step away from the computer and the outside world and focus inward. I guess the hard part is starting.

    As a professional in the needlework business I would imagine you have lots of floss and fibers. How do you store/organize them? For years I had my floss on the cards but stopped because I was tired of winding them onto the cards. I now use the floss bags, which I love, but how to store the bags is the issue. Thoughts?
    ~Christine in FL

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    1. Hi Christine,

      I am replying to you here, as you are a no-reply blogger and did not provide me with an email address to respond - I hope you see my message...

      As far as organizing my floss - I use bags - I find the bags are the quickest and easiest for me. I actually have the bags on large loose leaf rings in alphabetical order (number order for DMC/Anchor) - then I have them hanging by brand on an old media rack. I told my husband I wanted him to build me something with dowels to hang the sets of bags from and he went out to the garage and brought in an old media rack (for CDs and movies) and it worked perfectly. DMC did a feature of me on their blog a couple years ago with a photo of my floss set-up: http://dmc-threads.com/organize-stitching-studio-emma-friends-great-crafty-organizational-tutorials/ - it talks in depth about my studio storage. I hope the article will give you some ideas....

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    2. Thanks for the link! I think i might be able to use some of these ideas.

      Christine ~ cemond64@myacc.net

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