34 Weeks of Clean 2019! Week 14- Arts, Craft, and Hobbies

I want you to know that I am not an arts, crafts, and hobbies kind of gal, so this week is just for you all.  You are welcome!  I used to like doing a few simple things like cross stitch, making cards, and sewing clothes.  The cross stitch stopped after my eye sight went south, the card making has Hallmark people in hysterics, and the clothes-making stopped when I wore a dress I made and someone asked how far along I was.  I wasn't!  Now I stick mostly to quilting when I can find a free moment (where DOES one find that?) and otherwise save the crafts for people with more patience and talent and better eyes!

But I do have a few things lingering, plus I have a daughter who makes make quilts for people, so we do have a craft/sewing room.  Well, it is mostly her sewing area, but she humors me occasionally by letting me hang out there.



With a growing tee shirt business she needs space and so we have taken a bedroom and turned it into sewing central.  (with our workout stuff squeezed in as well) It has been a huge blessing and allowed her more space for quilt layout and occasional fittings for the alterations that she does.
                   
                          
The point here, Michele, you might ask?  Think outside the box! 

Be creative with your spaces!  If you need more space, look around and see what changes you can make!  Do you have an extra closet you aren't using? A guest room that barely gets used? Often if we stop and reconsider our spaces and how we use them, we an see all kinds of new possibilities.

This is your assignment this week-


Clean!- If you have a room dedicated to Arts and Crafts, now is the time to clean it.  you know the drill-

• Take everything out, yes do it!
• Clean ceiling fans and blinds or curtains.
• Wipe down walls, light switches, and baseboards
• Clean and vacuum the carpet or scrub floors
• Wax furniture

If you just have stuff in random spots- start here-

De-clutter and organize!
Find all of your arts, craft and hobby "things" and go through them with a fresh set of eyes.  Do you use them?  Do you need them?  Do they bring a smile to your face?  If not, move it out.  Free yourself to simplify and maybe even bless someone else with what you do not need.  Throw out old stuff and resolve not to buy any more for a while.  It can be a freeing thing my friends!  I am currently using some old fabric stashes to make some baby blankets.

Recycle from about your house!  You don't always have to go get more stuff to be more organized.  f you have bins around your house that are empty, use them.  Arts supplies and such can be kept in labeled shoe boxes you can buy at the Dollar Store.



Get rid of what you do not use!  Remember, we are on a mission to take back our houses.  Let's commit to stop holding on to things we do not use and do not need.  I know it is difficult to let go sometimes, but let's not allow "stuff" to take up our heads, heads, or homes!  Give it to a friend who will use it more, donate it to a retirement home or hospital, or take it to your local Goodwill.  Regardless, move it out.  Stop thinking you might use it later and live for today!  If years from now I decide to take a cross stitching again (it could happen) I know where to get a new piece of fabric and some thread. 


Now, I know some of us are still tackling our pictures and scrapbooks (PLEASE someone tell me I am not alone!) but let's keep going this week and hit those arts, crafts, and hobbies area.

Meanwhile - show us your hard work on our Family, Faith and Fridays facebook page so we can cheer you on!

The next three weeks are some hard cleaning and organizing, but also some of my favorite assignments.  Get ready, friends!


Blessings,

Intro Week
Week 1- Holiday Decorations
Week 2-The Pantry
Week 3-Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers   
Week 4- Fridge, Freezer and Floors
Week 5- Recipes 
Week 6- The Stove and Loose Ends 
Week 7- The Dining Room 
Week 8- The Living Room 
Week 9- Books 
Week 10- Bathrooms  
Week 11- The Foyer
Week 12- The Family Room and DVDs 
Week 13- Pictures and Scrapbooks

34 Weeks of Clean! Week 14- Arts and Crafts

I want you to know that I am not an arts and crafts kind of gal, so this week is just for you all.  You are welcome!  I used to like doing a few simple things like cross stitch, making cards, and sewing clothes.   The cross stitch stopped after my eye sight went south, the card making has Hallmark people in hysterics and the clothes-making stopped when I wore a dress I made and someone asked how far along I was.  I wasn't!  Now I stick mostly to quilting when I can find a free moment and otherwise save the crafts for people with more patience and talent and better eyes!

But I do have a few things lingering, plus I have a daughter who makes a living as a seamstress so we do have a craft/sewing room.  Well, it is mostly her sewing studio, but she humors me occasionally by letting me hang out there.  This is my little space she created just for me.

Don't let her fool you.  I think she just wanted me to get my junk out of her way! ;)

But speaking of junk, she has come a long way as well.  This is what her small space looked like not so long ago!

(She would like you to know that the lighter is for melting the ends of ribbon. Oh, and that this is what happens when you have too much stuff in too little space)

It was a tiny extra room in the house we are currently living that cannot qualify as a bedroom because it does not have a closet.  It was a cramped mess and my few projects made it worse.  One day she had an epiphany and decided to swap out her bedroom and her sewing room.  My first response was "no way," like the open-minded mom that I am! haha! Her thought process was that she spends all day in her sewing room and simply sleeps in her bedroom. While skeptical, I let her make the change and now have to admit she is a genius.  Ok, at least she was right! 

                            

                             

The change has been a great one, providing better light, a much needed bigger space and additional space for her fittings.  Bring on the sewing jobs!

The point here, Michele, you might ask?  Think outside the box!

Be creative with your spaces!  If you need more space, look around and see what changes you can make!  Do you have an extra closet you aren't using? A guest room that barely gets used?  In cleaning up our storage spaces we were able to even carve out a small space for my teen son to work on his projects!  The agreement was that I would also use it as a gift wrapping area, but soon after this picture it was taken over by nerf gun upgrade projects and I haven't wrapped one gift yet!  Oh well.  

                                                

                                                               Work space for crafts or wrapping gifts in our storage room!

Other ideas-

Recycle from about your house!  You don't always have to go get more stuff to be more organized.  This plastic bin was in my girl's bathroom.  When they decided not to use it, I knew I had the perfect idea for its use!  My  remaining stamping supplies.  Now, no, I do not make cards and such as much as I used to, and I have recently given away a huge stack of stamp sets, but I did keep a few for when I have more time on my hands.  I WLL have more time on my hands someday, right?

Get rid of what you do not use!  Remember, we are on a mission to take back our houses.  Let's commit to stop holding on to things we do not use and do not need.  I know it is difficult to let go sometimes, but let's not allow "stuff" to take up our heads, heads, or homes!  Give it to a friend who will use it more, donate it to a retirement home or hospital, or take it to your local Goodwill.  Regardless, move it out.  Stop thinking you might use it later and live for today!  If years from now I decide to take a cross stitching again (it could happen) I know where to get a new piece of fabric and some thread.  

Kemi from Homemaking Organized created some adorable crafts labels for you!  I love these and I know you will too!!! Oh, the possibilities!

Now, I know some of us are still tackling our pictures and scrapbooks (PLEASE someone tell me I am not alone!) but let's keep going this week and hit those arts and crafts area.  Meanwhile - show us your hard work so we can cheer you on!

Week 13- Pictures and Scrapbooks

Week 15- The Master Bedroom

An InLinkz Link-up


Blessings,