The Aftermath

Well, after a weekend packed with craft shows, I managed to sell almost all my placemats (I have two sets left) and most of my bookmarks. I do have about six tote bags left and several tooth fairy pillows.

All in all, I think that's not bad. It's what I had hoped for, so I can't complain.

Now, I need to think about things. Think about what I want to focus on, what my new line will include and perhaps change a few patterns.

In the meantime, I noticed today that I am now the proverbial Shoemaker.

I have spent a lot of time, lately, working on my novel. I take advantage of my time on the train and type during my commute to and from work, so I haven't spent much time reading. But I felt that I needed a bit of break, so I bought a book on Monday.

While eating my lunch and reading, I was mortified (and ashamed) when I noticed that I'm using the store receipt as a bookmark. ACK! I make one-of-a-kind bookmarks, for Pete's sake! Why aren't I using one?!

As the saying goes...the Shoemaker's children have no shoes. Though, in my world, it's more...the Owner's novels have no bookmarks.

Re-Organizing

I don't know about you, but for me, the Christmas holidays went by like that! (picture me snapping my fingers.)

I had so many things I wanted to do, none of which I managed to accomplish. Needless to say, a lot of guilt went with that.

But today, I managed to cross something off my to-do list. I desperately wanted to clean up my sewing room. It was out of control. So out of control, in fact, that I didn't take "before" pictures. It was too shameful.

But I feel so much better now!

What I did manage to do over the holidays was get to the Dollar Store and buy a ton of clear boxes and some tiered bins. I may need more, but for now, I'm happy.

The table is cleaned up and organized:

I used some stacking bins to store the few things I need at hand. A mini-tree holds the scissors and rotary cutter I use most often. The others are stored in a cutlery tray. Pins are in magnetic trays on either side of the sewing machine. Wooden point turners and seam rippers are close at hand. Rulers are nested in a file folder tray.

I do need to clean up the cork board, but that's another job for another day. I definitely won't be getting rid of the finger painting. That's something my step-daughter, Cathy, painted when she was four. She's twenty-two now, and probably paints much better, but I still have a soft spot for this one.

There is a useless alcove in this room. I have no idea what the previous owners intended to use it for, but Chris put up shelving when we converted this to my sewing room years ago. There's a VCR, hooked up to the television (did you notice that in the previous picture?). It's a little lonely in the basement and since I tend to spend hours down there, I like to have the t.v. on for company.

And check out the retro phone!

I will clean this up a little more, but for now, this is much better than it was. There are some French and Spanish text books, but most of the literature is sewing, beading and general crafting books and magazines.

Opposite the alcove are two utility shelves. At the top are bags of batting and pillow forms. Smaller boxes have miscellaneous crafting items and thread (one box of white and black, one box of brown/beige and one box with everything else). Larger bins hold ribbon, elastics, glue gun and glue sticks, jewellery supplies, cut bookmarks and cut tooth fairy pillows. There are four baskets of fabric in various stages: uncut metres, cut patterns and scraps (which are eventually cut into bookmarks).

It took me all day to clean it up. I took everything out, then brought it all back in as I found a home for each item. I still have some work to do, but I'm very happy and relieved.

It's late, and I know I have to go to bed now, but all I can think about is going downstairs and sewing.

Do you think the bosses will believe me if I call in sick tomorrow?