Stepping away from the Crafty Ledge

It came to my attention while Black Friday shopping that I have quite a few projects in a state of in-between. Most are started, none are finished. A few are still at the planning state. It makes for a messy sewing room.

A newly started, previously planned project that's using scraps

So despite having a new task added by my grandmother (who wants her name on ALL her glassware now it seems), I made a preemptive new year's resolution:

• No new projects can be started until I finish the existing ones and those that have had supplies bought/plans made. 
• No new fabric can be bought until I finish aforementioned projects.

This went a little deeper when I started taking an inventory (pre-reorganizing) of costumes and realized I had around 50, with at least 30 having only been worn to one event (and I count Halloween as an event). But, this takes more than just me sitting behind a sewing machine to accomplish. I need there to be events that happen. So I have no set timing on the next one. I made some tenative plans that can get about 15 of them (I think) reworn. At least that's the hope. But...

• No new costumes until I rewear more of the ones I've got.  
• Repair some of the older costumes. Fix zippers!
• Get pictures of costumes with no pictures!

I used to go one project, one costume at a time. I had a manageable fabric collection that mostly consisted of scraps. While I have at least 3 projects in process/planned that use up some scraps and a friend has expressed interest in raiding everything purple out of the giant space bag...I still feel a need to reclaim some sanity here.

I'm an engineer most of the day so it's pretty natural for me to have moments of "OMG I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF WITHOUT PURPOSE". And yet, over the weekend I was told I had more knickknacks than most people. Define purpose...

But the fabric is different. It NEEDS to have a purpose. It NEEDS to have a plan. It's great to be able to make stuff with leftovers, too. Makes me feel all thrifty. So I have a 5th caveat to my resolution:

• cut down scrap bag into usable sizes with Accuquilt (should easy with applique and encourage quilting). 

SO with that, my current list of planned and in progress projects (so I can have a reference point and if I list it here, there's accounability):

• Pillow from above picture (using leftover white cotton)
• Christmas tree pillow (using leftover green satin)
• Bow pillow (using leftover white cotton and leftover red satin)
• Christmas presents for Dad and Brother-in-law (involves applique, so using scraps)
• Christmas present for a friend(s) (using existing fabric and other supplies)
• Table runner (which I totally wanted to get done by Thanksgiving, whoops)
• Captain America purse (using leftovers from Costume)
• Fix Silk Spectre (attach to old neck piece)
• Fix Sleeping Beauty (corset grommets)
• Fix Quinn (strap fell off, glue came off)
• Fix Firefox (zipper)
• Fix Talho (zipper)
• Fix Lili (ruffles)
• Apron for neice (existing fabric)
• Apron for me (existing fabric)
• Towel dresses for sister and mom (bought stuff 2 years ago)
• Quilts for wedding gifts that were never given
• Wedding ring quilt top/quilt
• pencil skirt #2

I'm almost certain there's more sitting up there in progress.  But see, that's already too many "in progress" items. And this is just the sewing side of things. And I need to start increasing my skills and I want to make more of my own clothes. I'm a hard fit at the time being, so what better way to up my finishing skills.

The above image is the start of a pillow using an OSED design from the 2010 Christmas collection. My Bernina location still had some of those disks so I got 2 of the 3 from last year and 1 from this year (along with more tear away stabilizer than I know what to do wtih...oh wait, I've already used half a roll on Christmas!). Hopefully, I'm gonna finally use my piping foot for it's stated purpose and not just because it's super wide. (Trying to use up scraps here, I have a ton of pipping leftover too!)

And judging by the list, you can see there's still a lot to post. So no worries there. My iron is gonna get a lot of use. If anyone needs me in the next few weeks...I'll be in my bunk at my sewing machine.