My Thoughts

How do you store your thread?  Ever been asked that question? Lately, I have, several times.  About 6 months ago - I decided to purchase plastic bins with lids that could be stacked. I purchased a bin per color - red, black, green, purple, orange, red, yellow - if the bin was full - that meant I had plenty of thread.  Probably more thread than I will use in a life time.  I bundled the remaining thread up - and donated it to a group who makes survival blankets, stuffed animals and such for children who have been picked up by CPS.  I was told these things also are carried in Police Cars and given to children at accidents to help calm them down.   In sorting the threads this way, they are no longer tangled and twisted together. I purchased thread socks to go over each.  If you can't afford the thread socks, purchase a package of notebook paper hole reinforcements - they aren't overtly sticky nor pricey, therefore the sticky won't mess up the thread it touches and can hold the thread together to keep it from unwinding.   Along with my last suggestion of making your own kits, now thread storage - we're well on the way to clearing our space and organizing our work areas. . . Happy Organizing! LinMarie "It Could've Been Worse"   After jumping out of my van to run to the lady in the red car, my heart racing seeing all the cracked windows and air bags, I was more than relieved that she was Okay.  I looked for a child who might've been riding in the passenger seat since the window was all cracked and shattered.  There was no one else in the vehicle but her.  Something had flown forward and damaged the window.  That was a relief.  She was fine, she said.  I looked in her hands....her cell phone..."Were you on your cell phone?" I asked.  "Well I just now hung up." she responded.   I was not impressed with her unwillingness to share her name and insurance information, though, by law, I was entitled to.  I truly believe she felt she wasn't in the wrong. I was not impressed with being stranded by DPS out in the middle of no where without them asking someone to get me a wrecker as he had for the girl. I was not impressed with the curt rudeness of  the husband - though he did later come back and apologize for his behavior.   I was furious and even sick to my stomach that something so trivial as a non-emergency phone call would take away someone's attention so quickly that they would cause this much damage to my trailer, van, shelving and merchandise.  But most importantly, when I got to Jess and he was holding his back - my heart fell to my feet.  I was relieved.  I was relieved that he was walking and talking and that he wasn't hurt nearly as bad as he could've been.  His injury may take some time to heal the muscles and the soreness - but he's alive and walking and talking - for that I am grateful.   Insurance companies normally are not easy to deal with.  Her insurance took 100% liability.  I must say, though I dealt with a newbie adjuster, that I was treated with respect and compassion.  They realized what I was going through.  They realized how important it was for my livelihood to get me back on the road to sales again.  They tried to work as quickly as they could and they are still working with me.   Though I was emotionally upset during most of the experience - worried that Jess doesn't have insurance and the hospital first denied him treatment until I stepped up and said I'd pay for it - thinking and trying to figure out where and how I was going to get to the shows that are on my list - it dawned on me that I'm always saying, "there's a rhyme and a reason to everything even though we don't understand what it is at the time."  That thought seemed to relax me - I look at the material things that were lost or damaged, I know I'm going to be reimbursed for them, they can be replaced - but Jess or that young lady couldn't be.  I cried in shame that I was so angry at her and started thanking God that neither were no more hurt than they were - and I realized - "it could've been worse."  LinMarie ORGANIZING OUR FABRIC RESOURCE CENTER   So many of us purchase fabric and wonder, "What am I going to do with this?" I am guilty as charged!!   I have a few suggestions.  Start pattern shopping!  Find a pattern that you really like, then go look at your Fabric Resource Center (formerly known as  stash).  Start making your own "kits."  Figure out what you need tocomplete the kit that would go with that pattern - then you shop wiser.  Find the zippered bags (like that sheets come in) to store your "new kit" placing the pattern on top for view.   Organize the "kits" in a sequential order to be completed - well - of course - some may get bumped to the end of the line - but that's the fun of making your own kits and decisions!   I've found this will better organize your Fabric Resource Center, plus it expedites projects. This organization also assists in "gift giving" a kit,  "donating" a kit, and should someone have to come in  and sell your property for you.   Second suggestion is to organize in bins all your fabric - reds together, blues together, etc. I like to sort these in a clear bin so that I can see some of the designs for easy reference.  Yes, the bins cost a little but in the long run - you are saving space, because they are easily stored under a bed or in the bottom  of a closet or on shelves and you are saving time because they are color coordinated already!   Third suggestion is to mark the fabric as to the amount of fabric.  I like to staple into the selvage the yardage that the fabric  is.   2010 brought some new ideas and some new goals for me, as I explained in previous posts.  One of these goals for sure - is to make up some "kits" and be prepared for the rainy day!  I've got some small kits made up that I just know some of my friends will enjoy for their birthday or Christmas or "just because" day!  Happy Organization to  you!!

Most all parents and grandparents proudly display the art work that the little ones bring home from church or school or day care on the refrigerator.  I'm guilty as charged of doing the same. I love getting "art work" from little ones. My little buddy, Brendyn, loves to draw - and color - and cut - and paste.  For a five year old, he is learning to "stay in the lines".  The more he colors, the better he gets. He comes from a line of artists - his grandmother, his uncle - but that doesn't make him an artist in his own right, yet. But practice will get him there.  He signs his name to each piece as if he were Rembrandt.  He tells me of different "colors" or "paints" that he likes to use. Just like Brendyn, I'm learning more and more about quilting. I plan on taking more classes this year and developing more of my own patterns. There is always a new technique, a new idea, and like my wall of art of Brendyn's that hangs on the fridge door, I'm learning to document - both in photos, fabric swatches, and writing - each of my quilts. I started this year, going back and photographing quilts that I have. Many do not have labels.  Many, I'm scratching my head as to when they were made. Perhaps I can learn from Brendyn, to "stay in the line" and keep my quilt records better. We are never too old to learn to be better at life and the things we love to do - even from a five year old. From our two hearts to yours, LinMarie

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