Billie's Favorite Things - Update on Clip It Up

I thought I'd give an update on one of my favorite things - my Clip It Up by Simply Renee.  Since my original post, I have continued my organizing and I've added a lot more Clip It Ups.  These things are so HABIT FORMING, you can't have just one!  I have now added a mini, two more base units with upper tiers (one with an upper tier extension), a floor stand, and a ribbon holder.  I have been trying over the last couple of years to really get my sewing/quilting space organized, and with the Clip It Ups, I can really say I think I'm there.  I am so happy with how these worked out for my space and organization.  I can't give them enough praise!

Below are some pictures of my additional units and what I've used them for.

This is a base unit and upper tier that I am using for my purse/tote/bag/wallet patterns on the bottom and my purse hardware/supplies on the upper tier.

Floor Model with an extra tier.  These are larger sewing notions/patterns that are too big or bulky for the regular base unit.

Mini with miscellaneous sewing notions.  This one is located in between my cutting table and ironing workstation.

Base unit with upper tier and extension.  This one I am using for sewing patterns.

Ribbon organizer. 

I have this on the wall over my ironing station.

Most everything pictured on these was in drawers or stuffed in plastic containers.  They are now out and handy and I can find what I am looking for in an instant.  I'm in heaven!  It is amazing how much more creative you feel when you've got an organized space to work in.  Now if I could just translate that to the rest of my life!

Atkinson Designs - Molten Chocolate Cake Mugs

For the last two months I have been participating in the Groovy Girls Club at Shiisa Quilts in Bloomington, Indiana.  The projects featured in the GGC are from Atkinson Designs.  All of the projects have been super easy, super fast, and I love them.  One of the ones featured at our December meeting was the Molten Chocolate Cake Mugs.  The instructions are available here on Terry's Blog.  Above are the ones I made up to give to the gals I work with, and they loved them!

There are all kinds of tutorials on Terry's Blog, so spend some time reading through the blog entries, and be sure you click next at the bottom of each screen.

Billie's Favorite Things - Clip It Up

If Oprah can have her favorite things, I can have mine too. This is my latest favorite thing, the Clip It Up by Simply Renee. These originally started as organizers for scrapbookers, but they are great for us sewers and quilters, too. Check out the website by clicking the link above and see all of the cool items they have.

The pictures below are what I have so far, and I have all of my rulers, cutting gadgets, etc. on these. I have the base unit and an upper tier. I've already ordered another base unit because I think this will be my solution for my patterns. I have so many and I can never find what I am looking for.

All of the rulers I have on this are from 4 drawers that I used for my ruler collection, plus 1 drawer I used for all of my rotary cutters. As I was sorting things out to hang up, I came up with enough duplicate sizes of rulers to supply my tool case that I am working on that will be packed and ready to go for any classes or retreats I attend. I never seem to have what I need where I need it.

Clifty Falls Retreat

I attended another great retreat at Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, Indiana the last weekend in October that was put on by Sharynn's Quilt Box in North Vernon. What a wonderful, relaxing time. I went with the idea that the only thing I was going to accomplish was to relax and de-stress, and that's exactly what I did. I worked on a few projects, came home with patterns and ideas for more projects, and generally just had a great time. This is one of the most amazing places to hold a sewing or quilting retreat.

The Indianapolis Chapter of the ASG will be holding their first retreat there in March. I can't wait. More information on the retreat can be found on the Indy ASG website (click the link above).

Where did September, October and Half of November GO???

Whoa, I can't believe how fast time is slipping away. I've been busy with everything but sewing, but that should start to change shortly. The thing that took up the majority of my off time the last couple of months was planning the 2010 Annual Meeting for the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. We had Mary Mulari as our guest speaker. The meeting was great, everything seemed to go smoothly - and all enjoyed Mary's presentation. I came home with tons of new ideas and the items needed to do some of them. I can't wait to get started, but first I really must clean my sewing room again and put everything away. I don't know how things can get so messed up when I'm not even sewing! The picture is what it should look like, but right now you can't even see any white space on this table or anywhere else. I'm too embarrassed to even snap a picture of it.

Ah - September - National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month - I plan to do a lot of sewing this month. I hope the word "plan" turns into "did". I so need to re-bond with my sewing room and get creative!

New Serger!

I'm back at it again - never satisfied. I have a perfectly good serger, but I've always wanted a Baby Lock. Went to a day with Margaret Tully, Baby Lock serger educator extrordinaire, at Select Sewing Service in Indianapolis last week and came home with a new Evolution. Can't wait to get up to speed with it and start accomplishing some projects! The ease of threading is what put me over the top. I'll share some projects when I get something done.