Creative Spaces Blog Hop: Week 3 Organization Tips
Welcome to Week 3 of the Creative Spaces Blog Hop! It was so fun to hear from all of you last week as you read the tools blog. I'm so glad you all found things that excited you last week.
This week we are focusing on keeping organized. If you find it a challenge to keep organized you're not alone. You saw some of my studio clean up photos. Clearly I face the same trials most quilters do. Organizing is HARD!
I could give you some of the basic ideas that I use for everything like keeping all of my fabric for a Block of the Month on one shelf until the project is completed and bound, or creating labels for different sets of block pieces to keep them straight, but it's summer and I thought you could use some tips on traveling with your quilt projects. Today we're going to talk about some of the best ways to travel with your applique or blocks in progress so you're ready to head off to your favorite vacation destinations, quilty project in hand.
The first necessity to traveling with your projects is to be able to have all of your necessary tools accessible. I travel quite a bit and I need to be able to find all of my needles, scissors, threads, templates, mini
rulers, etc. To help me pack everything I
need and make sure I can find it easily in one space, I like to use a mini craft bag with clear, zippered inserts in different sizes to store all of the goodies I will need on the road.
I bought mine years ago and I love how easily I can pack up my supplies to travel.
This handy bag fits into all of my carry-on luggage for air travel. I just have to remember to move the scissors to my checked bags!
Though this bag is one that is no longer available, you can still buy similar bags like THIS from several vendors. Or make one for yourself!
Once I have all my necessary tools and notions packed and ready to be tucked in my vacation luggage, I need a project to work on! Right now I'm working on a couple of new Foxes for another version of my Fox About Town pattern I need to be able to keep track of all the applique pieces as well as keep the project itself protected and accessible while traveling. Here are two ways I do that!
1. I use a travel roll (or project roll), when I'm
going to be traveling by plane or in instances in which I won't have much room to spare.
This travel roll is one I made from a pattern called Applique to Go from Patterns by Annie. The pattern is a snap to follow and you'll never be sorry you have this fabulous little organizer. It makes use of a flannel interior that acts like a mini design wall, making it easy to roll up a block in progress to take on the road.
The travel roll has enough room to take a few blocks and their pieces with you and always know where everything is when you need it. If I have any loose pieces for the next block, I make sure they are clearly numbered and pack them in a clear plastic bag.
2. If I know I'm traveling with enough room, I might choose to forgo the travel roll and travel with my Omnigrid Foldaway Cutting and Ironing Mat instead.
Just like the travel roll, I can keep all of my pieces in one space. Either option is great for applique, but the Foldaway from Omnigrid is the best option for working on pieced blocks while traveling. It gives me flat storage space, an ironing surface, and a cutting mat to do any necessary trimming. This travel space helps me keep any project in progress neat and organized while I'm in between locations.
One thing that's always uncertain when you travel is the quality of the light in hotels, guest rooms, and on airline flights. I am always sure to pack a small compact travel light from the Daylight Company.
The Daylight company is offering you 20% off their entire site until the end of August when you use the coupon code Swanhop18 at checkout.
Here's wishing you happy trails on all of your summer travels. I hope some of these tips will help you keep organized while you set sail on your next adventure! Be sure to stay tuned to the Creative Spaces Blog Hop as we continue to offer you more tips and tricks in the coming weeks.
Mondays
(Be sure to visit Cherry's blog to find out how to enter the prize drawings!)
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