I remember in 1964 soon after I got married my parent came to visit me for the first time at "my house". They were there for about 3 hours when my Dad took me aside and put his arm around me and whispered in my ear that he was sure proud that I didn't keep my house like I kept my room at home all those years. What do you say to something like that...I kissed his cheek and said (in my typical youngest child sort of way) Thanks Dad, but it's easy...I bought it and I have to keep it clean...your stuff was your stuff and I always thought Mom should be the one to clean it! He fell apart laughing and never repeated that to my Mom...who was very curious I might add!

Lorchen wrote:

Just for the record, I was a very messy teen! I stuffed stuff under the bed and on the floor of the closet. I remember once, my mom would not let me go to a dance one night if I didn't clean the floor of my closet first!

Lorchen wrote: I received a book from a foreign exchange student we had who was Germany. The book was suppose to teach me how to get along with the Germans. One of the things it said was that the German people are very organized. Hmmm, I know it is a long time since any of my relatives came from Germany but I don't have that compulsion. My DH (also German) folds his clothes before putting them in the wash. I guess you and I would get along just fine Lorchen.

Gosh, Dawn! My mother would have loved to have you as a daughter, rather than what she had to cope with.... me, always almost chaotic.

I must admit that I admire all those who have the urge to be tidy and continuously manage to have a superbly organized life. It somehow just never happens to me - however much I try.

Thank you Dawn!! Look for the next challenge in another post!

BTW....I am impressed with your neat sewing space! I could work there!!

I have felt a little left out of this challenge, because I am a minimalist and a neat freak. My before and afters don't look much different. First challenge: I had just bought a new iron AND ironing board cover. Cutting table has ONLY what is needed for my month one BOM. And, I wasn't going to remove that just for a picture.


Challenge two. There is a little difference here. I would love to have one of those hand made spaghetti/noodle drying racks for my littles blue strips! And, have you ever tried to find a swimming noodle for your machine's knee lifter in the middle of winter, in a ski area? (Great idea, Margo!)

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Challenge three. I think that was the drawer. I opted to clean off the computer desk area. It was cluttered! (I'll post the picture next time, as I am at my photo limit.)

Challenge four. Underneath the cutting table. Never have stored anything under there, except a neat stack of all of my quilts.

So, on the surface, everything looks quite tidy. Do I dare mention I have a big closet in that room? With two large sliding doors, that will mask everything hiding behind it? Uh oh! I think I know where I REALLY need to work! Dawn

Well, I haven't see everyone's stash, but I would say that you are the hands-down winner for someone who has been at this sport for a while!! I'm impressed!

Is there a star for "the least amount of fabric?" I have more bins than shown in the photo but from about 40 to 50 bins, ten years ago, from the shirt box size to ones able to hold a number of quilts, all clear Rubbermaid, I am finding new non quilt purposes for a lot of my bins. Of the ones in use many only have a little bit in them, most are ready to pick up and piece the contents. My fabric stash is totally contained in that open bin on the floor. For a lot of my projects I will be piecing the top only to pass on to charity groups that will quilt them. My overall focus has changed over the years to the point where my preference is hand piecing smaller projects. I then machine quilt them because my hands won't allow hand quilting. Just like so much I do this is the exact reverse of many who piece by machine and quilt by hand.

Lorchen: I think that you work very well when challenged! Amazing work and quilts made for concealment also! You deserve that big gold star.
Agnes: too funny with your clerk! I am a perfectionist/procrastinator that got fed up with just stuffing items away so they were hidden AND then not being able to find them when I needed them. I went on strike about 7 months ago and refused to "hide" anything anymore. I combined that with multiple trips out of town in the same period and now have a whopping mess. Is getting better, but not ready for an "after" pic yet.

OHMYGOSH! Lorchen, both of those areas look great, and I love your 9-patch curtain! Good job!!

This star's for you!!

Maybe this will drag Margo away from the TV and the Superbowl game:

I have two lots of shelving in my sewing room (on either side of the door). The room is South-facing and has very large windows - great for working in, but not so good for fabrics. So, I tidied up the smaller unit today. I contains my FQs and some books and magazines. Margo, the first picture is for you!



So that the fabric edges don't get too much sunlight I made a simple quilt out of scraps. It's attached to the top of the bookcase with a strip of velcro.



I need some more time for the shelves on the other side of the door. I managed to tidy it up, but no protective quilt yet. The top is pieced but I need to find some time to finish it - hopefully before the summer brings more sunny days.

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Miss Margo, is this good enough? Do I get an itsy-bitsy gold star?

But, please, no challenges for me for the next two weeks. I'm going to be too busy, and would have to look for excuses.

Lorchen wrote: ROTFL!!! Thank you Lorchen.

Rosemary says: "PS you also need to ensure that the box is mostly full or they start sliding down and trying to get untidy - at which point it must be time to buy more farbric!"

Well, in that case none of us should have a problem. I still have to meet a quilter with half-empty fabric stash boxes.

I better get back to my shelves........... I can hear Margo tapping on the table and waiting for an update.

Impressive, Agnes! I know that I work better when clutter is at a minimum....so howcum stuff gets so piled up sometimes???