Good Morning, Quilters!
I have been an errant blogger of late, but I haven’t forgotten about YOU! I have been busy celebrating Christmas and the New Year with family and taking some quiet time to think, plan and organize.
I love the early days of a new year when everything is a blank slate–including the untouched calendar waiting to be filled with activities, goals, lists, hopes and dreams and of course, doodles!
WORD OF THE YEAR
One of the big discussions in the blogosphere at this time of year is the idea of choosing a word for the year-a word that suggests a guiding principle.
In 2015, I chose the word focus–a play on my interest in learning more about photography and my need to avoid distractions.
By the end of the year (Squirrel!) I was so harried (Squirrel!) I never chose a word for 2016. (Perhaps I should have chosen Squirrel!?)
MOTTO FOR 2017
My motto for 2017 is Make New Friends
I don’t mean it literally–but as a reminder to be open to new ideas and fresh ways of looking at things, exploring new possibilities and avoiding ruts.
Remember the old Girl Scout song:
Make new friends, but keep the old…
One is silver and the other’s gold!
MAKING NEW FRIENDS-MY THREAD STASH
One of my frustrations in my sewing room is my thread stash.
I LOVE thread, but finding the right thread is a nightmare and leaves my sewing room looking like a tornado hit!
All of my thread is stored (neatly) in boxes. However, when I’m auditioning threads, I have to open all the boxes to see my choices–leaving my room a mess!
HOW A THREAD NERD LIVES DANGEROUSLY
Last week I had six June Tailor thread racks installed on my sewing room wall.
I know this is not the best way to store thread–light and dust can damage thread.
However, I have decided to throw caution to the wind and store my threads (on a wall with minimal sun light) in a way that suits the way I work--even if it means I have to replace threads more frequently!
I spent several happy hours silently organizing my thread. It was oddly calming and therapeutic…
This will transform the way I work–a fresh look and a NEW FRIEND!
Isn’t it pretty???
What about YOU? Do YOU have a motto or word for 2017?
Is there something YOU can look at with fresh eyes?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Signed,
YOUR Friend,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
PPS…This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon. If you choose to use it at NO Additional Cost to you, I may receive a little “pin money”. Thanks for supporting The Inbox Jaunt!
121 comments
Marta
Recently sat down and wrote up new list of projects for 2017 and sadly discovered there are 19. One a month puts it over into 2018 with no room for anything new that might come up this year. I have rarely finished a quilt in one month. Usually work on 2-3 at a time tho as I have 2 sewing places set up: in house and out in the garage which I named Cottage. That is where the large table is located to use when quilts get to the actual quilting stage. Piecing and FMQ can be done on small table in house. A novel thought has occurred to me. Can I give away a project that is in mid stage? I started a few when I was an ignorant beginner and I just have no desire to get involved with them ever again. Thus I am choosing a word for my new year: Cull. Pare. Downsize. Reduce. as in get rid of some stuff taking up space. I need to
take back territory in our guest room ! We could have guests again then.
Susan Ramsayworldpresscom986
To reduce: Stay out of quilt shops (very hard, I know) Use what you have. When trying to match thread, go a shade darker. Now, do you already have a thread that will do?
Lori Kennedy
Cull and move on to what is important to you and what inspires you!
lilquilter
Donate those UFOs to your local quilt guild or swap with your quilting friends for a fun challenge!
Becky Shaffer
Your threads look so pretty and organized. I like to keep mine on a thread rack also, but my dilemma now is how to organize and store the bobbins.
I like the idea of a word instead of making resolutions for the new year. Now to think of a word…hmm.
Karen W
I use straws cut down to size & put the bobbin w/ the spool it matches (clear ones barely show). It sometimes helps to split the draw lengthwise, for spools w/ smaller spindle holes.
lilquilter
Karen – great idea, splitting the straw! Thanks! That never occurred to me.
Dolores Ingraham
My Pastor spoke on the same thing and suggested these words, Simplify, Seek, Discipline, Gratitude, Thankful, or Persevere. Persevere is very good for me because I keep jumping from one unfinished project to another.
WordPress.com Support
Great words!! I could use all of them!
catpatches
That’s the way I store my thread, and it really works best to be able to see all the colors at once…plus, I love thread as much as I love fabric, and so I like looking at it. Usually, I don’t choose a word for the year, but if pressed, I choose “patience”. My husband retires in April, and we’re planning a months-long trip we’ve dreamed of for decades beginning mid-September. It’s so exciting to be actually planning after so many years of dreaming, but I’ll need to be patient waiting for his retirement date, and to allow the time to pass until it’s the right time to be on our way. But patience works in so many ways…patience with myself and others is good practice too.
WordPress.com Support
I used to pray for patience but a friend told me not to–if you pray for patience you get lots of opportunities to use it-LOL!!
Ness
Mine sounds like Lord help me! Help me! Help me!! Lol!
Nancy
Your thread wall is stunning ; it’s art into itself. Happy New Year! Looking forward to your posts.
Ness
I was kind of shocked when I thought about how many years it’s been since Focus became my goal… Lol! I was painting, teaching and designing back then. When a contract for books came along my titles were This One a thing I Do… I still apply this although all the social media I owned a couple years ago had me chasing Squirrels also. Now I feel like I have a mess of unfinished squirrels running amuck! I got one out the door at Christmas! So my words… I need two…. Are focus and finish! BTW… I was just thinking of buying a couple of these racks… Still pulling out boxes… You sold me. It is very lovely to look at. Sorry so long!
WordPress.com Support
Ness–what is your book title??
Ness
It’s pretty old lol! This One Thing I Do… Northwoods was the first one. I did them with a friend DJ Williams. Tole painting days. 🙂
Ness
I meant joined not owned… Grumble face
Diana McDonough
I have my thread stored similarly…but I am rapidly outgrowing my current space, so I need more.
btw…your Amazon link is broken.
WordPress.com Support
Thanks for telling me!
Suzy Webster
My word for the year is consider. Sometimes I feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew and so I want to consider what my priorities really should be.
mickie mclaughlin
WOW this post is so refreshing. I love the idea of choosing a “WORD” to move me forward in this new year. I also love Mary’s word “experiment” as I have been remiss in trying out the “what ifs”….so now that will be my word.
The thread “exhibit” is so lovely — ART!!! I like the idea of covering the thread when you are not working–is there ever a time though??–to keep the dust and pet hairs from landing on it. How about using tulle?
PS your dogs are so CUTE. They are a great addition to any sewing room.
WordPress.com Support
Tulle-great idea!
Mary
Thread envy is happening. Very impressive.
I really like the idea of a word for 2017, a better concept than a ” resolution”.
I think my word will be ” experiment”. Could relate to quilting, recipes, or exercise,
Veda Drummond
Just consider it a beautiful piece of artwork hung on your sewing room wall and one to be enjoyed!
Janette
HAPPY NEW YEAR!…..l wish you enough……..
FINISHING!!!!!!…….Just finished another lap quilt ….Thanks to your creative tutorials and all the wonderful ideas you give us. Thank you for giving me the knowledge and encouragement to forge ahead with free motion quilting. Lol …Still have along way to go but the journey so far has been a BLAST! God Bless
Doris M
The thread looks like a colorful quilt hanging there. Love it.
Lucie the Happy Quilter
Happy new year Lori. I love the way your newly organised thread looks. What an inspiration ypu are!@! Clean slaye indeed x
Beth
Love the way you organized your threads. It’s much more logical than storing in boxes. I did the same thing years ago. To avoid deterioration from dust and sunshine, I made a quilt to cover the threads.
Susan Ramsayworldpresscom986
What a great idea! I think I’ll use something transparent, like vinyl.
Karen W
Love this idea. Will have o make a wall hanging one for the racks.
Karen
I usually don’t choose a word but I decided this year I was choosing Brave. I get so bogged down by things that I want to face my fears and get on with it!
Patty Klein
Great word. I’m that way when it comes to the quilting. Not this year I hope.
Patty
Maxine Reece
Me too. I feel brave in most things but finishing is my downfall. So my word this year is finish also.
Mary Honas
I love your thread display/storage! Why? Because though I don’t have as much as you do I store mine the same way!! You are going to love this way of working. 🙂
Susan Ramsayworldpresscom986
I have 4 thread displays and need more. The dust IS a problem. Note to old timer sewists; thread gets weak as it ages. If you are having a problem as you sew and the thread breaks, and your needle is not backward etc. Toss it and try another spool. It takes 10 to 15 years, so don’t worry if you bought thread last year. It should still be good.
I love the way Lori keeps hers in color sequence. So pretty.
ADK Kate
Done! — that is my word for this year. Get all the projects that need that final effort to be completed done before letting myself start something new. I am new enough to quilting that my threads still are manageable in a large box but can easily see where over time your solution might be the only practical one. Have found that previewing threads can make a big difference in the final product.
Lori Kennedy
I might have to take a second word–I LOVE DONE!!!
Connie B of AZ
I just need to Ditto Kate, let’s FINISH and Enjoy the process
Comments are closed.