A Reward for Hard Work

I decided to put my to do list aside for a short period today while I created something just for me. granted, it certainly isnt lavish or inspiring, but none the less. It was unbelievable how many pins I found on the floor yesterday during my cleaning spurt so I decided to sew up pincushions to keep by my machine. Again, nothing fancy but it was a nice change to make something for no one else but ME! I used some scraps that didnt make it into the scrap box and used a tutorial I found online.
I also figured that since I was in the cleaning and organizing mode, I'd keep on going into other parts of the house! hoping the spirit moves me long enough to finish a room or two, lol

The Craft Room Fairy Finally Came.... and her name is Nana!

I decided it was time to clean my craft room after I had to start walking over things to get to one of the sewing machines. The pathways dwindled to one narrow one, full of obstacles and I felt if i didn't do something quickly, i would lose more than my creativity, I would also my sanity. I happened upon a craft Room Disasters thread on a craft board and I was surprised to find that everyone posting was as disorganized and messy as I was. They had the nerve to post before and after pictures and I thought, wow, they have guts sharing their chaos! Then I made the decision to share my own because now that I've spent the day cleaning, sorting, and purging, purging, and more purging, I'm quite proud of my accomplishment. I had spent Sunday sorting, boxing, labeling, and shelving fabric, deciding that my craft room wasn't the place to store it. A set of shelves were put up in my office and the banker boxes house each type of fabric marvelously!
BEFORE






AFTER













Fabric
One set of shelves house my fabric, the other my inventory.

Even my rubberstamps are organized in pizza boxes, perfect size! The closet holds mostly misc stuff that I don't use everyday.




I'm ashamed that I let my beautiful room get so out of hand since lack of storage certainly isn't an excuse I could use. 21 days make a habit and i sure do need to practice putting things away when I am done with them. i removed the table since it served more as a dumping ground than a work surface, i have a In Progress box that can temporarily store projects in the works. i also have a bankers box for patterns and instructions waiting to be filed in notebooks. i may take awhile to file them, but at least they are consolidated and not scattered through the house. All in all, I am incredibly proud of my efforts today and look forward to using the room tomorrow to create!

Kya, one of my favorites yet

Prototype Monster

This guy was a practice, get the pattern and method right kinda guy and will end up in the "play with me basket" at craft fairs. Ready to roll on the next one

Newborn baby

This sweet little thing is waiting to be adopted.

A monster of a Bag

I cracked myself up today, determined to make a monster bag. This lined tote has a square bottom so it will sit flat and measures approximately 10 1/2 X 10 1/2. Open the flap to reveal its ferocious teeth!

Making Babies

I've spent the week making babies and have to chuckle at the pile of little naked things. Also made a diaper cake for a coworker and delivered that yesterday. I'm struggling to build my inventory for fall craft shows and hopefully, will have a decent stock when the time arrives. I guess I'll do babies and then spend a week making clothes and accessories for them. Will break up the monotony although I love making these little squishy faced things! I want to make up a few sets, baby, diapers, carrier, diaper bag to put up for sale and I'm hoping they sell well come Christmas time! I think my monkeys, all sizes, will do well, too!

More Monkeys

Kong and Little Kong

Wool Felt Ice Cream Sundae

Complete with nuts, whip cream, and a cherry, no Mark, the cherry does not have a stem!

I keep waiting...

I keep waiting for the craft room cleaning fairy to come while I'm sleeping but so far no sign of her. The room is a disaster and it's all I can do to keep a clear walkway between the door and the sewing machines! Eventually I'm going to have to break down and clean out the disorganized mess. But...for now, I will tread daily through that increasing smaller path to the machines to play with fabric. I finally made the ice cream sundae someone requested and finished a medium size monkey (he's already sold). Mark calls him Baby Kong, lol! A new baby made is already one of my favorites babies to date and his hair reminds me of how frazzled I always seem to be. The weather is unbearable with humidity that makes staying inside almost a necessity so why not spend the time crafting and sewing. The thought of craft show season approaching has me using all my spare time building inventory so staying in the house these days is not so bad, more time to be productive! Mark is almost finished constructing a special order buggy and then its my turn with it. Lace and ribbon to put on, a name to paint, and I hope it comes close to what I see in my head! I can't wait for the little one to receive it!

Affectionately nicknamed "Kong"

Kong is about 20" tall and was a blast to make. He really overwhelms the little 4" guy, huh?

Monkey Mode

I had taken a bag of tiny monkey parts with me to do on my flights and when I got home, I decided to stay in the monkey mode! I have an order for a medium size monkey but couldn't resist working on this giant guy at the same time. You can see the size difference between him and one of the unfinished tiny primates! These guys are sure popular!