Hi Reader, Do you get notifications from your photo app of things that happened years ago? All the pictures I take with my iPhone are set to backup to Google Photos. Every day I'll get a notification from them to check out some past photos. Recently, some images popped up related to some of the first sewing project tutorials I did for The Ruffled Purse. Not only was this a fun memory, but these two projects are great for beginners and for scraps. If quilting is something you've been wanting to try, make sure to check out the tic-tac-toe board. In this project, I show you how to do many basic quilting and piecing techniques. An organizing mistakeHave you ever gotten pretty boxes, beautiful bins, or fancy furniture to organize your sewing space only to discover these promising items didn't offer the solution you were hoping for? You're not alone. Whether new or used, I've acquired many items that didn't result in the organization I wanted. It doesn't matter if you pay full price for these items or get them for free, if they don't support the way you like to move and work in your space, it will always feel as if these things aren't quite right. Items don't solve organizational problems. ✨ Knowing how you like to work, move, and create in your space BEFORE finding final solutions to organize and store your sewing tools, fabric, and supplies is the key. ✨ This was one of the epiphanies I had a few years ago when I created a space where I love to sew after lots of trial and error. Since then, my sewing interests have expanded and I've been in the process of moving my sewing space from one spare bedroom to another. It's been a lot of work with slow and steady progress, but I've had a lot of fun and the end result is in sight. It's all because I'm using the same process that brought me success the first time. My proven process consists of 8 different steps (called plays) and is what I teach in Sewing Space Playbook, my online course that has helped, not just me, but many quilters and sewers set up a space where they love to sew. Are you curious about the 8 plays in Sewing Space Playbook? You can click HERE to see what they are and how they work together. I'm making a few updates to this life-changing course and hope to have it ready for enrollment by mid-April. If you're interested in participating in the next class of Sewing Space Playbook, make sure to get on the waitlist so you are notified when it's ready. Managing scrapsSeveral weeks ago as I walked out of the kitchen, my husband said, "Wait. You've got something on the back of your pants." He then showed me this small green triangle and asked, "Do you want to save this scrap?" We looked at each other and burst out laughing. I love scraps but he knew this one was too small for me to save. When you're concerned about wasting fabric, it's hard to throw away even the smallest fabric scraps. You may have even wondered what is the smallest size scrap worth keeping. I wish I could give you an answer, but I can't. This is something you need to answer for yourself, and you can use these three questions to help:
If you spend any amount of time thinking about the logistics (where, who, and how) of saving small scraps you'll never use, I'm giving you permission to throw them away. More than likely, the amount of scraps that end up in the landfill from your sewing room trash, is significantly smaller than the amount of scraps you're using. You ARE making a difference when using scraps of any size. Instead of thinking about how to store scraps too small for your projects and finding someone to give them to, I encourage you to save your brain space for making and creating. More than likely, size isn't your only challenge when it comes to scraps. Organization and how to manage all those fabric pieces are other common struggles. I believe a scrap management system needs to be developed by the person who will use it. This is what I taught in my Life of a Scrap Case Study class in the 2023 Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit. For a limited time, this one summit class is available for just $9. In this 20-minute presentation, I encourage you to discover an organizational system that works for you while showing you my system, how it has evolved, the process I used to create it, and why it works for me. Also included in this $9 class are
If you've been wanting to kickstart your scrap organization, this class will help you do it. That's all for now. Until next time... ➡ Are you new to the Snappy Scissors newsletter? You can check out past editions HERE. ➡ The next Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit will be in August 2024. Get on the waitlist to be notified when registration opens. |
Whether you are brand new to sewing, have been at it a while, or took a break and are getting back to it, I can help. As the sewist, quilter, and content creator at theruffledpurse.com, my goal is to support, empower, and inspire quilters and sewers to organize and take control of their time, space, and resources so they can spend more time making and creating.
Hi Reader, Have your thoughts ever bounced around so much you can't focus on any one thing? One of my favorite things to do when I feel like my wheels are spinning and I can't seem to get anything done is to work on a puzzle. Spending even just a few minutes in front of a puzzle, sorting colors, hunting for a piece, or challenging myself to put in 5 pieces before I walk away gives my brain purpose and helps settle my thoughts. What makes a puzzle even more enjoyable is when it has a sewing...
Hi Reader, Do you have a scrap project library? Whether you've been sewing for a while or are just getting started, it doesn't take long before scraps start piling up. If your plan is to save your scraps for some unknown project in the distant future, you will never make any progress on reducing your scraps. You need to build a collection of scrap-friendly patterns and projects to choose from -tailored to what and how you like to sew and quilt. This collection is what I call the scrap project...
Hello Reader, In my last newsletter, I wrote of the passing of my mother. I received many replies offering condolences and sharing personal stories of loss and healing. I read every reply and was touched by the outpouring of compassion and understanding expressed in each one. Thank you. ❤️ In that same newsletter, I asked if anyone knew of ways sewists and quilters could help those impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. I received several replies to this query: Many people shared the link...