Meticulous? Not Yet.........

Yesterday I thought all day about Madeline Cook's meticulously clean workspace. I am sure that she did some spot cleaning before we got there but there is no way that it ever looks like mine.

There was not a toothpick out of place. It really got to me. If she can be that neat and tidy, why can't I be at least semi-neat and tidy?


This morning I dragged out all of my 1/4" supplies and started analyzing the way I was storing them. I realized that the containers that I had them in were only about 1/2 full. They were inconvenient. Inside the clear plastic boxes I had two layers of black office supply trays that things didn't really fit in. I was forcing them to fit.



I spotted two of those Plano fishing tackle boxes that I use for a lot of my one inch supplies. Low and behold. They were empty! I snatched them up, along with all of the various boxes and notebooks that my 1/4" stuff was in and took them in the bedroom and laid them out on the bed. I took stock and Mookie took it as an invitation to use everything as a place to nap. What you see in this photo is everything that was left after the organizing.




This is what I saved!!!



Most of the stuff above is containers and the extra notebooks that I emptied into what you see here. There was not much in the way of actual supplies to toss. All it took was rearranging!


I now have one small photo album with all of my 1/4" wallpaper, shingles and other art for walls, etc., one notebook with the M. Cook articles and other 1/4" articles saved over the years and two Plano boxes. That's it!



I love the Plano boxes. I don't know why I didn't think of using them before. I use them for one inch scale accessories and small supplies like ribbon.



This is part of the insides of the two boxes. I have everything categorized and can find everything at a glance. The front to back dividers that you see can be removed or not. The ones running crosswise of the photo are stationary. You can put things in them that are up to 14" long.



Anyway, now I can do things like this with ease and not even ruffle a feather. And if I do, I can put the feathers back in the boxes quickly.


The chair in this gazebo is the smallest that I have done. It is done with 32 gage wire and sewing thread. It's about 3/4" tall. The table was made just like the draped table in the tutorial.

The gazebo is made with Grandtline Model Railroad trims. It usually sits under a cheese dome. I had to take it off for the photo. Too much shine.


Now I have to go wake up that darned cat and clean off the bed. See you tomorrow.