Fourteen years we’ve been doing this! And here we are again, at the end of another year already. And the final few days where I make one last effort to finish up and clean up as many things off my to-do list as I can, so as to not have to carry them over into the new year — The Final Countdown to 2023.

I love that fresh start. How about you?

Every year I make more and better progress, and learn more about myself and the way I work in the process, which helps me move forward without slipping too far backward. Here’s a few tidbits I’ve gleaned over the years:

• • I still have way too much stuff
• • I’m still hanging on to some stuff I will never use
• • The stuff I want to use needs to be brought out into the light of day and actually used
• • I have too many unfinished projects
• • I need to stop starting more projects until most of the others are finished
• • I need to take stock of the remaining unfinished ones and make some decisions
• • I DO like working on more than one thing at a time
• • My cutting table will never be 100% empty — or even 90%
• • I need to take more time for myself to work on my own projects
• • Maybe I don’t need to keep so many empty cardboard boxes!
• • Finding a worthy cause to donate finished quilts to gets them out of storage and helps use up the stash in the best possible way

Here are a few things I’ve done that have helped me get and stay more organized:

• • I used up all my odds and ends of random thread, and organized the rest according to the way I use it
• • I sorted through my fabric stash and donated the pieces I don’t want to friends or organizations that can use it up better than I can
• • I sorted through my finished quilts and sold or donated lots of them
• • I made several quilts specifically for the purpose of donating them (and will continue to do this)
• • I used up most of my scrap batting pieces, clearing off a shelf in the closet
• • I set up a new paperwork system, which allows it all to fit into a smaller area and keep from piling up
• • I bought very little new fabric over the past year, usually only purchasing fabric needed to finish things I have started
• • I cleaned off my cutting table at least once a month to minimize the perpetual mess I work in!

But, as someone has said in previous comments, “There’s always room for improvement!” There is still always something that can be more organized, or streamlined, or re-configured to be more convenient. Isn’t there?

So that’s why we’re back to this for the 14th year in a row!

If you’ve joined me for The Final Countdown before, I’ll be thrilled to have you join in again!

If you’re new here, welcome! I hope you’ll join in this time, as we try to get a fresh start on 2023 in our sewing spaces.

Here’s how it works . . .

• • Beginning tomorrow, I’ll post a task for us to do each day for three days in a row; a different task each day.
• • Your job is to do the task, if you so desire (totally optional). If it’s not a task you need to do, then you can pick any task you feel fits your situation better, and do that one instead. You can look back at previous year’s tasks HERE.
• • After you’ve done the task, leave a comment on the post that you did it, and how it went for you. If you want to write a blog post of your own and link back to it, that’s great — we all love stories, and I love those random peeks into other people’s sewing spaces! If you’re already so organized that you don’t even need to do the task, you can still leave a comment to be eligible for the prizes.
• • I’m offering up a prize for each task, so be sure and leave a comment for each task that you complete. You’re only eligible for the prize for that task if you did the task and left your comment (or left a comment that you already had it done or didn’t need to do it). I try to make the prizes something that will help you with organizing, or things that you can use up, so as to not cause you more clutter or disorganization. If you do all three tasks, you’ll have three chances to win. How many you choose to do is completely up to you. Easy!

I’m giving us till January 9th to complete all the tasks and leave comments. I’ll draw for the three winners late in the day on the 9th. That should give us time to take a good crack at all three tasks.

So there you have it — simple rules, and prizes!

I’ll post our first task tomorrow, so be sure to check back in. Or if you’re not subscribed already, you can subscribe to the “News From the Ranch” using the form at top right, so you’ll automatically be notified when the tasks are posted.

Are you ready for The Final Countdown?