Time savers for a gal who has a lot to do

1. Keep everything you need for a project in one see-through bag. (Yes, even the special notions, thread and tools you need.) Having everything together in one place means that when you are ready to work on that project no time is wasted hunting for anything. 2. Leave a hand-stitching project in an open basket, or attractive tote, where it is visible and ready to be picked up and worked on if only for a few minutes at a time. Take it with you! 3. Thread up a new needle before you stop stitching. Always having a needle threaded and ready to go invites you to stitch. 4. If you are hand sewing a large project, pin a little bell next to where your needle is. Now, when you have only a few minutes to stitch you won't waste any of them hunting for your needle. Instead, you will hear the bell and find your needle quickly, making the most of those few minutes. 5. If you are afraid to pick up your project for fear that you will become absorbed and lose track of time, set a kitchen-style timer for the 10 or 15 minutes you have to stitch. When the bell goes off you know it is time to stop. 6. Do not stop working on a project when you encounter a problem or make a mistake. Fix it or undo it before you put it down. You may never pick up a project again if you know that a problem is waiting for you. 7. Get rid of projects you know you will never finish. They rob you of energy and creativity, and they take up valuable space. So just release them for the next person to enjoy. Here is my current hand quilting project: A table runner for yours truly.