Tool Time Tuesday...and Tears of Joy

Last Tuesday my sister called me at work to tell me about the flood in my sewing room. I can't believe it's been a week already. You all know I could have cried...well, I did and they were tears of JOY!!!
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I am overwhelmed by all the emails I received after I posted about it. The blogging world amazes me each and every day. Your words of encouragement, your sympathy and all the stories of your own floods really meant the world to me. I can't thank you enough. We have dried out and are waiting to move things some where upstairs...definitely not staying down there again. Setting up a whole new sewing room could be a lot of blog posts in my future. Our insurance will cover the 2 sewing machines, the computer and the rug (I am hoping at full replacement cost), I'll know more this week. I think everything else dried out pretty well. I lost some things, but am grateful...it could have been a lot worse. I'll keep you posted!
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Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
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Now onto Tool Time Tuesday...
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I have been using this idea for years and years. However, it deals with electricity, so I'll put a disclaimer in here...please be careful, check labels, use grounded extension cords (three prong) and when in doubt of your electrical system in your own home, ask an electrician. I know what you're thinking...what the heck is she doing on this TTT.
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Well, it's for your iron...whether you are quilting or doing your home ironing. I have had several irons over the years and the dial to switch it on and off usually is a pain to turn, especially if it's under the handle. I started using a power strip to simply flip a switch on and off. This makes it very easy and safe because most power strips have a red light on it to let you know when the iron is on. I use the power strip when I'm putting a quilt together so I don't waste energy leaving the iron on in between sewing blocks or rows. I just flip the switch when I need it and off it goes when I don't. I have my ironing board with a power strip set up all the time in my sewing room and one in my closet for ironing our clothing and I've never had a problem with it. Just follow this tips.
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A power strip is a bar that just gives you extra outlets. A surge bar is something that you use to protect a computer or tv. You can use your iron on both, but just make sure you check the label.

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See that tiny little line on the back of this label where it says electrical ratings...make sure your iron is ok to use on the power strip. This strip will hold 125 V and 1875 watts.
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Here's the iron in my closet. I didn't even think to check the iron in my sewing room...oh well I think it's soaked.
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This is the label on the back of my iron...120 V and 1200 watts, so that power strip is good.

Here is the power strip. It usually has a short cord and a three pronged plug.

If you need an extension cord to get to your outlet, make sure it is a heavy duty one with three prongs.

Here is a close up.

Plug the power strip into the extension cord and then the extension cord plug into the wall.

Now your iron can be plugged into the power strip.

and you are ready to go. It may seem silly and not everyone will use this idea, but if you're ironing board is always set up, give it a try and see how easy it is just to flip a little switch instead of those crazy little dials that don't turn very well. Maybe it's just me, but I hope I helped one person out there!! This picture is the iron in my closet. Thought I would take some more pictures to share a couple of closet ideas.

This picture is of one of the short walls in the closet. It has a stackable wire rack system that I use to sort our laundry. The long shoe bags are for just the shoes I wear often. The plastic boxes on top are all of my other shoes in categories.

Here is the wire laundry system. I tied on the name badge holders that I use for everything to divide whites, lights, darks and towels.

Here is a close up of the shoe boxes...high heels, black heels, summer flats, flip flops, brown casuals and black casuals. I printed those on big labels and they just stick to the box. Don't think I'm shoe rich or anything...a lot come from Payless, Target or from my sister...all cheap cheap, but cute, cute.

Another wall has a Closet Maid system. I bought the different parts at either Home Depot, Walmart or Job Lot. I asked for gift certificates for Christmas and my birthday to get that and soooo worth it. Although the rest of the Closet Maid sysytem isn't too bad in price, I did buy the 2 -eight cubby systems for $25.00 each at Job Lot!!

Here's my husband's shoe cubby system. He's a size 13 so only one shoe per box. I long time ago, I had this system in my sewing room and used these cubbies for fabric and fat quarters.

This last picture is of the other wall. We are blessed with a great closet and we don't have to change things out seasonally. We don't spend a lot of money on clothes... Lots of hand me downs from my sister, always sale item for me and my husband and gifts for birthdays or Christmas. One tip for a organized closet (or a crazy person like me) is matching coat hangers. Hubby and I have all black, Kelsie has white and Courtney has pink...ok I am nuts.

One more tip...when you clean your closet out, place the coat hangers in backwards at first. Over the course of the year, you will take out the coat hanger of the items that you use all the time, putting it back in the correct way. At the end of the year or longer, the items on the coat hangers that are still hanging backwards are things that you don't wear or haven't worn. Now they can easily be picked out to give to charity. I think the rule is, if you haven't worn it in over a year or more, it should be given away.
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Hope these were all helpful tips for your ironing and your closet organization.

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~