Well, I finally got the bug that's been going around at work - nasty stomach bug. I sat in bed and sorted through paper files yesterday, so I felt like I got something accomplished.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
I hate being sick!!!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Cold weather, sorting and the mission progresses
Too cold! That's my main complaint this week. The tumble I took on ice covered snow wasn't fun, although I wasn't seriously hurt.
Busy work week, but, I did get some progress made. I sorted all the trims by color, into containers I already own. I have the fabrics sorted into the dresser I already had, by color, which makes several containers empty.
So, for a cold, miserable, sore week, I've gotten things done.
It amazes me that things that took up so much room when they were messy, take up far less, when tidy. Who would have thought?
So, for a cold, miserable, sore week, I've gotten things done.
It amazes me that things that took up so much room when they were messy, take up far less, when tidy. Who would have thought?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Progress on the mission
Well, just when I didn't feel like I was making much progress, I reached the dresser. I emptied the drawers and sorted fabric by basic colors (pink prints fills two drawers, so I seem to have a strong preference for these), a blue and green drawer, a drawer for solid fabric (like you use for backing some of those pretty prints), a panel drawer with specialty print panels, and a totally empty drawer (for now, trust me, got loads more fabric).
My plan is simple (until I make it more complicated, which I am prone to doing): I have all my sewing stuff sorted in mesh hampers (and one large clear plastic bin), by what type of fabric/what it is used for (for example, one is full of fabric I make dolls from). The clear plastic bin is full of trims (have I mention I LOVE trims?). As the drawers fill up, the hardest part begins - what I want to keep, and what I don't. After doing downsizing of fabrics for the last couple of years, it begins harder to make that choice. I also have a better idea of how much room I will have for storing these goodies. Sigh.
Here is a before picture. I will post an after, once this side of the room looks more after.
My plan is simple (until I make it more complicated, which I am prone to doing): I have all my sewing stuff sorted in mesh hampers (and one large clear plastic bin), by what type of fabric/what it is used for (for example, one is full of fabric I make dolls from). The clear plastic bin is full of trims (have I mention I LOVE trims?). As the drawers fill up, the hardest part begins - what I want to keep, and what I don't. After doing downsizing of fabrics for the last couple of years, it begins harder to make that choice. I also have a better idea of how much room I will have for storing these goodies. Sigh.
Here is a before picture. I will post an after, once this side of the room looks more after.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Ongoing mission
I am still inching along, but, had to work all week, so incremental progress on my mission to redo my grown daughter's old bedroom (now officially called 'the clutter room"). Tomorrow, hope to get more progress, as I am off from work.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Continuing on with the mission and soring things out for myself in a dream
Well, today emptied two more of those giant plastic bags (they are banned from my use forever). I now have separated and sorted everything I removed from the future playroom, yesterday. Everything either has a home already, or has been assigned a home location. Nothing has been left homeless except for a small wicker basket of odds and ends that is amazingly small, considering what I started with. In the process of assigning homes, I cleaned out my huge steamer trunk, which I use for sewing stuff (it has drawers and looks so cool) and reconfigured what I was keeping in it. MUST REMEMBER: Do NOT over fill drawers. Put only what belongs in each drawer, there.
One of the joys I've discovered this last year, is actually using the stuff I collected to benefit my home, not just let it take up room. I lovingly refinished this old steamer trunk over a long hot summer. Now, instead of just looking really cool, it serves a purpose.
I also have some little vintage dresses hanging on the old wooden hangers that came with it.
Feeling quite pleased with myself, today.
Last night I had a dream that although wasn't factual, was scarey real in terms of my subconscious sorting out why I hold onto stuff the way I do. The people in the dream followed behavior patterns I had pushed deep in my memory, because they were ways I had been really treated, in the past. I woke up anxious, until I realized that the life I live is vastly different than back in those days, and that it is up to me, what I keep, what I let go of. No one else makes those kind of choices for me, at this time in my life. What a difference that self reassurance made in my approach today. It wasn't about how much stuff I could get rid of, but, rather how I felt about keeping it, what I was keeping it for. One rule: everything has to have a home. The purpose can be as simple as the little vintage dresses, quilt, vintage gloves (they are beautifully beaded), shoe button hook - the purpose they serve, is the way I feel when I look at them. These are things I gathered over the years because I enjoy their history, their texture and the pleasure they give me. They have a home, I like them, I want them, so they stay. Wish all things were that simple!
One of the joys I've discovered this last year, is actually using the stuff I collected to benefit my home, not just let it take up room. I lovingly refinished this old steamer trunk over a long hot summer. Now, instead of just looking really cool, it serves a purpose.
I also have some little vintage dresses hanging on the old wooden hangers that came with it.
Feeling quite pleased with myself, today.
Last night I had a dream that although wasn't factual, was scarey real in terms of my subconscious sorting out why I hold onto stuff the way I do. The people in the dream followed behavior patterns I had pushed deep in my memory, because they were ways I had been really treated, in the past. I woke up anxious, until I realized that the life I live is vastly different than back in those days, and that it is up to me, what I keep, what I let go of. No one else makes those kind of choices for me, at this time in my life. What a difference that self reassurance made in my approach today. It wasn't about how much stuff I could get rid of, but, rather how I felt about keeping it, what I was keeping it for. One rule: everything has to have a home. The purpose can be as simple as the little vintage dresses, quilt, vintage gloves (they are beautifully beaded), shoe button hook - the purpose they serve, is the way I feel when I look at them. These are things I gathered over the years because I enjoy their history, their texture and the pleasure they give me. They have a home, I like them, I want them, so they stay. Wish all things were that simple!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Insight: Do we own stuff, or does it own us?
I am sentimental about stuff connected to memories. A little dress that my girls wore, old winter hats, baby shoes. I have totes in the attic for each of the girls, filled with special items from their childhood. I have to remember that letting go of old shoes, etc., that they wore doesn't mean letting go of all those memories.
Growing up, I always felt poor. We moved so often, that if it didn't fit in the station wagon with us, it didn't have value to my parents.
When I finally stayed in one place long enough to graduate from high school, all my belongings fit in my bedroom. I moved out when I was eighteen, my mother was angry at me, and threw everything into an appliance box and pushed it down the stairs. When I left for the Army, everything fit in in a suitcase. When I was assigned to Fort Bragg, a suitcase and duffel bag held everything. When I moved into an apartment, everything fit in my car.
When Robert and I first married, we lived in a mobile home, which we took to Pennsylvania after he was commissioned as a Reserve officer and finished training at Fort Sill. Everything fit in that mobile home (two bedrooms) and our car.
When we moved into a house (an old house that we will be working on forever), with two (and later three) little girls, they had their own bedrooms that filled up with stuff. Over the years, we have filled up the attic, the basement (which I cleaned out this past year), an enclosed porch that we added to the front of our house (which is now a separate sitting room full of sewing stuff and entry (which holds a display cabinet, antique desk and a closet that my youngest daughter now uses).
Still working on not holding on to so much stuff. The pictures show the new and improved entry, and the dolls explain alot about why I have so much sewing stuff. I love sewing dolls. These two were finished after classes I took three years ago in Ohio at the Dollgatherers Gala.
Growing up, I always felt poor. We moved so often, that if it didn't fit in the station wagon with us, it didn't have value to my parents.
When I finally stayed in one place long enough to graduate from high school, all my belongings fit in my bedroom. I moved out when I was eighteen, my mother was angry at me, and threw everything into an appliance box and pushed it down the stairs. When I left for the Army, everything fit in in a suitcase. When I was assigned to Fort Bragg, a suitcase and duffel bag held everything. When I moved into an apartment, everything fit in my car.
When Robert and I first married, we lived in a mobile home, which we took to Pennsylvania after he was commissioned as a Reserve officer and finished training at Fort Sill. Everything fit in that mobile home (two bedrooms) and our car.
When we moved into a house (an old house that we will be working on forever), with two (and later three) little girls, they had their own bedrooms that filled up with stuff. Over the years, we have filled up the attic, the basement (which I cleaned out this past year), an enclosed porch that we added to the front of our house (which is now a separate sitting room full of sewing stuff and entry (which holds a display cabinet, antique desk and a closet that my youngest daughter now uses).
An afternoon well spent
Since I couldn;t go to see my sweet Quinn today (I have the sniffles), and we've had enough health scares with her this winter, I made good use of my time:
I actually reached the bed and look what I found! Still tons of stuff to sort, but learned some valuable lessons:
1) I will NEVER buy those huge storage bags again. I went through and emptied SEVEN of them. I now have a give away bag started with one of them, a bag full of trims, a bag of yarn and two containers of sorted fabrics (by color). I love to sew dolls, and have a mountain of supplies. It used to be three mountains, but, I gave away two thirds of it last year. Now, sigh, will have to go through the current mountain and keep only what I will really use and love.
2) Although my bed was a great place to sort and fold, and it was convenient, I have to remember to leave enough time to put away stuff next time.
3) The way I've gained control in the rest of the house was in little steps, sometimes only a few minutes at a time, and maintaining what I gained. So, I vacuumed downstairs today, did laundry, and ran errands before tacking my new project. I'm not talking hours of cleaning - just the daily picking up and touching up that I've learned from FlyLady. So, I will try to do a few minutes every day.
4) If I stick it in a bag, basket, drawer out of sight, I forget I own it (or haven't a clue where it is). Then I begin layers of piles on surfaces. Got to work on that every day, and with the door shut, this room became a huge HIDING spot for HOMELESS ITEMS!
5) I can't create a new area where stuff is piled, while sorting the old stuff in the old place. It finds a home or it LEAVES.
Never fear, as this is what waits on the other side of the door:
1) I will NEVER buy those huge storage bags again. I went through and emptied SEVEN of them. I now have a give away bag started with one of them, a bag full of trims, a bag of yarn and two containers of sorted fabrics (by color). I love to sew dolls, and have a mountain of supplies. It used to be three mountains, but, I gave away two thirds of it last year. Now, sigh, will have to go through the current mountain and keep only what I will really use and love.
2) Although my bed was a great place to sort and fold, and it was convenient, I have to remember to leave enough time to put away stuff next time.
3) The way I've gained control in the rest of the house was in little steps, sometimes only a few minutes at a time, and maintaining what I gained. So, I vacuumed downstairs today, did laundry, and ran errands before tacking my new project. I'm not talking hours of cleaning - just the daily picking up and touching up that I've learned from FlyLady. So, I will try to do a few minutes every day.
4) If I stick it in a bag, basket, drawer out of sight, I forget I own it (or haven't a clue where it is). Then I begin layers of piles on surfaces. Got to work on that every day, and with the door shut, this room became a huge HIDING spot for HOMELESS ITEMS!
5) I can't create a new area where stuff is piled, while sorting the old stuff in the old place. It finds a home or it LEAVES.
Never fear, as this is what waits on the other side of the door:
IIt will take many days of sorting. That's why it is a Mission.
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