True confessions, clutter is part of my life. I am not a “pick up” person – and neither is Steve.
Yeah, that was not very good planning, but what can I say. Hilariously, this is actually a bone of contention at times between us. I know, what?
Anyways, for me there comes a breaking point. That moment when the poor repressed “I hate clutter” inner self struggles her way to the surface and the big De-Clutter-a-thon begins.
Last week Thursday was that day for me. And, I am proud to confess that I have maintained this for 5 days thus far and while this is not a record, it does feel good to sit in my office with a clean desk.
So, in my clean up, I found several things:
- Sweater 1: Mr. GreenJeans – I will be taking this off the needles today to try it on and see if it fits at all. I really have no clue even what size I knit because a marked pattern was not found.
- Sweater 2: The February Lady Sweater – this is not far at all. I ripped back a few rows to redo the button hole and now has joined other WIP’s in my basket of things to knit.
- A skirt I knit about 10 years ago that was in need of mending (which languished because it no longer fit) Mending is complete (yay for keeping the “left over yarn and double yay for finding it with the skirt!) I have worn it twice because IT FITS and it fits better than it ever did!
- More Kid Silk Haze to finish my Air Soft Shawl
- And hankies, pictured above, that I think I got from my Great Aunt Sylvia. They are sitting on my desk today, I am not sure what exactly to do with them, but they are a bright spot and have prodded so many memories!
Before with the chair stacked miles high with stuff from my grandpa’s table, an assortment of mugs and cups, and more clutter my desk.
I promised before and after photos… I am sorry for the poor photo quality. The room is really hard to photograph (it is only 8’x8′ so hard to take a photo from anywhere but the door) but as you can see, my desk which was a mess – is now not so messy. I love this room, because I am surrounded by things I love – a table my grandpa made when he was in high school and an old painted wardrobe that a dear friend found for me. The wardrobe has shelves in it that Bob made and as you can see it is filled with my crafting things – lots of yarn, some fiber, some pattern books, and now even my LipSense things – all contained neatly within. There are still a few odds and ends that I need to find a place for, but essentially it is done.
After, clear space to write or work, one glass for water and photos of my kids.
Grandpa’s table, sans a billion pieces of paper. Books for work easily found!
My treasured wardrobe, neatly organized.
Have you found any good things lately?
<3 <3 <3
My whole house is my issue, many days. As well as the landscape. Ugh.
Yesterday, I cleared 3/4 of my unused dog run of brush. I ran out of daylight, so today that will be 99% done. I also need to clean up the random crap in said dog run. Abandoned pots, bricks, sticks, etc. I need to kill the weeds, and since I want my dog to be able to be unrestrained, in the dog run, I am first trying vinegar. My dad suggested RoundUp, which is not even in my vocabulary!!! Any other suggestions for weeds?
Love the clean desk, love grandpa's table, love, love, love the wardrobe!!! <3 <3 <3
Love those hankies! I don’t think I’ve had/used a hankie since I was little (and I’m guessing my daughter wouldn’t have any idea what they were).
I’m definitely guilty of living with clutter, but I do have those moments where I have to go through everything and purge. I’m sorry to say I’ve never found anything really wonderful — usually it’s just lots of slips of paper I was saving for some unknown reason.
I have to tell you that I laughed at your comment that you’ve cleaned off your desk except for your cup and photos of your kids. I spy HRC, and I didn’t think she was your kid! 😉
Oh, those hankies are precious!! I haven’t been making a concentrated effort, but doing little things here and there… clearing off a table, or perhaps just clearing all like-items off of a table because I have created a place for them. And have also dropped off a few bags & boxes of donations. Slow and steady, but making a difference. (And it does feel good!)
My desk is messier. My entire room is messier. I can’t wait to have a few spare hours to clean up. I can’t do it in the evenings; too tired! Your room looks very sweet.
I’m glad your efforts were rewarded with some great treasures and the real accomplishment of a clean desk! When I cleaned out my mother’s things she had hundreds of hankies. I kept just a few that I thought were pretty and sold the rest on ebay. I was shocked to sell one with Raggedy Ann and Andy on it for $200!
Those hankies are great! Grandpa’s table is the Best! I have several pieces of furniture that my Grandpa made and they are so dear. You may have inspired me, but my room is so much worse than yours was….hard to even know where to begin!
YAY! you found some wonderful things (woohoo for the knitted skirt!) and made space for treasures and creative thinking. (let’s hold each other accountable to make it last!)
Good job with your clean up and in finding a new item for your wardrobe! Your hankies bring back memories for me, too. My grandmother gave me a set, long lost. They’re so sweet! I am not a clutterer nor a collector, but Smith does enough of both!
A clean desk is heaven, we battle with clutter here too, have had a major declutter a couple of years ago but still have way to much stuff. The hankies are a real treasure, just love them, we use hankies all the time here.
Congratulations on finding so many things and on creating calming space for yourself. Rudi and I are working on decluttering in advance of his surgery in two weeks. Here’s hoping…
I am a non-collector and can’t stand clutter. Dale, on the other hand? He saves EVERYthing. Makes me crazy. Good for you for cleaning up your desk and work area. I love love love those days of the week hankies!
Those hankies are very sweet. Maybe framed? Excellent job on the de-cluttering. I’ve been inspired by you all to attack the unused desk in our front room and make it a great space!
I have that same set of hankies and I remember putting the proper day in my little purse each morning. I also have several other hankies that belonged to me, my mother, & my grandmother. I have seen old hankies used to make quilts.