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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 1, 2024 17:53:42 GMT
We are a group working to declutter our spaces. Please feel free to share your goals, projects, ideas, revelations or challenges facing you as you work toward your own goals. Also feel free to copy and paste this intro, use our "CLUTTERBUSTERS" Title for the day to start the thread if you don't see it started. Good luck Clutterbusting!
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 1, 2024 20:12:15 GMT
Good Morning,
Very much enjoyed reading about you and Clair's outing yesterday. Such fun! Also, wow, what a great way of stating your stats for weight loss and maintenance! That was an eye opener for me especially as this is probably almost exactly what I've done these 7 years, Yikes! But...CONTRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!!!
Home: Kitchen is reclaimed, I've actually been cooking some dinner meals, miracle of miracles, with the help of some convenience food items, I cannot lie. But still it takes some thought and effort.
This morning I put away my sewing supplies, box, threads, fabrics. I'm glad I got that sewing box because I'm some of these supplies would be in a nightmarish state of disorganization if I did not have it. This all packs up well, compactly, neatly, and is back where it should be when in disuse. Yay, dining table is clear! Not many trick or treaters last night! It was misting and raining.
Fabric ORnaments: I did finish the third one finally, and got those photographed and listed this morning. I have added the "Bulk Buy Discount" to both listings. If someone pays attention to that, they would indeed be getting quite a savings if they buy all three at once. I understand that's a chunk of change but at the same time, it would be good to maybe just do it, kwim? We'll see, will keep you posted.
Needlepoint RUminations: My friend who was doing the finishing work and teaching me, sent me quite an expensive book she bought on Needlepoint and then she didn't want it and sent it me! I LOVE IT! Half of the book is just stitch pictures and how to, crazy! But when reading the beginning, it taught me something...not only do people like to work from stitch painted canvases because they don't have to think, the paint on the canvas provides the color of the thread also so if the thread is not "covering" well, it is not so noticeable as it would be when the canvas is just white. More motivation to learn how to do this painting well. I will, but it will be 2025 now. I've been a little busy...lol!
So, I'm going to mail two packages today, pick up something I'd ordered from STaples, (batteries I wanted which they were out of were $2.00 cheaper online than at the actual store!?!?) So I said, fine, I'd like to order those online, apply this coupon, have them shipped here and I'll pick them up. Also I'll stop by the actual quilt store that has fabric. I got an out of stock notice after placing my order for fabric backing for that. So I'll take a peek there and see what is what.
Decorating: I've received most of what I've ordered, I'm liking most of it. I've arranged a few things on to go with my antique butter churn thing. .When I get the rest, I might see about possibly displaying the biscuit tin lids, which are quite large actually, maybe as picture hanging from command hooks on another area, It might be that this ends up looking super cute, I'm not sure, but for now I've got a few things set out, and that was fun to do this morning. I think I'm waiting on one more tin. So what is weird is in the 60's Sunshine baking was putting artwork on these giantesque tins, like Van Gogh, CUrrier and Ives Images, and folk art. Ithink people used the tins but then also used the tops/bottoms for serving trays, round and oval. the Currier and Ives one I have is HUGE! So this may come together, or not, we'll see. Fun to think about.
Ornaments: After I go out and do errands, then the rest of the day I will try to finish those decouplage tags I was thinking about and maybe get some red paint on these sleds I have and decide what to do from there.
Hope your day is off to a good start!
Z.
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Post by michelle on Nov 2, 2024 4:17:02 GMT
Z, Such an interesting post about your creativity!!! This morning I managed to get the rest of the proposals out. Hooray for that! Then I spent much time removing the little pavers I had put in since the squirrels caused me a lot of grief in those two areas. I am so glad that is behind me as it was not my most favorite thing to be doing. Glad I got it done today because the temps are going to drop substantially tomorrow. However I will still be able to work outside since it won't require so much crawling around "on the ground" work. Tomorrow is another "Make Yourself DO IT" day.
Saturday - I did get several items done that were on my difficult list so it was a successful day. The bricks have been disposed of, the bird feeding area was raked and La Mariposa was raked also. This morning I spent an hour on admin items and got an amazing amount done.
Hope you are having a pleasant evening!!! Onward>>>> |
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 4, 2024 16:30:33 GMT
Good Morning,
Good work getting through all your proposals as well as rectifying the brick/paver situation and all the raking you've done. Do you have any snow yet?
Sorry I was MIA, I've been doing stuff, but it's sort of slow going.
Shop: I've been pulling stuff out, looking at it, looking at my photos and listings, thinking what's the problem, is just bad, no interest, does it, or the photos need help, description and so on. Then I try to work with it, taking new pictures, writing new descriptions, add incentives to try to promote multiple item purchases. I think I'm almost done with what I wanted to spend time on in this regard. There are listing fees that must be paid for items, even if I have them deactivated. So I've been going through that list, as I pull things out, and think, do I wnat to relist this item as active, or should I just delete it. If I relist it then I'm thinking about or doing the things above I already mentioned. So this list went from about 65 and now I'm below 30. I believe there will be more just outright deleting happening. I've regrouped some things into bundles. I do have a few more things to go with this process which I hope to finish this morning.
In the midst of this process, I did yet a new craftsman era style floral ornament. I'm not sure, but it right up there with a favorite thing I've ever done. I do have it up in shop, it has three flowers and is quite distinctive looking.
Fabric: The last of my fabric is to arrive today, the folk art type deer and flowers. When it does, I will make the rounds to the fabric store/s to see what matches for backing, after I compare it to some red stuff I already have. I may not have mentioned, when I was at the actual quilt store, they had some holiday forest, woodland animal fambric which I quite loved, fox, rabbit, deer, racoon, with very cute leaves and berries, so you know what happened there, and I got backing to go with that as well. But seriously, now, that is the end of it! But, I will make a set of three of each of these hopefully and hopefuly get them listed by the 15th.
Creative: I've not gotten to the tag or sled making yet cause I'm messing with the current inventory examination situation. But I do hope to get to it today, as I will not allow more sewing to start until I do. One thing I did was found my old photo of the way I painted set of sleds a few years back, because that would be easiest, so I could remember what I did.
So I have a busy day of this and that to take care of things. I got the ornaments I ordered from a seller on Etsy, and they are adorable! I love them. I might keep all, or gift a couple, still deciding.
I hope you're doing well and your day is off to a good start.
Z.
Update:
-The list is now below 20, I've got all ornaments reactivated for the season. I will reevaulate what is left in January.
-got the bed made, DW emptied, hand wash stuff done, made cookies for DD b-day, got them packaged and mailed, ordered her some flowers, those will get ther in time, the cookies I'm not sure on.
-Got all ornaments re-listed with new pics and descriptions and videos in some cases. We'll see, but at least they are up.
-I'm mentally coming to grips with things I spent money on that are not moving at all, there will be a reckoning of some kind in regard to these items.
-did a quick grocery shop.
-fabric arrived, I don' need more fabric, I'm a little disspointed because I did look at that folk deer pattern which also had a ruler, and I thought the images were smaller. So they are larger, and the one fabric that did show up to go with will work and I don't "need anything else. I'm looking at it nowo deciding how to cut it.
-will do some cutting and then start putting things away back into the storage area properly before bedtime.
Z.
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Post by michelle on Nov 5, 2024 5:33:41 GMT
Z, Great job organizing and getting your shop ready for Christmas season!
Today I had an appointment in tows and ran a number of errands. I stopped by the Hallmark store and managed to pick up a few special cards that are the kind that get assembled for some of my friends. Thank goodness I went today because their stock is already low. Yesterday I did a couple small sewing projects, groomed Sam and generally forged onward with a number of small items. It was a lovely day today and the wind was not blowing. Hooray for that! Snow was in the mountains around us but not at our elevation the other day.
More tomorrow....
Onward>>>>
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 5, 2024 16:21:25 GMT
Good Morning,
I forgot last night DH was going to two sporting events. This alone time allowed me time to bring in the ladder and try out some of my ideas for the items I'd recently got for areas of tops of kitchen cabinets. This is a lot fiddling around, The larger things I thought would be the best don't work, they are too rustic and worn. Our cabinetry is dark espresso to start with, and this made for a dark, dreary, somewhat sad looking thing tho I liked those images. I set those aside took the smaller, brighter things,tho also rustic, and set tightly grouped above a smaller the 12.5" piece of cabinet, above where I put our colorful coffee mugs and glassware and this is next to the deeper cabinet that has the large/tall antique butter churn. I'm not sure if that stuff fit perfectly this accomplished sort of a more graduated incline from the new items placed going up to that big tall piece. Theye colorful and do brighten things up in that little corner. This corner is also against our back kitchen wall, you can't even see these other things unless you're sitting at the dining table, or come in and walk all the way into the kitchen and look against back wall. So basically they're not front and center, they're sort of kitchen utilitarian looking type items, they are more colorful/cheery and I will leave them, that other big piece doesn't look so alone now. Thanks for listening. Used most of what I got.
Shop: I think that's good now, I'm glad I spent time doing that. This morning I need to repackage and put those things away nicely back into storage area. I also have a lot of box break down to do to get into recycling. I might take three or 4 larger items to the donation station. Pondering.
I well get those little sleds out today and work up those tags. This would be very good to do. I migh just do some cutting of fabric prep in between drying stages on those things so that the new ornament rounds are ready to go. They are definitely a more folky, subtler look than the first two sets done, but I think with the cording, etc. they will be cute, fingers crossed.
Hope your day is off to a good start.
Z.
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Post by michelle on Nov 6, 2024 5:19:56 GMT
Z, Glad you like the end result of the decorating! These things take some time but I think are seriously fun to do.
Today I raked in the back yard for a couple of hours which included cutting back my Irises in a number of places. Then I came in the house and got two Audits ready for DH. I was in such a mood but forged onward. Doing my Happy Dance that those tasks are behind me! Kept everything picked up. Walked the dogs and played 30 with the girls. I am an expert at ball throwing so BC runs out flips around and while she is running I throw the ball so that when she flips around that ball is flying straight at her at a very fast speed. Then she expertly catches it. She loves that! but becomes miserable when I throw it to Clair instead who then runs around the house refusing to give it to us. Clair thinks this is very funny. It's called 30 because that's the number of times I throw the ball. They will play this forever so I established a maximum number of times which helps me retain my sanity. However this is actually more fun than it sounds.
Hope you are having a wonderful evening!!!
Onward>>>>
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Post by dragonfly on Nov 6, 2024 11:03:50 GMT
Hey all - Going to pop in here and join you. My house is a mess. I think having a crazy busy summer led to a lot of clutter build up and I got overwhelmed by it all and chose to ignore it. lol
Going to tackle one area at a time. I’m working remote today due to a snow storm so during a break I’ll tackle my kitchen. It’s the least terrible but it gives me the most anxiety because it’s the where everyone dumps their stuff - mail on the counter, coats and bags on chairs, Amazon packages, etc.
Maybe I’ll take pics along the way to show my progress.
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 6, 2024 17:03:49 GMT
Welcome Dragonfly! I think starting in the kitchen, where least terrible, is a great strategy because you will probably have more immediate success and satisfaction which can help build momentum and confidence for focusing on other areas. Rome wasn't built in a day! I often take before/after pictures and share them with a couple people I'm close with, because having shown the "before" you know they are waiting to see the "after"...lol! Those large things will clear quickly for you. You got this. Great plan! Post a follow up here!
I didn't get to any type of clearing or clean up yesterday, but I can and will today
Today Todos:
-break down about 8 medium to small boxes to recycling, toss the packing carp that came with them
-start packaging appropriately the items that need put back into storage/mechanical room from the photographing listing process.
Yesterday:
-located, yes I knew there were some, but I'd forgotten how many total and how many sets they'd make, the crochet baubles I'd made. I found my leftover bag of beads also with and the twine. Laid them out in sets, attached the beads and twines, got them photographed and listed in groups. So these are out of the MB and need packaged/put away with todays work.
-measured the lengths of embroidery flosses to do the 6 ornaments planned, three sets each from the two additional fabrics received, got them twisted and taped. After I cut the batting rounds,all parts are ready to work with. I can put this stuff away clearing the kitchen table and prep a work bag to take with me as DH are doing a "Staycation" of sorts for 5 nights and I will be away from home.
-cooked two meal things and got the kitchen reclaimed after that
This morning, the bed is made, laundry is rebooted. I will start clearing, cleaning, packaging and put away. I'm thinking I will CB these larger tins that didn't work because I honestly I don't envision them working for me. They are large, take up space, aren't really good for storing items, so I think will part with them. There might also be a basket and wood crate I could add to this trip to the donation station, so I will really look and see what else can go.
Oh...I also need to put the Halloween decorations back into their tote and get that back on the shelf in the garage!
Hope your day is off to a good start!
Oh! Shop update! One of the items I relisted and wrote what I thought was a very clever description on, (who knows how much of that gets read in reality) Someone favorited this. This is exciting because I did put a lot of thought in to the wording on it so that it would not be viewed as a year/date specific thing. They area fun thing and I also added a bulk buy incentive on it so we'll see what happens. But this was encouraging. On another note, someone bought the pattern where I included the bonus page of thumbnail pics of different color combos. There is also no way to know if someone read down that far either, but hey....progress!
Okay, onward, I have the batting pieces cut, now I'm putting stuff away, breaking down boxes.
Z.
CB'd
-two large tins
-one basket with handle
-a steaming appliance that is difficulut to handle, also dangerous IMO, still had the box for this, I never use it.
-wood crate
-and a large box I put the tins in to take to donation station
-a roasting pan I never use for several reasons, I took that as well off garage shelves, it is gone!
TAdas: boxes are cleared from den, packing materials dealt with appropriately, Halloween decorations put back in tote, tote is back on shelf in garage
Z.
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Post by dragonfly on Nov 6, 2024 22:08:53 GMT
Oh...I also need to put the Halloween decorations back into their tote and get that back on the shelf in the garage! You just reminded me that I have one rouge Halloween decoration on my bookshelf I forgot to put away when I cleaned up from Halloween. At least it's a fake book decoration so it somewhat looks like it belongs. lol
I had hoped I'd have time during the workday to slowly put things in the kitchen away but apparently people at my company expect me to do actual work today. I did manage to get the mail and packages off the counter so there's that. But I did tell myself if I just focus on one room downstairs each day this week I'll have the first floor done before the weekend. Then I can use the weekend to tackle some items upstairs.
I'm headed out of town next weekend so I've set a goal to have all the big messes taken care of before I leave. That will give me some peace of mind.
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Post by michelle on Nov 7, 2024 5:04:03 GMT
Welcome Dragonfly! Good luck getting items organized. Z, Great job getting so much done!!! Have fun! I know I told you I framed my cat picture and put it in a place of honor in my laundry room since it was perfectly coordinated with the color scheme in there. I saw the puzzle in your shop--just love that cat!!! Also I will send the address tomorrow. Thanks so much! Excellent day for me, I just stayed busy most of the day. Declutter Wednesday was a success since I managed to get all items in the trash for pick up (a bunch of stair treads, three long stakes, four items from the garage freezer). Endurance raked due the frigid temps and freezing wind while maintaining a positive attitude as the wind kept blowing my leaves every which way which made me appreciate the pine needle raking LOL. I did get two bags to the pit. Hooray! for that. Managed to get all emails answered. The high school class reunion meeting is this Saturday. We will spend just a few minutes??? on that and also have lunch. This will be fun since the organizer is the nicest guy that I have known since the fourth grade. Anyway I am looking forward to it. Also after much beuracratic red tape Clair and I are scheduled to do an event next week at one of the high schools and this will be our first public school one. Tomorrow we are going to the university which is always so much fun. DH took care of one of my head in sand items by getting my car serviced today. I got two items ready to return tomorrow--I have been keeping up with this (which is a first). Kept all items picked up and put away. Did a mini home blessing. Got most of one Audit completed. I couldn't get my touch up painting done outside since it was too cold. Hopefully I can get it done on Saturday since the temps are supposed to go up.
Not sure I talked about this, DH and I are going to interviewed by the lady who compiles the history of the valley we live in since we have lived here so long. Basically there were only a few houses within several miles when we first came out here. Anyway I got out our Indian artifact that we found on the property to see if she wants it since she is starting to get a small collection of similar items given to her by the people she interviews. This is sort of a crusher with indentations for fingers in it. Not much but it is a real artifact.
Hope you are having a wonderful evening!!!
Onward>>>>
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 7, 2024 21:33:42 GMT
Wow, MIchelle, you are always a dynamo! I went back and red about the 30's game with the dogs. At least you know how to set limits! lol. Great job keeping up with the office, yard, dogs,audits and extras! I won't be back till next week, so I'd send it then if you remember to touch base, okay? The history thing sounds very cool! I don't think you told me about the cat picture? Is it one you painted, or colored, or purchased?
Dragonfly, anything you get through will be less than you deal with upon return! Hope you make your goals! I just swept to very cruddy areas in the kitchen and this made me feel better even if I don't get anything else done!..haha.
TaDas:
-showered, dressed, makeup
-bed made
-small laundry reboot x1
-deactivated all physical goods listing in shop as I'm gone too many days to do not do that. IF someone were to order, I would miss ship deadlines=bad reviews
-I edited and add two versions, one Teddy Bear and one Teapot back into the digital download listings
-made a marketing post in Instagram
-ironed, cotton cloth pieces taking with to sew on, between two cardboard rounds I cut from extra boxes here before recyling, will keep them flat and nice
-repacked sewing box, tied twine around it to keep closed, but it, a little lamp, neck lamp, and the pieces I've prepped, bagged, this all fit in a carry tote.
-Got my suitcase down, I'm pulling clothes and shoes for that. we have one outdoor, night football game, so need the warm stuff, this shoudl be assembled in the next 20 minutes.
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Promise Stitching: I'm a bit frazzled cause the Promise Stitching quilt lady called me and there's a thing on Tuesday about 30 minutes we can drive to from here. Just checked with DH and we'll be home in time for me to do that. She seemed fine I hope the other people are okay. This is a thing traditionally taught orally. I told her I had my fabric and was prepping it for my planned project, a table runner. She told me that a table was not the first project. This made me chuckle...in my head... because I've already been told about the progressive 3 project system that teach you everything you need to know to do lots of projects. Yet there are no written instructions, patterns for these three progressive projects or even what they are. Maybe this is how they "get you"! Just kidding. But the thing is, I have enough of a grasp to do a basic a layout of a project, a table runner, and do it, (I think) without going in the progression order. Now, if there's a group that's regularly going to meet, to be taught, learn progression projects, I will certainly do those projects along with the group. But I will be proceeding with my own project as I wish, when I want to, probably concurrently, whether I'm through the progression projects or not. THanks for listening to this. It sounds like a rant, it's not, I'm intrigued and wish to learn, but I can't wait months and month for a group to form to actually start doing something in regard to this. If this is a mistake, I guess I'll find out and why. But I'm moving forward on my own and I will move forward with a group, if a group ulitmately forms and I like the group. Otherwise, I'll proceed on my own. Sorry that was long, thanks for listening.
Okay, back to packing, food, clothes, and then we leave.
Z.
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Post by dragonfly on Nov 7, 2024 21:44:09 GMT
Got the kitchen done last night (aside from the dishes that were waiting on my husband). Feel so good to have that done. We got a new oven a few weeks ago that has double ovens so I no longer had a place to put my baking sheets. Last night while I was on a roll I cleaned out some pots we’ve never used so I could re-organize cabinets and store the baking sheets in an area that makes sense next to the oven. Two projects in one! Before and after pics below (now to Focus on replacing that light bulb that’s at. lol) Next up is the dining & living room.   |
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Post by zenamidievel on Nov 8, 2024 18:34:28 GMT
OMG Dragonfly!!!! Awesome transformation and accomplishment in the kitchen! Also very beautiful kitchen!!! Congrats on the new oven and figuring out how to organize the most frequently used cookware! You are on a roll. Loved seeing your pics!
We’re arrived for our staycation and this morning I’m sewing the cloth around the batting and mat board on the 3.75” rounds, I call these cookies also. I think 🤔 I will get through 6 of 12 total today with allotted free time.
Hope your days are going well!
Z
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Post by michelle on Nov 8, 2024 19:44:57 GMT
Dragonfly, Congrats on the decluttering achievement!!! Z, Hope you are having a wonderful time! I am forging onward today. Mega big deal is my vehicle that was serviced Wed and then Thurs lost all of its oil. Shriek and editing..... The tow truck just showed up and managed to not sink into the dirt by the side of the driveway. Hooray for that! Right now I am working on office admin and will soon go out to the garage and work on the mini oil slicks Hmmm..... Clair and I went to Stay Paws-i-tive yesterday and had such a good time. The journalism student that did an article complete with pics about all of us came by to chat. He got a 100%, I can imagine since he came on our Halloween dress up day and took scads of pics plus lots of bio info. I asked him to send me the article. We'll see. However the pic of Clair and I was one of our best and I really appreciated him coming back to let us know the results. Possibly it will be run in the school newspaper.
Also ran errands, got my returns done and almost all of my other errands but stopped because I was getting too tired and am glad I did because the car was completely out of oil when I got home so probably that extra driving might have done extensive damage to the engine. I am hoping that this is not the case and am fairly optimistic because my low oil light etc only went off when I was a couple of miles away from the house and just flickered off and on when I had to apply my brakes very hard and quickly to get off the highway without a tailgater bashing me. TMI for sure....
It is such a lovely day. After I do the garage I am going to do some more raking to take advantage of the wind not blowing. I am going to really have to watch it this year because working out in the cold causes me to lose weight and I don't want to go through that again. Clair is bugging me to get on with it.
More: I got three bags of leaves raked up and attempted to make two small bushes look better but all that happened is that they look different. Next step is to dig them up because they really are hopeless. Attacked the mini oil spills with enthusiasm and managed to get them cleaned up to the point that all the oil was on Mr. Clean sheets and paper towels. Now all of us can walk out there without tracking oil around and especially the dogs should not get oil on their paws for health reasons. So glad it was a warm pleasant day so working in the garage on the floor was not a nightmare. Finished up the projects I started in the a.m. pertaining to office admin. These got stopped so I could work outside while it was warm. Excellent day for me!
News about the car: They said that the defective part they replaced was replaced by yet another defective part. Hmm.... It is ready to go again and I am just happy that a complete disaster did not occur.
Onward>>>>
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