Decluttering My Non-functional Craft Room: My Process

I am starting this post off with a picture or two.  It is my reality check.  It is my in-your-face, face-the-facts realization that my craft room is non-functional.  It is a depository of craft supplies but not a working craft room.  Creation and making cannot take place in such a place.  The chaos does not allow the mind to access creativity.

It is quite an overwhelming place but I knew I would need to remove a lot of things in order to just move around.  The long table in the middle of the room is covered and no work space is available.  The floor between the long table and the stamp cabinets is full of stuff and the office chair cannot roll an inch either way. The chair is full of stuff.

It is bad.  There are many bags of purchases that I have not put away.  A very unusable space.

Now I say that I like my craft room but in reality I don't treat it like I like it.  I say I love my craft supplies, yet I don't treat them like I love them.  My reality is not matching up with my belief system.  I work hard to get hypocrisy out of my life and so I need to line up my craft room with how I say I feel about it.

I gathered up many boxes large and small and put them out in the den/gaming area.  I used the top of the pool table as a staging area.  I started at the door to the craft room.  I decided that I would just keep my scrapbook, card making, paper craft and polymer clay supplies in my craft room.  Other hobbies such as oil painting, needle/yarn work, and stained glass supplies would have to find a new home (not sure where yet).  I picked up each item on the floor first and sorted it by categories.

Some categories that I had boxes for: mixed media supplies, adhesives, paper, pencils and markers, stamps, stencils, embossing folders, and dies.  I also had a box for donation to DAV and another donation box for craft supplies for the boys and girls club or youth center.  I had a garbage bag and a recycle bag.  This system of boxes and containers worked well.  If I picked up an item I knew I would not use, it went to its appropriate box. If it was a keeper, it joined other items in its category.

The first pictures were taken on the 12th of January.  Today is the 29th.  The room is not done but there has been progress.

I have dumped 3 brown bags of trash and packaging.  I have recycled 3 brown bags of paper, cardboard, and carrier board.  I have a brown bag and a large box for  donation and I have a stack of 12x12 paper, freezer bag of stickers and die cuts, and a box with markers, glue, and various other art supplies and kits for the kiddos.  

It is so good to see the progress.  It is good to realize the possibilities.  I continue with the journey and the decluttering and organization.  More to come.

Decluttering Continues: Maybe I am More of a Hoarder Than I Thought

I haven't stopped decluttering since last November when I did my concentrated thirty-one day declutter.  I still look around and see stuff everywhere.  It is not in boxes and does not cover floors (except and area about 5 feet by 12 feet in the basement, that has boxes of supplies from my former career) but it is tucked in everywhere.  The dressers, bookshelves, cabinets, and closets have too much stuff in them. Most flat surfaces have stuff on them that shouldn't be there. 

I have continued to add things to a give-a-way pile/bags and weed out stuff as I come across it in daily life and also through a focused effort on a particular area.  One bag turns into two, turns into four and then to six and so the donation pile grows.  Thinking back, I have taken 3-4 large yard sized black trash bags full of stuff and then some additional items that were not bagable, at least once a month for the last year.  Still I see too much stuff in many areas of my house.  Maybe I'm more of a hoarder than I thought.

I wouldn't be labeled a hoarder clinically as every room functions as it should, we have no problems navigating any part of the house (okay, my craft room is a little iffy), and we have guests over frequently.  Still, I can definitely say that we still have too much stuff and many items are not used or needed and some things I have too much of (eye shadow comes to mind).  I can do better.

This is the pile that we took to the donation center this past Saturday.  Six brown grocery sacks full and a box with breakable items.  There were some books, clothes, knickknacks, jewelry, stuffed toys, and miscellaneous most from the master bedroom except for a boogie board and inflatable from the swimming bag.

 I still have a rolling drawer unit with beading supplies and misc. to go through in the M.B.  After that, the remainder belongs to my D.H. and I'm not touching it.  It is best to let each person make decisions about their own stuff.   

I would think after taking all of this stuff out of the M.B., there would be nothing left in view.  There is.  Don't get me wrong; it looks so much better.  I still have a few stuffed toys that belonged to my children when they were little that I am not ready to let go of but I did get rid of at least a half dozen.  Isn't it funny, but I couldn't make a list for you if I wanted to.  Out of sight, out of mind.  I have a lot of costume jewelry to go through and I have kept several framed pictures of original art (I knew the artist) that were hung in my children's' rooms when they were small.  I have quite a few pillows, some decorative, some bed pillows that I need to do something with.  I have a lot as I keep trying to find the perfect one or combination.

Once I have decluttered the basement, the toys and pictures may go down there if I decide to hang onto them at that time.  Until then, I really am enjoying the openness and relaxed feeling of spaciousness in the M.B.  I am also limiting myself to just my Bible and two other books in the rack by my bed rather than the enormous stack of reading material that I had there.  Some of it was donated but most was put back in the areas they belong.  Interesting how things migrate throughout a house.  

I would encourage you to also add a few things each day to your donation pile.  It didn't arrive in your house all in one day so it is reasonable that it depart a little at a time also.  Everyday do something, no matter how small, to move toward your goal.  The time will pass no matter what so it is best we keeping inching toward our best life.

A Bit Closer to Minimalism; A Long Way to Go

This post should have been published in November 2018, but I just noticed that I had never hit publish and it was still in draft form.

It is interesting how something can become a habit, good or bad.  If you start sitting down with a bag of chips every time you watch television, soon you will feel like you need a snack every time the tube comes on.  If you start eating an apple every morning for breakfast, soon you don't feel right unless you have your apple.  Well, I find the same is true for decluttering.  For the past six weeks, minus time for illness, the thought would pass through my mind, "Have I purged five items today?". Now I find that thought still passing through my mind even though my month of decluttering five items per day is officially over.

I am seeing a bit more open space here and there and that space is very motivating.  Therefore, even though I'm not being rigid about it, I find myself still adding a few items to the donation area before I go to bed.  If I haven't reached my five item goal, I quickly zoom around the house and grab a few things.  My mindset has changed and letting go of things is much easier.  Being able to quickly decide about something is a very freeing feeling; exhilarating really.

Saturday will be donation day and so far I have three large black trash bags full, a lamp, and a brown grocery sack full.  I also have a box of teaching posters to donate along with two boxes of teaching supplies to donate.  I recycled three brown bags of teaching curriculum and lesson plan files.  I still have a lot of teaching related stuff to go through but that's a start.

My daughter even went through a bunch of stuff in her closet and came up with quite a few things to donate.  I always go through her donation bags and usually pick out a thing or two to set aside.  I know she gets caught up in the moment and sometimes goes overboard.  Several times she has seen something I 'saved' and asks, "Why do you have my ______?".  When I say she had it in the give-a-way bag, she'll reply, " Why would I get rid of that?"  Then she reclaims the item.

Of course dealing with the stuff in the house every day means that I know where progress has been made.  Sometimes other family members will notice something is different but basically they don't notice specifics.  Our house is not a hoarder situation but rather just areas of clutter in each room, such as the desk and surrounding area, the area next to my reading chair in the living room, the top of the pool table (mostly scrapbook stuff I categorized but haven't moved yet), the reading area downstairs, some shelves in the laundry room, and basically every flat surface except the breakfast table and dining table and kitchen island. They are contributors and thus are clutter-blind.

I have found that taking pictures of these areas/rooms really allows me to see what I need to tackle.  There is something about taking a picture of someone or event and noticing the background as much as the subject.  I would suggest you try the photo technique off and on as you work through your stuff toward your goal of a more minimalism home.  It really helps me to focus on one area.

Here is  pic from the last week of decluttering:  

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping.  Among other things, I purchased 2 boxes of pasta and a box of spaghetti.  Since I had made spaghetti in the Instant Pot and minestrone in the Instant Pot in the last two weeks, I figured I needed to replace what I had used.

Today, I was putting the dry goods away.  For whatever reason, I find grocery shopping very draining so I usually put the cold things away and leave the rest for later.  While putting the pasta I had just purchased away in the pantry, I noticed a basket in there and could not really remember what was in it.  I took it down and found a few packages of pasta!  So I decided to go through the pantry and round up all the pasta products.

Surprise!  I had more pasta then I knew I had.  It only took about 10 minutes but at least now I know exactly what I have.  To be exact, I have:

• 5 boxes of lasagna noodles
• 6 boxes of thin spaghetti
• 1 pkg of whole grain spaghetti
• 1 box of supergrain elbows
• 1 pkg brown rice pasta
• 1 pkg Lomein
• 1 box rotini
• 1 box rigatoni
• 1 box medium shells
• 1 large pkg of rice noodles

Oh the reality of discovery.  Guess I won't need pasta for a while.  I would challenge any readers to pick a category and dive into your pantry or cupboard and gather all of that one category together.  You might be surprised at what you will find, and you just may be inspired to create something delicious.

A Place and a Space

I have been continuing on the journey toward minimalism and moving stuff out of the house.  I've gotten rid of at least 6 more black yard waste bags full of stuff.  I've given away another 10 books to a friend.  I've used some of my craft supplies to make kits for a class I'm teaching.  I've taken another large black bag of clothes to a high school clothes closet.  My son decluttered them from his closet here.  I have a new brown grocery sack started with some sidewalk chalk and bubble blowing supplies I removed from a coat closet.

Those brown grocery sacks are key to ongoing decluttering.  I keep one in an inconspicuous place in the living room.  I add to it as I come across things.  When it gets full I add another and when I have three full ones, I put them in one of the large black bags.  Having somewhere to put things as I come across them makes decluttering part of every day life.  Every member of the family knows the its location and its use.

I have slowed a bit this month and have been feeling quite lazy.  The main entertaining rooms are almost complete not counting shelves, drawers, and walls.  Almost all of the stuff in boxes, bags, etc. on the floor has been gone through and decluttered.  Those things staying have been put away.  This means that with a quick sweep/vacuum, I am ready for company.  That is a great feeling but I'm not done yet.

My goal is to have every room cleared.  Every surface decluttered: floors, walls, shelves, drawers, and closets.  The visual space is calming to my mind and it seems to satisfy something deep in my soul.  Space is good.

At this moment, I have gathered the extra supplies I had out on the dining room table and am getting ready to put them away in the craft room in their designated places.  When I walked in that room this morning, there was a moment of feeling overwhelmed.  That is how clutter always makes me feel.overwhelmed.  I realized it would just take five minutes or so to get the things organized and ready to go downstairs.  Five minutes later, they are.

Having a place to put your things makes a difference.  When I have things I don't need or more than I need, it is overwhelming as I have no where to put the stuff.  I notice it is the same for laundry.  After the big closet clean-out a couple years ago, ongoing purging has meant made putting away my laundry a five minute job.  Things have a place and space to go.

Keeping up what I have done so far is very doable.  However, I notice when I buy anything new, if I am not replacing a used up item, it takes a minute to figure out where the new item is going to go.  This is a part of my thought process whenever I buy new things now.

Recently, I purchased a countertop water filter.  We drink a lot of water and having purified water is important to me. However, I did not know where I was going to put it before it arrived.  First, I couldn't picture the exact size of the item and second, I wasn't sure how far the spout was from the bottom of the container.  I didn't know if I would need to purchase and additional stand.

The packaged arrived and it sat for several hours as I delayed unpacking it while I figured out where I would put it.  I determined that if it would fit under the upper cabinets, it could go one place, if not but it was not too wide, it could go in another.  If neither would work, it would have to stay on the island until I could purchase a floor stand.

Well it has found its home and we have been using it for two weeks.  I had to move an item somewhere else before I could place it.  Since I had been decluttering that pantry, there was room for the other item in there and all worked out.  I may still decide on a floor stand but for now, its place works.

I do find myself asking, "Where will I put this when I get it home?" whenever I am shopping.  I like that I am more mindful of my space and a thing's place before it comes into my home.  Still a ways to go but the progress I have made is noticeable and  appreciated each day. 

Thirty-one Day Decluttering Grand Total is...

I began my fall cleanup October first and started strong.  My goal was to declutter five items each day.  Mid month, illness delayed my efforts but I picked up the challenge again in November to complete my thirty-one days.

It was interesting how varied and random my items were.  Some things were mine, some were items left from my children, and some were from my teaching years.  Items came from every room in my house and although I'm glad to have it all out of here, it's hard to see a big impact because of that.  It amazes me how I can take bags of stuff, big black lawn bags of stuff, seven so far, out of this house but not see a huge impact.  Of course, I notice as I am more in tune to details but I doubt my husband has noticed.

As I decluttered and came across empty containers or emptied baskets, I gather them all together and now have three apple boxes full of containers.  I gave a couple away to a friend who stopped by and when asked, picked out four containers for items she was trying to organize.  When I am finished with my whole house declutter, any containers I do not need will be donated.

I found letting go so much easier at this point in my life.  I was hanging on to a lot of my teaching items in case I go back into that field but was able to let go of a lot of it.  I now have a bunch to donate to the local teaching center and to a local preschool.

I will continue to declutter as we head toward the end of 2018 but of course this time of year is busy so I will not have a daily item goal.  Today, I came across six rolls of wallpaper that will be the beginnings of a new donation pile.  This coming week will find me tackling the holiday decorating so that should generate some more things as I focus on the meaningful decorations and let go of the rest.

I think the process of focusing on meaningful things has really helped me make a mental shift which makes it easier make decisions about which things are important and which items  I still want tp be a part of my life.  I can glimpse a bit more the life I imagine and therefore can work toward.  I feel that simplifying my surroundings will open more room for creative space and time. Oh, and the grand total is two hundred and one items!

Delayed but 93 Items Decluttered

I have been waylaid, sidelined, laid down, but I am not out.  Mid October I got sick with a throbbing headache, nausea, cough, and fever.  I was tested and it was not the flu.  It did turn into bronchitis and the cough hung on for about two weeks.  The cough disrupts sleep, and the allergy medicine to stop the drainage makes me tired.  However, I continued with my decluttering to finish my thirty-one days although it did not get finished in a 'calendar' month.  These items were tackled in November but I will put the dates for October on them.

October 15: five paperbacks

October 16: five more paperbacks

October 17: five more paperbacks

October 18: four paperbacks and a shoe box

October 19; a dog bed, wire basket, headband, sweatshirt, straw dispenser

October 20: racetrack, chest of games, two children's books, party favor bags

October 21: cowgirl had, gloves, tutu, three rings, drawstring bag

October 22: two hats, spiderman glove, prayer book, cosmetic bag

October 23: three cookie cutters, two forks, two spoons, novelty straw

October 24: silk flowers, football, new bath poof, Volkswagon stress car, candle holder

October 25: plastic container, votive holder, two drawstring bags, glasses case

October 26: hoop skirt, canvas bag, coffee pot, twirly toy, two books

October 27: plastic container full of small toys 20+, dress shirt, two car seat covers, Nerf gun

October 28: pack of postcards, two tins, two books

October 29: remote, game

October 29: five crossstitch pattern magazines

October 30: five bubble wands

October 31: lamp, basket, shirt two bags polyfill

Third Week: Thirty-six Items and a Travel Trailer

Accountability is important when making a commitment to something. I'm finding that posting these pictures and blogging about this decluttering effort is really helping me push through when life gets busy or I get lazy.

A major item that was released this week was a travel trailer.  We had just purchased it last year, a 2016 model, and had not been able to use it much at all.  I had purchased many items to 'furnish' it with adequate bedding, dishes, bath items, etc.  A hail storm hit here at the end of the summer and it was quite significant at our location.  We had several things damaged and the trailer was one of them.  We had no indication of the extent until the adjuster came out and a few days later we were informed it was totaled!

We did not expect that and the thought had not even entered our minds.  It turns out the labor is quite expensive when replacing hail-beat siding and there was more dents than we had initially seen.  The inside was still in new condition so it was a bit of a struggle to decide what to do.  Our lack of proximity to a dealer who could do the work, inevitably swayed the decision to let the trailer go to the insurance company.  It will be auctioned off and we are confident that the new owners will feel blessed to get such a nice trailer at a good price.

It also presented a conundrum:  what to do with all of our 'furnishings' and personal affects that had to be removed.  Most will be moved to our older trailer that we keep down by the lake and those things traded for will be brought back and donated.  Until then, I now have to store all that stuff.

This kind of unexpected happening is what throws me off.  The phone calls, emails, appointments associated with any insurance claim is very time consuming but USAA makes it as simple as possible.  Then there is the time to take possessions out of the trailer and make decisions about it, then store it.
Regardless, I managed to continue with the decluttering goals in the house and below you will find the items released this week:

 

Oct. 15: two magazines, a plastic cup, a water bottle and a cookie cutter.

Oct. 16: three pairs of old shoes, and not pictured; a cell phone case plastic jewelry all in the trash.

Oct. 17: pair of sandals, book, jewelry pouch to donate, a shoe box and magazine in the trash.

Oct. 18: six plates and a vintage school desk.

Oct. 19: a crayon maker, a jewelry box, a velvet folder, the shirt below and a cornhusk doll which is not seen but is in the crayon maker box.

Oct. 20: two small glass cups, a birthday glass, a kids wallet (all donated), and a pair of slippers for the trash

Oct. 21: a drawstring bag, a hourglass timer, and four paperbacks.

The grand total for October so far is one hundred forty four items! This past Saturday, we took three large yard bags of the stuff I had collected since the last drop off, along with the desk, and donated them to the DAV.  This week we've started new bags and can't wait to fill them.

Decluttering Continues: Thirty-five More Items

Decluttering continues although this week saw some challenges.  One of my children was diagnosed with pneumonia after two doctor visits and a chest x-ray. Every parent knows that when your child is sick, you don't get proper rest.  Her coughing kept her and us up for hours on end and running short of sleep really affects me.  I don't function well.

A freeze was also forecast for this past weekend.  Some things in the garden needed attended to and all tropical plants had to be brought in.  We also had to get our travel trailer winterized which meant a day for travel there and back along with the work needed.  

However, I still tried to declutter each day which includes choosing things to donate and some things to throw away.  I should have a load ready to take out to a thrift store by Saturday.

Oct. 8th: Five random coffee cups.

Oct. 9th: two bowls, a small tray, an M&M dispenser, and a wicker wine carrier.

Oct. 10: An egg jello mold, ruler, Frankenstein cup, candle, vase.

Oct. 11: Five random glasses.

Oct. 12 & 13: Six pairs slacks, Four plastic hangars.

Oct. 14: Two magazines, a plastic cup, a water bottle, and a cookie cutter.

Seven Day Declutter Results: 73 Items Going Out

My goal is to get rid of five things each day in October.  Right now I am only counting items that go into the donation bags.  In the first seven days in October, I have been able to add 73 items to the donation area.  I have also put many things in the trash or recycle area but I'm not counting those.  

What strikes me is the randomness of some of these items.  Some things are left from my almost grown children and some things are left from my teaching career.  Some things, like Jello molds, are just things I won't use anymore as Jello is not plant-based. I actually used to often make my kids Jello cubes or Jigglers as they are now called.  The NASCAR ones are about 20 years old and may be collectible now.  Who knows, maybe it will make the DAV a few dollars.  

I feel good that I have been able to exceed the five item goal on most days.  It will be interesting to see the monthly total but as with most long-term projects, motivation in the beginning is easy.  It's the daily grind where momentum can slip so I will have to guard against it.  If you are working on having less stuff in your house and blog about it, put your link in the comments below and I'd like to check it out.

Oct. 2:  2 NASCAR Jello molds, Christmas Jello mold, Girl Scout book, fish key chain, purple headband with flower, red hero cape, 7 plastic leis, Scooby Doo Halloween bucket.





Oct.3:  21 books.





















Oct.4:  12 books, atlas, gag dice, dress up ring, wooden box.

Oct. 5: New Year's hat, bee tin, 2 cross stitch pattern magazines, one Wellness text book.














Oct. 6: My 'w' Book, paperback, penguin tub toy, character toy, Spanish Language Course.














Oct. 7: Water game, prickly ball, 4 western history paperbacks.