It’s #DeclutterChallenge2024

 

My sewing room serves multiple functions – guest room, computer room, exercise room, extra TV room… and it needs decluttering and reorganizing to make those functions work.

#DeclutterChallenge2024

youtu.be/Y_XxkKGDe0o

And my multipurpose room was full of Xmess stuff, badly arranged furniture, and clutter.

Day 1 was Garbage Day. Days 2-3 were for clearing out magazines & books, but don’t have many, and they’re in my home office. So I rearranged the furniture to open up space for my training bike – goal is to get it set up this weekend. Then today, Day 4, was to get rid of “strangers” and welcome back “friends” – pull out non-sewing tools & supplies, and hunt down sewing stuff from other places.

Then I emptied out all the caddies on my fold – out sewing table, and need to think about what tools and supplies need to be close at hand. I’m behind on clearing and cleaning my sewing machine, though.

And also behind on working on a stalled project. So I wrote up a “SQUIRRELS” list in my sewing journal of things I’d like to make. Squirrels are distracting thoughts that knock you off task, because thinking and organizing are hard, but dreaming and procrastinating are easy.

Not satisfied with making a big pile on what should be a clean workspace, I made a big pile of finished and unfinished fabric masks in my office, in order to repurpose the fabric for many, many squirrels.

2 years ago I made hundreds of flat, folded fabric masks and gave a bunch away, but still have about a hundred left. They’re roughly 8” square when unstitched and ironed flat. I got 3 unpicked, while playing with the new cordless iron, as work was slow. 

Eh, it’s something to do.

Tomorrow is another day!

It’s #DeclutterChallenge2024

 

My sewing room serves multiple functions – guest room, computer room, exercise room, extra TV room… and it needs decluttering and reorganizing to make those functions work.

#DeclutterChallenge2024

youtu.be/Y_XxkKGDe0o

And my multipurpose room was full of Xmess stuff, badly arranged furniture, and clutter.

Day 1 was Garbage Day. Days 2-3 were for clearing out magazines & books, but don’t have many, and they’re in my home office. So I rearranged the furniture to open up space for my training bike – goal is to get it set up this weekend. Then today, Day 4, was to get rid of “strangers” and welcome back “friends” – pull out non-sewing tools & supplies, and hunt down sewing stuff from other places.

Then I emptied out all the caddies on my fold – out sewing table, and need to think about what tools and supplies need to be close at hand. I’m behind on clearing and cleaning my sewing machine, though.

And also behind on working on a stalled project. So I wrote up a “SQUIRRELS” list in my sewing journal of things I’d like to make. Squirrels are distracting thoughts that knock you off task, because thinking and organizing are hard, but dreaming and procrastinating are easy.

Not satisfied with making a big pile on what should be a clean workspace, I made a big pile of finished and unfinished fabric masks in my office, in order to repurpose the fabric for many, many squirrels.

2 years ago I made hundreds of flat, folded fabric masks and gave a bunch away, but still have about a hundred left. They’re roughly 8” square when unstitched and ironed flat. I got 3 unpicked, while playing with the new cordless iron, as work was slow. 

Eh, it’s something to do.

Tomorrow is another day!

It’s #DeclutterChallenge2024

 

My sewing room serves multiple functions – guest room, computer room, exercise room, extra TV room… and it needs decluttering and reorganizing to make those functions work.

#DeclutterChallenge2024

youtu.be/Y_XxkKGDe0o

And my multipurpose room was full of Xmess stuff, badly arranged furniture, and clutter.

Day 1 was Garbage Day. Days 2-3 were for clearing out magazines & books, but don’t have many, and they’re in my home office. So I rearranged the furniture to open up space for my training bike – goal is to get it set up this weekend. Then today, Day 4, was to get rid of “strangers” and welcome back “friends” – pull out non-sewing tools & supplies, and hunt down sewing stuff from other places.

Then I emptied out all the caddies on my fold – out sewing table, and need to think about what tools and supplies need to be close at hand. I’m behind on clearing and cleaning my sewing machine, though.

And also behind on working on a stalled project. So I wrote up a “SQUIRRELS” list in my sewing journal of things I’d like to make. Squirrels are distracting thoughts that knock you off task, because thinking and organizing are hard, but dreaming and procrastinating are easy.

Not satisfied with making a big pile on what should be a clean workspace, I made a big pile of finished and unfinished fabric masks in my office, in order to repurpose the fabric for many, many squirrels.

2 years ago I made hundreds of flat, folded fabric masks and gave a bunch away, but still have about a hundred left. They’re roughly 8” square when unstitched and ironed flat. I got 3 unpicked, while playing with the new cordless iron, as work was slow. 

Eh, it’s something to do.

Tomorrow is another day!

The #DeclutterChallenge Day 1

I’m a fan of quilter and YouTuber Karen Brown of #JustGetItDoneQuilts.

Cluttered guest room/sewing room/dumping room needs reorganizing loveAfter months of remodeling chaos, my sewing room is a mess. Time to take out the garbage according to her Day 1 declutter challenge.

youtube.com/watch

Today was the day we had friends and family over to the house to celebrate my husband David’s big birthday. Preparations started early; my in-laws offered to come over at noon to help clear the decks and set up for a pizza party for about 25 adults and a few children. My brother-in-law Mitch came from Phoenix yesterday, and we had a wonderful dinner at Seasons52 as a pre-event warmup. Could we do this socializing thing after months of being holed up in the Pillow Fort of Solitude during the remodeling phase?

Yep. It was fun! But the best part of the party is still when everybody leaves.

The guest room is being converted to a sewing room/computer room; all the sewing stuff was wheeled in there yesterday, and the existing furniture has been repositioned, but my sewing machines are buried, my long-delayed table runner project is under a pile of stuff, and my gaming computer is yet to be set up. Meanwhile, extra furniture comes out tomorrow before work.

But after Mitch gave me an opening with a joke about procrastination, I handed off the Christmas present/housewarming gift that I made last fall, then lost my confidence in actually mailing the box. Their neighbor is a quilter, and my nerve failed at the thought of her seeing my modest efforts. 

But Mitch said “Oooh, she’ll love the blues,” so I’m much more certain of the thing, and it’s out of my hands. So now I need to continue with the editing down/culling of my household stuff that this crazy remodel project forced me to face.

Today, I placed some broken, beloved glass things in the recycling bin that my Aunt Veda gave my mom, that I inherited and promptly broke soon after receiving it (actually the cleaning service ladies broke it, but it was in a dangerous spot). 

I’ve got more stuff like that of Mom’s that need to be properly placed and used, or let go. That’s in the weeks to come.

For tomorrow, just taking out garbage in the sewing room will be a start.

 

 

The #DeclutterChallenge Day 1

I’m a fan of quilter and YouTuber Karen Brown of #JustGetItDoneQuilts.

Cluttered guest room/sewing room/dumping room needs reorganizing loveAfter months of remodeling chaos, my sewing room is a mess. Time to take out the garbage according to her Day 1 declutter challenge.

youtube.com/watch

Today was the day we had friends and family over to the house to celebrate my husband David’s big birthday. Preparations started early; my in-laws offered to come over at noon to help clear the decks and set up for a pizza party for about 25 adults and a few children. My brother-in-law Mitch came from Phoenix yesterday, and we had a wonderful dinner at Seasons52 as a pre-event warmup. Could we do this socializing thing after months of being holed up in the Pillow Fort of Solitude during the remodeling phase?

Yep. It was fun! But the best part of the party is still when everybody leaves.

The guest room is being converted to a sewing room/computer room; all the sewing stuff was wheeled in there yesterday, and the existing furniture has been repositioned, but my sewing machines are buried, my long-delayed table runner project is under a pile of stuff, and my gaming computer is yet to be set up. Meanwhile, extra furniture comes out tomorrow before work.

But after Mitch gave me an opening with a joke about procrastination, I handed off the Christmas present/housewarming gift that I made last fall, then lost my confidence in actually mailing the box. Their neighbor is a quilter, and my nerve failed at the thought of her seeing my modest efforts. 

But Mitch said “Oooh, she’ll love the blues,” so I’m much more certain of the thing, and it’s out of my hands. So now I need to continue with the editing down/culling of my household stuff that this crazy remodel project forced me to face.

Today, I placed some broken, beloved glass things in the recycling bin that my Aunt Veda gave my mom, that I inherited and promptly broke soon after receiving it (actually the cleaning service ladies broke it, but it was in a dangerous spot). 

I’ve got more stuff like that of Mom’s that need to be properly placed and used, or let go. That’s in the weeks to come.

For tomorrow, just taking out garbage in the sewing room will be a start.

 

 

The #DeclutterChallenge Day 1

I’m a fan of quilter and YouTuber Karen Brown of #JustGetItDoneQuilts.

Cluttered guest room/sewing room/dumping room needs reorganizing loveAfter months of remodeling chaos, my sewing room is a mess. Time to take out the garbage according to her Day 1 declutter challenge.

youtube.com/watch

Today was the day we had friends and family over to the house to celebrate my husband David’s big birthday. Preparations started early; my in-laws offered to come over at noon to help clear the decks and set up for a pizza party for about 25 adults and a few children. My brother-in-law Mitch came from Phoenix yesterday, and we had a wonderful dinner at Seasons52 as a pre-event warmup. Could we do this socializing thing after months of being holed up in the Pillow Fort of Solitude during the remodeling phase?

Yep. It was fun! But the best part of the party is still when everybody leaves.

The guest room is being converted to a sewing room/computer room; all the sewing stuff was wheeled in there yesterday, and the existing furniture has been repositioned, but my sewing machines are buried, my long-delayed table runner project is under a pile of stuff, and my gaming computer is yet to be set up. Meanwhile, extra furniture comes out tomorrow before work.

But after Mitch gave me an opening with a joke about procrastination, I handed off the Christmas present/housewarming gift that I made last fall, then lost my confidence in actually mailing the box. Their neighbor is a quilter, and my nerve failed at the thought of her seeing my modest efforts. 

But Mitch said “Oooh, she’ll love the blues,” so I’m much more certain of the thing, and it’s out of my hands. So now I need to continue with the editing down/culling of my household stuff that this crazy remodel project forced me to face.

Today, I placed some broken, beloved glass things in the recycling bin that my Aunt Veda gave my mom, that I inherited and promptly broke soon after receiving it (actually the cleaning service ladies broke it, but it was in a dangerous spot). 

I’ve got more stuff like that of Mom’s that need to be properly placed and used, or let go. That’s in the weeks to come.

For tomorrow, just taking out garbage in the sewing room will be a start.

 

 

Back to the future: how Mastodon is restoring the lost art of online conversation | John Naughton | The Guardian

The Guardian takes notice of Mastodon. Reconstructed mammoth or mastodon

The new social network with its interconnected ‘fediverse’ is a welcome alternative to blustering rival Twitter and Elon Musk

— Read on www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/21/back-to-the-future-how-mastodon-is-restoring-the-lost-art-of-online-conversation

Back to the future: how Mastodon is restoring the lost art of online conversation | John Naughton | The Guardian

The Guardian takes notice of Mastodon. Reconstructed mammoth or mastodon

The new social network with its interconnected ‘fediverse’ is a welcome alternative to blustering rival Twitter and Elon Musk

— Read on www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/21/back-to-the-future-how-mastodon-is-restoring-the-lost-art-of-online-conversation

Where Gratitude Gets You | #HiddenBrain #Podcast

Many of us struggle with self-control.  And we assume willpower is the key to achieving our goals. But there’s a simple and often overlooked mental habit
— Read on hiddenbrain.org/podcast/where-gratitude-gets-you/

I am totally a grasshopper. But a good thing to practice in the coming year is gratitude, rather than trying to guilt myself into a goal.

Posting to my #Wordpress blog this via the #Tooot #sharesheet in #iOS as a “publish immediately” post. The “draft” option in the #iPhone app didn’t trigger the #Mastodon plugin. It works from the desktop version but there’s a little checkbox that should always be ticked. The phone app doesn’t have that option.

Listened to this #HiddenBrain episode this morning, and I’m grateful for electric power, warmth, clean water, love, and a couple of simple gifts.