Achilles Anonymous

[lucky420]

After reading everyone's posts here, I feel so much better about my clutter...

[delle]

These help somewhat, though (Delle) you've seen my house at its worst!!

Your house was pristine until we trashed it. Five people spending a week readying for TTITD would take it's toll on any place. You, my dear, are one of the best organized people I've ever met!

I like the Fit To Shape plan, and am putting it on my Pondering Plan for the day (along with looking upwards again for a place for the hat).

As for the Action Pact, Day II:

1. Find Sewing Dummy a place to live that isn't by the front door. It was funny enough in the summer, but boots are now more important than a woman in a dress with a military hat.

2. Designate a proper "Off We Go" corner for putting stuff on its way out. Start by putting the Dummy's barstool there.

3. Clear out under the mitten rack.

[Simon of the Playa]

i periodically set fire to wherever i am living and that solves the clutter issue quick.

[Drawingablank]

Is it just me or is there a desire to visit DAB for a crafty art making adventure?

I don't know if I have the motivation to collect enough supplies into one place (or have enough of any particular type to supply it), but I'd be happy to host a burner crafting party if there is enough interest in it. We could use my store's class area that can comfortably accomodate 12 people, and up to 16 a bit less comfortably.

I normally teach chocolate making and leather carving there. I also have a candle shop that can accomodate up to 8 people in the store - my other crafts and art are more of a hobby type thing so I'm less well equipped for those.

Chocolate I'd be able to provide, leather would be more difficult as each person would need tools (more than I have available), candle making is also doable. Alternatively, we could do a pot luck kind of thing with everyone bringing their favorite craft and teaching / sharing their know how.

I am just outside NYC so it's quite a drive from Virginia though.

[delle]

DAB. NY isn't that far from here............. hmmmmmmmmmm.

Ok, I've come to a little realization in the last few days.

Turns out that my laziness worked for me in choosing 3 Very Little things per day.

Up until then, I'd been saying "I've got to get "X" done!" Turns out that "X" is comprised of steps A, B, C, D and E. If I set in my heart to tackle step A, I find it's done in no time and I have time to get on to B and C and maybe even D..... If A is too big, a simple look at it will usually determine that it too has sub-categories.

It's like there's no such thing as a big job here anymore. They can all be broken down into tiny little really easily achieved increments.


And the result is astounding!!!! Frankly, I'm having the time of my life here, doing the smallest things, and making the hugest difference.

[FIGJAM]

"If you have to eat a elephant, take small bites!"

[AntiM]

You have all just described my house. To make matters worse, when dad died, I hauled a ton of stuff from mom and dad's lives here. And MyLarry has a Pac*Rat tattoo, and it is his handle on the CB. His mom is a true hoarder, but is beginning to let the daughters clear things out.

My ability to list mentally is compulsive. I can tell you what is where in the house, except for specific items I need, such as the car charger for my phone.

I do small lists of tasks, but I have a master list in my head of longer range projects. Like repaint the hallway and get my woodblock prints back on the wall, do the front room hardwood floors, do something with the floors in the basement, redo the kitchen wallpaper, replace the horrible basement shower.

I also have a daily "minimal must do" housework routine involving litter boxes, trash, newspapers and junk mail, dishes and the kitchen counter.

We live in a three bedroom house... one bedroom actually has the bed, no crafts or tools allowed. Larry gets this closet. One is my workroom, which has my closet, the sewing machine, and all my craft storage, except the big easel stuffed in the front room. The downstairs bedroom belongs to dad's cats, has a nice bunk bed, and the costume closet. It also doubles as storage for the Bucky skeletons and all my action figures on the walls. The upstairs hall has two linen closets, one has linens, the other kitchen stuff because I don't have enough cupboard space. And there are two hall closets, we each get one, and yes, about half the outer wear is burnery or nostalgic. I mean, how can I get rid of the cape I got in France for my 14th birthday? Or mom's cape from Shiraz? There's a closet in the upstairs front room too, it has all our leathers and my wreaths, and our viking helmets. The laundry room has a bit of clutter, but not much, Larry's candle stuff takes up a couple of the big shelves. I get the side cupboard and a couple shelves for my fancy serving dishes and party stuff.
Larry gets the shed (except the top rafter shelf for my Halloween/winter stuff which can be stored in the cold), lean-to (Burner gear) and garage. We battle over the patio. The kitchen table becomes the art studio after the holidays. The computer desk dividing the front room hides the filing and the three bins of photos I brought home from dad's house, lifetimes of photos to scan and organize.

The war zone is the living room in the basement. It is thirty feet long and about 13 feet wide, a fireplace in the middle. One end is set up with the TV and couches, then there is the craft table, currently covered with candle making and screen printing stuff, the my exercise gear (covered with stuff in boxes, yikes), then the china cabinet and tea cabinets with my glass, and a bunch of tea box storage and Larry's leather working and indoor tools. Larry has a drift of battery charging stuff and things he needs to solder in front of my Wii, I have beading things stuffed alongside the couch. This is where we do indoor crafting and projects, it is all supposed to be put away when we are done, but it hasn't happened since dad died and Larry still has boxes of wires and crap to go through. We fight about projects, he wants to resolder the LED lights in the trike fender, but I keep pointing out the axle on the damn thing is frozen and it will never be functional again. And so on.

Today I will get my ironing board clear. That opens the way to clearing the sewing desk, and getting projects started!