This is Elle's blog too!

LOL—I'll have to get Elle to write a list of her suggestions and post them on the blog! She's almost as popular as I am! Maybe we should ask her questions. Perhaps we can get her to give us her TOP TEN decluttering tips! 

I have two questions. By the way, she worked full-time in the medical field for many years, so she wasn't sitting at home figuring out what to declutter next. 

1. Did she ever have clutter? And what about her SO? 
2. If so, when did the lightbulb go off for her? 

As for the picture frames, I have a "few" sitting in a closet upstairs, and I was planning to create a photo wall. Hmm - don't want to count the years, but it's been a while. I don't think I need them. Plus, I looked at the few photos that were out on display. Do I need the faded baby picture of M still on the table? It's time to either freshen up the picture frames and pictures or just let them all go. Maybe I need one of those digital frames and let go of everything else. 

So, I have both scenarios for picture frames: brand new and tired. It's time to deal with both, but I have other things on my plate. 

Since I have a lot of work to do this week - real work with deadlines, I'm doing visual decluttering. When the moment comes that I have a few minutes, I'll be whipping certain things into boxes. But I really need to stay focused. I still have some CDs/DVDs to tidy up, and I still have the remainder of those folders that have to be sorted through, and there's my daily box of crap by the computer. Those must be dealt with first before I go off on another tangent!

Something happened yesterday that I thought never would! It was Senior's Day at the thrift store, and I desperately needed a mental break from writing. The subject matter is very exciting, and I'm very interested in it. But trying to take something a little bit complex and break it down into a few words that hopefully people can understand? That was taxing! But I did it. I'm almost done with that writing assignment, and there's ONE more to do, which should be easier. 

But I feel so much more relaxed about the entire process. There are deadlines, but I'm focusing like there's no tomorrow and feeling amazing! The start of the decluttering I've done in the office gives me an incredible feeling about working here. 

OK, so I'm at the thrift store. I don't need anything special—I'm just checking stuff out. I had sort of vowed to myself that I would never buy clothes to wear from the thrift store. There's something kind of creepy about wearing someone else's clothes. It's just a thing I have, although I've bought shirts in the past. 

Well, I need new jeans, as my only pair now has a big rip in the thigh. Yes, it's fashionable, but these pants are years old. So, as I browsed through the jeans section, a pair of black ones jumped out at me. I have no idea why those ones did, but there they were. They are in excellent condition, and the size is what I usually wear. 

They have no change room at this thrift store, so you take your chances, but items can be returned for a store credit. With the discount, I bought them for 6.99. I brought them home and tried them on; they fit as if they were custom-made for me! I'll wash them, and then I have a new pair of jeans. I have some errands later today, and buying new jeans was on the list. I'll still buy a pair, which will cost me a "little" more than $7, but I saved on one of the pairs I need. 

Yep—I love the thrift store. Even if I had paid the regular price ($10), that's still incredibly cheap. I'm sure DH would be horrified if I told him. I'll wash them, parade them around, and ask him if he likes my new pants. Because they fit nicely, I know he's going to say yes. Men! Then I'll tell him where I got them. I love shocking him sometimes! Just to keep him on his toes. 

Oh - does anyone want a crimpoline (Fortrel) quilt? There was one at the thrift store. If you want a weighted blanket, this is the one to get. That thing weighed a ton. I did NOT bring it home. It was reversible - green on one side, blue on the other. 

A crimpoline quilt

I had another errand yesterday: going to M's school from JK to Grade 7. Oh my—I almost got weepy when I walked in the door. So many memories! The school secretary is still there, but the school has been sold to an international conglomerate. 

Lynn Rose Heights

Louise and I had a little chat, and I got what I needed, and I was on my way back home and to work! 

I have some excellent news to share about yesterday. I finished a community project quilt. While that's good, it wasn't THE good news. 

Community project quilt

And a customer one goes on later today, so I can quilt it tomorrow. 

Who says they can't multitask? I tackled that darn video while letting the long arm quilt the quilt. No - the video was NOT done. You see, I had grown discouraged. I could not find a place to save the file, so I assumed all the changes I had made were gone. Imagine my surprise when I opened the program and discovered my edit file waiting for me. DUH!!! 

Editing the video

The next step was to learn how to add text. You know when you say one thing on a video but mean something else? I wasn't going to start splicing more than I had already, so I added a few text comments here and there. And guess what? The video is done, and the link has been sent to the group! Just in time since our next class is this weekend!! 

Editing the video

I'll share the link with you later. That was super easy, and now I know what I'm doing - sort of; I still have lots to learn. But next time I say I'll send a video, I won't be afraid, and the learning curve will be much less. What do we need a video of? This one was almost 30 minutes long, so it took some time. 

All the tapes and dispensers were put away yesterday. I have a drawer by the long arm with all kinds of tape, which is now full. Is this the best place? I'm not sure, but it's the home of all things tape for the moment. I can't buy more; there's no room! As I mentioned, there's probably never a need to buy more tape in my life. 

The tape drawer

Another evening, another puzzle was solved. I don't know what it is about these puzzles, but I solve part, and DH solves part, and together, we get the answer. I don't know if we could do it alone. That is so weird. But he told me not to buy another game with the jigsaw puzzles. Why? I'm the one that puts them together while he watches. I LOVE them. I already have one more, and then there's one we don't have. I'll get it! 

The four puzzles for the EXIT game

This is the one I purchased at the thrift store for $4. What a bargain! It was intact—I checked before I left the store with it. 

Going back to Elle's comment from yesterday where I think it was her MIL who said they could now fill this new place with crap! This is where you need to get SUPER SERIOUS about your gift-giving. Just because you think it's a nice gesture to give a gift and it's the season. You need to ASK first - do they want another quilt, table runner, candle, picture frame, etc.? Maybe they are just regifting these items after the season. Are these items becoming physical and visual clutter for them? 

I see no reason to make or give physical gifts to adults. That's a general statement; there might be an excellent reason to give a physical gift. But you need to ask them what they want—don't just give something because you think it's a good gift. Maybe the recipient would prefer a gift card to their favorite coffee shop. Then they can think of you every time they have coffee. Perhaps you buy them lunch and spend time with them, creating a memory. 

So many gifts are gifted that people don't want. If we ask them what they want, they will appreciate the gift more, and there will be NO guilt on anyone's part. The guilt gets us into trouble with getting rid of things. That's why registries are great, especially for weddings and showers. So create a personal registry if you feel a gift is necessary and ask what the other person would like. I just sent a note to M and asked her what they need for their apartment. I refuse to buy them something they don't need. Money is too precious to waste on things people don't want. I had to chuckle. Her response? She said she'd ask Dillon and get back to me! How unlikely it is for my daughter to consult with someone else first! I love the positive changes in her now that she has a SO in her life. 

Well, I'm off to spin class this morning, and then it's a crazy day. The car is going in for a tire change, servicing, and a small repair (thanks to DH, about one week after we got it!). It will be a long day, but I can walk and do errands there. I'm taking my portable office with me, and I'll work at the dealership until the car is ready. I must finish getting that stuff ready so I can work there. Thank goodness for shared drives and the internet! 

Have a super day! 

Ciao!!!

Getting HIGH on decluttering

I got rid of more CDs/DVDs yesterday. A few more have made it onto the desk to be looked at this morning, including a new box of 10 CDs that's not even opened. So that will be easy to cope with. Everything fits into one container now, which is good news. I'll just keep whittling those down until I get to the end. You can't imagine how exciting this is! 

I went to spin class yesterday and had a great workout, but I have to say that I got more UP feelings (those endorphins) from tossing out those CDs than I did from the workout! The sense of finally making decisions and getting rid of stuff is exhilarating. I can't explain it, but you'll know what I mean once you get started. It is ONE of the few areas in my life where I am 100% in control!

While I'm not calling this a regret, I sure wish someone had given me a good talking time when I was younger so I would not have let this mess accumulate. There are days when I spend more time "managing" my possessions than I do having fun or using them. While I don't think I'll ever become a minimalist and live in a 100-square-foot house, I love the fact of getting rid of the clutter and unnecessary things. 

Nothing is sacred in this house anymore. Watch out, Murphy and Lexi, you had better become more useful, or you might be on the curb with a FREE sign! Oh my—that would never happen. While they can be pests occasionally, the love, comfort, and joy they bring are well worth their shenanigans!

There is one problem that we have with our stuff. And if anyone has a good suggestion, I'm looking for it. Thankfully, it's not one that I have to deal with. But what if most of the clutter in your house belongs to your significant other? And they don't want to part with it. Hmmm --- can some of the stuff be secreted out of the house? Would they notice? Some of those SOs are very cagey! I knew a lady who would take things to the curb in black garbage bags, having secreted them out of the house on garbage day, only to return later and find that the SO had brought them back into the garage! That SO needed a solo vacation away from home!!!

Start small—but START!!! Start with the easy stuff. GET RID OF THE GARBAGE that is clearly visible. You know you have it—the car, the house, the garage. I bet most of us could fill a garbage bag or two with garbage. Even I, who has been decluttering and trying to keep up with this stuff for ten years, could quickly fill a garbage bag with things that I know are worthless, broken, or have no other good home! 

The second small thing (well, perhaps it's not so small) you can do is to STOP buying. Think twice before you buy the next whatever - a book, magazine, clothing article, or pantry item. Do you need more if you already have a ton of the same type of thing? Reading material is readily available through online apps or at the library. How many pairs of pants can one wear (especially if you are retired), and how many do you have that no longer fit? Etc. Etc. 

Yesterday on our Monday Sewing, we were chatting about how many organizations do things a certain way. When questioned, the answer is, "We've always done it this way." How true is that? I'm sure you've all heard that. Well, if you want to break out of the mold, now is the time!! Do something different! Purge!! Or start to declutter! Take charge!! 

A woman (who reads my blog) posted on Facebook about purging her stash of all her pet-themed fabric. She was donating it to someone who makes pet-themed items and sells them to raise money for animal rescues!!! Awesome!!! It's exciting to see stories where an item will be used for something useful instead of languishing in someone's house. 

I don't want to be on this journey alone, so the more I can encourage you all to do something, the more I'm happy to do it. I know a few people who get caught up in social media and can spend hours and hours watching videos and reels and scrolling. Set the timer for 15 minutes of purging and then set the timer for 15 minutes of screen time. We need to stop spending so much time online. It's not healthy and certainly not productive. And how can we tell our children/grandchildren to stop watching when we are just as guilty? 

I once worked with a woman who had ZERO clutter in her house. It always looked like it had been staged for sale, and that's how she lived all the time. She got rid of anything she didn't need daily! Most of us were in shock (and awe) that she could live this way. But looking back, I'm very envious of her skills!!!

Oh, and there is another area where I try to chip away occasionally—my CONTACT list in Outlook. With some of the issues I had in the past, the contact list from my phone is mixed with the computer. Anyway, I found some empty contacts on that list. There are oodles of people I no longer know or need to be in touch with. Some people have up to three or four listings, so those need to be consolidated. Why can't AI help me with that? 

So, I pulled these two bins of fabric for my Dear Jen quilt. Remember those?

My fabrics for Dear Jen

OH -- I emptied something in the office and reclaimed this plastic tub for the solids. 

The solids are now in a bin

After pulling the fabrics for the blocks I need to make for the weekend, look at what's left. It's all neat and tidy. 

The remainder of the fabric for Dear Jen

Each fabric has to be used multiple times, and I pulled the largest yardage pieces for this month's blocks. All is good. By the end of next month, I might even be able to consolidate it all into one container!!

So, the other day, I had an interesting quilt to quilt. There were TWO blocks with open edges. This one was very open, and the other had been stitched in place, but still with some edges that could flip. The blocks are beautiful but not friendly to the long-arm quilter. 

Open edges on a quilt block

I've had to deal with these in the past, and holding the edges down with your fingers is not the answer. I now use a piece of Golden Threads tissue paper to cover the block. 

A piece of tissue paper covers the edges

I hold the tissue paper in place when the stitching is happening. The paper gets perforated and is easy to remove. And VOILA—the block is quilted and has no flips. 

The block is now quilted

Here's the front of the quilt. Does anyone remember the Stonehenge blocks from several years ago? Stores sold tons of that fabric for this blockhop. 

Customer quilt - DONE

And here's the back. It's a great way to use up some blocks. Thank goodness those loose-edge ones were NOT on the back. 

The back of the quilt

The next quilt is loaded and ready to go later today. 

I almost have the binding video done. I tried to edit it on my old laptop, but it drives me crazy when all the YouTube videos say the function is right HERE. And it's not. So, I ended up getting the new laptop out to see if I could be more successful. 

My new laptop

Yes, I found the video editor. I'm too cheap to buy one, so I'm going to try the one that comes with Windows 11. I've done a bit of video editing in my day, so it shouldn't be too hard. It's the same thing everywhere—if what you start with is garbage, then the output will not be great. Thankfully, I'm getting very handy at filming myself. 

The instructions for use were slim and not easy to find, so I started exploring. I had two choices to start—I could control the edits or let AI take over. Oh god, this AI's version of the video used a CREATIVE mode. Seriously? That's crazy!!! Imagine trying to figure out how to put a binding on by watching this! 

AI's creative video editing

But when I took charge, it was much better! I couldn't figure out how to advance frame by frame to know where to crop out some parts. But I soon figured that out. All that remains is to splice two bits together and add a title page. Then I'll be happy. I hope to get it done today. It's long overdue, but it can't be helped. 

Editing video

So here's something else I've started to do, and I know many of you do this all the time. I have a cream duvet on the bed, but I need something else. I need the weight when I sleep. So now I put a quilt on the bed as a topper. I do NOT care if the quilt is a lap quilt - I prefer the smaller size as you can see the entire quilt, and no part drags on the floor! I plan to swap those quilts frequently so I get to enjoy MY quilts. The ones I want to keep. If I am going to keep them, I better be using them. This is my way of using them. This one is called Wanderer's Wife by Jen Kingwell. 

A lap quilt as a topper on a queen-sized bed

 I did some embroidery last night and went through a few bobbins of prewound thread. I taught a class on the embroidery software last night, and all is good! There are so many little details, but they are essential to success. 

Empty bobbins

So all is good. I'm using the stuff I own and trying to get rid of what I no longer need, want, or use. As my daughter would say, "Life is GOOD!" And I would have to agree with her. 

On that note, I'm out of here. It's going to be another busy day. I've been letting a few things slide each day, but I no longer have that luxury. There is stuff that has to be done by the weekend. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!