The office decluttering continues

And so the decluttering continues! I have NOT found that file folder that initiated this current cleaning frenzy, and I NEED that folder. I've promised the contents to someone. So I have a couple more spots to look - actually, at this point, just one, and if it's not there, I will have to recreate the files. I have some of it in hard copy, but it needs to be digital. Sigh...........

Well, that's OK, but the darn thing is I remember sorting and cleaning that folder. I did NOT throw it out. Where the heck is the darn thing? 

No pictures of the decluttering mess. It's ugly, and it's going to get worse! But as Murphy and I were walking yesterday, we had a chat about some of the stuff in the "maybe" pile, and she gave me good advice. If you have NOT used those sample books in a long time, then why are you keeping them? She's right! I should dig them out and ditch them! More on that tomorrow. 

I was a big believer in ripping out magazine pages to keep, though I never did anything with them. They got added to the piles! Now some of the stuff is going immediately to the recycling, while others I'm reading. I know—it would be much faster if I just tossed them, but I have to do it this way. 

I found an interesting article on a historic "village" in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It's called Storrowton Village Museum, and they moved nine historic buildings onto the site. One of them is called the Potter Mansion and has a very unique quilt feature in the house.  

It has quilt cranes on either side of the fireplace, long decorative pieces of wood that extend out. Hmm -- what's on the other side? Apparently, at bath time, a quilt was hung on each crane, which provided privacy and warmth! The family, from the father, mother, and the oldest child to the youngest, would bathe in the same water. Yep --- that was a thing! And hence the saying, "don't throw the baby out with the bath water," came about. 

The quilt cranes on either side of the fireplace in the Potter Mansion

Anyway, I think the quilt cranes are a great idea, and we could have used them in our house! But Dad went last because he was filthy from working outside! 

Check out the website; they have drone footage of the village and go into several buildings, but not the Potter Mansion. See - if I just tossed that article, we would have missed this cool quilt feature! And that article came from the March 2006 issue of The Quilter. 

I also found this sheet of paper with a book I wanted highlighted. Well, I knew that I had the book, so the paper is gone and the book is on the bookshelf. 

A paper reminding me of a book I wanted

Information about my car, which I sold over two years ago. Recycled! If I used the filing cabinet better, I would NOT have this problem. So I'm going to continue sorting the paperwork and filing it in the appropriate folders, and then I'll slowly work my way through them. But I suspect there is a lot more paper crap like I dealt with yesterday, and I need to read it. I'll get over that soon enough, but at least once I read it, it's gone! 

Brochure on  my 2019 car

As I mentioned, I'm not in a rush, and if it takes all year, it takes all year. I'm OK with that. We each have to find the method that works for us. It's enough for Marie Kondo to hold something in her hand and say "goodbye"; I need to revisit it and say goodbye in my way!

I also found patterns, which are now on the pattern shelf in the stash room. That's a job for another day! 

Patterns found in the clutter

And several books, which are now on the bookshelves in Studio B. 

Found books

It must have been pretty quiet at my "favorite" online store's warehouse. DH needed something and couldn't buy it locally. He had paid a visit to Best Buy, and they told him to check the online store. He placed the order around 8 PM on Friday night. Imagine my surprise when I opened the door at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning to walk the dogs and found one of the packages sitting on the doorstep! That's less than a 12-hour turnaround time. Granted, we live 10 KM from a massive fulfillment center! And it's a crazy place. I want to take KU (my SIL) on a tour there. I went in 2022, and it was fascinating. 

My delivery

What was in the package? Snap bands! I can't imagine any store would stock those, and you'll see what I'll use them for another day. 

Snap bands

The second order came in the afternoon, and I had such a laugh because I had ordered a second product. Granted, I might have been able to find this in a sporting goods store. But remember, DH was giving me grief about my dirty jacket? And I've been complaining that two of my jackets have lost their water-repellent properties. I bought a wash for jackets that is supposed to restore some of that water-repellent property. I might have a go at that this afternoon. 

Wash for cleaning and restoring jackets

I had my three things listed for what I wanted to accomplish in Studio B yesterday. I got the first one done. All the borders are FINALLY on Farm Girl Vintage, and the top is done! That outer border is a farm-themed fabric and perfect for the border! 

Farm Girl Vintage - top is DONE

Then I forged ahead and got the binding and the backing complete as well. 

Farm Girl Vintage is ready to move to the "to be quilted" pile

That quilt is on my visual to-do list, but I'm not taking the picture down until it's quilted and bound! 

Then I put up these blocks from Dear Jen. I'll tell you more about this another day. 

Dear Jen blocks

At one point, DH was busy cleaning up his office. Hmmm --- we are both on a tear to clean up our messes! And he dropped a screw behind a very heavy desk that is possible to reach behind to get the screw. He asked if I had skinny arms, and I said I had something even better! A magnet on a stick!!! And I knew exactly where it was! It worked! 

My magnet on a stick

Then he asked why I had such a tool. Well, someone had suggested it was good to pick up pins when they drop on the floor. I think this was the second or third time I used it! But I remembered I had it and I knew where it was!!!

I wasn't able to finish the second task on my list, though I got the fabric cut and did a bit of sewing on it this morning. That's OK. If you don't meet the goal, then just roll it over for the next day. I only have three things on the list each day because that's usually all I can manage! Of course, it depends on how involved the tasks are!

OH MY!!! I thought I had classes this Saturday, but they are the following Saturday! I still had loads of time and the entire week devoted to the homework. I might have to rethink my schedule a wee bit. I'll be scheduling my time for the week later today. 

The third task was to quilt a quilt. And it's done! But not before there was a tiny issue with the machine, which I caught early, and it didn't take too long to fix the error and get back on track. I love how it turned out. The next one is loaded and ready to go later today! 

Customer quilt - DONE

But at one point, I lost my tape marker. And sure enough, it was stuck to my sleeve! This is just a temporary marker to help me move the quilt forward. I now use thread as the "permanent"  marker, and those threads will get removed when I trim the quilt. 

My "lost" tape marker

I managed to get more half-square triangles done. I told you - I'm on a roll and I'm taking full advantage of my motivation. At some point, I'll slow down and won't be so excited, but it doesn't matter. The amount of stuff I'm getting done and clearing up - it all counts! And means less for the next bout of decluttering enthusiasm. For now -- we keep forging ahead at full steam!

More half-square triangles

I struggled to fall asleep last night. What to do, what to do? I read for a bit, then got up and worked on the current jigsaw puzzle, which I had been ignoring. I like that it's tucked away upstairs, so it doesn't distract me. I don't need more distractions these days! This one is tough! Almost more challenging than the Santa puzzle! Every piece I had pulled to work on a section didn't work, and I had to find new areas to work on! But I think I'm on a roll now. 

Progress on the jigsaw puzzle

We all know that fabric is subject to the world of shrinkanomics, and quilt backings seem to be taking a bigger hit than regular cotton. Look at that! I can see right through the fabric! 

A quilt backing

As I continue the decluttering journey and find interesting things to share with you, I will. I'm going to try to quickly sort the piles of stuff on the kitchen island into categories, so I can deal with each category separately. Actually, DH is away for a couple of days, and I like to spread my sorting piles out across the entire kitchen. Afterall, all the countertops are clean, but KU is returning tomorrow. So that's probably not a good idea. But I could take it up to Studio U and spread it out there, but I would have to put all the quilts away before. I meant to do that over the holidays, but I got waylaid! 

And of course, there is some paperwork that I have to follow up on this morning. And as luck would have it, I still haven't been able to sign up for my Conqueror Challenge for 2026. Yep -- the code they gave me won't work. So I wait for an answer! I knew it wouldn't be smooth! SIgh.......

Oh -- no one guessed the place that was on the puzzle I shared at Christmas. 

One of this year's adventures

Here's a clue. That's an active volcano, and it erupted on December 27th! I don't think we will be summitting this mountain! But lots of good hiking trails in the area. 

We never seem to be thankful for the little things in life. But as I walked with the girls yesterday, I was very grateful for the weather! Our route takes us up a multi-purpose path on a busy street, which I don't mind. But that is usually the way the wind blows, so as we walk up that path, the wind is fierce, and my eyes water and my sinuses go mad! Yesterday, it was cool, but the wind was less, and I was very comfortable. I am grateful for the fantastic weather! And it's going to be relatively mild this coming week - according to the app this morning! Let's take it one day at a time! 

I heard of someone who writes a note about something good that happened during the previous week. Then the notes are set aside, and on New Year's Day, they are read as a reflection on the past year. How cool is that? And what a good way to be grateful for all the wonderful things that happened. Sometimes, we only remember the traumatic things! 

On that happy note, I'm out of here! 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!