Fear of getting rid of things

The good news is that the jacket is cut out, and I'm ready to sew it together today. Even better news: both presentations are almost finished, and I really only have to add whatever pictures I get sent by 6 PM tonight. After that, I don't add the pictures. 

I laugh LOUDLY when someone sends me pictures while I'm giving the presentation or just before, expecting them to be in the presentation. I used to run around making that happen. I don't do that anymore. 

I have a personal morning routine and often have multiple classes, so when someone sends me a picture, I could already be on a call or walking the dogs. I try to remind people every month—6 PM the night before —but it takes time to train them! I just ignore the late pictures now. 

As for the weddings? No weddings for years! And then two this year, and BOTH of them wanted the guests to wear a specific color. I am so tempted to just say NO, but I should have said NO months ago, before I even started this jacket. It's kind of late at this point, and I can always use the jacket as a sample, so it won't go to waste. 

Both weddings are family members, and one of the brides is a close family member. There is a color theme. I drew the line when it was suggested that we all buy a dress from the same website (Bridemaid's dresses, no less! I don't think that is going to happen, since I'm not planning to wear a dress. If I were a bridesmaid—I'd be happy to accommodate the bride and wear the color she wants —but as the mother of the bride, or especially a guest, who the heck cares what color I wear? 

Trust me -- I've made it very public that I may end up going in pink bike shorts if the jacket doesn't get done! I think it's absolutely ridiculous and I'm really regretting that I didn't say that sooner. Sigh..............

BUT, on the bright side, I have learned a lot while making that jacket, so I can't totally discount the fact that I'm making it. I was going to make a matching skirt and even bought the fabric. That's when I thought - how cute. That thought has long gone, and I'll be wearing a color NOT normally worn to weddings. That's my protest!!! And if the jacket needs to come off? Guess what? I'll look like I'm going to a funeral, and I don't really care! But we won't tell anyone about my plans! I'm going on a wandering vacation after the wedding, and I don't want to be tied down by luggage. 

Darn—I could have worn a pink scarf—silly me. My brain wasn't thinking. 

I continued to put stuff away yesterday, and this is one of the fabrics I recently purchased. OK—so I did buy a couple of things just because. This was in the half-price sale bin, and while that picture looks very weird, it's because of the neutrality of the print and the color (lime green) that I bought it. 

Lime green fabric

This one was intriguing as it was a fabric made of selvages. I imagine that these are real selvages from over the years. 

Selvage fabric

Can you believe that the repeat was TWO METERS long? OK -- I confess that I bought two meters of it. 

The repeat of the selvage fabric

Then I got some scrappy hourglass blocks sewn, pressed, and trimmed. 

Scrappy hourglass blocks done!

And then they went into the container with all the trimmed ones, as well as some triangles that are waiting to be turned into hourglass blocks. More stuff cleared up in Studio B. 

The container with the scrappy hourglass blocks

This was a table runner (pulled from those bins in the "to be quilted" area) that I quilted for my Facebook Live using the Large Magnetic Hoop. I finished the final hooping of embroidery last week, and it was hanging around, so I trimmed it. 

Trimming the table runner

It's now ready for binding. And I have to tuck the thread ends in, which is a good job to do while on the Virtual Retreat call tomorrow. This was from a class at Ruti's Needlebed back in 2012 or thereabouts. 

The table runner is ready for binding.

I had one more wall hanging that needed to have the binding put on, but it also needed a quilt sleeve. That got made, and I'll attach the binding either later today or tomorrow. It depends on whether I need a break from sewing that jacket. 

The sleeve is on this wall hanging.

We are getting a ton of rain these days. Thankfully, no thunderstorms in the last couple of days, but the rain! 

Guess who got all gussied up yesterday? Miss Murphy, and look how pretty she looks. 

MOM - I HATE going to the groomer

And now you can see her white socks!!! 

Pretty white socks

She did come home very stressed and had leg spasms, which she had never had before. But I lay down with her for a while, and soon she was her own self again. She goes to the groomer every 6 months, but as she gets older, I guess the stress of standing for two hours is becoming too much for her. I will address that with the groomer for next time. Maybe she needs a break. 

She was super excited when she realized that she was going in the car. Ran around like an idiot, and when we got out at the groomer (right beside a vet), the smells were insane. BUT when I opened the door to the groomer? That was another story. She wasn't super excited to go in. They have treats you can buy -- I might have to buy her one once inside to show her this is not a scary place. 

I came across this article about decluttering when I was tidying up the desk. It's easy to believe that getting rid of the stuff isn't really the problem; it's the fear of doing so for various reasons that is the problem.

• What if I need that? 
• I should keep it - just in case!
• Someone gave that to me.
• I'm not sure, so I'll just keep it! 
• What if it's worth something? 

How many of those statements have gone through your mind as you hold something in your hand? It happens to me all the time. But here are a few things that I've learned: 

What if I need that? 

You need to evaluate what you are throwing out. Most information can easily be found on the internet or in your digital files. If it is a physical thing, unless it's something extremely rare, you can always buy it again if you need it. And do you need every scrap of wood or fabric around? You do not! And if you choose to keep it -- then get it organized so it's not clutter. Find a home for it! 

I should keep it - just in case! 

Seriously? Do you really need to be the one to produce every single item that someone (including you) will need for the future? How much room is that taking up in your house? That's like keeping your child's toys so you can pass them along to the grandchildren. It's NOT going to happen. There will be new characters and colors that the grandchildren will want, not the ones from years ago. If someone can use the item now, get rid of it and let someone else use it. Many items become dated, and sadly, our world today doesn't do dated. Now, if that item is special for whatever reason, keep it, but don't keep it just because—make sure you have a specific reason for keeping it. I could never understand the people with massive purses filled with items - just in case!! My shoulders tremble at the thought of carrying that around. 

Someone gave that to me. 

Oh boy—just because some gave you something is no reason to keep it. If you don't like the item, you are finished with it, or it doesn't fit - find a way to exchange it or give it away. There is a very good chance that after one year (or less), they will NOT remember giving you that item. Unless it's something they made or have a family connection to. But a store-bought item? They won't remember. Think back to that memory quilt that I was supposed to make for that woman. When I asked her about it, she didn't even remember it!!! I have a couple of jigsaw puzzles that I was going to keep because of who gave them to me. You know what? When I'm back from my vacation, the current one on the table, which is complete (and related to the vacation), will be packed up and passed along. It's nice, but I will likely never do it again, so there's no reason to keep it. I'll have the memories, and that's all that counts. 

I'm not sure, so I'll just keep it. 

Come on!!! That is NOT an excuse - that is being lazy and not wanting to make the actual decision. Do you want it, need it? If the answer is no -- then just get rid of it!!!

What if it's worth something someday? 

You can easily do some research NOW to see the trend in the value of things. Most old things, especially toys and games, are only worth a lot of money if they are in their original boxes. Which means they were never played with, and therefore don't have memories. Google almost anything, and you can get an idea, but most things? They will not be worth what you think they are. Electronics and other tools? Newer models come out all the time, so if you think you are going to make a ton of money reselling them, think again. I recently sold a Cricut machine. Do you know that you can buy a refurbished one for under $180? So I certainly couldn't sell mine for more than what the market will bear! 

Take each item that you are struggling with and put it in a place of honor in your house - maybe the kitchen counter or the kitchen table. Live with it for a day and visualize what will happen to that item. I think it's easier to get rid of something if you see it every day than if it's hidden in a box, where you can ignore it. Now, it's easy to ask the questions—why am I keeping this, and what will I do with it? 

On that happy note, I'm out of here!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Here is the link for the Virtual Retreat. Remember—there is ONLY a retreat on SATURDAY. There won't be anything on Sunday, as I scramble to pack my few items for my vacation. 

Saturday, April 18 - Starts at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610782501?pwd=7dCrhiL5t8Xa4TVwZPvhL6cOymbcjK.1

Meeting ID: 896 1078 2501
Passcode: 148311