Enough is enough…

 

Let me preface this post with a brief bit of information about what has been happening around our place. Our lives can only be described as rather chaotic for the past five years, and today I’ll spare you the details. Chaos is not always a bad thing. In fact, chaos can be fun. However, there comes a point where it seems to take a toll on my mental condition which is somewhat questionable anyway. LOL …well, I have reached that point. I am determined to take drastic and necessary measures to reduce the bedlam in our lives and in our home. Two wonderful events recently, including a trip to Rhode Island and a 40th reunion, have left me refreshed and changed my perspective on the way we live our daily lives. I have previously posted about those fun events.

We have a beautiful 3400 square foot home, and right now we would probably qualify for the messiest house in which people actually function. I have never been nominated for the Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot, but I have also never found myself paralyzed from the suffocating feeling of reaching maximum capacity of stuff in my house. I have absorbed the remains of my mom’s moving from three different three bedroom homes and a small apartment (including my sweet mama), mixed with the 39 year collection that Mark and I have accumulated. As quilters I am sure you can all relate if you think just about your quilting stuff alone. Now multiply that by a full household times five. We have entirely too much stuff…

I have enlisted help from a wonderful friend, with whom I worked for a number of years at one of the major fabric retailers. Neither of us are speed demons, and this is not a race. We are familiar with the way the other thinks and works, and let me tell you we could accomplish some major work together at the fabric store. Nina happens to be one of those people with organizational skills that are somewhat different from mine. Obviously my skills in that area are lacking or have taken at least a five year vacation. And as Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working for you?” It is not working well at all. Nina and I are tackling the unsightly issues of overcrowding and disorganization in my home. I promise to post before and after pictures on another day. This may seem unrelated to a quilting blog, but for me it is a huge aspect of quilting. I love the tranquility of quilting and the creative process makes me feel fulfilled and happy.  Attempting to find the peace that comes with the “hum purr” of my little sewing machine is harder in the midst of a monumental amount of stuff surrounding me. So just for a few days I am putting my quilting project on the back burner and seeking resolution to this pandemonium!

Last week Leah Day’s post about your storage options in the studio was intensely interesting. I enjoyed her sharing the detailed thought process that she goes through to determine the best option for her space. We all have our own way of decision making and different processing methods. Maybe because I taught school for years, I find myself fascinated by the thought process of others. Leah’s way of thinking has helped me to look at my own dilemma with new eyes. So please stop by again to find out where this wild and crazy ride leads me…

1973 Honeymooners