Spring Cleaning

I didn't do much sewing last week. Between spring cleaning and stormy days when my machine was unplugged, my stitching time was limited.

When I'm really in the mood to clean, I go all out. Our camper needed the full treatment since it hasn't been used for almost 18 months. Because of COVID, we canceled all our 2020 trips. Oh, we aired it out and unloaded some gear during that time, but it was still a little dusty and stale.

We spent all week. EVERYTHING came out: pots, pans, dishes, linens, all the stuff that normally stays in there. Lots of laundry and several dishwasher loads made it all fresh and clean. I wiped down walls and cabinets, replaced shelf liner, vacuumed, mopped and dusted.

I find it very satisfying to clean and organize once I get started. I culled out duplicate, expired or unused items before moving it all neatly back in. Rockette, my sturdy Singer 500-A, is stashed snugly in a cabinet with her sewing supplies and a couple of quilt kits. I've loaded basic clothing and canned goods. 

Now the camper is ready for our next trip--a few weeks after we get our 2^nd vaccine. All I'll need to add is fresh food.

Spring cleaning will now carry over into the house, but not until we rest and rejuvenate. I logged several miles just toting things back and forth. Thank goodness I had the help of my favorite guy. He finished indoor and outdoor trailer maintenance as well.  We're a great team.

Spring time

is the perfect time

to clean!

Bad Computer

About a month ago, I bought a new laptop computer. I spent a week installing and updating software and copying files from my old one. I had everything just like I wanted. Then, poof! The bluetooth stopped working last Thursday; it just disappeared.

After a day of troubleshooting, reinstalling drivers, trying solutions, and talking to Deepak from Dell, we gave up. Thirty-six years of computer experience didn't help this time.  It is apparently a hardware failure of some kind. I am shipping it back to Dell for warranty service this morning.

I had to move all info off the hard drive for security.  So, whenever it gets back, I'll have to install everything again from my backups. 

So, no blog today. I've had enough for now. I'm taking a break from technology. I'll be sewing, cooking, reading a novel or two. Hope to be back next week.

Make It So

2019 is just about here.  

Time for reflection, recharging, and resolutions.

Toss what's not important.

Embrace your favorite things.  

This is the beginning of anything you want.

Halfway Point

Butterfly plants--especially pretty this year

Half the year is gone already! That got me to thinking. I've accomplished quite a lot so far. Tried new things, enjoyed being with old friends, and relished spending time with my mama. Took care of lots of paperwork and cut through some red tape. Relaxed with and worked alongside my sweet husband. Spruced up our home, put things in order, and tossed clutter. Pushed negative thoughts and unnecessary crazy people out of my life. Carved out time for myself in the sewing room, read dozens of books, and got a sassy new haircut. The first six months of 2014 have been satisfying and happy.

Looking ahead, I have plenty of goals and ideas for the second half of this year. I'll continue my quest to simplify life and to focus on what's important. There's more home improvement on tap, and certainly a few adventures along the way. I've got people to see, places to go, and things to do. With days inbetween to reflect, dream, relax, create, and enjoy living. Who could ask for more?

Useful Notion: Whether you dive right in to your day or dip in one toe at a time, be sure to savor every little experience.

"I don't have everything, but I love everything I have!" ~Anonymous

Release

re·lease

: to set free

: to stop holding on

: to allow to leave confinement 

 

: to relieve from something that burdens or oppresses


What a powerful word! How liberating it is to let go of thoughts or things that are no longer needed. Doing so opens the mind to consider new ideas. It is difficult to move forward when clutter is holding you down like an anchor. 
 
Last week I released old carpet to be recycled, and sent more unused items along for others to enjoy. It's amazing what you find when you have to move everything out of two bedrooms and closets. It's easy to overlook everyday surroundings. The rooms look fresh with new carpet; simple décor will make them easier to keep neat. 
 
I'm still simplifying, and now I'm letting go of old habits, clutter, and anything that holds me back.


Useful Notion: Have less, do more, be more. 

 

Simply Easier

My focus on back to basics is well under way. It's refreshing to look at my home with a new perspective. While I go about my normal routines, I take a few extra minutes to find ways to simplify. If possible, I make changes immediately. More extensive ideas are put on my list to implement later.

This shelf was stored in my hall closet for a couple of years. I love it but didn't have a good place for it. Now it hangs above the dryer in my laundry room, holding blue Ball jars filled with laundry products. It's pretty, it's handy, and I don't have ugly plastic jugs on the dryer. Those are now hidden in the cabinets over the sink. Clear space for folding clothes, and it only took about ten minutes!

Speaking of clothes and shoes, I've been purging them as well. Two large bags are already gone and I have three more ready to haul to Goodwill. Fewer clothes means less closet clutter and time saved figuring out what to wear. And I don't need so many dresses or high heels any more.

The emphasis is currently on our bedroom since new carpet is on the horizon. We'll have to move everything; a real incentive to pare down what comes back into the room.

The process of streamlining is satisfying, so I'm in no particular hurry. Looking for ways to reduce clutter, finding hidden treasures, organizing and decorating are fun for me. Making life easier along the way is an added benefit.

Useful Notion

  

“Simplicity is making the journey of this life 

with just baggage enough.”

~ Charles Warner

Callie Cat watching the goings on in my sewing room
during the fabric sort last week

Fabric Scrap Organization

I've got bins of fabric scraps that I've been saving since 1969. (Yeah, some have moved with me eight times). Don't get me wrong, I use them, but I probably add more than I use. It would be interesting to know just how many yards of fabric I have bought in 50 years of sewing. And I wonder how many times I've sorted through and touched each piece of material. That would probably boggle the mind! 

My fabric storage system works well for yardage. It's easy to find the pieces when I need them. You can link to that article here. Scraps are another matter. As you can see, right now I just toss leftovers into plastic bins sorted by color. It's hard to dig through them, and I have to iron each scrunched up piece before cutting, which delays my project.

I have a new plan to simplify how I store and use my scraps. First, I tackled this project one bin at a time to keep from making a big mess. As I sorted, I tossed anything I know I won't use or pieces too tiny to quilt. I ironed the fabric, then cut off the odd shaped edges. Then I folded the larger pieces (half yards and fat quarters) into uniform sizes and stacked them neatly back into their color coded bins and baskets.  

The leftover edges and small pieces are sorted by size, for use in colorful scrap quilts. I rotary cut useable strips; 1 ½” to 4 ½” wide, and stacked them carefully into labeled shoe boxes on a rolling cart. I can stash it under my cutting table when I'm done.

This initial sorting/cutting process took a couple of days, but now I have a simple method of managing my leftover fabric scraps. Immediately after any sewing project is finished I will cut the pieces, fold and store them.

The result: I'll have strips and pieces ready at my fingertips for stitching quick scrappy quilts anytime. A rainy day activity all set up and ready to sew!

To continue my simplify theme, I pulled out a few pieces of fabric yardage and listed them for sale in my Useful Remnants Etsy shop.  I added vintage patterns and a modern mini quilt that I made yesterday from some of my newly sorted scraps.


Useful Notion:  "The simplification of life is one of the steps to inner peace." - Peace Pilgrim

Simplify!

That's my theme for January. 

Sim-pli-fy:  
to make easier to do or understand
   a: to reduce to basic essentials

   b: to streamline

   c: to clarify

There are a lot of areas to work on, and I've already started. Home, shopping, food, clothing, hobbies, habits and goals are all under review. I'm hoping that simplifying life will lead to harmony, joy, peacefulness, fun, and a beautiful 2014.

Useful Notion: There is beauty in simplicity. 

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. --Confucius

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify. --Henry David Thoreau

** BRRRR!  it's COLD here on the ridge this morning!  Three degrees at 6 am.