Reflect, Reduce, Renew

There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth. -Leo Tolstoy 

I have started this year out differently. The plan is to go through my entire home and reflect on the things that I own. To make sure that I am surround by things that give me joy.  So  I will hold every object that I own and if it does not make my heart go pitter patter out it goes. 

I want to reduce what I own so that I am not burdened with stuff. This was easy when we moved every two years. Tougher now that we have lived in our home for 16 1/2 years.

And finally I want to deep clean and renew my environment. Once this process is done, then I will decide on longer term goals. So far I have cleaned out two bathroom closets and my entire kitchen. Yep every cabinet and my pantry and it also now also sports new shelf paper. I even went through my spices! I cannot tell you how uplifting this felt.

One New Year's day, I read the life-changing magic of tidying up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo. This book is a best seller in Japan, Germany and the UK. She did not share anything that I did not already know but it was an excellent reminder. Her point "when we really delve into the reasons for why we can't let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear of the future" has given me much food for thought as I go through the process.

My dad died in March. He promised many times that he would leave things in good shape because his legal guardian did not. Well, my dad did not live up to his promise. I know that want to be surround by things that give me joy and I certainly do not want to leave my children with the burden of dealing with my stuff. How about you?

Some Goals Make You Go Around in Circles

Michele, on her blog, is sharing her progress on reducing her stash and be productive. I love her "stolen" idea of having 2,013 items leave her house in 2013. I also love how honest she is being. It's inspiring.

I too have decided that I must deal with my UFOs once and for all. I will either finish them or give them away this year. I also need to decide what to do with the closets that are filled with quilts, but not sure this will happen this year. I did throw a quilt away! I took off some of the elements before pitching it. It was actually quite liberating! And before you get upset with me like my friend Carolyn, it was a small wall hanging made in the 1990s and believe me no one would want it. I did the world a favor.

This circle shaped quilt (36") was made when I was teaching one of my creativity circles. I still miss the women in these groups. Watching them grow was one of my best teaching experiences. For this assignment, we made circle quilts, cut them into wedges and everyone had to put the wedges together in any way that they wanted. I just couldn't bring myself to cut up this one, so I didn't, much to the disappointment of my group. I did make something similar to cut up so the disappointment was only temporary. Anyway, it's long past due to finish it. And to answer the next most asked question that I get, I have no idea what I will do with it once it's done. I am finding that quilting a circle shaped quilt is a challenge and I'm up for it!

Catching the cold that morphed into a sinus infection was not in the planes and certainly caused my January to go awry, but looking at what I did accomplish made me feel much better. Do you keep a list of your accomplishments?

Professionally

1. Booked two guild gigs
2. Entered SAQA's "Metaphors on Aging" exhibit
3. Completed and sent in everything for Teacher of the Year
4. Completed biz books for 2012 and started 2013

Putting Stretch Marks on My Comfort Zone

1. Participated in Shannon Ganshorn's International Postcard Exchange
2. Joined the Journal Swap through Milliande
3. Continued my journey with pottery

Christmas Gifts

1. Made 5 table runners (completed 4, one had to have binding hand stitched down)
2. Made 2 sets of cards

Things that Bothered Me But Don't Anymore Because I Took Care of Them (well almost)

1. Painted places on my oven door where paint had chipped off
2. Deep cleaned my studio
3. Cleaned my office (needs it done again so this will show up until I get it under control--one must have goals! I aspire to be a person with a clean and organized desk.)
4. Cleaned out books from bathroom cabinet--sold some, gave some to friends and gave the rest to my library
5. New shower caddy
6. New broom

Other

Made 23 birthday cards, 4 anniversary cards, 20 Valentines 

Life is good!