My Dad's horse show ribbons

This was a hubba hubba day when it came to purging another closet in our house! I found my Dad’s horse show ribbons from the 1940s and 50s. I haven’t seen these for ten years! A few years ago when the altered ribbons started showing up on different blogs, I wondered where this collection might be. I finally had resigned myself to the fact that they were probably given away when we downsized my Mom’s things.

The ribbons are staying in their Frederick and Nelson box, but not going back in the big “treasures” box. It was too large, and too easy to fill to the brim. And then because it was so nice and big, I could stack a load of stuff on top of it. Easy access is one of my new mottos. -- Beth

Hoarders ala A&E TV

I have started watching this television show recently, after Laurie at Crazy Aunt Purl mentioned she was watching it. Since I do tend to save things that "I might need or use someday", I can relate to these people. The first time I watched it, I did the fast forward at triple speed through a lot of it - way too much crying and turn-your-head-away filth. But then I watched another episode, and could recognize traits I have - such as so many of my possessions tell a story. Lisa and I have been invited into enough homes to salvage items, that we have seen firsthand sometimes folks can part with their unwanted things if it is going to be used by someone else. I guess I am captivated by the whole process of saving - which requires organizational skills to not be smothered by your stuff, and purging - which can become an emotional process. And who hasn't experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed, and not knowing where to start?

Went Shopping for Decor in my Garage

Along with the purging and reorganizing comes nesting. It feels good to add new decorating touches to my spiffied-up areas. I’ve been dipping into my inventory stored out in our garage.

These red metal hanging hooks were at the studio forever and a day. I even had a gal come up to tell me they really weren’t hooks. She told me what their official purpose was. I wasn’t feeling spunky-enough that day to share the whole re-purposing concept with her. (Can’t say I miss that part of retail one smidgeon!) Now these hooks are by our back door holding keys.



I created this stool from a broken chair. The top spindles were removed and the seat was reinforced. It was never adopted. I was in our guestroom (the room that Baby Claire will bring her parents to stay in room) and decided I should put a little side table by the rocker. Presto! A small stack of children’s books from back in my day awaits.

These tin drawer liners were rescued from my youngest son’s house before we rented it out. Now they are stacked in a narrow wall opening looking nifty as can be, and holding vintage millinery and tacky plastic corsages. Instead of making labels for the boxes, I arranged these on top for visual aids.

This is the best kind of “shopping”!

My Favorite New Box

At the Farm Chicks show, Lisa and I each bought some of these charming boxes. We had so little time to shop, that the few treasures I did acquire are extra special keepsakes of THE BEST SHOW EVER!

I had been organizing future jewelry projects in separate little dishes. One dish for one project. Adding and subtracting pieces until I was ready to assemble it. Well lots of ideas equaled lots of little dishes. Now I have 18 cubbies all side by side, looking really good, and being highly functional. Happiness in a box is what it is!

Big A** Mess Week

Well Purge Week has turned into Big A** Mess Week around here! This is what my studio work table looks like right now. As I was walking around my (very tidy) neighborhood this morning, I realized sorting and purging the ribbons was just my warm up exercise.

Then I moved onto my files, and consolidated and made contributions to the recycling bin like crazy.

I had an epiphany yesterday - I wasn't going to feel guilty about hoarding anymore, if what I was saving were things I really, really liked. No more hanging on to this stuff that I might like again/and or use "someday".

And another thing I realized was my biggest creative passion is making jewelry these days. So why was I having to cross the room to get to my jump rings, when these shelves of rubber stamps were taking up valuable real estate right by my work table? Jewelry supplies are switching places with rubber stamp supplies.

Staying organized is so much harder for me than getting organized! But I am happy as a clam, to have had the gift of time this week, to question how my studio space has been/has not been working for me, and the opportunity to do something about it.

Purge Week

I am finishing day four of being in the mood to re-organize, sort and purge shelf after shelf in our home. Tuesday was ribbon day. I love ribbon. I have loved ribbon a whole bunch, for too long. At one time, it all fit nicely on this vintage shoe rack. Then an annex formed, and nothing was as easy to get to anymore.

This shot doesn't convey the magnitude of the disorder. When I am in the middle of a project, I usually figure out a little too late to take pictures.

These shelves in the "annex" are showing big progress.

Here's a lovely site - a now empty space! But obviously, I still have hoarding issues. The progress is I am only hoarding the ribbons I enjoy the most.Here are four garbage bags filled with my discards, waiting for a friend or two to rummage through. Some of this ribbon may end up as supplies for our September Art Party. The rest are headed to a Goodwill near you!