Chugging along

Making good progress on the office clean up for the challenge. Although if you were to go in there right now you really couldn't tell.

I am almost done the first pass of the purge. What you see on the bed is what is left to do (actually less now). I have been sorting each box, discarding what I can. For items that have a home and I don't have volume problem, most of them are put away. Otherwise they are in bins, piles, waiting further sorting. Second picture is the give-away pile, much better than I though it would be, with more to come.

Unfortunately, this makes the room look messy. I have bins and piles all over. The tabletop is all my cross-stitch stuff. I'm waiting to get to the end of the sort to deal with that to make sure I have it all together. Also, there is way too much there (and there is a bunch already gone). When I see how much room I reasonably have for this I will have to continue the sort and purge before putting it away. Also bins for office supplies, papers to file, and things that live in another room. And of course, the homeless items, hoping to delegate that box to my husband!

So it looks messy, but is actually much more organized than it was.

Last pic is the closet, which makes me happy. All organized, although still need some labels. There will be some more craft supplies going in, but what is there is pretty good. There are a lot of projects in progress, made a list before putting them away, which I hope to address later this year.

Left to do in my plan:

• finish first pass purge
• sort paperwork
• set limits, sort, purge: magazines, office supplies, cross-stitch, inspirational/organizational material
• set up computers properly
• deal with homeless items
• deal with out-the-door pile (sort for charity, etc.)
• decorate
• maintenance plan

Already have about 15 bags/boxes for out-the-door of the 29 I wanted to this month. I feel lighter already! And surprisingly, I'm actually getting the organizing high. I was disappointed not to get my purge completely finished today, wanted to keep going but ran out of time. Definitely a new experience.

Progress Report

Progress on my clutter challenge project

More or less emptied the office

into the spare room.

wow, that's a lot of stuff!

I didn't empty it completely for a few reasons. Firstly, the spare room. Secondly, I got to the level where I had organized 3 years ago. Not perfect by any means, but most of the stuff that's left is in appropriately labeled boxes etc, so at least when I get to purging, I know what is there. Plus, it is overwhelming as is, didn't want to make it worse.

Vacuumed and dusted.

Started purging, made it through all my beading supplies, which I reduced by about half. Feels nice to get this mini-area done.

I have one bag of recycling gone, and a good start on another, a garbage, and a donation bag.

Lots left to do, but back in town so hope to have more time next week. Obviously emptying the room hasn't helped much, as the spare room is now piled high, but it was encouraging just to see the floor and know that at least it's clean! And that at least I can do something without getting discouraged and closing the door. Baby steps I guess.

The Plan

all projects need a plan, right? Well, at least if you want them to work. Here's my plan for the Office/Craftroom cleanup as part of the and some of my thinking behind it

What we currently do in this room

Not much, other than dump stuff. Use the printers, look for things while hopping over other things. Keep the door closed.

What's in here

• Desks, chair
• Computers, printers and accessories
• Bookshelves
• Paperwork
• Mail and old boxes
• Craft supplies and WIPs
• Boxes from toys
• Magazines, books
• Seasonal decoration
• Wrapping supplies
• Office supplies
• Textbooks
• Memorabilia and photos
• Document safe
• Projects in progress
• Boxes of things I meant to purge and didn't
• Previous organizing projects and notes, supplies
• Garbage and recycling
• Items with no home
• Items in transition to another
• Things that got dumped here while cleaning up elsewhere
• Cash equivalents (gift certificates, stamps, etc) :(

What's not working here

• too much stuff, must hop, can't find anything
• impossible to clean
• never hooked up new computer properly, wires all over
• too dark
• no room to work
• not inviting, no decoration
• Too much stuff saved we don't use

Activities that need a home here

• Computer work, printing, scanning
• Paperwork
• Storing important papers
• Storing office supplies
• Wrapping presents
• Sewing, doing crafts
• Storing craft supplies
• Storing/displaying memorabilia
• Diplomas and certificates
• A relaxing/reading area (if possible)

Limits

• no new furniture, although trades from elsewhere are possible
• no major projects or expenditures (i.e. no changing carpet)
• Budget of $100.

Plan

• Empty room
• Clean
• Rearrange furniture
• Set up computers, printers etc
• Set volume limits for each activity
• Group items, purge, organize, assign a home
• Purge homeless items and empty spare room (holding area)
• Decorate
• Implement maintenance plan.

Perhaps a little ambitious for 1 month, especially considering its already the 6th and I'm out of town for the rest of the week. We'll see.

29-Day Organizing Challenge - My Office/Craft Room Disaster

Maybe time for a new focus for the blog, obviously the old one wasn't working. Anyways, during February, time to gain control of the dumping ground that is the office/craft room. Joining the 29-day challenge to help with some incentive.

http://orgjunkie.com/challenge

The rest of the house has gotten much better lately, probably to the detriment of this room, which has collected all of the stuff I didn't know what to do with.

I actually cleaned and organized this room about 2 years ago, but you would never know, so I know it will be a challenge to finish and maintain. Here are before pics.

My goal is to purge 29 bags/boxes of things. We'll see how things go.

First Finish!

after Brigitte that is. Not a big project, but feels good none the less. One more block done in my quilt, 21 more to go! This is Lupine from Carolyn's Meadow.














I'm finishing up a gift for a friend who had a baby 2 weeks after Brigitte, and then I get a new start. I think it will be Spring Spell from Just Nan, since it seems that Summer Spell is on its way. I'm going to try to get back on my finish 2, start 1 project in order to get my WIP list down to a more manageable amount. I've been cheating, there are some not even on my sidebar list, so I've got work to do.

Still here

Yup, still here. Thanks for the comments on Brigitte. Here is a recent picture of her on her way out - she's now 11 weeks old.

we're starting to get into a kind of routine. Not easy yet, but much better than before. The nursing is still rough which is what takes up the majority of my time, but improving slowly I think. And the sleeping is definitely better - she even had a 2.5 hr nap this afternoon.

I've been doing a bit of crafting in between feedings. Mostly cards, as May is a big month for birthdays plus mothers day, so that's been the priority. I also made little photo albums for both grandmothers for Mother's Day, which took time as well. But I have been stitching. Mostly in 15-20 min increments, so I'm not progressing very quickly. But I hope to have a finish very shortly to post.

Good to be back!

Brigitte

So this is why I haven't been posting lately - Brigitte was born on March 11. We are both doing well, but I imagine it will be a while before there is much stitching to report!