MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Monday, January 06, 2020

Some results, thoughts & finds

 There comes a time in any downsizing exercise when you reach the point where the things facing you are sentimental.  They have meaning.  They remind you of someone.  They were wedding gifts that you (or your parents) received.  They're things your kids created in grade school.   And the list goes on.  I know - without a bit of doubt - that my kids will never want them and that they most likely will be tossed in the trash (or maybe, if we're lucky, they MIGHT get sent to a thrift store).  So...I have resolved to get rid of those albatrosses and set them free.  Before they go, I will take a photo of them and record their significance on the back of that.....at least then I can still be reminded of them...and photos take up a whole lot less space.  And please people, don't remind me that photos are clutter too - let me wait awhile before I burst THAT particular bubble!


Without further ado, here's my results for Jan. 4 and 5th (clicking will embiggen!)....

A shoebox filled with mohair yarn
 I have come to the conclusion that I hate knitting with mohair

A bunch of paper lunch bags, a lighter, some sponge 'thingies' and a piece of felted something or other
 Still can't figure out why I had a lighter - nobody smokes in this house nor do we burn candles.  Resident Chef has one in the kitchen drawer so we certainly don't need two!

2 Christmas sweaters, a random sweater, a poppy apron, and a water flosser
 We 'inherited' the water flosser and never used it....the person that
gave it to us didn't either!

two bags of lace, a candle snuffer, two punches, and a pile of cording
AND.....part of the downsizing project is/was to
run clean up programs on my computer and unsubscribe to 
TONS of mailing lists I'm no longer interested in.  I can
put a check mark on that one!


Just for fun, I thought I'd share something I came across in my clearing out (and yes, I'm keeping them!)....these are paper dolls that I assume must have belonged to my mother and appear to have been a set that was published by Coats during the war...

each has the Coats label printed on the back

The set includes a minister (above) and the 
bride and groom (below)



The parents of the bride....

and the best man and bridesmaid...



And, this just popped up on my facebook page - a view of Australia issued by NASA.  Please pray for them!!



The quote for today...."The more things you own, the more they own you"

24 comments:

  1. Not sure where my comment went, chrome all over today.. anyway, the paper dolls are keepers. Maybe your family might keep them later, too.

    I've been offering items to my son in case they're of interest and some he's taken, from his Dad. But seeing how little interest he has in a lot of things, is helpful in deciding what to thrift.

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    1. I would love to think my boys (and their wives) would want some of our things but I know they have their own interests and the things we've hung onto out of sentiment will not meet with the same feeling in them. I've offered a few things to our #1 son (the one who lives 2 hours away) and he's taken a few things but for the most part he's not interested. Our other son lives on the other side of the country and it's just not feasible to ship things that far, even if they had any interest. The dolls I did keep but I know they won't be of any interest to them.

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  2. Good work on your downsizing project! Dejunking is like clearing your mind of cobwebs.

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    1. Oh yes, it certainly is! We did a thrift store run this morning and it's remarkable how delighted we were.

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  3. Oh, how True is your quote of the day! The paper dolls are a 'must keep' They would not take up much room.
    I'm so bad...mohair wool makes great doll hair. make wigs. LOL. I'm wicked..felt it...

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    1. I agree about the mohair, but I'm not making dolls any longer so there's no sense keeping it just for that. If (!!) I ever decide to make another doll I'm pretty sure the stores will still sell it.

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  4. Oh, Australia! My heart is breaking... good work on the downsizing, MaryAnne!

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    1. Thanks Cathy - it's something we've needed to do for awhile. And yes - heartbreaking to see the news coverage and even try to wrap our head around what's happening there.

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  5. Oh I just can't get rid of some of the things you are parting. I used cording I bought on a factory spool to make the men's gift bags this past winter. My goal is to quit putting off using what I have. You are motivating me.

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    1. I figure that if I've kept something for over ten years and it's never seen the light of day it's time to take a good look at getting rid of it. Oddly enough, they sell it still and I know if I need it I can just buy more.

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  6. Excellent culling dear. I also unsubscribed to lots of sites that cluttered my email inbox. My sister and I are obsessed with Paper Dolls and yours are Priceless...definite keepers! Tree embroidery...WOW! Oh you naughty enabler...25 things to buy at thrift stores...like I need a list! LOL. I have been praying for Australia and especially friends who live in NSW and are surrounded by the horrific fires. So very tragic for all creatures.

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    1. Well you should be very proud of me because yesterday we hauled a car load to the thrift store and I didn't even go inside!! That's got to be a first!

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  7. Looks like you are making great progress Mary Anne! Love the paper dolls you found and can fully understand why you are keeping them! They are part of social history! Those poor people in Australia, just can't stop thinking about what they are going through. Christine xx

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    1. It's so freeing to get rid of stuff - most of which I can't understand why it was here in the first place. As for Australia, there are no words.

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  8. I started out trying the one-more-item-each-day thing, but have already realized it probably isn't going to be helpful for me - and I think you know I am not just a quitter making excuses ;) The process became contrived right away - "here are 8 items to be rehomed on Day 2...should I put 6 of them aside?" etc. But it was helpful trying it because it made me realize that getting rid of items isn't my issue at this point - it's really going through everything I have and EITHER donating/discarding/selling it OR organizing it in an assigned space. So I'm going to stop thinking about meeting a goal of however many items removed, and instead focus on continuing to work my way through every cubic foot of space in the house. In the end, I imagine I'll have removed as many - or more - items as I would have with the counting method.

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    1. My process wasn't really the '5 things per day' but I set that amount as a target and a bare minimum of items. At this point DH and I have gone through the entire Chez Magpie and as we went along I simply took pictures of groupings of things which at this point are saved and ready for blog posting. The actual 'stuff' we downsized has gone to the thrift store as of yesterday.

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    2. You've done your ENTIRE HOUSE in one week???? Wow. I dealt with 3 boxes today and am feeling like a superstar!

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    3. Don't forget I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment and not a huge house so I have a lot less real estate to deal with! You go right ahead and feel like a superstar because you deserve it!!

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  9. Wait! Things saved that have a love one attached to it, send it to them. Let them be the one to settle where it goes or stays. That way, you don't have to deal with the sorrow. I've been to keep the stuff because it means more to me...and I reply..."It means more to me that you have them."

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    1. Hmmm - a little hard to let those in heaven (or h-e-double-hockey-sticks as the case may be) deal with it. Those are the things I have a hard time deciding on.

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  10. Feeling right now like I should have taken some pictures of individual items. sigh. Oh well... Too late now. But I do think it's a good idea for some future things that still need to go. Those paper dolls are pretty cool! I'd consider them keepers, too. :) Thank you for the reminder to pray for those affected by the fires in Australia.

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    1. Taking pictures was fairly simple for me because I just set up an area on my sewing table and as I found 'stuff' I just set it there until I had enough to warrant a picture. January is traditionally my down month where I find it hard to get motivated to get started on a new creative project but I do go into a cleaning and reading mode. At least taking pictures of my 'stuff' makes for something to post about on my blog!

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  11. I find it difficult to let go of things as I usually think that I might need it (especially in my art). However, I just might have another look at my stuff. We have a new Value Village opening next month and they already have their drop-off open. Food for thought!

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    1. I don't let myself spend too much time thinking about whether or not the item I have in my hands will be 'valuable' down the road. I go with my immediate gut reaction and let the chips fall. For the most part I never regret getting rid of something.

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Thank you so much for leaving comments! I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy life to talk to me. It's wonderful to know that someone is actually reading my mumblings and even more fun if I can connect with you and visit your blog.