Survey #270—Full Response from Anita (in Michigan)
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Describe ways in which clutter has interfered with your ability to carry out or enjoy creative projects and activities. | I would have to say the guilt is the biggest factor-my creative projects often start with one epiphany, seeing something that is beautiful or broken and wanting to transform it into something else or just fix it. I do have a small craft room, a space in the basement, which is full of inspirational objects and crafting supplies. there are ribbons and artificial flowers and glues of various types, paint brushes, and “really good boxes“ like cigar boxes, which you don’t see very often, wine boxes like little suitcases that show up around Christmas time and any box made of wood that can be decorated. However, there is not much space to work on the counter that is there because of Clutter left over from the last project I worked on, in this case, making a sign using adhesive letters. I believe I might be able to write a novel with all the unused letters left over. The one area where decluttering has really helped me with a creative project and vice versa is jewelry making, which I did for the PRIDE festival in June this year. I didn’t want all the beads, findings and tools to take over the living room/dining room area where we would be working because I was working with my Clutter buddy and organizing friend who taught me how to work this craft. I had a low cabinet under a windowsill with three shelves which created cubbyholes and three drawers for enclosed storage. I was only storing VHS tapes in those drawers and managed to donate two drawers worth, leaving space for my beads and tools. I found refrigerator containers that fit the drawers exactly and put lots of tiny boxes (oh, how I do love boxes) to keep all the different colors and sizes of beads separated. on Mondays, we did decluttering and on Fridays we made jewelry together. This was clearly a match made in heaven that served us both however, I still feel guilty about doing something creative when I look around and see Clutter and general house work to be done. I have been working on time management based on the clutter book for yak shavers like me. |
| Describe ways in which the desire to declutter and organize your space has conflicted with or impaired your ability to carry out or enjoy creative projects and activities. | One of my biggest feelings is failing to finish tasks. Right now, I am looking at an end table in the living room with three family photographs, neatly arranged on top and decades of family photos behind the two closed doors. I did get as far as dividing all the photos and slides into boxes of 10 years each, but that project won’t be done until I scan them all into my computer before I die. I’m experiencing some physical challenges right now that require me to get off my feet so I’m making a list of all the decluttering jobs I can do sitting down. Based on family history and my current state of health, I figure I have about 10 useful years to get my possessions paired down and organized enough to pass on to my family. |
| Describe ways in which your efforts to declutter and organize your space have enhanced your ability to carry out or enjoy creative projects and activities. | The system for organizing my jewelry making supplies with my Clutter buddy has made it possible for me to set up and tear down a jewelry making session in about 10 to 15 minutes, ready for the next time. The fact that all the supplies are in boxes makes it possible for me to pack them up and take them to the crafting group at our church without too much trouble I can just pick one piece to work on and pull out the beads and equipment I need easily. |
| Describe the key features of your ideal creative workspace. | My workspace would be in a “she shack” in my backyard, with heating and air conditioning and a big window overlooking the river and my garden. there would be wonderful daylight plus overhead lighting and space on one wall for a continuous closet with adjustableshelves and sliding doors. I might have storage plus work area on two walls with counters and overhead cabinets. The fourth wall would just be a big counter where I could do just about anything. It would also be nice to have pull out counter extensions where Friends could come and work with me. And a sink-gotta have a sink. I guess I would need a small bathroom too. I think I’m talking about a tiny house without walls except for the bathroom. I can dream, can’t I? After this delightful interlude, I’m going to go back to “ painting the bridge“. |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | What have you found to be the worst area or job in decluttering an estate house? Not so much one with a barn or a “mansion”, but a “normal” 2 to 4 bedroom house with a basement and garage. |
| Future topics | This may be out of your bailiwick, but these days digital Clutter is really getting me down. It’s worse than eating an elephant one bite at a time; it’s more like eating a herd of elephants with a tiny knife and fork. Right now I’m trying to declutter my two inboxes, but we’re talking, thousands, not hundreds of emails with the fire hose running every day. I’m trying to maintain a goal of deleting 1000 emails every time I sit down to work at the computer, but it’s not even barely keeping up. Help! |
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