How Little Can I Live With?

Much more than I thought or want.  Really.

My thought was to purge a lot of unwanted stuff and start over this part of my life by living more simply but I still ended up with...say it again?  Much more than I wanted.  This is what was left after a packed-car trip to the new place!

Does not include the furniture that I will take! 

The biggest space hogs among my moving boxes are the six and a half boxes and plastic totes devoted to sewing books and fabric.  That is even more than the space devoted to my finished items of clothing!  That does not even include the two sewing machines, a table and a wardrobe dedicated to hold everything.  For sure, this is not a hobby suited for minimal living!

I guess I will never be able to live like this:

All-in-one unit. Designer unknown.

let alone this apartment in 300 square feet.

The funny thing is that I really thought I had less sewing "stuff n' stash" than most  bloggers I read until I combined the stuff from my bedroom closet, under the bed, in the wardrobe/armoire, on my bookshelf, and next to and in the sewing table. Yes, in denial, was I.  So can anyone show me a seamster/sewist* that does live minimally?  I'm serious, I dare you!


*Of adult garments, not quilts, children clothing or stuffed animals.

Purging Your Stuff (and part of your life) is Hard

I am moving out of the city and also into a smaller space (my old bedroom in my childhood home) and realize it would be easier and more efficient to limit the amount of stuff that I actually move from here to there.  I once lived in an efficiency and was fine with minimal belongings, but after moving into a "palace" in terms of square footage, I began to accumulate more items and furniture to fill the space.  In the picture below, the only other furniture missing in that picture was a double bed, dining table, folding chairs and a bureau for my clothes. The truly funny thing is that I still own everything in that picture, save for the lavender vase on the coffee table, which broke years ago.

Efficiency.  Arlington, 1997.

I started looking on the Internet to see how others accomplished ridding themselves of things. Check this article on Lifeedited for one family's experience doing this.  If you are also thinking of going this route, two books I have reviewed here before may help you: Throw Out Fifty Things (reviewed here) and Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure that I wrote about here.

For this task, furniture-wise, I'm only keeping what I love.

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris
Unfortunately, that is still too much for the space, but I'm going to make it happen.  The secretary desk turned dresser that I still mean to refinish, my IKEA desk (as future sewing table), my armoire (sewing storage), the chunky mid-century rocking chair, and a self-tiled mosaic table are what I mean to bring with me.  There's also the possibility of keeping the IKEA MISI table, seen in the picture below before its current paint job.  It has been an ideal sewing table with it's six individual drawers the perfect size for scissors, buttons, and other notions.

One bedroom. Arlington, 2003.

I can see that I've kept moving the same stuff from place to place even though many of the pieces were what I came across or someone gave to me as opposed to what I went out and got because it spoke to me and I wanted it. A lot of these items make me feel unsuccessful, like the loveseat a friend gave to me when she moved. She had purchased it years earlier from a thrift store and ten years later it is still in my living room. Underneath the slipcover, it is in horrible shape, to the point I'm ashamed of having people get a good look at it.  I guess I won't feel like I'm an adult until the day I can afford a couch that I choose myself, while this one just reminds me that my lean years are still here.


If you're going to find out who you'll become, you need space in your life for who you are, rather than storing reminders of who you thought you were going to be."
Wende Feller
The rest of my furniture has made its way to Craigslist. A Panasonic portable CD/ dual cassette player (a suggestion to also get rid of my other one was hard to take since I use my music as a way to destress), a bedside table that I repaired, stripped, and painted; an IKEA TV/entertainment center, another IKEA piece, a beautiful dinner buffet (just sold!). There are also two IKEA Robin bookshelves in great condition, a twin-sized futon and frame (remember those?); and a golden yellow (one of my first painted furniture projects) Queen Anne coffee table. Not enough? How about a mini Cuisinart food processor and a Braun 10-cup coffee maker. I am getting inquiries and I've sold two pieces, I just hope to get rid of more as I really need the money they would bring in.

One bedroom. Richmond, 2006.

I hope when I move into my own place again, that I will have the money to buy what I really like, so that my apartment (or house?) will truly reflect my personality and no longer look like I just moved out of a college dorm. I think it's about time.

Hi...Anybody Still Out There?



The Dream

Wow

I can't believe how long it has been since I've visited this site. Sorry. My life has been so hectic that dealing with my home and/or reading shelter mags and websites has gone by the wayside. You will not believe what my apartment looks like now. No, not good. Not good at all. Every single surface has something on it, most likely something that should be stored somewhere else.

I have been sewing so a lot of that stuff is pattern pieces, fabric, and in-progress garments. My living space has become the messiest garment workshop ever!

Not only do I want to corral this stuff to its proper place but I also want to eliminate the other non-sewing related visual clutter. Years ago, I embarked on the Apartment Therapy Cure which was only successful in theory. Then, I moved onto the exceedingly hopeful Throw Out Fifty Things... program, however I failed that one too. I still believe in the author Gail Blankes' book and hopefully will get back to it one day. My goal is to simplify my life and get rid of about 50% of the stuff I own. I can't believe I once lived in an efficiency! Now my 550 square foot apartment is packed to the gills with stuff I use now, I once used, and stuff I'm holding onto for the life I'll one day have. Um, yeeeeaaah...right.

• You might like to read an earlier post on my problem here: Could I Stuff My Stuff In A Little House
• Oh and here are pictures of my home in much better days, after the Cure (2006-10).

I hope that I'll be able to keep you up-to-date on my progress but that's something I can only say I'll work on. I do know that if I find articles that I think might be helpful to others I will be posting links to them here.

Here's an example of somewhere cute that I just don't think I'm capable of, in this New York Times article and slide show about living in a small space. Check out that under mattress storage!

Image: Martha Stewart Living via Blueprint magazine, March/April 2007.

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Do You Have Clutter To Clear?

In 2008, I wrote about a article in the 2007 April issue of Real Simple magazine*. I just found out that the article's author, Gail Blanke, has now released an entire book on the subject, Throw out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find your Life.

Even though I was greatly influenced by the article and definitely believe in the benefits she described, I still have quite a way to go in clearing out my clutter. There is definitely a reason that I can't seem to let it go. So I can't wait until the library gets their copy in so I can read this. For those of you with healthier paychecks, please go and buy a copy.

* For some reason, they've removed it from their website.

Status Report

Nothing much new going on at my personal shelter except some much needed cleaning and decluttering.

• I tackled the kitchen this weekend, including cleaning the inside of the refrigerator. Uggh!
  
  If you can, don't ever put off cleaning under the vegetable crisper. I had forgotten that my refrigerator back wall was curved. This means that anything that dropped onto the bottom shelf could then roll (or ooze!) down under the vegetable crisper bins. NOT pretty. I also wiped down the drawer fronts and cabinet doors. Yay, me!
  
  
• I have almost completed getting rid of the stacks of unneeded and unused magazines and textbooks (that the school will not take back!) that have been under my for months.
  
  
• Two loads of laundry were dealt with, including one of winter sweaters since that time has come for warmth in clothing. I also got the bathroom mat in this wash though I first soaked it and agitated it in the tub twice before throwing it in with clothes. GOOD call is all I will say about that.
  

So, progress has been made. Not as much as I would like, but, something is something, right?

Wisdom From Dr. Wende

Check out this comment from my last post about clutter, that just blew me away. This is even better than the Buddhist quote.

"If you're going to find out who you'll become, you need space in your life for who you are, rather than storing reminders of who you thought you were going to be."

Dr. Wende

Wow, Wende, just wow...

Is It Time For A Purge?

Note: I actually wrote this a month ago and forgot to post it. However, the feelings are still exactly the same.


One thing I've been thinking about is giving away or donating so much of the "stuff" in my life. I know I've talked about this before when mentioning the Apartment Therapy Cure, but I don't think I was really taking it seriously. I have a lot of stuff waiting for a different life than the one I am currently living. I feel I can't get rid of this stuff because what will happen when I do have an opportunity to use that thingamajig or that deeley-bopper?

Yes, I could force myself to use these things now; I could force my life to fit the stuff OR I could get rid of the stuff and the seemingly accusatory feeling I get when I see these things. Truly simplify my life so that I can just live my life without placing anticipatory pressure on it. You know all the One day...I will need this crap CRAP.

If I haven't needed it for the eight years I've owned it then why is it still taking up space on my shelves?

The thought of a brand new apartment with loads of empty spaces to fill with souvenirs of future trips and tchotchkes picked up along the way does excite me but it is far from what I live with on a daily basis. I think a lot of the stuff I have now gives either the feeling of a life unlived or of temporary place-holders for the "real" stuff rather than me being prepared for whatever might come. Of course I will still hold onto some things like my satin BCBG cocktail gown (I WILL wear that again) and my Maleficent Mardi Gras costume (you never know when you'll be invited to a Disney character theme party, right?) But the little things you just happen to accumulate along the way but wouldn't take with you if your dream home suddenly appeared, well I think I can get rid of them a little ahead of schedule. Maybe it can speed up the process.

Or hey, maybe without the baggage my journey will be easier and less hampered?

Does It Ever End?

Due to some last minute signatures needed from the VA State government, I had to stay home today from work. So, yes even more money I won't get paid this week.

So I am taking the time to get rid of some clutter and stuff around the house. There are so many surfaces, boxes, and closets that need to be dug through and pared down. For the longest time, just the thought of doing this could paralyze me. I've decided to work slow, moving from one area to another, and taking small breaks (like this one!) as I go. Wish me luck.

Sister, can you spare a Domino?*

Update: Yes, I was an idiot. I linked the Domino magazine covers below from their website and meant to go back and save them proper. Of course, the website just went down. I am currently searching Google images and Flickr for the covers but it's so hard to read the date on the scans so the images don't match with the months listed below.

I just read this post of Holly's and realized that Domino had only published 36 issues in it's short life. How can that be possible? And really, how can it be possible that I don't have more of them? Here are the ones I wish I had at least borrowed and read when I had the chance. If you happen to have issues that you don't want (yeah, ha, ha, ha!) I would love to be the recipient of your de-cluttering. Ok?

2005

  

Missing September, October, November

2006

Missing January/February, April, June, September, October, November

2009

 

For some reason, did not buy February 2009 but now want it

*Title adapted from the 1931 Great Depression song, Brother, Can you Spare a Dime.

Could I Stuff My Stuff in a Little House?

Loring from Tumbleweed Houses

Sometimes I think I could conquer this clutter problem if I only had a smaller home.

You know, if I was FORCED to get rid of a lot of stuff. Because, volunteering to let some things go is NOT my strong suit. Even though I don't buy much at all, there is so much stuff stored for the future. I guess getting rid of it is hard because it might mean I don't expect to someday use the heart-shaped cake pan or pancake molds (for someone other than me or friends), five flower vases, a Shaft-like leather coat (I feel so dressy in it), the BCBG satin cocktail dress (ditto), or the large traveler's backpack from my 2002 trip to Ireland.

I would love to fit everything I own in something like this little house, but even if I get rid of all the aspirational things, I would still need my magazines, my photo albums (pre-digital), and my animated character figurines. Above all, I would also need storage for my fabric, patterns, supplies, and sewing machine. So I don't think I'll ever fit into this little gem...

251 Square Feet*

But a girl can continue to dream, can't she?

Of course, their much larger homes (680-840 sq. ft. ) are adorable too, like the Enesti, Sebastarosa, and the truly cool-sounding (and almost identical to the Loring) B-53!

* The loft is not officially included in the listed 251 square feet. With it, the house is actually over 400 square feet.

P.S. Explore their site, there is so much information there. The comments on every house design page are fascinating; especially when it comes to the customization requests.

The favorite dress has been found!

It was piled up in my Out Box with all the stuff I'm getting rid of! Uh oh!

I found it thanks to the fact that I'm participating in a group yard sale this weekend. I really only looked through that pile because of the sale and it was the third thing I picked up. I had first looked through my clothes closet this morning; up on the top shelf, where I found stuff I thought I had given away long ago (!), along the bottom, and even in all my suitcases, just in case. Then this evening I went through the mega-packed front closet (8-feet wide, 9-feet tall and stuffed to the max) where the future thrift store or consignment shop items are hanging out. I checked in garment bags and under all the jackets and coats. I now know what I have (still) and what I don't need.

So hopefully, through this yard sale, I can shift a lot of stuff out of here tomorrow (mostly clothes!) and this won't happen again. Well...at least not anytime soon!

Possible domestic Bermuda Triangle in my home

I lost a dress in my apartment.

Not just any dress but my favorite black knit dress with the awesome neckline.

It is a one-bedroom apartment and I live alone.

I noticed it was missing a month ago and really haven't done much about it. I know it has to be here somewhere. It's not like I went on a whirlwind trip around the world and left it at one of my swanky hotel stops. I just have too much stuff! Can you believe it? Losing a dress in a one-bedroom apartment?

Though I DO have eight-foot wide closets that ARE stuffed with so much stuff that I DO double things up on hangers (dresses under jackets) and I DID move a bunch of things to the hall closet as a makeshift Out Box. Also, the dress IS black and my closets ARE dark.

But still...this is getting ridiculous.

I feel a series of MAJOR de-cluttering sessions have to happen!

Dealing with 50 things

So when I currently think about my apartment, I just think clutter and "Must get rid of EVERYTHING! Really, this is a daily occurrence now. I would love to start over with a clean slate but that's just not possible right now. I'm usually looking at all the big stuff when it's the little stuff that's driving me crazy. I find I have loads of things for "One day, I will need..."

Things such as free address labels for mail; however, I pay almost all of my bills online and use USPS online postage system for all other mail. (Seriously, look into Click-N-Ship, I love it.)

Old college textbooks that were interesting (Psychology and Communications) that I think I might refer back to one day. So, how many times have I referred back to the books from my first go at college? NEVER.

Cookbooks for that time in my life when I will suddenly start making all of my meals and diligently use that Moosewood cookbook, the pasta one, the two vegetarian ones, and Martha's cookie book. In my last big purge, I donated the four other vegetarian ones I had received knowing full well that more than two would just overwhelm me. Hopefully, I will get to cooking from some of these one day. Especially the brunch cookbook I picked up a few years ago in California. Yes, it's just brunch recipes. Mmmm...

5 new items moved to the Out Box:

• Two necklaces given as presents that I never wore
  
• One of the shoes that I needed to replace (they were replaced by the Borns)
  
• One pair of elastic strap sandals, only wore them twice. They were too big, therefore, I didn't feel secure in them (Why I didn't take them back, I don't remember).
  
• Red fleece scarf, mittens and hat with Burberry plaid accent that I made from a pattern and rarely wore. I will probably give these as a gift. I just have to find the right person.

Lightening Up...

I realize as I go through this de-cluttering thing that so much I possess doesn't reflect ME. Most of my possessions are as such: a cute top that was on sale, a gift someone gave me, shoes that happened to be at the right price, right time.

To see me as I see myself you would have to disregard a few things or search through my closets to find ME. What happened to the individual I was in college who bought things she loved that rarely anyone else did? Having no money wasn't a good excuse back then either.

A while ago I made the decision not to bring things (or people, for that matter) into my life that don't fit in, but what do I do with the "stuff" that's already here?!

Every 6 months or so, I have pledged to declutter but I'm still having a really hard time doing it. Well, I read a great article in the April 2007 Real Simple magazine by life coach Gail Blanke about getting rid of 50 things*. You use this technique to not only get rid of stuff but also to get rid of any negative thoughts in your head that are holding you back. Obviously, if I still have all this stuff despite constantly saying I don't want it in my life then there may be something else involved. In the article, Gail mentions something that her mother taught her; " 'If you don’t know what to do with it, or where to put it, or why you ever bought it in the first place, or if looking at it depresses you, throw it out,' she’d say. 'Never keep anything that makes you feel heavy or weighs you down.' "

Apparently, I'm not the only person thinking about this, just a few days ago I noticed that Ana of Rearranged Design, is getting rid of five things a week and has even started a Flickr group for others who want to join in.

So, I'm going to do the "50 things". I just wish I had a separate space to put everything I'm discarding; otherwise, it's just me, making another unsightly pile in my home.

When I dropped off my rent, I inquired about our elevator that's been broken for three weeks. It turns out it may take a LOT longer (thanks for telling us!) being an older model. What all this means is that taking the accumulated things to the trash, or just to my car will be more complicated unless I can rope in some help. Oh, well, no excuses.

My 1st go at it:

• A nubby green basket weave blanket by Martha Stewart from K-Mart that has holes, dangling threads, and has not been unfolded for two years.
• A marble tray that I didn't know I still had.
• Four books, one I picked up at a library's "Please take one" table; a design book I didn't connect with (a gift); the DAR handbook (I used to work for them); and a Dilbert book I never look at anymore (another gift).
  
  

* According to Gail's rules, a group of magazines and/or catalogs only count as ONE thing. Darn!

The Need to Purge

I remember years ago when I first started reading about the Apartment Therapy Cure. It sounded exactly like what I needed; a systemized way to get rid of my apartment clutter. The cure has occurred umpteen times now and always with a very helpful and supportive group of fellow Cure-ees. However, time and again, I find I "don't have the time" to do it. However, there has always been stuff to get rid of in my "outbox" area since the day I moved in.

This is a girl that loves empty space around her furniture and along her walls, but you wouldn't know that from looking around my apartment. There are piles of picture frames, stacks of boxes holding old clothes, empty product boxes, a stack of obsolete college textbooks I can't even sell back, and magazines that no longer fit on their designated shelf. These things annoy me, get in my way, look messy, and above all, accumulate dust bunnies like nobody's business!

The detritus of my life includes items I need to either give away to friends, donate, throw away, sell for whatever I can, or re-use with a different purpose. This occurs in my clothing, shoes, apartment decorative items, furniture, and kitchen items. There is so much in this little 520 sq ft apartment that I could live without, it is amazing.

I have two Bundt cake pans and the last time I made a Bundt cake it was the 90's. Should one or both go? I have items bought specifically for certain events in my life that are now laying dormant, clothes I need a reason to wear that I just don't have right now. How do I handle all of this?

Watch this space to see how I handle this all.