Jane of all trades, Master of ONE

Everything in its place:
So if you read here often you know I have an affinity for all things clean and organized. I really, really love to organize. I think I've told the story before, so humor me if you've heard it, but I was the nerd who would go to my girlfriends house when I was in grade school and ask, when I would stay for an overnight, if I could reorganize their closet. I really did - I have loved it from early on. I do enjoy doing my own, but lets be honest, you can only do it so much, sure you can purge, but why change a system that works? What I really love to do is other people's spaces. I had an opportunity to go up to Chicago and stay with my girlfriend Jill, for the weekend. Our goal was to purge and reorganize ALL of her closets. I was GEEKED!!!! Jill was TERRIFIED!!!!! Seriously.

I know that my dear friend had conversations with some of our mutual friends, nervous of what I was going to make her get rid of and attack her organization or lack thereof depending on the circumstances. I am happy to report that I am more of Glenda, The Good Witch, when it comes to organizing other peoples spaces. We got started in and in about 14-15 hours of hard work we had one large trash bag of garbage, 6 or 7 boxes for Goodwill and a whole lot of recycling material.

See what the problem was, and is very common is that we are so freaking busy, we just buy and shove, buy and shove. Nothing has a home base - if you don't have a common location for something you wind up with 4 tubes of burn cream or 6 or 7 packages of Nutritional Yeast. It's not just having a spot, its having space around that spot so you can SEE the home base. It's okay to have a partially empty shelf - contrary to what your mother in law might say, you don't need to fill every shelf or closet with stuff. Let it breath.

So by clearing, sorting and organizing, we were able to reuse all of Jill's bins, and she has amazing closets so we had space to spare.

Emotional attachments:

Here's where things get a bit hairy and I believe were the core of Jill's fears. Is what is important to her, going to be important to me? We all have things, something that was our grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, etc. that they gave to us and we cherish in our own way because it was theirs. I'll be the first one to admit that I do have things that I keep based on pure emotion. Honestly, people who have zero attachment make me wonder a bit. So anyway, I will be the first person to tell you to keep things that mean something to you, but USE them, put them OUT. They are doing no one any good and are not honoring the original owner in any way by storing them in a box under a bed. For example, Jill had this beautiful table cloth that her great - grandmother had embroidered. It was meticulous and definitely something that should be enjoyed, it was art. The problem was it was stained and it doesn't fit her table. So what is the solution, you can't bare to part with it, but you can't use it? Here was my suggestion and this can fit with all sorts of handmade goodies (handkerchief, ties, clothing, blankets, you get the point). Cut it, frame it and hang it up or cut it and sew a backing onto it and make it a throw pillow. You at least salvage the artwork and it can be used and/or enjoyed by you and your guests. For this table cloth I recommended hanging it as a collage of three frames, there were so many groupings of flowers that were different, that it would be a great collection of each of the designs. I think Jill liked the idea - it will still be with her and it will honor her great - grandmothers amazing talent. I have a shadow box in my kitchen of a mixed bag of things. To a stranger you might think it's just this crazy eclectic box, but to me it is all sorts of special things from my mom and grandpa. It didn't make sense to shove them in a box and put them in the basement like my mom had done for years, I had no real USE for them, so decoration they became.

In closing I'd like to share a few excerpts from an email Jill sent to Brooke (yes Jill, very little is sacred, but nevertheless I am touched, love you!!!) I am so happy and proud and excited.

OMG - it was fantastic. I feel bad, but i had no idea that she would be as calm and soothing as she was. I think i had imagined her just tearing into the closets and my clutter and just heaving things into boxes and telling me to stop being a hoarder, but it wasn't like that AT ALL! If i had the slightest hesitation, she would just listen to my explanation, and then either let it go or explain how to better save stuff. My biggest problem is holding onto to stuff for sentimental reasons (i had 20 of my Grandma's pretty lace handkerchiefs), and Ann said i wasn't respecting anyone's memory or honoring her stuff by stuffing them into a drawer. She said if i wanted to use the stuff or display it, that's one thing, but a big wad of stuff in the back of a drawer just wasn't doing anyone any good. She also gave me some ideas for saving things, but using them better.

i just feel so energized - I've cooked several dinners since she left (my stuff was so messy i probably hadn't cooked from a recipe in 2 months), and I've gotten started on some much needed projects since my stuff is in better order.

Honestly if I could be a professional organizer I would, I'd chuck my paints and needle and thread and travel the country fixing one room at a time, but until then (or until Oprah calls me) I'll just do what I do each day. A little bit of everything!

Thanks!

One of the roses from Dad's garden, we visited there before we headed up to Jills. Just wanted to share - it's just so peaceful and pretty.