If you read my blog post from yesterday, you know that I am seriously considering a big change in my life—buying a quilting machine. But before I can do that, I need to clear space in my little study, which is crammed full of things I love but have no other place for.
Alas, this is a big task, one that has been on my to-do list for years. My original plan was to clear space for my domestic machine, which I always have to set up on my kitchen table and then put away a couple of hours later. I told myself that in just 15 minutes a day, I would get this room whittled down in no time.
But, no, the study is so much of a disaster that the improvement after 15 minutes is invisible. I can’t do this job in small intervals.
I really need to devote big blocks of time on a daily basis.
Which means I’ve got to use my writing and blogging time.
So, until this job is done, I won’t be writing any new stuff.
I do have a few little posts scheduled in the near and far future. I am pinning this post to the top of the page as a reminder that I’m taking a break, so if you’re on my home page, scroll below this post to see if anything new pops up. Or better yet, subscribe to get an email every time a new post appears.
I don’t know if I’ll have space for the new machine and the old. I’ll have to wait and see.
And I don’t know whether this project will take two weeks (please please), two months, or until the end of the year or longer. But when it’s done, I’ll be back.
ARHtistic License 
Hi, Andrea, I know how you feel! I’ve been doing stuff like this on and off for years. It can get overwhelming at times, and I sometimes fall into the “ignore it and it’ll go away” mindset, which of course makes no sense because it doesn’t go away! It is gratifying to see the results when I work at it, though. Good luck with your task!
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And because you live in the house we grew up in (and Mom was a packrat), I’m guessing there are still things of our parents’ that you don’t need, but you would miss if they weren’t there. . .
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Some stuff, yes, but other things make me wonder, “what was this being saved for, kindling?”
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As I look around my first thought is “There is just too much stuff”. (my place not yours).
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Part of my problem is that we’ve lived here 34 years. If you move every decade or so, you have to make decisions about what to keep and what to pass on. When you don’t, you just keep accumulating. We raised five kids in this house. Now it’s filled up with just two people’s stuff.
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I’ll be praying for you as you take on this big task. Wisdom, for deciding what to keep and what to part with, endurance for the length of time it may take, and joy as you sort through it all. I’ll miss reading your posts and look forward to your return.
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Thanks for adding your prayers to mine, Linda–I need some wisdom, endurance, and peace!
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You deserve a break! And think of all the new blogging ideas you will get as you sort all your stuff. 🙂
This year, I have had stuff come into my house from both my parents and my mother-in-law — I need to do a major clean out myself! I will be working alongside of you!
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I think thinning down is an endless process. And it gets more urgent as we get older.
I hope I do get new blogging ideas–I’ll have to take notes!
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Wishing you a speedy clear out, Andrea, I’ll miss your posts!
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Thanks, Kathy!
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Good luck! I know how it is to have so much “stuff” and not know what to do with it.
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A quilter!!! Yay!!! My office, predominantly for writing, has just a corner for quilting. That sewing machine is ready to go, right next to a small 2-drawer filing cabinet with patterns. The real plus for quilting is the big closet, for this is dedicated to fabric organized by projects and styles and patterns stored in open and closed bins. All hidden when I close the doors, giving me the illusion of order. Sometimes when I’m writing, that break to sew a little helps clear my way forward into the story. I hope you’ll see this slow transformation as something that will bring you many rewards. And blogging? You can always talk about your progress and what you’ve learned. For what is it we really need as we pursue our creativity?
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Thanks for your encouragement, Beth!
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I have minimized my life in stuff but still feel I have too much.
Missing you at OctPoWriMo this year.
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Thanks, Morgan. I’m hoping to get this room pared down within a week and jump into OctPoWriMo before it ends! I miss it too.
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