"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dangerous! Do not try this at home!

My bright ideas should always come with a warning label. Well, this time it was not exactly a bright idea of my own but doctor's orders. This cannot be good for me health right? *grins*


Our living room is a disaster area with boxes, Kleenex, furniture, Kleenex, stacks of quilts, Kleenex, bedding, Kleenex, lamps, Kleenex....well you get the picture. It would have been easier to simply move out. As it is there is still tons upstairs and you can only move in small paths to the couch and kitchen. How did we ever accumulate so much??? By the way, the Kleenex is for my running nose and not crying although I have seriously considered it as we moved all this stuff.

We had an emotional weekend as we both realized how much we do have. It has really hit us that we keep too much. And I always thought I was good about getting rid of things I no longer love and use. I also realized my quilting hobby is out of control. I can stock a shop. *wink* So we are listing a number of things online so we can clean out the house and perhaps earn some back as well. Wish us luck?

I am going to hold a sale for my quilt group to try and reduce my fabric stash as the doctor says that it sitting around is not helping. I made a joke two summers ago to Jos that my quilting was making me sick as I was spending entire days at a time in my quilt studio. What I did not realize is that it was true.

We know this is going to help as I have bad reactions to having everything out and pulling up the carpet. How can a bug invisible to the eye reek so much havoc??? We have two bedrooms yet to do and will have to come up with a way to move as much as possible of the large furniture into one room while the floor is laid in the others. It is a shame we cannot empty the upstairs totally but in Holland we have armoire wardrobes for our clothes and they are just too heavy to move down the steps.


I have drawn three names for my first of the ongoing giveaway. The winner of set 1 is ElizabethD, set 2 is WildRose (Marie) and set 3 is Susan in SC. Congratulations to all three! Please email me your address so I can get these in the mail to you this week.

There will be more sets placed on my handwork blog All My Scattering Moments so you can try again there. And join me for the next sets here later in the week...

Hoping you are having a happy and perhaps clutterfree Monday!

17 comments:

Nancy said...

Well, I have been hearing about these boxes, and boy, you were not kidding. I would hate to even think of starting to try to move even one room in my house for flooring, let alone the entire area. Oh nooooooooo, as Mr. Bill use to say. Remember him?
On the plane to England, when it was so popular, they said Capt. Billy and everyone said "OH NOOOOO". That was when Tinkerbell and Wendy were the stewardesses. A fun trip.
I know it is going to be wonderful when you are finished.
Love you, Mom

Rhonda said...

Oh Heidi
If I lived close, I would come help you!
Best wishes with your Ebay selling - my hubby sometimes sells stuff for his employer on Ebay and it is crazy how much people will pay for stuff, esp. unusual or nice stuff.

Elizabethd said...

Thank you Heidi, I'm thrilled to win your lovely work.
Please let us know your e bay site.

Saskia said...

Where do you sell your stuff??
Is there something there I like??
And i'm serious about stash your stash at my attic!
No problem, if you don't want to get ride of stuff yet.
Saskia

Carolien said...

Heidi, please tell me if I can help you! Would be glad to come over and help a bit!!! Give me a ring if you want to. This week I am free on Wednesday & Friday and also on Saturday & Sunday I can come over and do something ...
I can also give you the money for the poncho's then!

Hugs and don't be too shy or too modest ;),
Carolien

Carolien said...

And yes, as you know we do have a big attic as well!!! You could store things there if you like ... No problem.

Bye! Carolien

Elizabeth said...

That is definitely a lot of stuff! I think after 40 that none of us should buy anything new at all. I don't anyway, and I am so happy with much less clutter!

Things means so little anyway, in the grand scheme of things! :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely surprise Heidi ~ thank you!

We are going to be faced with the daunting task of clearing our clutter soon too ~ we have just learned that our building is to be demolished and the site redeveloped, so will be looking for a new home in the coming months.

Good luck with your sale and your clear-out. It will be worth it in the end if you can reduce your reliance on Kleenex!

Marie x

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

"How did we ever accumulate so much???"

Oh my, you have had to face this "question," front and center, have you not? -le sigh- I'm sure just about every one of us, would say the same thing, if forced to move our stuff about, as you are now.

Maybe you can take this as a wonderful "gift"? Being made to face the facts of too-much-stuff. Most of us don't have to move it about. So we can just close the door on this or on that stash of our "stuff." And forget about it.

Hahhhhhh, as if it ever leaves the 'top of our head' though! Even with a door closed, we _know_ too much stuff is lurking, behind that door.

Courage with all of this. And I'm sure you will be happier and healthier, after...

Susan in SC said...

Thank you Heidi! I am so exited to win. I do not envy you with moving to have your floors redone. Are you putting down wood floors? We moved out of our house last April while we had all the carpet pulled up and wood floors put down. I still have not recovered from that move. I still have all my crafting things packed!

DonnaTN said...

What a headache for you! Yet, when it is all over and you are feeling better, you'll be glad you went through the trauma. Everything will be all fresh and clean!

Linda said...

Huge job Heidi but but you will be so much the better when completed. I always say I want to declutter and then give it a sort of try and never really accomplish anything....but when you have to you just get it done. Looks like you are making great progress and this is good...hugs, Linda

p.s. I hope Jos is feeling better...L

Brigitta said...

Wow Heidi, what a job!!! I really need to get going with the attic, I'm just shoving it all up there and it's a disaster, but the thought of making a start is just too overwhelming. I'm also seriously thinking about putting all my scrapbooking materials upstairs as I'm not doing much of that lately either, but again, the thought of it all is too overwhelming. I need a fairy to help me hahahaha.

You take good care of yourself, if all this will improve your health, it's worth it!!!
Hugs
Brigitta

Anonymous said...

Do you still need a helping hand? I can come over but and bring my own Kleenex! Lots of success, for Jos too.
Groetjes, Elly

Tracy said...

WOW...that is a lot, Heidi--LOL! I think we all probably accumulate way too much "stuff" When I moved from the US to Norway, I had to downsize...I had way too much stuff. It was a good less in paring down, keeping what is truly essential and loved. I learned and lot and try not to accumulate too much. But, um... well, my craft stash is a bit out of control now--LOL! Lately I am experience similar very similar--that my crafting and shop are affecting my health in a negative way.I have to slow down. It's startling with these realizations, isn't it? Especially when something we love and are passionate about turn out to no be good for our health when we take it too far. I'm sorry you have to part with your many fine things. I hope you will find a good balance in time. I hope your sale and clear out will clear up some space at home and in your mind. Happy Days, my friend :o) ((HUGS))

Tammy said...

Oh my! I know things seem overwhelming now but at the end you will be so happy with your "new" home.
Good luck with your sales!
Hugs and groetjes :-)

Lynda said...

Good luck with your sales, Heidi! I'm asthmatic with allergies to dust mites (among other things) too so I know that having too much clutter only makes asthma worse.
xo,
Lynda