Wow, I thought I'd never finish with this last challenge! But, boy, am I thrilled with the results. I can't wait to start creating in my new clean space. To remind you of what this sewing space looked like before, here's the photo:
There it is, in all its glory. First thing I had to do was to find a home for my items I'm going to sell in my new Etsy shop called Cottage Garden Vintage, opening soon. That was easier said than done. I had to clear a big shelf for those. So, those things on that shelf had to find a new home. They were mostly older homeschool books that I had tried to sell previously on Ebay, so I had to make the executive decision to donate them.
I then put all my assorted sewing supplies in the drawers they belonged in, as well as thread, pin cushions and measuring tapes. Patterns were placed back in their file boxes.
I put up the curtains that had been draped over my serger and actually opened my serger after ? years. Wow!
Other random items either found a new home, were tossed in the trash or were donated.
And now, for the final reveal. Brace yourselves!
Isn't that beautiful? I think so.
I hope this gives you the inspiration to begin your own conquering clutter challenge.
I know I am looking for my next challenge to share with you. Stay tuned and God bless you!
OK, it is now time for the greatest challenge yet--my sewing/craft area. It is embarrassing to show this to the whole world, but it must be done. This area is necessary to my earning extra money, and currently it is unusable. Right now it is covered with glassware for my new shop I'm trying to open on Etsy, called Cottage Garden Vintage. So my biggest challenge is finding a safe spot to store all this glass while it is listed in the shop.
There is also a serger, still in its box on the left and stacks of books to sell on Ebay.
In the foreground is another box with Ebay items. There are curtains to be hung up, statues to be glued, and a TV at the end of the table. I feel tired already!
So please pray that I have the energy and focus to get this area in tip-top working order so that I can actually use my sewing area as it was intended.
So my projected date of completion will be Sunday, February 12, God willing. On Monday, I hope to share my "after" photos.
Please join me in this challenge and share your thoughts and links to what you have accomplished in conquering clutter.
I believe that in order to be closer to God, we must cultivate a thankful heart throughout the day.
As soon as my eyes open in the morning, my first thought is to thank God for another day, for my family and for yesterday's blessings.
When I pull up my shades, I look out at my yard and see my little birds at their feeder or the beautiful sunrise and thank God for these wonderful gifts.
Even a delicious cup of coffee can inspire thankfulness!
In our family, food is never eaten without a blessing first.
When we find something we've been looking for, we thank God. When the end of the month comes and we're short on money and miraculously a check comes in or I sell something unexpectedly on Ebay, we thank God.
Even something as mundane as finding a good parking space in the pouring rain can be cause for thanking God.
I try to say all these "thank you's" out loud, so my children can hear me. I point out beautiful skies or flowers and the wonder of nature to my children, too, so that they can join me in rejoicing over God's gifts to us.
A spirit of thankfulness can be a glorious thing to aspire to and more easily attained if we pay attention to all of God's gifts, no matter how small.
