Hello My Favorite People,

I hope your holidays were as wonderful as mine. I hate it when people present themselves or what they’ve done as something different than real life. So I have to confess, there were times (like all the food preparation I was doing) that I wished the holidays would be over quickly. But the memory of all the people we shared them with, makes my heart smile. And after the meals were all over, I thought, “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” And then my heart smiled. And believe me, I needed something to make me smile.
So I am happy to bring in the new year with something I don’t do all year round. That being…get rid of stuff that is not useful, does not hold any sentimental value, or I don’t want any more. I’ve set a goal to get rid of 50 items a day for a week. If I get at least 20 a day, I’m good with that.  But, I aim for 50.
I started in the kitchen and found many things in the pantry that were outdated;very outdated. When my daughters find stuff in my house like that they are aghast.  Sorry, if I blew your idea of me being very organized. Don’t forget your medicine cabinet if it’s in the kitchen. That’s a really important one. I’m always surprised at what I find.
Next I move to my bedroom. I toss anything that doesn’t make me happy, is outdated in style, and does not have any sentimental value. I do have a huge drawer of old notes, letters, cards and sentimental stuff that is non negotiable. It stays no matter what. But, home decor, clothing and old papers and books….they’re gone. I do have a rule for my clothes closet in the bedroom; if I bring something new in, I donate another.  It’s one in, one out.
Now my workroom – in less than 30 minutes I had my 50 items. And if I wanted to, in the next 30 minutes, I could have had another 50 items in that amount of time. But, I really wanted to get started on some projects I’ve been wanting to do.
But, I did move to the other areas of the house and applied the same criteria to what I keep and what leaves.
Yay, it’s done and I get to do what I love to do.  I’m excited to share these projects with you. Maybe we could make some together!
I can’t wait to see you in March. So mark your calendars March 26 – 30 for our first 2019 show!
Debbie