Small Victories

My quest to lighten the load in our home continues. Earlier this year, I did something I never thought I would do: recycle 10 years (!!!) of Martha Stewart Living magazines, including duplicates that I'd picked up at library sales. I lost count around 165 copies. I had recycled many other periodicals that I'd been hanging on to, but for some reason felt compelled to save the MSL ones as reference materials. As it turned out, once I actually sat down and started going through them (absolutely no idea how I had the time for this), there ended up being very little that I actually needed to save. I clipped craft projects and a few recipes to save, and that was that. I couldn't help but think about how much MSL and other home magazines are so very much like fairy tales for adults: perfect home, amazing dinners with beautiful friends, clutter-free rooms. I think they reflect the way we want our lives to be more than reflect how they actually are. As a reader and former library employee, I adore magazines, but I have had to stop some subscriptions just to slow the flow of stuff into the house. It also seems that many magazines just don't have nearly as much content as they once did - edited down for quicker reads for today's busy people. Of course, I still receive some mags, and I still have some piles sitting around that need to find their way to the blue bin...

T Tuesday: Afternoon Tea and Thinning Out

Things have been a little quiet on the tea front lately, but yesterday I enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea with a friend and one of her other friends at a little tea house in the area. With my pot of jasmine and their Earl Grey, we enjoyed cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad, samosas, and more. (I wish I would have thought to bring my camera!) It was a fun change of pace from the coffee in paper cups that is typically imbibed during dates with friends. This morning I am enjoying Tazo's Berryblossom White with my little dog stretched out by my feet, gnawing on a chew toy. His devotion is quite endearing.

I am slowly continuing my thinning-out project: pictured are a few items that have made their way to Goodwill. I had had them for a long time, and I found myself wishing that I had been taking more pictures throughout this decluttering process to remind myself of the progress I've made. The crazy floral tin was bought at a thrift shop during college in Vermillion, South Dakota; I began making the afghan in 2001 but never finished it and by this point no longer like the color choices I made or have the patience for it; the old lamp I bought at a garage sale in high school and after nearly twenty years of not having rewired it, it seemed time for it to go, hard as it was. I ended up keeping the marbles because they were so pretty to photograph. These items in particular carried memories with them.

Do you have any decluttering tips?

A Few More Sewing Projects

Some of you asked for photos of what I've been sewing. Top is a simple curtain for our closet, made from an old sheet. I topstitched some green ribbon near the bottom. I love the way the light plays through it. (I've also sewn some other simple curtains, but these are the most photo-worthy!) I also sewed six simple envelope pillow covers for the sofa pillows, using redtag decorator-weight fabric from Joann's. I'd never done this before, and it was easier and more rewarding than I expected. What projects are you working on?

Sewing Projects

As promised, here are a few photos of New Year's sewing projects. Top is the Amy Butler Frenchy bag, middle is a tote bag adapted from this book, and bottom is the owl linked below. I know some of you are much more advanced seamstresses than I am, so please overlook the wobbly bottom on my Abraham Owl and any other flaws you might spot! We also made a Dorset bag out of a pretty dinner napkin (with a zipper instead of drawstring). For some reason, I continue to torment myself, sewing several simple curtains from vintage thrifted sheets and making my first easy pillow covers this week. Truth be told, I don't particularly enjoy sewing (and that's putting it mildly!), but I do like being able to make things and update corners of the house. I did break down this evening, though, and tried out Stitch Witchery to hem the most recent set of window toppers. It's refreshingly easy and quick! Do you sew? Do you like it?

ps - All of this sewing has kept me away from the web - I miss all of your blogs and hope to make my visits to you very soon!

Christmas Eve Day

It's Christmas Eve Day! Warm wishes for a peaceful evening as you celebrate tonight.

Thanks, Amy Ruppel (Or, Meet the Owls)

A few weeks ago, I won a giveaway at Shutter Sisters for an original Amy Ruppel 5x5 inch painting (top photo.) It is super sweet and quite a delicious addition to my home. For the time being, it is residing in a bookcase with my other owls (middle two found at thrift stores, bottom one at Starbucks.) Amy was Target Stores Holiday Artist of the Year in 2007! Thank you, Amy! I love it.