New year, new paperwork UGH!

I have a large tote-full of my garden's potpourri. I add more every year.
The "project" is to buy nice lace curtains in a Thrift Shop,cut them up in squares,
fill them with a big hand-full of potpourri--gather it all up, tie it off with 2 colors of
Spool Ribbon, and the seal the bow with a glue gun and a small silk flower of some kind.

To gift these--I infuse them with potpourri oil. Voila! A lace sachet with my garden of years in it!

One ball--maybe 15 minutes work. NOT counting the cutting up of the lace and the ribbons.

These were hard--as I had NO directions....Had to figure it out by myself.
Love these. though....

"Pilgrim and Indian Maiden"

Last one I will post--there are many, many more.....

Here's my Thanksgiving Turkey--made with a lg. pine cone for a body and real, wild
Turkey feathers for the tail. Wings and other things----just from my resourcefulness....

The head was the hardest---finally I decided to paint a smaller pine cone off-white.
use a twice folded beige pipe-cleaner for a neck, and a thick fun foam for the beak.
The red "whatever-it-is-called" on the chest was a small strip of red fleece--
and when I stretched it--it curled up. Voila! Done!

Now--do you get the idea of the extent my "craft projects" take?

End of bragging show.....How I would love to have ALL my projects done.

Maybe if everything was clean and straight in my house--I would not be struggling
with my conscience of :must-do's" every minute of the day.

Sitting down to do a craft project--is SOOO calming to me. Nice music on...Hmmm...

Except-- as soon as I want to do something I really enjoy--the "shoula--coulda--woulda"
messages start creeping into my head......then the guilt.....then the frustration....

It feels so good to tell you all this! We ARE legions!

Hugs--Gita

I think we're getting somewhere. What if, Gita , you clean for fifteen minutes to earn a half hour of craft time?
after all, all self discipline is when we make our own rules and consequences. I oughta know- I struggle with it all the time. I try to clean something before I sit down to the computer...

LOVE your puppies and kitties in the baskets

Heard an interview with the builder of the Cathedral of Junk in Austin, TX on NPR this weekend. Some of what drives him echoes through our conversations here. We all have and are works in progress perhaps just on a smaller scale

Just google or here's a link http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7816

Sally, some of the images are like way scaled up versions of your chandelier bird feeder!

Gita, as I read your post above about crafting and your desire to complete some of the multitude untill you run out of supplies which are organized and abundant before your mortality runs out, my picture of you was not alone in your house at your table, but you doing "hands on" craft "clinics" like you have described you do at work with gardening.!
Any chanch of getting you and your supplies and knowledgable support out there some how giving the gift of "I made this myself" to others?

Ruby, maybe tomorrow I' ll make some of my clutter confessions like the time a Zoning Enforcement officer came to investigate a complaint that I was "attempting to operate a junkyard in a residential area"...and, like you and Gita and Sally and all others of our legion, it is so heartening to know that I am not the only one moving to a simple less excessive life.. Judy

Judy--

How can I just 'give away" half my life's work? Who would be worthy of receiving this???

Every fall, I think--I need to find a neighborhood X-Mas bazaar somewhere and get a
table and sell these things.....and then--the days come and go and so do the deadlines--
and I go: "Well--maybe next year"...
Of my smaller crafts--nothing would be over $5. The angels and other Christmas oriented
decorations are all cute----
.
I tried one year at our Estonian House's Christmas Bazaar here--and had a table there.
Seems these kind of knick-knack thingies are not what they are looking for. I still made $300!
I think this was about 5 years ago...

Talking about Clinics and demos. at work---guess what I will be doing this Sat. and Sun.?
My Mgr. Donn, said he wanted me to set up a table by a display of plants and show people how to
re-pot tropicals. Also--IF they buy a plant--and IF they buy the pot--I will re-pot the
plant for them--FREE! Then I sat down and created a flier to pass out. I plastered it all over
the store--wherever I could think it needed to be.

Donn wanted me there both Sat. and Sun. I said--I only work on Sundays...
Then later--I looked him up and said---I WILL do this both days--because YOU want me to
I love this man to death--and would not want to refuse something he wants for the store.
Have you seen the picture of him and me? I have posted it on two other Posts.

I will take some pictures of the table and and show you. ...

Here is my Rose Angel--a bit out of focus...but, this is one of my favorite "little crafts"

Here is another little one--bout 4" tall.

The Gnome---

OK! Enough show and tell....

Your gnome makes me smile! Do you have those supplies? Make a little assembly line and bring them to the next Swap. At least bring one if you can!

Gita - how fun!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this with us. Sally might be on to something. Maybe charge a supply fee and have the supplies for the "students" to learn some of your crafts. That way, if indeed you already have an abundance of supplies, that would be one way to get rid of them quickly. And.....you would be doing what you enjoy so much, teaching others to do what seems to come so easy for you. Have any of you seen this artists paintings? I was totally blown away some years back when Gita posted some of her paintings on another forum. This woman is above talented.....she is an artist for sure.

Judy......thank you so much for hinting to the Zoning Enforcement Officer story. I am all ears whenever you decide to share. I realize that often times it takes extremes such as this for us to act on things that we have let slide over time. I need to leave computer for a bit and go get my shaggy hair trimmed. I want to come back later in the day and share something that happened here less than thirty minutes ago that involves my hubby and his (literal) junk collection, wrecked cars he has taken possession of in hopes of restoring even though in reality restoring old cars is a rich man's hobby and not an unemployed old hippie one.

Later friends.

Ruby

But Ruby, he is our unemployed old hippie, Love ya John.

Gita, your crafts are lovely. I like to look but at this stage of my life I don't need anything else to take up space. I just bring out my old stuff and bring back memories.
Those Puppies and Kittens are adorable. Don't limit yourself to Christmas sales sometimes there are craft sales in the spring, and you could also sell some of your plants.
Sally's idea is great too.

Ruby---

Thanks for your "promo" of me.....You are so sweet!

Been there--done that--with running a crafts group once a month--for 3 years..
I did it for an organization I belong to. I have pretty much dropped out from it now...

My "Craft and Chit-Chat" events were printed in the Group's Newsletter,
as well as what the project was. My addy, the $5 participation fee, which included
ALL supplies needed as well as refreshments and some beverages and often wine.

The Pilgrim and Indian Maiden, as well as the Turkey, were 2 of the projects we made.
Those were VERY difficult for all the people. Some had never even used a glue gun..
Most challenging--but I guided and helped and they all were happy with the end results.
We did 3 year's worth of Sunday craft-get-togethers. Lots of projects!
What we made had to be simple and inexpensive. Lots of searching and thinking......
These were held on Sunday afternoons from 3-6 or so.

The first year, I had a steady group of 5 or 6 people that came.
It took some thinking and planning. The table was set--with supplies and work areas,
and such. Scissors , glue guns, paints etc...That also took a lot of time.

In the last year--some of my original people moved away or did not participate any more.
I tried to resume this activity, but fewer people showed interest. I still prepared for
all those that had signed up. Then--the day of the crafting--the call-outs came.
When I was down to one person--I decided to stop this wonderful activity.
It just was not worth the time...

Don't want to get into that again! It cost me too much time and money and frustration....
However--I really enjoy teaching people things----hence all my Garden Clinics at HD.

Gita

Gita, I know where you are coming from, I did a craft workshop for a garden club, the program organizer saw an golden angel I made for a Christmas Arrangement for our club's Christmas show. They kept after me till I agreed to do it. Everyone that wanted to make one brought their own supplies but it was a messy craft so I had to prepare the tables for an easy cleanup. It is amazing how many folks do not know how to follow directions. Anyways I don't think many finished their's and the craft had to be taken home to complete.
I found that joining organizations takes up to much of my time, I dropped out of everything when I started working full time. When belonging to an orginization turns into a "job" it is not fun anymore.

I hear both of you!!! Yep, time and energy is very precious these days. No one has enough of either it seems. Gosh, the unfinished projects I have.

Chris, you are a hoot!!! Had to giggle at your comment on folks not knowing how to follow directions. I know, I know.

Anyway......fun conversation. Hope that everyone is having a good day.

Ruby

Ruby, It looks to me like you had been steadily working on decluttering your surroundings and I applaud you for that. From what you have posted over time I get the impression you are doing it at a steady pace, not the start and stop that so many of us fall into, me included.

Good morning Chris sweetie. I have been at it for some months now. I owe the keeping at it to the active posters on the Clean and Clutter Free forum here at Dave's. Actually, not only have I been steady at it for the several months now, it is a life time project it seems. The difference in all the other times that I have attacked cluttered areas is that it usually doesn't take too long to fill the spaces right back up as soon as I have had a chance to make it to a dollar store. hahaha I believe that is going to be the difference this time......I am realizing that I need to find something other than shopping for bargains to fill my time. I've already known for a couple of years that an Everything for $1.00 store are poison for me. I go there to save a few cents and end up spending loads of money. I am down to only shopping them when out of town.

It has really helped to know that there are others like myself out there who battle the same demons. Having a place to hold myself accountable to has helped me keep at it. The encouragement of the others always feels good too and makes me want to do more.

Another thing along the same lines is hearing one story of a poster who was moving and did a very major de-clutter and began keeping a list of the cost of the items she was sending out the door. She said when it hit ten thousand dollars, she stopped counting. I began paying attention to what I too was sending out the door either with friends, or to charity and realized I could have probably purchased a new vehicle with all the impulse, make me feel good purchases I have made in the past years. Sickening for sure.

I still have way too much in terms of "pretty to look at" things sitting here, there and every where, but the financial cost of so many of these things is really smarting. I don't believe I will ever have a guest to my home comment on my minimalistic decor, ain't gonna happen folks, I like my possessions too much. I now have a couple of bins that I was able to get together before the holidays of things that I plan to begin selling online. About ten or so years ago I ran an online shop for antiques and collectibles. I stopped doing it when my dad died and tending to his estate took so much of my time. I am looking forward to getting back in to that and am hoping that folks are still shopping for the types of items I will be offering.

The opening of an online store won't come until I feel as though the house is in acceptable condition for me to begin putting my time and efforts elsewhere. Kind of looking at six weeks or so down the road for this venture.

Aren't you sorry you commented now? I am telling you everything that you did not ask. With this thought, I will close and bid everyone good thoughts for a great weekend. Love all you great folks, that is the truth.

Ruby

Ruby, I also applaud you for stickign with the work of decluttering. It ain't a lot of fun; we have to confront our previous choices and say- "I thought I would like or use this but I have not and I will not keep trying to"
I love a dollar store browse too! But staying out of the store, all stores, is step 1 in stopping the new stuff coming in.
I am trying to arrange a donation of a sofa- Salvation Army has a near three week wait on a truck, another group has a stuffed warehouse and can't take more. America is still too prosperous for much interest in used furniture.

You know what is unrealisic but would be funny? If we could trade off our clutter. I got this idea as I came across some computer stuff (DH clutter) that I am trying to store. I think I will have more fun rearranging HIS clutter, than I would dealing with MY OWN. Similarly, I need someone ELSE to come tell me which clothes are really outdated and less flattering, than trying to choose myself. Extra clothing choices are nice but then I go wear the same several things for one whole winter.

Sally, the first realization I had when thinking of addressing my clutter issues was that knowing myself and my tendencies, I was not going to be able to begin addressing anything unless I had someone with me to do it. I have spent a lot of money over the years having my cleaning lady work extra time to help me rearrange things. Too costly. One of the ladies on the clutter board wrote out a whole long description for me to pretend that she were sitting there with me as I began my work on decluttering. She kept after me and I was finally able to begin doing the needed work on my own and haven't had to spend a mint to have someone with me as I made decisions about what could stay and what needed to go.

I don't believe I would have kept up with the huge undertaking had I not had the encouragement and support of the others on the clutter forum. There have been some positives to come out of this project too. I am going to get back in to online selling, which I enjoyed when I did it. My son who in the past I would ask about getting rid of some of huge collection of clothing, only to hear that he wanted to keep it all, has now gone through his clothing twice and gotten rid of a good amount of things. He followed my example, I didn't have to say a word and that has been a real blessing. He is quite a clothes hound.

I tell you Sally, I have had the same thoughts on we Americans. When one of the major headlines in almost every woman's magazine is something to do with clutter, what spoiled rotten, ingrates we are. The majority of the world starving or not having fresh water, or housing, and our main thoughts are of how to get rid of our excesses. People risking their lives to get to our shores in order to have a chance at a better life and here we sit with what the majority of the world would consider riches. Nough said!!! I could go on. I am one of whom I speak. I am guilty as charged.

Anyway, good luck in finding someone to take the sofa. Sit it out front of your house at the curb the night before trash pick up in your neighborhood and I bet it will be gone. There are folks who hobby is driving through neighborhoods to see what treasures they can find on trash pick up days. Or sit out front with a FREE sign on it, someone will take it and be very happy to have it.

Thank you for starting this topic Sally. It is right up my alley.

Ruby

Clap clap- applause for working thur the clutter and developing the skill in dealing with it!

I've been a good girl this week. Worked diligently to weed out some stuff in basement. Today got into the younger teens room--Yes I should make him do it but you know...
My basement needs a thorough going thru and arranging to be more usable. And I need to get some of that sewing stuff out and SEW; I like to sew. I have curtains to make for my bedroom.
One goal in the basement is to make a more usable food storage area. No pantry in the kitchen, I need more space to store a bit more food. I'm forever running to the store for things. Taking advantage of sales is a good money saver.

It is almost painful for me to give anything away....I seem to have an attachment to everything!

Clothes??? I have almost 2 small closets full of clothes I will never wear again--nor fit into.
Several items in one of the closets are "Pantaloon" dressy gowns I hand made. NOTHING in that closet id ever used again--for eons!
Back in the 70's and 80's I made most of my own clothes, pants, dresses and all that.
They are better made than anything you can buy in a store... All lined--seems finished--etc..
I keep thinking that maybe some of these funky vintage second-hand stores would like to have the gowns in there. but I have never followed through. So they hang in my closet...

I have an amazing--3pc. suit I made--and maybe wore it once. it truly is amazing!
Looks like wool--but is washable. Off white with black, thin grid lines in a square
pattern. Have pants, lined vest and lined jacket. Nice buttons....Man! it took me forever
to make that!!!!
Too "out of style" to sell to the general public--but someone would surely like it....I hope.

As far as my own clothes go--about 80% of all my clothes are from Thrift Shops.
By now--it is easier for me to find something I like in a Thrift Shop than at any dept. store.
And--I also like going to them for the variety and the prices....
Pants are especially hard--as I HATE the low-waisted pants. My belly would hang out over it.
I want "normal" clothes--not the ones that are a fad--and these fads change every 2-3 years--
or none of the stores would make any money. The young crowd follow these like puppies.

What is it right now??? Pencil thin Jeans...Leggings and nothing else---High platform sh0es--
fleece-lined boots---Layers of clothes on top--each one showing below the other....Bra straps hanging out are perfectly OK!
I hope there are some stores geared to the seniors....I really do nor shop around.

I really do not like to go to Malls and other Dept. stores any more--UGH!
My jobs for the last 25 years have all been to do with garden centers of some kind--
so I have slipped into the super-casual styles...pants and tennis shoes....

Going out? Better pants and a nicer top and nicer flats.. Never wear dresses or skirts.....

Anyway----
After reading all these posts--yesterday I tried to do some straightening....
No biggie---but I sorted out 3 drawers of socks (whoppie!) and started on organizing
my seeds for the Swap. Today--that is all i have done! Watching TV while doing it.
Needed to print out so many new labels--and stuff the seeds into the tiny baggies--
gotta go to Wallmart--I am out of them. Trying to find pictures of plants to tape to
the fronts of my seed envelopes, and on and on.....

Thought I would tackle the small bathroom today--but NO! Just not in the mood!

I work tomorrow and Sunday--The re-potting clinics both days--then am off Monday
--then work Tues. and Wed. etc...etc...etc....Thurs. a Dr.'s appt. and so it goes.

I seem to spend most free days floating down "De Nile".........

Gita

Hey, I am not the one to point any fingers! Why worry about the stored stuff; its not hurting anybody. I'd also have a huge struggle tossing my handmade items. I must have outgrown the things I made in my teens and twenties, and with a couple of moves, got rid of them. I do have a very complex patterned knitted sweater that I made from nice wool and never wear it- the sleeves are very baggy and the wool is very fuzzy which I now do not like. I look at it once a year when changing seasons, am amazed at how I did that complicated lacey pattern, I think how reluctant I'd be to try that again, and put it away!

Imagine if we were on a super clean forum where people vacuum religiously, dust every week, etc. I'd feel like a total pig but there is NO WAY I'd spend that much time cleaning. I think after a point, it is pointless- unless its for health reasons.

I already don't like shopping for the style reason. The younger crowd dominates the marketplace. Yes, there is a rare event that one cannot wear jeans to these days.

Sally Nate Berkus would tell you to frame that sweater and hang it on your wall. LOL

Creative!
I should wear it to the swap!

Sally--
You could also sell it on Craig's List---because it is local and there is no shipping involved.
"Hand made--100% wool sweater. Never worn.....Pure wool! $40- (or as you wish).
Consignment shops would be another option--but you would only get about half of the value .

The two things I have advertised this past year on Craig's--when they call--they all want
a reduced price. I do not like that! What i ask--is a fair price.
You can always "up" your asking price and then, reduce it if they beg....
That way--everyone is happy.

This was one of the items I tried to sell--this goofball woman kept e-mailing me that she wanted
them to "decorate her house'. I asked $35. She offered $25. I paid $
125 for them in 1960. Used them about 5-6 times.
My boy-friend and I used to go skating on the old Memorial Stadium ice rink.

Then I sent her a reply and said the I would rather a young lady would have them to skate in--and
I asked her how she would use the skates to "decorate her house"?...

She never answered--but e-mailed me still asking if i still had them...

I replied that i did--and the price was still $35. I also said that she never told me how she would use
these to decorate??

She replied that I had asked her no such thing (the decorating) and that my e-mails were rude
and she ended up saying that she "didn't wand my stinking skates anyway!"

Two days later--she e-mailed me again asking if Is till had them--as she wanted to use them
to go skating on a frozen pond in NJ where she grew up...

I have not answered any of her e-mails since..Geesh! Weirdos out there!

Will go back to organizing my seeds tonight. That seems sane.....
Gita

Yup, crazies. If not that then just not very considerate. I had two inquiries on some figurines, I answered them promptly. Neither one bothered to respond, at least say, Gee not what I had in mind , thank you anyway.
I am having better luck with some furniture though (knock on wood # 107 for the month)

Ebay, Craigs List, Goodwill, FreeCycle(if you want to give it away) all good ways to get rid of your stuff. Every once in awhile someone I know has a garage sale, I just give them a bunch of stuff I need to get rid of.
I have a lady in our church that does mission trips to Nicaragua(sp?) and I gave her baby clothes and small toys.
For gently used shoes...soles4souls is a great charity organization(sent lots of baby shoes to them...they grow out of them so fast)

Good ideas, Jen. That helps with the "I am not using it but don't want it wasted if it's usable or collectible"
I saw guys going through the records at Goodwill once. I am sure that people who can sell collectibles will scour the stores and get that one in fifty of item XXX that is actually sought after. My dad had very old records, but only one had more than minimal value, and that was maybe $6.

some Goodwills actively watch their incoming, and put certain items on eBay

You'd laugh , after all my postings, to see the random papers and books that lay next to my bed (blush)

And that laugh would be out of fondness and recognition! (double blush here)

My piles want to set up a play date at the shredder as soon as the weather warms up

Gita, I'll see your pair of iceskates and raise you a pair of rollerskates in their original metal skate case covered in names of friends in nail polish.

Jen, great suggestions for passing it on...and keeping the flow going

For all sewers, knitters, crochers, etc who enjoy the process or doing of same. A friend
makes items like hats and booties and afgans and donates them to hospitals and preemie/NICU units through Carewear

http://www.carewear.org/index.cfm

Just like peace, pass it on.. J

{{chuckling}} I may have to fold after that skate case

Wow that Carewear site is great!!!! A ton of patterns for all the crafts Judy named. I have heard of a Snoopy quilt group, similar, don't have a link.

I swear paper is the hardest clutter to control. Ric and I were at our HGHA meeting and came home with a couple of magazines and some fliers on growing and using Lavender, For every piece I give up I usually bring home a few more.

Are you all aware that the "Goodwill" is no longer a non-profit industry???
How can you tell? They charge sales tax!

One might ask--What DO they do with the moneys from the stores?
I remember that they used to have "clients" that manned their stores--
under supervision, of course.
Then--they all went to these "Super Stores"--doubled all their prices, and hired
non-English speaking workers. So--at least they are providing jobs to those in need.
Geez! $3 for a T-shirt? $10 for used boots! $6-$7 for used jeans!

Ever since I found that out--I hate to donate to them--but I still do, occasionally, as there is one
just 5 minutes from my house. You still get a receipt and can claim the value of your donations
as a tax deduction.

Salvation Army--Am Vets--D.A.V.--St. Paul de Francis--Those are still non-profit stores.

All those that call you on the phone and ask if you have anything for them to pick up--
and there are many--sell all the donations they collect by the truck-full
to independent Thrift Shops--like Value Village, Village Thrift Shop, and such.
Can't think of others right now.
Have NO idea who benefits from the $$ taken in from these???

If I am wrong--I will stand corrected. No problem.
This is just info. I have been told and heard over the years.

Gita

We have the 918 Coupon Queen here. Lots of shopping bargains and she gets a lot of stuff free or they even have to pay her back money by using sale ads, instore coupons and other coupons she clips. I think the link is couponqueen.com .... something like that, google it. Printable coupons. I don't have the exact link on me right now.

As for junk mail, I too have lots of address labels, I don't mind getting those, and sometimes I get note pads with my name on them. In an effort to try to reduce junk mail, after I get out of the car I stop at the trash bin in the garage and deposit whatever junk mail I don't want, so it never makes its way into the house. I usually will send a donation to the March of Dimes a couple of times a year. I already donate to the United Way at work, and a lot of the other charities get money from them.

As for getting mail for a deceased person or someone who no longer lives there, why couldn't you complete a 'change of address card' and send it to the post office. They then have to sort out that mail so you never receive it. For the deceased persons new address, write 'unknown, heaven, etc.' so they will stop sending it to you. Just a thought.

Crit some of the mail that would come to a deceased person is important to receive it takes months and some times years to sort thru everything. Sometimes there are bank accts, insurance and other papers that you would want to get because you may not know all of their banking, investing and other important financial or personal info. What they receive in the mail may just be a clue to those things.

Bummer .... I guess you will just have to take the good with the bad.

Good mail vs. junk mail. :-)

Good will Baltimore/ maryland had trouble in the past (well past) about their directors being darn well paid. I personally think Salvation Army does a better job. Valu Village/ NCC seems like a good busy store too. I look at all thrift stores as at least a clearinghouse on things otherwise destined for the dump. They're a great resource for costumes.

It sounds like not much to be done about junk charity mail in general and deceased in particular. It costs money in staff time for the charity to have someone do the work of deleting.

You gals are always good for a laugh or two. I laugh because I can so identify. I too have a hand made long jeans skirt I made in high school and over the almost forty years of moving from one place to the other, the skirt always has a place in my closet.

Speaking of paper.....yesterday afternoon I took a chance and ventured out back in to my storage shed which I haven't been in for quite some time. I just wanted to see what sorts of things I might find. One box I semi-sorted through held receipts and other papers that belonged to my granddad. The ones I picked up and looked at have 1921 dates on them.

I am not a regular Craig's Lister, but a few weeks ago looked at our local site and saw someone advertising to buy old paper items. I am going to look today and see if the ad is still running and give this guy a call. Another item I found that this person may be interested in is a box of baby shower cards that my mother kept from MY baby shower in 1955.

The reason for being in the shed on a cold winter afternoon is that earlier in the afternoon I gave a friend a call. The friend owns an auction house that has estate auctions weekly. One of the reasons that my storage shed runneth over and every nook and cranny in my house is full is that for some years the auction house was a hobby of mine. I attended auctions most every week and loved getting box lots for a dollar or two. They knew me to buy the things that no one else would bid on. hahaha Over the years, it has now been at least six years since I have been involved in the auctions, I would on occasion get together a group of things and send back to her to sell for me. It was definitely not a get rich scheme, but it is a way to get rid of a lot at one time.

Anyway, she has scheduled me in to an auction on the first Wednesday in February. That does not give me much time to get my things together, but I plan to send some things and hopefully get a few dollars for my efforts. She has several clients who make their living by attending yard sales, shopping at thrift stores and just picking up odds and ends wherever they can and regularly send the things to auction. I do not have enough to carry a whole auction and I am sure she is scheduling me in with some others who are sending small lots of things.

Anyway, being one who would describe myself somewhat like Gita described herself, as someone who doesn't come up off of my belongings easily, I try to get every penny out of things that I can. I will let you all know how I make out.

Even if the monetary return isn't all that great, the idea of getting my shed and some of the corners in my house, a bit more spacious is pay off in itself. I could do the Craigs List, online selling gig but first need to make a dent in amount of items I possess and then set up a better organizational system in order to sell items individually. The auction selling and online selling is not new to me, I was involved in doing both of these things some years back and fell away from it when moving to the house I am currently living in about six years ago. Time to get back in the saddle I would say.

Go at it girls, just think of the good feeling of getting rid of things and having more room to store the things we want to keep. Again, a big hug and a sincere thank you to Sally for starting the topic. It is much needed by many.

Ruby

Cross posted with you Sally hon. Anayway, Gita and others who may be holding on to some vintage types of clothing. I also have a little experience with that. We have a local shop named Glad Rags. It is a consignment shop for women's clothing and jewelry. I have had a running account in the past, though as with most everything else, I haven't been involved for several years now.

Anyway, this stores busiest time is Halloween. She does a booming business at that time with the University of Virginia being close by and the coeds with lots of money looking for just the right thing to dress up in. You may want to do some prior phone work and call some of the consignment shops and ask their busiest times and see when you should bring your items in so they will be available during that time. Most of these shops will only keep things for a certain amount of time before they expect you to either retrieve them or they donate to charity when your time has run out. I would suspect that getting things to them either in late August or during September would be the best time for things to sell. Check with the stores first because Glad Rags stops receiving items on a certain date before their big sell time in October.

Sally, I think much like you and the items like socks and hosiery and the like are hidden away in drawers and no one can see the jumbled and messy condition they are in, so I don't sweat over it. I do know that these items have to be addressed at some point, because frankly I am getting tired of looking at them in their present condition and can imagine how nice it would be to retrieve a pair of undies from a neatly organized drawer. Some day......not today though.

Ruby

Just threw out all the catalogs I received for Christmas...you know the ones......Hale Groves, Fannie Farmer, Figis...on top of all the regualrs oncs I get....LL Bean, Terrys Village etc...filled almost the whole recycle bin...sheesh


Also remember to look into any organization that picks up clothes....like Vietnam Vets, when they pick up clothes that way they sell the clothes for textiles and get the $ so the clothes are not being used by anyone. We call it the rag bag, so it it has a stain or hole it goes to them and the pick up at the door. But the majority of my old clothes(esp the kids stuff) is in great condition and I'd like it used by someone who really needs it.

Jen thanks, i have suspected but not been sure, that some of the old clothes just go to fiber reclamation/ rags etc so for that reason I always throw EVERYTHING in the donation bag, and let them sort it out. Just today- a really nice heavy Dickies hoodie with broken zipper. I put a Broken Zipper note pinned to front, fair warning.
I just left yet another bag at my friend's door, the one who was smart and nice enough to live right down the street and to have two children a couple years younger than two of mine and in the correct gender.

We take some of Ric's clothes to the local Men's Shelter. He had some old but very warm clothes, things that wouldn't sell in a donation shelter too far out of date fashion wise, but are great for the homeless men that come to the shelter. I have taken some of our older blankets there, too.