2019 Final Countdown Task One

Posted on December 29, 2019 by prairiemoonquilts in The Final Countdown

I haven’t linked this in awhile, and it’s good for a laugh (the hair!), so go give this a listen to help get you in the mood for our Final Countdown! You’d think after eleven years of doing this, I wouldn’t need to do it any more, but alas, such is not the case. We’ll see what it’s like when I’m fixin’ to host the 20th annual!

And I meant to have this posted earlier in the day, but evidently, the cats had their New Year’s Eve party early, and I had some extra CAT-astrophes to clean up this morning. It’s like having unsupervised toddlers. And the poor dog is slinking around with her tail between her legs, thinking she’s gonna get blamed for something.

I sometimes have us reorganizing all our fabric, tackling all the flat surfaces, and finishing up our oldest UFO during these challenges, and while I could certainly stand to do all those things (again), I’m instead digging a little deeper this year. In fact, this is what my cutting table looks like right now, and I’m not even planning to deal with that!

What I would really love to do is take every single thing out of my sewing room, and then, with careful consideration, put back only the stuff that belongs in there, really neat and organized. But I seriously don’t have time for that. I have deadlines for January (how did that happen so fast?) So I still have to keep at my regular work schedule and do this organizing thing on the side — which could explain why I’m never done and never completely organized!

So in lieu of being able to do that, we’re just gonna take it one task at a time, even if the task seems difficult. I’m gonna start us off with the hardest task — at least it’s the hardest one for me. I’ve tried and tried, but can never get this one thing under control.

Here it is — Final Countdown Task One:

Deal with the paper clutter

I’ve made progress, for sure, but still . . . I’ve got the piles! (teehee) Piles and piles.

A few months ago, I put up this basket on the closet door in my sewing room. It holds all the papers and patterns and notes from the projects that are currently ON my cutting table. And yes, it’s full, as is the cutting table — don’t judge! But it has helped me stop losing them in the mess, for sure.

I also bought this cubby thingie (its official name). I don’t know if I got it last year or the year before (from Amazon), but it keeps a lot of paperwork organized. (And you can see I have a serious aversion to filing!)

And then there’s this (which is a smaller pile than it used to be, if you can imagine):

And this (which is a bigger mess than it used to be):

I can’t even recall how long I’ve had this bookcase in place, but I have never been able to get it completely cleaned out and organized. This is probably going to be my biggest project for this challenge. Which also means I will have to go through all my magazines and books to determine which will earn a spot in the bookcase, which only has limited space, and which will have to go. I need to be more ruthless than I usually am, I guess. And apparently, I do a lot of shuffling papers from one pile into another, never really getting rid of the piles altogether!

I actually did work on paper organizing over the course of this year, and altho it’s a lot better than it was, it still needs a lot of work. Furthermore, I need a system to keep it in order once I’m done getting rid of the piles, or it’ll just go back to the way it was very quickly. So my very first order of business will be to finish cleaning out my filing cabinet so I can put away the things I need to keep — which in turn should help me be able to find them when I need to as well, right?

So how about you? Do you have the piles? (And no, I’m not asking about the kind that you treat with Preparation H — haha!)

Do you have a system in place to deal with the paper? I’m getting better. I’m really good with incoming mail; it’s all the “notes to self” I string around everywhere, and papers that I need to keep, and stuff I’m too lazy to file, that do me in.

Do you simply need to purge a lot of stuff? Shred, recycle, toss, file, scan and toss, put away somewhere?

I know I can’t do this all in one day, but I’m gonna at least tackle one area a day and see what I can do. We have until the 4th to finish, and even if we don’t completely finish by then, just think how much better it will be! I’m excited just thinking about that! Maybe the momentum we gain by getting started will keep us rolling to just get it completely done — I can dream!

If you need help, suggestions, specific instructions, sample system ideas, etc., I encourage you to Google “dealing with paper clutter” — you will find all sorts of web sites devoted to helping us with this problem — it’s good to know we’re not alone, right?

So now I’m off to tackle the first pile. The problem right now is: which one? Haha!

Good luck to you as you work on this one, too. And if you don’t need to work on this one, my hat is off to you — I seriously don’t know how you keep up with it.

To be eligible for the prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, letting us know if you need to do this one or not, what you’re dealing with, progress you’re making, etc. — basically any comment. Suggestions are always welcome — I learn a lot from the comments every year about how you are all dealing with these things in your own ways. I’ll be back tomorrow with Task Two, so when you’re done watching Europe fling their hair around, let’s get to work!

78 responses to “2019 Final Countdown Task One”

  1. Becky Heermann says:

    This is not a task I will have to do. Yay me. When I was working I worked in an office environment back when paper was popular. As the office went paperless management got rid of the filing cabinets. I was fortunate enough to obtain a small rolling cart filled with file holder hangers. All of my magazines, patterns, pictures and notes about patterns goes in that rolling cart. Then the cart gets tucked into the chair opening of the credenza that is topped with one hot mess of disorganization of multiple projects not yet tackled.

  2. Patricia says:

    I am starting on this as soon as I post this. One problem I have is seeing others paper mess and thinking, my paper is not that bad! Yes it is!
    See you tomorrow.

  3. Sally says:

    Good one! Yesterday I had to clean my desk to find some correspondence. Today I’ll tackle the stacks on the computer table…knit patterns, quilt patterns, garden notes.

  4. OMG!!!! It is a problem throughout my whole house!!! Thanks for the nudge—I will set aside 30 minutes everyday I am home. Pinky swear!

  5. Emma says:

    This isn’t much of an issue for me with my sewing area (except for the 3,287 pieces with my kiddos’ scribbles on them), but I do have paper stuff elsewhere in the house to tackle…so…time to get to work!

  6. Ibby Rollert says:

    Just makes me feel a little better seeing someone else’s paper clutter! I have had it forever and I hate it. The biggest thing I hate is my shredder, the shredded paper goes everywhere when I try to empty it! Hope the new year puts both of us in a better organized life!

  7. Shirley Peters says:

    I don’t really have a lot of ‘paper’ stuff hanging around. What I have is in file boxes or plastic expanding files.
    What I DO have is piles and piles of clothes from thrift shops that need cutting up to store. Plus all the FQs that I have had as gifts or purchased. Too many VSM standing around plus my usual machine in bits as it stopped working part way through a Christmas gift.

    • Bev says:

      Why/ what are you doing with thrift clothes?

    • Celia says:

      I still have a lot of paper clutter but I have made some progress. Instead of notes everywhere I have a small notebook that I jot things in. If I make my friend anything I write down the size and colors. Most importantly, I keep the notebook in the same place. Will see what I can accomplish by the fourth.

  8. Marie Beers says:

    For some reason only me sewing room is messy with piles of stuff. When the cutting table is so cluttered that I have 12″ left to cut, I stop and clean up and put away, but in a few months it’s back to being messy again.

  9. Donna says:

    I need to purge quilting magazines from the 80s and 90s so I can make room for notebooks filled with patterns from internet and BOM instructions from Shelly Pagliai!

  10. Pam Chinn says:

    Okay I am in on this problem! Lots of papers and bits of info I want to read in the sewing area. And there is a paper piling problem throughout the house that I am not proud of.
    I have lots of quilting magazines saved up through the years. More than I will ever use. Not sure how to go about purging through them. I have stopped a couple subscriptions because I haven’t used what I have like I thought I should. Should I just close my eyes and pitch?
    Love reading the suggestions for dealing with our common sewing room issues. Please keep them coming!
    I am off to begin clearing a pile of who-knows-what!
    Pam

  11. Randy Menninghaus says:

    yup, I go so excited I went up and straightened out my thread while waiting…. off to look for paper piles and mix paper piles..

    • Randy Menninghaus says:

      done. paper now in two areas. one is in a bin under a bed.. all neat the other on top of the Hoosier in notebooks.

  12. Wendy says:

    Earlier this year I culled through many of my quilting magazines and got rid of them. Unfortunately, in that frenzy, I also lost a very special quilting book. Stuff happens, I guess. Anyway, I do have stacks of paper. I just cleared one out yesterday, but I need to go through my stack of patterns and get them filed. I use redrope folders for them, but even keep the red ropes to a minimum. So I’ll tackle that today, I think.

  13. Beverly S. says:

    Paper clutter is my biggest problem!

    I got past the old magazine problem by buying the cd’s that many quilt magazines offer. That stopped me from worrying about tossing one I might “need.”

  14. Well, this is ALWAYS a problem for me. My desk is always cluttered with paper and now I took stuff off the desk and put into bags. I’ve actually been working on one of those bags and it is almost done. Lots of receipts that I keep and have needed, so that makes me keep it longer. 🙂
    I have at least 3 big piles that I could work on, so that is what I’m going to do. I’ve ordered them in what I am going to work on first (the one by my desk).
    Check out my blog post https://melsquiltingblog.blogspot.com/2019/12/final-countdown.html

  15. Suelynn Williams says:

    I can never seem to get ahead of the paper. I keep adding to it like it’s an addiction. My “organized” subject files are scattered everywhere, too, so I still can’t find what I’m looking for! I keep a list of what I’m looking for. Eventually the items get found but not when I need them). This is a huge project which will surely improve my sewing area (especially considering where it is located in the living area). Thanks for the reminder to take a before/after photo.

  16. Suz says:

    Oh my gosh yes… this is definitely an issue. I’ve been trying to keep printed patterns contained to clear file books… must buy some more and sort the ones that haven’t quite made it yet. It is all a slippery slope!

    • Suz says:

      Yay… task one done @suzjob1 although this was a system I started earlier in the year and just needed to be reinstated instead of being lazy 🤔

  17. Marilyn says:

    I definitely have paper issues. The piles just seem to migrate from place to place.

  18. Edith Csokmay says:

    Honestlt, i pretty much got the paper stuff and filing under control this year, bills and patterns, books and magazines. But it’s soon to be tax season, so i need to get those documents organized and ready. And i need to get medical records in order. I’m going to do what someone else suggested and set aside at least 30 minutes per day. More if needed to get it done by the fourth. Thanks for the nudge 😃

  19. Mary C says:

    I am going to work at reducing scraps this year….sort and store those I will use and pass along those I won’t. Have to address several WIPs this coming year and decide what I will actually be able to finish.

  20. Maryellen McAuliffe says:

    I do need a better system for paper clutter. My plan this week is to finish emptying an old file cabinet and create a system to organize my business paperwork, patterns on the “someday” list, and my personal paperwork. Thanks for the push to do it!

  21. Cindy Wienstroer says:

    Since retiring from work – i have cut reading & printing stuff from internet! Helps cut down on gathering paper. I do need to go thru quilt books & binders & decide what i like or might make. My taste changes!

  22. Lynn says:

    Yes, I need to be all over this one! I have these stacking things like you see on office desks in some law office. There’s papers, notes, a random Mother Day card, a free manicure coupon and a fat quarter or two hanging out! 🤦‍♀️

  23. Judy W. says:

    There’s nothing like a Challenge to help motivate me to attack the huge pile of papers in my studio. After 2+ hours of sorting and discarding, I reduced the pile today by 3 inches(!!!) I discarded all duplicates as well as items I realized I was never going to use. I filed the “keepers”, and filled the empty space on my table with the clues & fabrics for a mystery quilt I am starting. It feels really good to have that done!

  24. Sharon Sauser says:

    I deal with “paper” that comes in the mail immediately – put in recycle bin, if necessary. My paper problem is patterns I’ve torn out of quilt magazines. They are all corralled, but need to be put in protective sleeves and inserted into the appropriate three ring binder. The magazines then get recycled, too. Lately I haven’t been able to keep up with even reading the magazines. Also have a short stack by the computer to remind me which digital quilting designs I have purchased, but not yet downloaded. When I do that, I want to organize them into my data base immediately, and haven’t yet made myself do that, because I need to be uninterrupted when I do that, so I don’t make mistakes. I see some are from November 6th! Time to make time to do this.

  25. Christi Bentley says:

    I need to figure out a way to keep my guild paperwork and notes organized. I will be president of my guild for the next 2 years, so need to be organized. Right now all my guild notes just get mixed in with patterns I’m working on, so this needs to change.

  26. I have magazines, papers, books…all to be filed or pitched. I will get busy.

  27. Joan says:

    Yes, this is an ongoing challenge. I read somewhere to tackle 27 items a day (keep, donate or toss). Just this morning I recycled 27 things. I keep track using a notebook–some days it is more difficult to meet the goal. I also have a few scrap quilt patterns–so cut those from fabrics that serve no purpose for anything else. I limited subscriptions to the one I really like. Occasional stitching days with friends keeps me on task with project completion.

  28. Barbara W says:

    Paper is not really a problem for me. To keep it to a minimum I scan patterns and ideas and save them on my computer as well as a flash drive just in case. Also use Pinterest to save a lot of things I like.

  29. Kerry says:

    Well I don’t have much in the way of papers, I had been through those earlier this year and threw a lot of them away (recycled). Books also on shelves, apart from the ones by the bed or downstairs! We had a lot of rain this year (understatement – it’s been awful!) and I decided I’d sort and tidy the sewing room and no sewing until it was under control!! Still not sewing yet!

  30. Sandy says:

    Yes, always a paper problem. I tackle it and think it is fairly well under control and poof there are stacks again. I do have notebooks with patterns, etc. but those pieces of paper don’t always make it to the notebooks in a timely manner.

  31. Ginny says:

    Papers in the office not sewing room are my problem at year end. The sewing room really needs to have the piles of fabric delt with. The problem is where to put them. My cutting table is not usually my problem. I will not finish and will tackle the paperwork in the office

  32. Judy Smith says:

    Magazines are the biggest problem for me. I go through them, tearing out pages for something I will make and never look at it again. Now, those files need purged too. I have stopped all but one subscription, so hoping I can get a handle on it this year.

  33. Paula in NE Ohio says:

    I print out lots of online patterns, and they are kind of taking over my sewing room. I have this sheets in notebooks, files and a paper organizer (similar to what you have in your room). I know there are many doubles and stuff I don’t want any more. I did start going through and sorting today after your post, but there is much more to do….

  34. Mary Delia says:

    I’m starting by getting rid of a box of old quilting magazines without wasting time looking at them again. If I was going to use any of the patterns I would have done it already! Thank you for the nudge to begin.

  35. Stephanie says:

    Ooh I like this task, I don’t have big paper piles like that anymore. My filing system isn’t the best, I have too many files and can’t always put my hand on things fast, but there are no piles (phew). Right before Christmas, I scooped my one pile into a sweater box, along with various other stuff that was on my dining table.
    I will commit to dealing with that box.

  36. Paula M says:

    Great minds think alike! I have a paper problem for sure. About 10 years now I go around and put all the miscellaneous papers, mail, ect in a grocery bag with the intent of clearing it out….since pulling out Christmas I have uncovered 3 bags going back to 2017…thank you for the nudge!

  37. Sandi says:

    Just yesterday I cleaned up some of the paper stuff on my cutting table. Most of the paper stuff is in binders and I really should go through that some day. I have way too many patterns that I’ll never do so I guess I’ll start with the binders. I did purge them once and I don’t think I’ve added to them.

  38. Christine says:

    Started going through magazines this fall. Did pretty good but still have too many. Did well with donating books and plan on going through books again for this challenge. My problems are the notes to self. Maybe keeping a note book. My notes usually pertain to UFO’s and current projects. When I need the notes suddenly they are missing!

  39. Christopher Thomas says:

    I am ahead of the game on this one, so for which i am happy to say that I did this one a couple of weeks ago.

    I had all kinds of patterns and paper every place and I had bought some three ring binders and some of those clear plastic sheets that go in the binders.

    while we were off for christmas and my mother being in the hospital once again this year I took the time out to put all my clutter in the binders.

    So now everything is in its place and ready for me to get to do that pattern. When ever that will be. lol

    I will see if I can blue tooth some pictures to the computer and post some

    thanks

  40. I too have a paper problem! I do have a small portable plastic file box that holds all my printed patterns in it alphabetically. The other stuff, stacks and stacks of paper, need to be sorted. Wish me luck!

  41. Susan says:

    Seriously, get a part time secretary to deal with all that paperwork and filing! I’m not running a business, but when I finish a quilt, I toss all the paperwork that goes with it – pattern (if printed, not if I bought it – bought ones go in a file box from JoAnn’s), printed templates, everything in the trash. If I need it again, I know where to find it.

  42. Sharon Gratz says:

    I was able to corral most of my paper relating to quilting during the time we did the 100 days til end of year challenge. The small grid paper tablet, the to do tablet, the ideas for planner……the paper I keep by my laptop is another thing. I have end tables on each side of my chair, with the tops full…..gotta do something. My laptop is on a swivel tray that keeps it off my lap and has room for some kind of container to the side…..I’ll think of something! 🙂

  43. Shirley Guier says:

    I don’t have much problem with papers in my sewing room. I bought plastic sleeves that I put all my patterns or things I need to keep and place them in binders that are labeled for different categories. This works great for me. I do have a small stack in my kitchen that I call my office and I have several folders there that I keep stuff in. To clean up for Christmas, I put that stack in a box to move it and I need to go through it now. I do that about every 6 months.

  44. Jill Davies says:

    I have serious issues with organizing my sewing room especially fabric and patterns . I have most of my fabric in colour-marked plastic containers but they are overflowing. My patterns are alphabetically ‘orgainised’ in binders and these are overflowing as well. There are so many projects that I want to do but don’t know where to start as there never seems to be enough time or space.

  45. Angie in SoCal says:

    I really don’t have much of a paper clutter in my sewing studio but I do have magazines I need to go through as they take up a whole shelf of one of my book cases. I’ve changed what I like so I hope to get rid of at least half. We’ll see. Best of luck with yours.

  46. Sue Munn says:

    I did a bunch of paper purging earlier this fall, but there’s more to work on. I cleaned out patterns and magazines, too…more to work on, though. I run the used books, magazines, & patterns table for the Quilters’ Hall of Fame Celebration in July, so I have somewhere for them to go!

  47. Becky Collis says:

    Oh my! That big stack has patterns, batting brochures, magazines, a couple of folded up Dream big panels, some drawings, and heaven knows what else. I am determined to get it put away, but I’m afraid of the dust I will have to contend with. As it is, if I don’t touch it, no dust gets stirred up!😂

  48. Michele says:

    Paper clutter is not as much of a problem in the sewing areas as it is in the rest of the house. I have paper patterns, but they’re fairly well corralled. If I need to print something out, it gets printed and then recycled once I use it. And today I got my quilting journals updated and ready for next year.

  49. Shasta says:

    I have been working on paper for years. It is like a treadmill, I keep purging but it keeps coming in. So far, the only thing that works for me is to do it every day. I even have it on my calendar to clear paper 15 minutes a day. It does work when I do it. That was the realization I had when I looked back on my blog and I was talking about cleaning 10 years ago. It is a never ending project to clean and organize.

  50. Peggy Long says:

    Not fair posting this task on the last football Sunday! I didn’t even read this until after 10pm. Anyway, I do have office filing to do. I read through the other comments with a little dismay. Those getting rid of quilting magazines, may I suggest offering them to other quilters or to guilds to offer free to visitors to quilt shows. I attended a local show which did this and I picked up several with many patterns I would like to make.

  51. Tonia says:

    I have to confess, no work on paper today–it was delayed Christmas gathering. But, I was planning to do some paper stuff in getting ready for the New Project year–I seem to be piling instead of filing–I am going to try this year to put away instead of pile it up!!! And the 30 minute idea is great–I thought about planning the last 15 minutes of time before the light goes out in the HobbyHouse to tidy up–tomorrow it will be paper! Yes, this group is so encouraging!

  52. Earlier this year I cleaned up the paper clutter on my bookshelves, and it is still tidy. It’s the other piles of fabric and containers of scraps that need sorted out

  53. Judi G says:

    The paper piles have spread to the next room. I will start this later today. It’s an excellent first step to organizing. Maybe one basket for paper piles and clean it out once a week on “tidy Friday”?

  54. Crystal F says:

    I have a tendency to pile every piece of paper that I have printed on top of the printer. Between that and my stack of quilt patterns I have printed out…I need to put a system in place. A trip to the store to get some binders is on my “to do” list for today.

  55. Rose Marie Smith says:

    I keep very little paper standing around. I have magazine boxes where much of the quilting paper stands on the top of my desk top. My bill paying and my computer are on the same desk top. I have to keep things cleared away so I paid a bill this morning online. Just waiting for the bank statement to clear the rest. But the deeper, darker secret is that personal paperwork is hiding in drawers and I only sort it out once a year. That work is coming up in the next two weeks. Happy New Year!!

  56. Mary Tague says:

    This is a great place to start the clean up. I am starting right now! Thanks. And away I go!

  57. Johnna Clarke says:

    Paper isn’t really a problem in my sewing room – it’s fabric! I have a notebook of patterns. I’ve tackled a project this weekend – a temperature quilt – temps of 1955 and will gift it to my brother for his 65th birthday in April. SO – I have paper out more than I normally would – examples of patterns, temperature charts, etc. I can’t wait to get started on it today, so I have limited time to get organized! Ha!

  58. Andrea Rea says:

    I managed to move my pile of magazines and books to an actual shelf. They were all piled up, not nearly, by my bed. Bed time reading at it’s best, and only 5 feet from my sewing machine. However, it’s amazing how much better just that little thing made my room look and feel

  59. KARREN says:

    Oh, I am off to a good start! I don’t function too good in clutter so I have to straighten up at the end of the day. I have notebooks with plastic sleeves to file patterns I print off websites or tear from magazines. Plus I have become much more discerning about which patterns I actually print and which ones I like but realistically will never make. The struggle is real!

  60. Becky Cogan says:

    Paper isn’t really a bad problem right now.
    I have way to much fabric clutter that needs attention. Hopefully I can work on it soon.

  61. Elle says:

    I don’t have a paper problem. How do I handle it?
    1. When snail mail comes in the house, I open right away at the kitchen counter. Recycle bin is next to the refrigerator and most goes there. Bills go in the “finance drawer” and are managed monthly when I balance all accounts.
    2. File cabinet has labeled folders for records to be retained.
    3. Very few magazines come in but I have a reading “pile” spot. Once read, it’s into recycle or, if a quilting magazine, into the magazine holder in the bookcase.

    I look forward to winning 🙂

  62. Mary Durham says:

    My main paper problem in the sewing room is the pile-up of patterns I’ve printed from the internet and torn from magazines. I need to go through my big binders of patterns and thin out the ones I’m no longer interested in and add the ones that have piled up. Thanks for the incentive!

  63. I have a system using binders and the individual folders and plastic sleeves. I try really hard to put them in the folders immediately, but my guess is there are a few under “things” I will discover when I get to the top of my work surfaces. Thanks for urging us on!

  64. Paper, books and magazines aren’t really an issue for me this year. We moved October 2018 from a 3500 square foot house to a 600 square foot apartment so I was “encouraged” to purge my books and magazines which were then donated to my Guild for their annual fundraiser. I now have a small 2 drawer filing cabinet to keep my necessary paper and patterns in. My books go on the wide window shelf. I do have one drawer in my computer desk which contains the paperwork and patterns for the last couple of months. The patterns which I have completed will be going to my quilting buddy and she can share them with her Guild in the Okanagan Valley.

  65. Cindy-liveacolorfullife says:

    It’s interesting that this was the first challenge, as it is the very thing I was working on. I periodically go through my books and donate those I know I will no longer need. Then they are on three bookshelves, alphabetically by author’s last name, except those that are topical, and those are kind of all grouped together.

    All those many paper patterns I have purchased and those I have printed are in filing bins, separated in file folders by either topic (zipper pouches, pillows, quilt blocks, etc) or by designer.

    It’s a system that works for me, as long as I keep it up. But lots of times I have a big stack of things that I label “things I want to make soon” and that’s where the system breaks down. Haha!

  66. Wendy O says:

    This is a BIG problem for me. I try to shred immediately, if my first thought is Ug, if it is laid down. I may look twice and think Maybe. Bad system.

    A large bonfire was made with Saved Ugs. Viola! All the owners manuals and warrantys fit in the file drawer! ….and IT wasn’t in the sewing room.

  67. Tonia says:

    I look at the Dec. 29 dates and I am .behind–but today I tackled paper–A good idea, because at the top of my list is a quilt that I thought I had ideas for in the bin called HOUSE ……..well it was in a two year old notebook! Now, it is in HOUSE. Yes on my bucket list is a house quilt! I want it to be a neighborhood, not row after row of sameness….End of story, I have gleaned some ideas for managing paper in the HobbyHouse. And for now I know where things are–well, some things.HA!

  68. Susan says:

    Hi. My name is Susan and I am a piler. I typically have piles on my work table. I *try* to sift through the piles before I begin a new project. The pile shifts to the closet where I keep binders and magazine holders for broad categories of knitting/crochet, stitching, quilting. I review the binders in January when it is too cold to be outside and in June when I can sit outside with the stacks and enjoy the warm weather!

  69. Debbi says:

    I’m behind due to being out of town the days before the first. Today tackled the one pile I had of patterns, books and magazines and put away. Over the last year I cut my books by half and got rid of all my magazines. Have less than ten magazines now to go thru to see if there are any patterns I want to file to my notebooks in sheet protectors. I can see that I still have more than I will ever do. Maybe another round of purging is in order for 2020?

  70. Karen says:

    I’ve been working each day on the challenges and have got alot done. It feels great! Paper clutter is a good task to start with. I have a file box for patterns and needed to do some filing of one’s I’d pulled out. I have alot of old needlework magazines that were neatly stored in boxes, but found I wasn’t looking at them. So I got rid of the boxes and have them now displayed, and hope to gradually go through and purge them. Same with some paper printed patterns for sewing, which I’m purging now.
    So this was a good task to get working on.

  71. Barbara Black from Charlotte NC says:

    I too have more paper ExmilI should. Thank God my city has roll out recycle bins. Mags. & books into the little “Free Library” box at the corner. It’s all the church & Bible study papers that seem to breed. I could shred & stick with the Bible only. That’s the goal 4 “2020” & thin out more books, by the boxload. Trying to down size so much to clear my mind & dust less. lol Great challenge. Am retired military so a challenge gets my “Get up & go” going till completed. Thx so much for the motivator.

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