One of my friends yesterday extolled the virtue of Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter.
Hub and I have been talking for a while about sorting out a small room off our kitchen which we affectionately call ‘the pantry’ so that I can have a new desk. This is because our current office is in the process of being turned into a ‘man cave’ as Hub prepares to start building a model railway, but that’s a whole different story….
Anyway, spurred on by all the talk of Ms Kondo’s philosophies, we decided to tackle the ‘pantry project’ today. Basically, I needed to sort through various crates of stuff to see whether I could get it better organised, so we could move it elsewhere. Here’s a ‘before’ picture, plus a close-up of Hub’s whisky collection!
And here I am mid-sort. At this point, I was starting to realise that nothing much was going to get thrown away. After all, one of the key questions Ms Kondo says must be asked is ‘does X give you joy?’. Well, who could blame me for not falling in love all over again with my various embroidery kits, beautiful fabrics, unusual equipment I have collected over the years and a project I made about 33 years ago for a needlework exam.
Yes, this all gave me much joy and I am spurred on to actually get back to these hobbies. I used to do a lot of embroidery many years ago and would love to take it up again. Most importantly, however, I am pleased to report that we did in the end manage to sort things sufficiently well to make enough space for a desk – hooray!! Here is proof:
I look forward to the time when I can write posts with joy from my new ‘girl cave’! 😀
LEAPING LIFE 
Well done, you are very good, it is a lovely little room to work in. Enjoy
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Thank you! I can’t wait to get all set up!! I shall be sure to share more pictures…. 😀
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You are an inspiration. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new space. And I am so looking forward to seeing your projects come to life. By the way, you have a most excellent view from your window – a reminder of “A Room with a View.” Looking forward to more photos!!
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I can’t help feeling very excited about my new little place in the world – there is nothing quite like having a bit of space to call one’s own, is there? And yes, it does not hurt to have a lovely view too. 💕😀⛱🖼
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Splendid effort, Liz and excellent end result. I am familiar with the book and it’s concepts from a TV programme about it. May your room and your desk give you pleasure, and, indeed, joy!
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Thank you – yes I am sure it all will be very pleasing. Hopefully you will be able to see everything finished in all its glory when you come up in September xxx
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These tidying projects are always much more pleasant than we think they will be. They are especially nice if we can gain a little space without having to get rid of too many things. Enjoy your ‘girl cave’!
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You are so right, Clare. I have been putting this off for ages, but have enjoyed myself immensely today – I should have started long ago! 😀
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🙂
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Wishing you joy in your lady cave. And I am wildly impressed by your lace making skills. Can’t wait to see more beauty come into and from your special room. Unfortunately, if that were my room I would probably spend all day looking out the window. 😀
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Thank you so much! I had such fun 😀 And I got so nostalgic looking at all my things, most of which I have had for years and years! I made that little dress when I was about 15, I think, and yes, painstakingly learned how to make bobbin lace – what a wonderful art that is. In addition to all my beautiful bobbins, I still have my special lace-making cushion, various books etc. It is one of many things I would like to return to at some point. 🙂
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And maybe you will return.
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good girl! after 13 years of home educating and 10 years of working in community arts, you can imagine the equipment and materials I’d accumulated and the space everything was talking up. I had kept everything the children made and almost everything had a memory attached to it so I just held on to things, even the more formal stuff they produced during their L2 studying! But I have had a good few of these kinds of clear outs. I still try to reuse bits and pieces…
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Thanks for this, Debra. Yes, it is amazing what we accumulate over the years, isn’t it – and so very easy to forget what we have! I enjoyed sifting through my stuff and am looking forward to working my way through the things I have kept to spend time on 😀
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