Sunday, April 18, 2010

Project Chair - A - Palooza!

Reduce, declutter and simplify. My new mantra. It began after a conversation with my charming husband. He was telling me about a book he was reading titled The Power of Less by Leo Babauta. While I am all about books that make me laugh or ones full of beautiful photos (in which I rarely read the text, I know, I know, it's terribly boring of me) my darling husband habitually reads three to five books a month that enrich his life either intellectually, professionally or spiritually. The poor dear, usually when he tries to discuss them with me he can almost see my eyes glaze over or my mind wandering to shallower waters. He's intense that way and what can I say, I'm a simple girl. I guess opposites attract :-) But his latest read caught me at a good time. Lately I had been feeling very overwhelmed and couldn't put my finger on why exactly. After our conversation it was clear, crystal clear. Stuff. How's that for putting my finger on it? To make a long story short (I see your eyes glazing over!), I have too much stuff needing my daily attention. So much so that I am trying to keep too many plates spinning at once and thus a few are dropping. I have stuff on my metaphorical plates, stuff in my e-mail, stuff on my project list, social media stuff, stuff on my to-do list, stuff on the counter, stuff in the mail, stuff in my truck. All this stuff is in addition to regular mom stuff, which as we all know can be overwhelming all on it's own. But the monkey on my back has been all this extra shop stuff. So I decided it's time to reduce the stuff, declutter the stuff and simplify my life.

My first plan of attack was my Twitter account. It took me all of 1.5 seconds to contemplate the decision. I clicked the "delete my account" button. Did you hear that? Social media experts everywhere all gasping at once? Sorry. It's a "time sucker" for me...had to be done for my sanity and there is real value in that. I can't tell you how good it felt to hit that button! And honestly, how many are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for Tweets? Are you? I'm not either.

Secondly, I took aim at my email inbox. Twenty to thirty "commercial" emails make their way to my inbox every day. After "unsubscribing" to all that I found annoying and repetitive, I have the number down to just two (why don't thier "unsubscribe" links work? hmmmm, I wonder). Next in the email arena is to check it once in the morning and once in the evening. Easy peasy while on vacation but not so much at home. This one will require some weaning.

So, following the web cleansing was my truck, which was full of broken down cardboard for recycling, lamps to go to the repair shop, and a stripped, raw wood table top that is slated to be repurposed as a coffee table, but has been a passenger in my suburban for just under three months now. Oh yes, hundreds of Hall's cough drop wrappers. (Hey, it's cheaper than being addicted to Starbucks!) Next was the garage. It was then I realized I had a Chair-A-Palooza going on and I didn't even know it. I am pretty certain I only put two chairs in my garage at the beginning of winter...come spring there are eleven...what are they, rabbits?

So the "project" chairs are being purged too...one went to the garbage as it took a nasty fall that broke a leg, nine are up for grabs and one is on deck for the Bryn Du show. My unfinished projects/my loss = your gain/your masterpiece = my life simplified. See below for pictures and prices.

I could get used to this simplifying stuff...and I know charming husband likes the emptiness of our garage! Except for that table top right smack in the middle on the workbench. It's okay right? Unless I put another table in there with it, then who knows, will I have eleven tables in a few months? Stay tuned!








16 comments:

Unknown said...

I vote cobalt or lime green on the chair. I wish I lived closer...that 'queen' chair would be mine in a heartbeat!
Tami

Sheila said...

Simplify... such a GREAT word... simplicity less chaotic oh how I yearn for this too :) Enjoy your Monday.

Smiles and Blessings,
Sheila

Shabby Vintage Junk said...

Oh I SO now what you mean even though I DON'T tweet OR have kids....Stuff....Stuff....STUFF....EVERY where there's STUFF....I don't know if I could be as brave though....I REALLY am sure I WILL fix the 42 chairs I have in my garage.....hahahahahahaSNORT....!!

THANKS for the GREAT post....!!!

Cheers,
Tamarah :o)

*The Beautiful Life* said...

AWESOME post! See what a week at the beach will do to you?? ;)

Is THAT your hubby????????? Shut up! :)

Okay, I'm back...

I want those chairs! Why, oh, why must I be down here so far away?? :(

Take care and I hope I will take come cues from this post myself... I would delete my Twitter account too, but I use it mainly to read the tweets of those I follow. Selfish, I know... ;)

Thanks for the nudge to simply our lives, too, Lisa.

Ruth

Cabin 19 Supply Company said...

Yes Ruth, that's my hubby...aren't I a lucky girl? :-)

Candy Allen - Junk Sophisticate said...

Probably the best and most honest blog post I've read in a while. Thank you.
Candy

open market style said...

SIMPLIFY , OH THE IDEA SOUNDS WONDERFUL ! I AM GLAD YOU ARE TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS !
I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED HOW MUCH YOU HAVE GOING ON AND HOW WELL YOU HANDLE IT !!

Unknown said...

White is my fav.........

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Hi- just discovered your lovely blog and have really enjoyed reading it! I am very much in the same frame of mind right now...when you are a vintage dealer, things can get very un-simple real fast! I want to read this book- thanks! I look forward to visiting again!

Feather Your Nest said...

I have that exact same problem only with accent tables too. I buy them with EVERY intention of repainting and selling - my daughter "wants" them all for her "future" place... I have chairs stacked to the ceiling in our garage too and a side porch at the shop filled with primed (thanks to my daughters boyfriend) tables. I bought the paint. One taable and one chair down this weekend. I'm eyeing a couple that you posted though... and luckily I DO NOT live too far away =) stay tuned....I'm contemplating....

creekside rummager said...

My laptop was failing and in the move to a new one, I decided to simplify the 900+ things in my favs. How can anyone have 900+ favs anyway. Ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

Yep I hear you loud and clear. That's why I had a massive garage sale yesterday, went through my basement, garage, closets, drawers and got rid of it. I have made a promise to myself that I am not going to fill it all back up again. I want to be free of "stuff".

Feather Your Nest said...

ok - I pondered and couldn't forget about them - so are the black stallion, the blank canvas and the queen still available? if they are not wobbly - suitable for actual seating and not just display - SOLD!

summersundays-jw said...

Wish I had some of your chairs to go with my 10 tables. Good luck trying to simplify -- not an easy thing to do these days. Jan

lori miller vintage design co said...

I love that you dropped twitter....who needs it, like our time is not filled to capacity. I am right behind you on the car and garage purge.... even at the store, enough is enough... it is time for a big sale!!!

It makes me smile just to think about it.

love to talk soon,
L

Vicki@MorePowerfulBeyondMeasure said...

You can't take it with you...you can't take it with you...you can't take it with you! I keep telling myself that as I purge my *stuff* I have been tossing and donating from my art room at school, my basement and my house. STILL GOT THE STUFF!! but it is getting better!
Love the chairs...every one of 'em!