the difference a few days can make

a couple weeks ago, I embarked on a challenge. Not the kind of 'challenge' my kids talk about and play knights with, but still a very interesting challenge.

This closet extends up and both to the right and left of what the picture shows. And it was previously FULL and spewing out onto the floor. The thing is that I had TOO much stuff, I couldn't see what I had, wanted or needed. Even though I purge regularily, I still lived in the land of the excessively excessive. So I decided to challenge myself to make some changes in my closet and my life. Am I up to the Challenge?

Well this is my closet now

Look back to the first picture and do you see that little section to the right of the mirror, that's all my clothes. I have some jeans above on the shelf but that is it! And I'll tell you something- I am reallllllllly enjoying it. I am actually happier, more satified, and overall enjoying my clothes more. I can find what I want in no time at all, and there is no spillage to sort through in the morning. Laundry and putting cloths away is a snap too! I haven't even really found myself yearning for things that I have put away. Interesting, right?

Another part of my challenge was that I would repurpose or make a piece of clothing. My friend over at sonneblomstudio  lent me this book :



"New From Old" by Jayne Emerson



And I have been SO inspired. I am looking all over my house and seeing things I already have in a new light. In typical me fashion, I went all crazy and started pulling things out and visualized half a dozen projects. When am I going to do all  this?!!

first project- a hand-me down sweater that I do like, but it is a bit tight. An idea in the book is to cut it down the middle and make it a bolero or cardigan. I'll attenpt it and see what happens. I may end up dyeing this too because it is yellowing.

This is a giant pile of nearly a dozen yellowing while t-shirts. Our country water isn't very kind to the whites, but DUH, I could dye these shirts and give them a new life!

Random items with beads on them. While being distracted the other day, I tried on my wedding dress and found extra beads in a baggy, and the little princess tiara that I wore. I decided to use the beads to do something timeless and pretty.

Garage sale find a while back- this table cloth was $0.25 and I loved the pattern and colors. I have no idea what I will make out of it.

Closer up pic of what the beading loks like on the tiara.

SO we had a pretty relaxed day yesterday. We got the brothers to our kitties so now we have 3 kitties and the boys were busy taking care of them. And they were making daddy father's day cards, looking through all of my scrapbooks (so cute!), and generally taking care of themselves. It was wonderful. I sat at my desk in the craft room and played. I love it!! This is what I've come up with so far.

A bracelet made from beads of an old broken necklace.

necklace made from old tiara beads. I really like this! I made earrings to go with it too

closer up of the tiara necklace

Sweater, nearly done I sliced it down the middle, and since it natuarally wanted to go together at the top middle, I ended up (not shown in picture) adding a huge brown button in the center. I LOVE IT. I think I will wear this lots this summer. I am going to wear it today, thats for sure.

                                             nice finished product picture taken by a 4 year old

I am inspired and challenged to do less shopping, and more recycling and repurposing. I am going to go find some good clothing dye and get to work on the pile of whites. I also love the feeling of being creative. It makes me feel alive and giddy with excitement. I am NOT a prefectionist so nothing is ever perfect, but I have fun doing it and I don't mind the imperfections. None of this is hard, but I normally don't think about it.

I wonder what else I am missing because I am not looking or am too busy?