I think my DH is getting desperate. He has been trying for years to get me to clean up the basement. I have good intentions but just can't seem to get it done. Then when I got my new sewing machine, the sewing room was to be edited and cleaned. Fabric bins got moved into guest room but that's about as far as it has gone. He just came up with this challenge that if I can get them both cleaned out and up, he will go on a road trip with me to Fillmore, Utah (about 1700 miles)to get my treadle sewing machine that great-aunt left me. It has been visiting at a friends house there. I want to get this SO bad but it just seems like an impossible task. I think I need one of those cleaning shows, lol. This board has been such inspiration and blessing. I guess I just needed to tell someone to make it more real. Maybe I need to make a schedule, something to tell me that, 9:00-11:00 sew; 11:00-2:00 clean; etc. Oh, I just don't know. Please, someone help me out! I really know what I SHOULD do. He has been so very, very patient. I owe it to him. Thanks friends.
Wendy B

The best way to tackle something that seems so big is to break it down into smaller chunks. So say you start in the basement work for about 20 minutes and then stop , walk away and do something else for a bit. Go back after your "break" do another 20 minutes or so and walk away again. Also have bins with you so you can decide right away what is going where. When a bin is full take it to the room that it belongs in.
GOOD LUCK and maybe for some extra motivation tape a pic of the treadle in a couple key spots so you can see it and know what your final reward is :thumbup:

Ok, you have half the battle won already... the motivation!! You can do this!! If it were me, I'd start by buying (or cleaning off) shelves. Book shelves in your sewing room for fabric and quilt books, and big metal or plastic shelves in the basement for "stuff". Start with 3 boxes or bags, one for trash, one for sell/donate, one for keep/put away in other rooms. Set your timer and work for short periods like sharon suggested. Work as fast as you can, putting stuff you want to keep on your shelves and when your time is up, take the trash out, put the garage sale or donate stuff in the garage, and put anything that goes in other rooms away where it belongs. Take a break, get a cup of coffee or tea, read a quilt magazine, and then tackle it for another short period. I've been amazed when doing this how much you can get done in 20 - 30 min! Even if you only do one session a day, it will be done before you know it! Too often we look at a huge job like this and think we need a long weekend to do it all, and it never gets done! If you have a garage sale when you're done, you also get to have some extra money for your trip!

I third that motion! Do it in 20-30 min increments. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I know it seems like an impossible task right now but break it down into small managable goals. I psych myself out and end up getting nothing done sometimes because the project seems too big to handle. Make it smaller. Do it in sections, make small goals, and reward yourself each step of the way! Set the timer so you HAVE to stop within the 20 or 30 minutes for a break then go back so you don't get overwhelmed and burnt out.

GO GO GO!!!

Come on! You know that you want that treadle.... really, really bad!!! So what if you have to suffer through with cleaning the basement and finishing the sewing room! Think of all the GREAT rewards you're going to get!!!

1) It'll be done, so you won't have it in the back of your mind all the time that you need to do it and feel guilty for putting it off.
2) Your sewing room will be all nice and neat and such a joy to work in! Everything will be "findable".
3) The basement will be finished to do with whatever you have planned.
4) Like Pamela said, you'll have extra money from the garage sale for your trip.
5) It will make your dear patient husband very happy.
6) You get to go on a Road Trip!!!! And not just any old road trip, but THE Road Trip of the Century! All the way to Utah to pick up a real, genuine, antique, collectible, beautiful, heirloom Treadle Sewing Machine, that will make you the envy of every sewer and seamstress around!!!!
and last but not least,
7) You will finally get to keep your own treadle sewing machine that your great-aunt left to you at your house, instead of at a friends.

With all these "rewards", what's keeping you??? Get busy!!!

For a treadle that had belonged to someone in my family? I wouldn't sleep until it was done! ~laffin~

The others are right...set the timer for 5/10/15 minutes and clean like a madwoman for that time...then do something else for a bit, and go back and set that timer again. I bet you find that you work past the timer bell....and once you get started, you're not going to want to stop!

One thing I have to add to all the other suggestions, get some music going. Something with a nice beat that will help you move, maybe sing along. Play it loud enough to dance to, sort of, while you work.
I can work so much better sometimes if I put on some music with a lively beat.

I like to start in one specific spot and clean and clean and clean until that one spot is clean. Like cleaning everything off of say the desk. Then when that is done I pick another spot and clean. That way you can really see the progress. Good Luck! You can do it

Yes, you can do this!!! I agree with all the others -- work in 15-30 min. increments and you'll be able to see progress immediately!!

Do you have a plan for how you want these rooms to look when finished? That helps when trying to sort and organize. Buy some pretty boxes for patterns (JoAnns always has some beautiful ones!) and some "roll around" carts for notions. Put all the same kind of stuff in one area (fabric here, thread there, etc.) and before you know it -- you're on your way to get your beautiful treadle!! :D :thumbup:

The others have great ideas and like to add that
I'd CONCENTRATE on cleaning (and very little sewing fun) until everything was DONE so I could get that FAMILY HEIRLOOM into my house.

Turn on the music and start with a trash bag - start in ONE CORNER and walk around and throw out the obvious trash. Take things that are in your sewing area that shouldn't be in your sewing area - out of your sewing area. If you have to go back to the room start IN THE SAME CORNER. PUT A PURPOSE to your room! This step may take you 30 minutes or 3 hours - only you know.

If it's near lunchtime have something quick and light and make sure you include some type of DESSERT!!! Gotta have the sweet for the afternoon work session!

Then like Sesame Street - PUT LIKES TOGETHER - patterns here, totes of yardage here - bins of FQ there - threads here - etc.

Once things are ORGANIZED TOGETHER you'll find more motivation to QUICKLY get through one pile at a time and toss or donate or save. BUT at this point your area may be LOOKING PRETTY GOOOD!!! and may qualify you for a ROADTRIP!

If necessary, have something for dinner and keep at it or work on it the next day! Unless you have a quilt that HAS to be done in this coming week, I'd put off sewing to get the family heirloom in my house!

You can do it! You can do it! Take before and after pictures - We'd love to see them!

You can do it! Music and coffee, or Mountain dew, LOL< something with alot of caffine!

O.k. You and I both have a challenge. You have your area to clean out and organize for your prize! You can do it.
I have my office and den area to clean out and organize with no real prize other than getting it done.

I'm here to motivate YOU! In doing so I am going to have the motivation to get mine done also.

One step at a time, one area at a time and 20 - 30 minutes at a time.

WE CAN GET THIS DONE.

If I lived closer to you I'd come help! I love to clean and organize --- but have had trouble doing it lately. I'd rather quilt.

O.k. ----- Ready ------ set ------- coffee, chocolate, music ------ GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

All of this advice is great, but when you fill a tote, get it out of the way, move it to where it is going to live, THEN you will start seeing clear spots, I am sure they are going to be very exciting! Reward yourself everytime you fill a box and get it moved, a mental pat on the back, make it a game! Cheer yourself on, if you need more cheerleaders, ask, we'll yell, too!

i'm confused. are you expected to do this all by yourself?

:shock: :hunf:

Yes it's doable.....I have been trying to get my husband to set aside a day to clean "his" room. He has so much stuff piled around his computer table plus he ties flies in there. I told him I would help but he needs to go through and sort and toss....It might get done this year....sigh....Then there's his work shop...groan
I agree with what the others have said. I tackle one small area at a time. When you start feeling overwhelmed, take a break and think about how nice it will be to have it done and have your tredle machine!!!You go girl!!!

Ditter

Sometimes when I have a task like that to do. I do break it in small goals. I allow myself to read or sew or be on the board for 1-2 hours max and then I must get up for at least 15 minutes and do something that needs done in the house. It is amazing how much you can do in 15 minutes. Sometime I just get into it and finish the whole task. also if you are sitting for 1 hour or more, you need to get up and move around anyway. Or if I am watching TV, I get up at each commercial and just put one thing away. It works for me.

Once you get it done, you will be like a new woman. It will unclutter you mind too. You will be so much more productive.

You can do it!
I just finished cleaning up my office area, divided things into: Toss/shred/file/record and then toss.
(The rest of the room is all my DH's which he said he was going to get done LAST weekend. LOL

Now on to shredding then... lunch break.

You go girl!!! :D :thumbup:

make yourself responsible to come and report in here everyday, and to list what has been done. Maybe having to answer to us, will help get you moving. LOL also like the idea of music with an upbeat, it always helps me. And try breaking it down into corners. just one at a time. and before you know it , it will be done. Just dont do what I do, move things to another room , only to have to move them later LOL

At times like these I am reminded of the question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.

It didn't get messy in a day and it won't get clean in a day.

One of the methods that Helen Butigig from the program "neat" uses is to presort and put like with like. Then go through the batches and sort into one of 3 bins: 1. Do you love it and/or use it? 2. Has it outlived its usefulness or do you have too many? 3. Plain old junk.

Bin 1 you get to keep. Bin 2 gets donated. Bin 3 gets tossed into the trash or recycle bin.

By presorting into like categories, it is much easier to see that you may have 15 of the same thing and really only NEED a fraction of that count.

Wishing you lots of stamina (sounds like you have the motivation).

Now, if hubby doesn't want to help, he could keep you company.

Sunkistmi, I hope you don't mind me posting on this thread.
I, too, have items to go through.

I inherited a house, full of things (wall to wall and floor to ceiling). I have to go through about 500 square feet left in the basement and one extra large closet upstairs. I am putting off the workshop until this coming winter. Actually, what is left to go through is nothing -- only one layer deep on the floor.

Yesterday, we took the final load of items needed to be brought by truck to the city dump. This is so liberating!
Did I tell you that I'm moving my sewing area to the family room and that room is getting set up nicely?

Let's do our projects together and give one another encouragement. I have been working on the inherited contents of this house for over a decade. Let's both go for the WIN-WIN :-)

Members of this board have such good suggestions that I have learned a great deal. People think I am "organized" but I tell them that I have burned out on the sorting downstairs several times. It has been a nightmare and my DH has been very supportive.

Hugs to you and every other member who has a challenge:-)

Cleaning report end of the day for me. Office (my section) is cleaned and organized, shredding done, files put away, trash already out in the dumpster!
Laundry done, folded. Bathrooms (2) cleaned.
I'm calling it a day. Actually calling it a few days. Have to work tomorrow, Sunday is church, relax and Mother's Day (and I'm actually off work). Monday I work day shift. I'll tackle the next phase on Tuesday.

Happy organizing everyone.

You make me tired!! But you GO GIRL!! :thumbup:

good question. :?

This is doable. When I redid my sewing room, I hired a neighbour girl to come in and strip my room, putting everything into bins which were moved outside. I am handicapped so a good friend came to help me sort and put every thing back. It worked out really well.
Any thing I didn't want went to one of our local charities.

Alot of good advice in here already so I will just say "good luck' and keep motivated!

Would you all believe that with my OCD (I think it only applies to sewing) my room is an organized/disorganized mess? I get working on one thing which leads me to another and before I know it, I have patterns and fabric and ideas all over the place. So, in reading this thread, I have taken up the challenge for myself. Made a list (yes, that darn OCD) and will do it in time frames......I am sure that I will find that 6x12 ruler, my triangle ruler, the coffee wrap pattern, the rest of the pp square I am working on, the rest of my fusible web.........

I LOVE watching that show. I always presort stuff if I'm doing a thorough cleaning. All dishes to the sink, all papers to the recycling, garbage in the can, personal belongings to the appropriate rooms. THEN I can get to work on sweeping and dusting and rearranging, etc.

HOW's IT GOING there girl?

I think MESS comes with BEING CREATIVE. WE just have to remember to REORGANIZE every now and then so we can find that ruler, pattern and things we've been working on! LOL

:lol:

You can do it. I'm sure hubby would be glad to help if asked.

Well, last night I dragged my sorry butt upstairs and started to tackle the sewing room. I unearthed some real treasures such as fabric that friends bought for me on their travels. So I sorted all the errand overflow, trashed a bunch of stuff (nothing worth passing on) and put away a bunch. Now I have to empty the wardrobe and see what's in there. It holds all of my non-quilting fabric and notions. More work tonight, but it was fun to actually see the counter top.

I tackled one corner of my den this morning before I left for work. Got it rearranged, dusted and organized. Now for the other three corners and everything in between. Should get it done Sunday by the end of the weekend. Lot to change are reorganize in there as I'm moving part of my creative creations there (the mini storage cabinets for one.

Oh, Deb - I understand your OCD. lol have it myself for some things.

Thanks for all the inspiration! Just a note, DH has offered to help, many times. I am so ashamed of the awful mess that I don't want him to see just how really bad it is, although I know deep down, he already knows. Have set a schedule for myself so I don't do too much in one day. Progress is showing. It really helps that I'm now bottle feeding the foster kitten every 4-5 hours. You are all such wonder friends. Thanks for helping to believe in myself.
Wendy B

You can do it Wendy. Good idea to set easy goals to not do too much in one day.
I'm working on my den.Found my desk, a book shelve and lots of stuff I have to move around and store. Guess I'll get back down there now to get more done.
I'd love to tackle the whole house and get rid of a lot. With the way my DH and I work we don't even have time off together to have a yard sale which I could really use.

I keep thinking that I must be a terrible disappointment to him as a wife. He doesn't even have 1 room in the entire house that doesn't have my stuff in it. The main bathroom isn't even clean now that it has the momma kitty and her 4 babies in it. He has been so patient with me throughout the 21 surgeries, 3 cancers and terrible judgements with overspending but he continues to hang on for 36 years. I am very lucky and blessed. It's like I want to do it really bad but have no energy or 'oomph' to do it. I make all these resolutions to "get my butt in gear" then wake up the next day in pain and no energy to get moving. I'm hoping when they fry the nerves in my back tomorrow (using radio waves) it will help with the pain control. It seems like it just never ends. Please understand, I'm not whining, although I guess it really sounds like I am. I know there are so many out there in MUCH worse situations than I am. It's just that some days, I have to look harder to find them. I consider myself very blessed when I really sit down and review my life. This board, in so many ways, has been a lifeline somedays when there has just been no one else I could talk to. Thank you, each and every one of you, for your posts and words of encouragement. Well, back to work. That is the real problem, I could, and have, spent the whole day on here rather than doing what I'm supposed to be doing, lol. That's one of my other problems, no willpower. I'm such a wimp!
Wendy B

Wendy sweetie it's okay to vent. Your husband sounds like a great guy... and that great guy is choosing to be with you! He's not stupid for making that choice. You have so much to offer too. Take it one day at a time and you'll get there.

Glad :thumbup: to read that you appreciate all the wonderful things in your life (we all need to).
Sorry to hear that you've had to many medical issues.
GLAD :thumbup: to hear you've found one small problem in getting things done - Time on the Computer (I'm guilty of that too).
Do like me and tell yourself OUTLOUD - GET UPPPPPP!!!!!!
:) :lol: :thumbup:

Whenever I have a chore to do that I really don't like I make sure I have a good audio book plugged in and it makes the chore and the time fly!!! I have a fanny pack that I put around my waist to hold my cd player- awesome!!! :D
Good luck to you!!

Wendy honey- you are way too hard on yourself. And you sound depressed too :( No surprise if you are with all that'sbeen going on. Try to be kinder and less critical of yourself. Baby steps work. I also had a thought- is there anyone you could enlist to help you?? I wish I could :)

Wendy B , Thanks for the motivation to get myself moving. I have been sitting here battling w/myself( wanting to read post /needing to clean house).When I saw this post i just had to check it out. I'm glad I'm not alone it this struggle. Yes it is Doable!!!!!I have finished 4 quilts in a month&half,all I did was dishes, laundry and clean bathrooms, just to maintain. Big mistake, am paying for it now. The big picture seems overwhelming and it was for a couple of days, but I have been working at it one room at a time- this is how I do it( keep in mind we are a family of 6) I start with 4 containers - I use tall laundry baskets I label them- Trash-Keep- Donate- and Other Rooms,, it's amazing what a little sign can do to make the job easier, I start in one corner and drop items in appropriate bin, working with the 2 second rule( you can finalize when you take a break) I work min. of 15mins,stop, check for full basket, if full put in place(I don't leave them sitting in the room I'm working in, for instance the donate pile I bag and go put it in my truck to drop off on the way to pick up kids, that way it doesn't end up back in the house. 15 more mins, break, put on a load of laundry or fold a load or spray down the bathrooms. You get the idea.Out of 12 rooms I have 3 done and one ready to dust , sweep and mop. I was really blown away with what 6 people can do to a house in a month& half. What I learned from this quilting marathon is SPEND THAT HOUR AND CLEAN HOUSE!An hour is usually all it takes to put everything to rights when I clean regularly, but I was so worried about making the deadline and not disappointing anyone that I ended up diappointing myself. So take it easy on yourself and remember slow and steady wins the race!!!!!! And yes it is DOABLE!!!!!!P.S. One more post and I am getting off and grab that duster , broom and mop :oops: Thanks again for the spur :thumbup: