Reality Check on Tuesday.
I ask you: how the heck can I work this way?
Look at the table. It’s a smallish side table I got at auction a few years back. I fell for the tealish color. It has two drawers that hold a lot of stuff. This table is next to my Blogging Chair (as I have officially christened it) and it is always overwhelmed with pens, scissors, yarn, iphone cords, notebooks, various scraps of notes to myself, and in the midst of it all is the lamp, which is too large for the table. Add to this the fact that I have to torque my body back and to the left to retrieve anything from the tabletop and you see my dilemma.
In the lower right hand corner of the photo you see the edge of the vintage wicker ottoman I have in front of the table.
It is, I’m sorry to say, just as full of stuff:
The copy of Design Sponge at Home has been there for over a year. It has basically functioned as a place to put my laptop when not in use. When I’m on the laptop, I use that groovy Woodstock coaster for my drink of choice – usually my morning coffee. Again: little notebooks full of (to me) vital information, yarn info, scrawled notes for my blog, legal pads, magazines and catalogues.
What a frigging mess.
This, my friends, is where the magic happens. This is where I write my blog. And crochet. And watch television.
I have to find a better way.
Some of the things I need to have at hand are over on the desk, but frankly, I think more of this….mess….can be moved over there. I might have an idea: perhaps a table switch? The one by the sofa just might work here.
Oh, crap. I don’t know. It also just might not.
I still haven’t shredded, by the way. We are now at the 8 day mark.
Drumroll.
The answer to yesterday’s quiz? My blue jeans.
I was sitting in the car and holding the iPhone with the camera on and I saw this image and quickly took the picture.
My jeans have never looked so lovely.
Happy Tuesday.
He he he… I’ve maybe not got a twin to your spot, but definitely a sister! My husband and daughter call my end of the couch, end table and pile of yarn ‘The Farmer’s Market’. Yarn piled high out of a basket (a nearby lidded basket is full), iPhone, glasses, scissors, buttons, thread, pincushion, coaster for my Diet Coke or Lime Fizzies… you get the idea. I do blog down at my desk but it’s another story. Maybe you need one of those small vintage 1/2 tables to pull around so that you don’t have to twist. Or an assistant to hand you everything and make snacks. That is good too.
Just shred, be free of that crap and get back to your cozy nest with your new yarn! Says the girl with the pile of shredding to do herself.
Perhaps if I clean up this little area, I can avoid shredding?
This is so funny, because I was just sitting here working on my laptop and looking at the complete mess where I work. I sit here thinking “How am I supposed to be creative in this big mess”. I know I need to take time to figure out how to organize it and make it lovely, but finding the time seems impossible. Especially now that my mom is not doing well and I am having to take care of her. Oh well, maybe I will just avert my eyes. Thanks for sharing. It’s nice to know I am in good company :)
hugs,
Laura
I will avert my eyes, too, Laura.
Claudia, there is no need to beat yourself up over it. My work spaces are in the same predicament – only worse and they seem to be spreading. But you know what? We have loads on our minds and loads to do. We have been through a lot emotionally and we know there is more to come. And all we can do is what we can do. I’d say you are doing really well given everything – plus you are blessing us readers with daily enjoyment from your writing!
I get mad at myself for letting things just sit and pile up and then start spiraling out of control. I have found that just setting a timer for 15 minutes and fully concentrating on one spot can help me – by clearing both the mess and my mind. I can easily get distracted and the timer helps me stay focused. I have a long way to go to get where I want to be.
I am confident you will figure out what will work best for you. And when you do, please share!
Aw, I’m not beating myself up over it at all! Just seeing the humor of the situation. Though, to be honest, I’d like to straighten this little area up and find some solutions!
Well, blue jeans never occurred to me. On to your unorganized space. (You know I love to organize. Judy despises that aspect of my personality!) I say move everything away from your beloved chair. Then decide what exactly you do need and use when you sit in that chair. Then move those things close to your chair. Then look about the house at your pieces of furniture you’d be willing to give up from another space. And see if it works. You might need two tables. I do. I don’t like to put my drink near my computer or camera or whatever is electronic. So my chair is the throne, and then I add what I need around it. Make sense?
Brenda
Brenda
On the right side of my throne is my wire laundry basket full of yarn. In front and too the right of my throne is our coffee table. Space, unfortunately, is at a premium. xo
I don’t shred, I burn. A nice inferno in the firepit is way more fun! I’m repainting my kitchen and did a big box for charity. When I only kept what I really used, I have oodles of cupboard space left and this is a small kitchen! ~ Maureen
No fire pit here, unfortunately!
Dear sweet Claudia,
I have heard a messy desk(table) is “the sign”of an organized mind. That wording looks strange—please correct. Because of your wonderful inspiration, I have removed many papers beside the microwave. The major paper area is beside the sofa. There are newspapers,books,etc.—some to be kept and some to be recycled. My problem is I do not like to make decisions—procrastination is my name. The sun is shining in middle TN and 77 degrees. I need vitamin D. I always enjoy your posts!
That’s it – an organized mind!
I’m a neat, organized person and don’t like my stuff piled around me (unless it’s in neat stacks, lol) but some people actually work better in a messy space. Maybe that’s you! So don’t beat yourself up over it! Doubt that Martha Stewart is going to be making an appearance at your home. ;-)
You never know, she has a house not too far from mine.
My blogging (computer) is entirely away from the rest of the house. Same with crafting. I have to feel as if I’m “getting away” from everything. I blog in here and read in our family room. It’s just what works for me; otherwise, I feel like I’m never leaving “work”, honey. I need the break/transition! Can you do something in your den? That might provide a bit of a respite along with leaving things “undone” in another room. Ya gotta work with what works for you and with what you’ve got. ;-)
xoxo,
Connie
If I had more space here, Connie, I could do that. Unfortunately, casa MHC is SMALL. But I totally understand what you mean by getting away – it does make a difference. I have the little desk that I redid in the den. The other day, I actually took my laptop over there and did some work. Go figure!
ROFLMAO! OMG – this is ME! I had to drag my daughter over to the computer to read this post so we could both collapse in tears. She kept saying, “Mom, this is you.” I’m out of town right now, but when I get home, I am so doing a blog post on this and taking pictures of my “area.” Do you mind if I link back to this post? You just made my day!!
Absolutely not, link away! I’m glad there is a kindred spirit out there!
Thank you for the shredding counter! But it needs to look more official! lol. My desk area is always a mess – I don’t know why because really all I do at it is sit at the computer. It seems to be a magnet for clutter or things I will “get to” eventually. Have a good day, Claudia! Ann
Perhaps I need to go into PicMonkey and design an official counter…..hmmm….
Claudia, I have a felling I would make you crazy. But, I promise I would shred for you. My grandson loves to shred. Shall I send him for a visit?
And, don’t fret. I love you exactly like you are.♥
You? Drive me crazy? Never. But yes, send your grandson right over. STAT.
Hopefully your table switch-er-roo will work. I do love the color of your side table.
I am one of those people that likes to have everything tucked away in it’s place. But we do LIVE here, it’s not a museum. Every flat surface in my house collects “stuff” out of nowhere. It is a constant battle to keep “stuff” in it’s proper place.
I keep a collection box on top of our shredder and once the box get’s full, I sit down to shred. I shouldn’t do that, because my shredder will overheat before I get through the whole box, and then I have to stop and go away and come back later. That’s a pain in the you know what. I should learn to shred little bits at a time. Maybe I need to replace the box with something smaller, so it fills up with less stuff. Actually what I really want is for less stuff to come into my house. I want the trees to stay standing, not end up as paper junk mail in my mail box.
Be sure to stop by my blog when you have a minute… there is a picture you might like to see. :-)
I agree, less stuff, please. I’m headed over to your blog right now. xo
I left a comment. You made my day!!!
xo
IDK Claudia, looks like perfection to me!
Thank you, Marilyn!
I work in my “nest”. I’m too embarrassed to show it. It’s way worse than yours. But what the heck, we do what we do where we’re comfortable and that’s just the way it is! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
You said it, Teresa!
That workspace is organic, Claudia, and looks loved and lived in. I think we all need a space like that. If things are too tidy and “arranged” it can hamper creativity. (I love that table! Such a beautiful color!) I think the rain and grim skies have put everyone on “stuck” lately. I’m looking out the window now and the sky is like a Dutch painting…. nineteen different shades of gray!!