Saturday 18 July 2009

Losing it

Have you ever lost an object and searched for hours, only to find it in the most obvious place, right under your nose? 'Hidden in plain sight', I call it, and the fact that I have a catchphrase for it, just shows how often it happens. Well, as you may know, I lost my mojo a while ago and just couldn't get it back. Soul-searching, bargain-hunting, pleasure-seeking - whatever I tried, I was looking in the wrong place. What I should have done is to look hard under the clutter in front of me.

I was feeling overwhelmed with stuff. You see, the problem with buying all these great bits and pieces from car boot sales and the like is that you have to find somewhere to put it all. In my mojo-less depression of the last few months I kept buying stuff, but had completely stopped making anything with it, or selling it. In a small house like ours, the build-up is fast. A box of vintage china has to stay in the hall, a box of old dolls lives in the bedroom, a bag of fabric on the landing, a dolls' house shelf - well, just in the way, frankly. I have plans for all these things, but it just wasn't happening.

My workroom was the most cluttered. I had rearranged it in April, but never really finished it. I hadn't found a place for everything and had just piled clutter on top of clutter. There was a small gap that I could just squeeze through to sit in my chair. I could reach my computer keyboard and mouse, but every inch of my two (!) desks was covered with stuff. Papers, books, bits and bobs, unfinished or unstarted projects of all kinds - somewhere at the bottom there was a fossilised packet of Polos and the footprint of a woolly mammoth. I had let it overwhelm me. I couldn't even start to put things away, as there was nowhere to put it.

Mr Kitsch came to my rescue. I had told him rather feebly that I needed more storage in my workroom, but I couldn't work out how I was going to do it. Normally Mr K. leaves the planning and rearranging of rooms to me. He'll provide the muscle when needed, but I'm the instigator and he joins in reluctantly. But I was feeling depressed and hopeless and didn't know where to start. Mr Kitsch took over. "We just have to accept it's a big project," he said, "like Megastructures." That was the key. He loves those 'Megastructures' TV programmes, about building giant dams, tunnels or bridges. As soon as he thought about it as a Megastructures project, he was away.

It was a big project. We had to take everything out of the room, so that we could move out two heavy chests of drawers and replace them with larger storage shelves. It was like unpacking the Tardis, with a couple of Mary Poppins' bags thrown in for good measure, as more and more stuff came out of the room and filled up the rest of the house. It took three days and two trips to Ikea to get the bulk of it back in place. I still haven't managed to get absolutely everything sorted, but I now have a work room I can work in.

Better than that, I have a workroom that is calmer and less overwhelming. It's helping to clear some of the clutter from my mind, and I feel ready to complete some of those unfinished projects. I think I may have found my mojo...

10 comments:

menopausalmusing said...

You went to Ikea..... TWICE???? (Bet you didn't go on a Sunday, did you?).... Glad you are sorted. Mojos take some looking after, don't they? :O) x

Bumble Bee Cottage said...

I know how you feel! I have just begun the decluttering of our home and it feels as if we are drowning in ‘stuff’. I was ruthless and decided that there were things I really didn’t love so they were donated to charity for someone else to love instead. I feel a bit better but there is certainly more to go. Alas there is no Ikea in Guernsey to help. Please post some photos of your newly arranged space – I might just get the inspiration and ideas I need to manage the rest of my mess!

marble rose said...

Weldone you! I swear I get really anxious and stressed when my surroundings are messy/unorganised. Which is really hard cos I am messy person and have 3 kids! But I am just so much more relaxed when everything is cleared away!

Glad you are feeling better.

Hugs.

Fleru
xxx

hens teeth said...

I am really pleased your 'old man' read the situation and took control!
Doesn't it all make things better when you have a good, cathartic clear or sort?
I hope you can see your projects through now. x

The Glamorous Housewife said...

You are a very lucky girl to have such a wonderful husband. And your husband is lucky to have a woman who will admit defeat and ask for help when she needs it. Your organizing looks lovely and I can't believe you have so many of those wonderful books!

Teena Vallerine said...

Hurrah for Mr Kitsch! I have had a HUGE clearout this weekend and now all the things I want to get rid of have taken over the kitschen and I am at a loss as to what to do next - hubby took one look and hot-tailed it to his shed! Suspect a trip to the local auction saleroom is on the cards, followed by a number of deliveries to charity shops! It does feel good though. LOVing those acrylic shelves! t.x

BusyLizzie said...

Well done! It is something I seriously need to do here.....Lizzie xxxx

Elaine Prunty said...

a tidy desk = a tidy mind

I love it when your mojo comes back....congratulations and looking forward to seeing what it produces

Country Cottage Chic said...

I sometimes get that "overwhelmed by stuff" feeling but I lie down until it goes away! ;-)

Glad you got everything sorted& found your mojo again.

Jayne

lonelymonalisa said...

I can totally relate to too much stuff! Glad to see you are getting it under control and happy that you are posting again. I missed you