The KonMarie method

Igamogam

I am beginning to twitch a little...............OH has left all his weeks worth post on the dining room table :mad: Now I realised it would take a day or 2 for OH and DD2 to sort their gear out and put it all away - at the moment it fills the conservatory as I will not let it anywhere in the house and DD2 will have to make a start on it tonight when she gets in from her summer job, or there will be 'words'. But I am really twitching to move the pile of envelopes and quite frankly rubbish post that can be dealt with in 5 mins IMO. I have quite happily started on their washing ( load 3 in at the moment) and will assist in putting it away but I steadfastly refuse to do anything else...........and on reflection I think this has been the problem in the past : I've taken on the bulk of everything 'domestic' because its easier and quicker to do it yourself sometimes................well no longer OH will just have to make a start on his very large and well appointed workshop/shed/office and give it the KM once over then we can find some space to store all the outdoor gear cos ITS NOT COMING IN THE HOUSE..............unfortunately it is a glorious day here and I sense the call of the mountains. I think I will stay at the homestead and do some gardening and maybe some gentle kondoing:D

iQueen

supersaver1000 wrote: »

I've been strangely tired too iQueen, fell asleep before bake-off ended the other night :eek: maybe due to my new job but maybe the weather?

I loved your description of the cork mat, may get one as I hate my forever damp ones.

And home made clothes, I'm envious. I'm getting everything kondoed and in place so that I can spend free time on sewing clothes. Sadly I'm rubbish at the moment but I'm giving sewing a try.

And weights are great for strengthening bones to help stave off osteoporosis. Plus I have seen photos of mature body builders and they look great. You've motivated me to think about some home exercises as I used to do a routine at home.

Thanks for a lovely post

Bit behind on my posting (Been indulging in Politics! )

Yes, I think it must have been something to do with the weather - I was falling asleep about 3pm, (for 2-3 hours! :eek:) several days on the trot... and still sleeping OK at night! Really strange.

I learned to sew when I was quite young, on my Mum's treadle Singer! I just bumbled along, bodging everything, even through Dress Design at Art college... I murdered some fabulous fabrics! :eek: Still wore the garments, but any basic home-stitcher would have recognised my lack of sewing skills! :rotfl:I did learn pattern drafting though, which means that I can create my own patterns and designs. Once you have made a few things, you can learn pattern drafting, free, on the Internet. A straight/A-line skirt is easiest garment to start with, and always buy a dress pattern by your bust measurerment - it's easier to adapt the skirt to fit.

The first garment I made PROPERLY, by the book, was my second wedding dress and no one would have guessed that it was hand-made!

Your can get an excellent vintage book on The Bay: The Butterick Sewing Book. It shows everything you need to know about making your own clothes and is my dressmaking Bible. (Just checked it out - you may have to look for a while to get one at a reasonable price... £8.80 at present... I paid 2/6 for mine, - new! And last time I bought one for someone else - a year ago - it cost less than a fiver inc p&p. ) An old/vintage Simplicity or Vogue Sewing book should be just as good. They all teach the classic skills.

I don't think I'm in danger of osteoporosis - overweight people's bones are stronger and I love my calcium-rich dairy foods! :oOn the other hand, I can't see weight-training doing much for my newly-arrived Bingo Wings! :rotfl:I'm 'flying' off now, to catch up on some more posts!

iQueen

I'm not skiving - honest! I'm ploughing through nearly 2 pages of posts (again!) while the washing-machine chugs on with the laundry that has accumulated.

mav, I feel physically sick when my daughter tells me of her (authentic) Designer 'bargains' from B*ckham dresses to LV bags. These items are frequently made in the same factories that produce budget items. Couture clothes for the mass market are not hand-made, as in the past, (except for a few extremely wealthy exclusive customers).

As I lay in bed this morning, I was thinking of my bottle of eau de parfum (boxed gift) on the top of the COD. It is my favourite and has been for 54 years. It costs £50+ a bottle. Why?

Drug and other companies often claim that the high retail price is because of the enormous expense of developing such things. However, at a certain point in time, they break even, and are into profit. So, for for most of the past 50 years, D!or have been coining it. A fairly nice, heavy glass bottle, (£1?) 50ml of oils and alcohol, (£?) and minimal automated production costs.

Those expensive B*ckham jeans that you joyfully ignored, cost little more (if anything more) than my cheapies, to produce and ship, but maybe more to market. But there are some people who will pay for them. Hooray for Market Forces!

Must admit it feels very joyful to skirt MFs, by buying quality from chazzers! Long live your black leather jacket piped in red! :rotfl:

maryb wrote: »

One thing I have found extremely useful is a flexible ruler - the sort you use to draw a curve.

Let me explain. As you get older your derriere is no longer pert (In my case it never was but that's a different story) So jeans which fit comfortably round the waist will be baggy round the seat whereas jeans which cling to you sufficiently to avoid bagginess will cut you in half. Unless you have the money to buy a pair of NotYourDaughter'sJeans and who does?

The adjustment you need to make is totally counter intuitive but trust me, you need to make the curve of the crotch seam deeper and more of a hockey stick shape than a gentle curve. This used to be a lot of trial and error until I got one of those rulers which makes it very straightforward to get the exact curve you need by holding it to yourself and curving to your shape.

This is a fairly easy alteration to do though it involves a fair bit of tedious unpicking of the centre back seam and the belt loops but if there is something good on TV to watch it goes quite fast. Those of you who are talking about doing home sewing/learning to use a machine might find this worth trying.

All my jeans bring me joy now

Great tip for stitchers, maryb! Thanks.

There's a photo tutorial on the web (somewhere) on this tip - I saw it recently.

The problem with my jeans is the opposite - fine on my BTM, far too loose round the waist. So, when I find my sewing machine, a similar fix!

twiglet66 wrote: »

I noticed this thread yesterday and got hooked reading it so now have downloaded the book to my kindle and started reading already, braved the wardrobe and have 2 black bags of clothes so far that really do not give me joy, I find it amazing that using a different attitude while sorting through really works, tops that I wear really regularly do not actually give me joy so off they go :j

One thing I am wondering is how do you cope with a husband and an 8 year old DD who will think I'm off my rocker if I ask them what they find joy in with their clothes and possessions? :rotfl:

You behave exceedingly joyful and excited, so they notice, and become curious! It's contagious, as many on here can confirm. Incubation can take some time, but personally experiencing the advantages, can cut this time to a minimum!

iQueen

Clutterfree wrote: »

Afternoon All!

This week I defrosted and Kondoed both my freezers.
For the past few weeks, whenever I've frozen anything I've frozen them in oblong plastic tubs. Then once frozen I've removed the tub and put them in labelled plastic bags.
I've now "filed" them using the Konmari method!
What do you think?
The two smaller plastic tubs are bugging me, but I'd run out of the oblong ones when they needed freezing.
I still have a couple of freezer drawers with stuff frozen in odd shapes that I couldn't "file" but any new items will be done the Konmari way.
I've also now got an inventory of the entire contents of my freezer which should make meal planning and shopping much easier. :T

Still catching up with posts and just reached this one of yours, Clutterfree. That is absoloutely brilliant! Thanks for the freezing tips. :T

I haven't done my freezer yet - still trying to lower the contents!

It certainly appears to make more efficient use of space... like folded knickers! :rotfl:

ivyleaf

VJsmum wrote: »

Mavs thing with her colour lady made me think - when she was asked to show her favourite item of clothing - what would i choose?

I decided I would choose my shift dress which is originally from N*xt but i got in a chazzer, it falls to just above my knee and i wear it with black tights and ballet pumps. I dress it down with a black "boyfriend" cardi or up with a red designer jacket (also from the chazzer). Those two together (dress and jacket) are the two most expensive things I have ever got from a chazzer. So I am keeping my eye open for a shift dress or two, but only when i find the right thing will i purr - chase, whether it be from the Bay of E or chazzer or new.

So, what about you guys, what is your favourite single item of clothing?

Definitely my violet linen overshirt from East, though I don't wear it as often as I'd like to because of it always needing ironing after washing.

Igamogam

iQueen wrote: »

I don't think I'm in danger of osteoporosis - overweight people's bones are stronger and I love my calcium-rich dairy foods!

Dont be so sure............ I would have said the same as you 12 months ago - a lifetime of bone building impact activities since a child. A calcium rich diet - didn't drink any thing else but milk until I went to university and even now its my drink of choice. Love my cheese, yogurts and green leafy veg. No family history. Only just this side of 50 but carrying (some extra weight) Very supple, No pain yada yada yada........

Then roundabout this time last year I was leaning over a low wall in the garden picking up something and felt a 'ping' on my left side. Painful, but not too much, but it wouldnt go away so off I went to GP who thought I had cracked a rib - Really???!!! I was soooooooo incredulous. Anyway agreed to a bone density scan and waddya know......osteoporosis detected in my spine. After a great deal of deliberation and of course g00gling I agreed to take the medication. I still have a very supple, bendy spine and joints, It hasnt stopped me walking, doing yoga classes, swimming etc and it is not painful but it is what it is and if I had been asked what are the chances of me developing osteoporosis I would have said 'Pah! Nil! Cos I dont fall into the risk category..........:o I think fortuitously it has been detected early.

iQueen

maman wrote: »

Cleaning materials all sorted. Lots of junk went in the bin, lots of duplicates need using up and I kept finding cans of air freshener and I never use the stuff!!! Not exactly giving me joy as the dusters look untidy!!:rotfl:I'll have to find a way of storing those better. Maybe they can be samosaed (sp?).;)

Mine dusters/microfibre clothes are all RANGER ROLLED,

(Not shouting at you, maman - just informing newbies and lurkers, (again.) :rotfl:

Also, newbies and lurkers, changing duvet covers = Burrito method.

Samosa-ing plastic carrier bags = check out triangular folding of carrier bags.

Also, check easy folding of fitted sheets on Utube.

mrsdee

OMG just read about KonMarie for the first time this weekend. Checked out a couple of youtube videos and I immediately attacked the clothing kept in chest of drawers in our bedroom. I will move on to DH's stuff - he was keen to have his T shirts tidied up but unaware at this stage that there is some weighing up and chucking out to be done! I already feel so much "lighter" and cannot wait to a) read through some of this thread and b) read Marie K's book on my kindle when I get home from work. We live in an old house with v little storage space and I am just desperate to free up room! We even have a stack of floor tiles (why why??) taking up precious space in one of our few cupboards!! Aargh. I am guilty of keeping some things in a "maybe" kind of way but now realise this is a waste.
I am thrilled to have come across this thread and cant wait to get stuck in.
A couple of years ago, after my mother died, I had the job of sorting out the house that she and dad had lived in for 30 years. My dad had died 5 years previously. There was so much stuff - in the end my siblings and I just took out the important things (birth certificates etc), photographs (which I need to deal with!) and chose one thing each that we really wanted (not everyone did find something they really wanted!) and we got a house-clearance company to take the rest. What a complete waste of accumulating masses and masses of stuff. It really made me think - is that what a life is really all about?

maman

iQueen wrote: »

Mine dusters/microfibre clothes are all RANGER ROLLED,

(Not shouting at you, maman - just informing newbies and lurkers, (again.) :rotfl:

Thanks for your patience. It's a shame the thread is so long so if you're late to the party like me then there's lots I've missed:o.
All dusters now rolled. At the moment I've got them end on in the corner of the plastic basket that holds tins of polish etc. As DH does the dusting it'll be interesting to see if he returns them properly. He has learned to samosa carrier bags so I'm hopeful.

System

nope... i wont be going as far as rolling dusters.:rotfl: