The KonMarie method

GreyQueen

Yesterday I said farewell to a pencil which I've been using to jot notes at work, one of a clutch of part-worn pencils which I've been finishing up, along with the ongoing pile of scrap paper. Which was itself quartered sheets from the carton of tractor-feed printer paper from a long-gone computer printer of my brother's (lovely bloke, terrible hoarder, bless).

I also had to launder a cloth which I've been using on top of a cabinet. It had to be pre-soaked as well, as had something spilt on it. Very annoying. Have now decided that the cloth, which has come up perfectly, can go back to the chazzer. It's contributing to extra work on the premises and I have decided I quite like the tailored look of the cabinet without it.

The less you have, the less work you have to do, don't you find?

I last emptied my only bin on Sunday and have a small layer of rubbish in the bottom (sachet of dried yeast from breadmaking, a wrapper, several teabag bags (I'd ripped them open and shot the leaves into the composting container - the woven bit of the bags doesn't degrade 100% and hang around in the allotment soil most annoyingly). Bin is one of those 10 litre black flower buckets, so smallish receptacle.

Will take back to library books after w*rk today and am reading one from the to-read shelf which will be chazzered once completed. There is a gap or two on the to-read shelf. I mean, all books are to be read, but these are ones which haven't had even one reading, and are slated for removal once they've been enjoyed.

Polly, I know what you mean about getting rid and wishing you'd itemised at least the quantity of bags. After 8 years, I am still hauling glass and nails and rubble out of my allotment soil and really wish I'd started weighing it in from the beginning.

VJsmum

I have had the idea in our office to box it all up as though we were moving and then only get out things as we need them. One of "the Minimalists" did this with his whole house :eek: and, while i am not going to do anything near so drastic (he got rid of everything left in the boxes after three weeks), I think it might help us gain perspective - or rather get OH to see what we need and don't need and how much easier the office is to use - and how much is JIC or MBU.

One bag I opened yeasterday contains two antique christening gowns. MiL asked if we wanted them, we said no and have got them anyway. Part of MiLs Kondoing vicariously, I think. They are getting on for 100 years old but teeny tiny. I don't think they really make babies that small anymore I just don't know what to do with them. She doesn't want them, OH doesn't want them, his sister doesn't. But I can't just get rid....

boultdj

How about the local musiaum[sp?] VJsmum?

GreyQueen

VJsMum, is it possible that a local museum might want them? Could you send an email to the museums service via the council website and ask? It's a long shot but it might be something they'd be interested in.

And think of the kudos of being able to tell MIL that they were in a museum being properly cared for!

I read about the packing party on The Minimalists, too, and was much amused. Pretty hardcore, isn't it? I wonder what he did if he ditched out of season clothes? I have things which I'd have to ditch under that regime at this time of the year but which I'm pretty happy to have in the cupboard for the winter months, such as my coat, hat and gloves.......:p

Some of my stuff in consumables in excessive quantities, such as the two rolls of masking tape, one nearly finished, sitting on my desk. I do use it for various things but am looking forward to finishing one up and recycling its cardboard reel. And then using the other up and only ever, for the rest of my days, having one reel on the go at a time.:D I also have two lots of bath product, both gifts last Christmas, and one of them will be gone in a few weeks, and maybe I'll have finished the other one by Christmas this year.

I'm becoming increasingly aware of the problems caused by excess stuff, both to individuals and to society. There's simply far too much stuff in the modern world, much of it is poorly made from fifth-rate materials, having no virtue or ability to last and do a good job, is disrespected by us and discarded after only a few years.

If you carefully saved up for a fabric length, made a pattern and sewed your own garment, you'd feel differently about it than if you swooped on some £3 item at Primarche, no? And you'd say to yourself that you weren't going to put that work and effort in to sewing with rubbish cloth or rubbish thread, or leave unfinished seams, or discard it after a few wearings.......

just_the_two_of_us

Hi all - I was going to say local museum too VJs Mum as I volunteer at ours and we have Victorian Seaside events every year for school children from all over the county. If they don't need them they may be able to suggest someone else that would like them? It would be a shame to just throw them.


Off to ch shop this am for my shift ! and to kondo a couple of items that aren't my style - lovely denim skirt which is panelled ( OK for me) but has a front zip and button ( not OK!)- I love the skirt but feel fat round the middle when wearing it because of the waistband - so it is going!!


Need to kondo some baking ingredients first because I promised flapjack!!!


Must rush - have a great day everyone. Will catch up next Tuesday with probably 20 odd pages this thread moves so quickly!!


Have a good weekend all. x

mavvymoo

Morning kondoites

I can report all of the fete stuff is out of the house I lost count of the journeys I did to drop it at the hall But house looking back to its kondo best (ish)

On my last journey I had a quick look in the bags that have come in for the bric a brac and wait for it In one of the bags is a load of Royal Crown Derby plates etc :eek::eek: Took a few photos as I wasnt bringing it back home and some of the plates have sold on E*ay for £100 + :eek:So now I do need to go and get them here incase any gets broken :mad:

So now I need to decide what to do with them cant see any one wondering round with that sort of money at the fete There is also some paintings which I feel are quite special so will pull it all out and have a good look and maybe next week take it to our local auction house to take a look at.

Just to let you know these things came from 'the posh houses'That I hit with the begging leaflets I wonder if someone has started to KM and these items didnt bring them any joy so they gave them to us as we are raising funds for new goal posts for the kids as ours had 'square corners' and ROSPA said they have to go as someone might hit their heads :question:These are full height so I have no idea how ? So we need rounded corner ones which are £900 :eek: and thats the cheapest that will pass the inspection. So hopefully if I am right (quite good at values of other peoples stuff) just not my own :rotfl:We should be a good way towards that target without doing much for once How joyful is that so thank you to who ever donated you have helped us no end :A

Mav x

PollyWollyDoodle

Wow - that could go a long way to your £900 then Mavvy, well spotted. I'd have no idea of the value of that sort of thing. Definitely better sold separately, you'll never get that sort of price at a fete.

VJsmum, that reminded me - I have a christening gown upstairs, came in a bundle of stuff from my elderly uncle, now sadly departed - he and his wife were childless, I can only assume she was given it as the only daughter, on the assumption that she'd have children to use it for. I had an evil plan to pass it to my sister as a project (it needs some minor repairs and careful washing). However it's a good point about babies not being that small these days! Also, it will encourage her to pester my niece about grandchildren again ... Let us know if you find it a good home.

mavvymoo

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Wow - that could go a long way to your £900 then Mavvy, well spotted. I'd have no idea of the value of that sort of thing. Definitely better sold separately, you'll never get that sort of price at a fete.

In a past life I worked at an auction house for a few years :DSo I got quite good at this type of thing But I do think I can spot quality from about 100 paces :rotfl:Must be my charity shop practice

But the trouble is that there is 2 paintings there which I love They are only quite small but are so lovely and so different. arrggg They bring me joy to look at them But they also have that quality I am worth a lot of money type feel So need to do a bit of research on them. They have gallery stickers on the back. From 1979 so I would say have a pretty good background so will have a look at the Artist as its not one I have heard of before.

Now got to go and buy loads of drink for the drinks hamper which is the star prize in the raffle:o So first stop will be Mr L :rotfl:As can get quite a bit for £50 which is what I have to spend

Have a lovely day everyone

Mav x

VJsmum

Suffolk_Sweetie wrote: »

I am about to commence battle on my so called 'study' which has in fact become the dumping group for just about anything that we don't want to look at / use/ care about. Thanks for the tips on getting rid of stuff. This has helped enormously to toughen me up and get on with the task

Mine is exactly that also - hence the idea of the "packing party"


Oh dear, a bit of a mixed bag GCSE wise for J - I have never seen such a range of results from an A in history (A* in one paper) through to an E in German (with an F in one paper ). On the whole they are good, but regrettably he got a D in maths and is so Peed off about it, he can't see the good results.

Floss

I have a Victorian christening robe & a plainer baby robe which was always used as an undergarment, which were made for my grandma. They are small, and my 2 boys just fitted them at 6 weeks old. I guess babies were smaller, and probably were christened earlier due to higher infant mortality and the desire for baby souls to be spared Purgatory.

Maybe consider a local National Trust house, or an antique textiles collection?