Finally Let Go

Let's just say it was finally time to let go.  The TV still worked, but it was small and big at the same time.....and definitely no HD.....bye bye Panosonic.

De-Clutter.....Continues into 2015

I make a Christmas inspired dress every year (just for display), which is usually made from materials found around the studio.  I made this one entirely from acquired fabrics, beads, and even the mannequin was a save from the garbage.  Sometimes holding on to stuff, can be a good thing.

I am guilty of holding on to, too much stuff and have been apart of, too many, clean up teams to love ones who have transitioned.....but their stuff remains.  I love everything that I have acquired (especially anything related to sewing) and also donated to Free Cycle, Salvation Army, the museum, and the "Hey do you need this?".  

  

Even though I have become more organized, for some reason a pile of papers, fabric, thingys, projects to be or not to be, add up on a chair, behind a chair, in a closet, then finally in the middle of the floor.

I grew up with a NYC school teacher and while you could always find a place to sit, the table was another story.  It was always filled to the brim with papers that included, bills, mail, cards, and flyers.  It's hard to break this habit,  I still create piles of paper on a corner of the table.  Oh I do, toss, shred, and file, but paper seems to regenerate, itself, even without me looking. 

There are many tips I get on my journey.  As I was picking up supplies, one of the employees came out, opened a closet and made an announcement that the closet shoe organizer is for scarves, hats, etc. and to stop balling it up on the shelf, where everything tumbles down on the floor etc etc etc.  I made a stop at Amazing Savings for my double shoe organizer.  It works like a charm!

I think I am going to tackle the kitchen this month (but don't hold me to it), like Elisabeth from Artistic Expressions.  Here is her Show and Tell:

Freecycle Success/Sewing Machine Table

Another successful transfer using Free Cycle.  I loved this sewing table, but it was now in the way.  Free Cycle allowed this table to go to someone who is building her craft room.  She had a sewing machine that was still in the box and now it has a place to begin doing it's job.  I'm glad that it's going to someone who is going to appreciate and use it. 

 

Where People Work/ V. G. Cleaning...and More!

Ed's Office

I now have joined millions of Americans who have TOO MUCH STUFF by putting the overage of STUFF into a storage.  It's daunting and I will be purging, but for now I had to get my STUFF to Storage Mart.

Rather than take my STUFF one bin at a time, a friend recommended Ed Martinez.  What a guy, he was polite, on time, and his prices are so fair.  He looked at my STUFF, packed it up on the pick-up and got me to Storage Mart...... easy peasy.  He made a stressful moment a hole lot less stressful.

Oh yeah, Ed also does cleaning, 

V.G. CLEANING 516-330-8314

GOOD BYE CRAP!!

After opening a draw or two, to see taxes, receipt books, bookkeeping books, utility bills etc etc etc, all from over 20 years ago, I was glad for the annual Shred Fest 2014.

 

I bagged it all and carried two big bags.....DAMN PAPER IS HEAVY....to Cadman Plaza to shred it for good.

I got off at High Street Station (as per the instructions), BUT I got off on the wrong end. 

 

After stopping a few times to get across the park I made it.

I dumped it all in the bin along with others, but I must have seemed like a kid at Disney Land, because they were asking "Is this your firs time?" "No, just so excited to get rid of this, CRAP".

When the bin is full, it's wheeled away and loaded up onto the truck.  He even had to climb up on the side to help the paper fall into the grinder faster.

We peered through the little window and watched our crap turn into.....I don't know what it turns into, just glad to see it gone.......GOOD BYE CRAP!!

The Annual Shred Fest 2014

It's that time of year again, Spring.....into decluttering.  Thanks to Harlem Needle Arts, they have reminded me of The Annual Shred Fest 2014. 

Shred Fest 2014

Although many of us are going paperless, there is still a folder or twenty, that could be discarded.  The problem is that the papers still have vital information that can lead to identity theft.  Then the other problem is we just don't know what to throw out and what to keep.  Below are some helpful links, after you know what to keep, get your pile, bag, box together and go shred.  

• IRS, How long should I keep records?  
• Washington State Attorney Genaral, What to shred.
• Fraud Prevention Unit, What should I shred and when should I shred it?

Shred Fest 2014

Sunday May 18th, 2014

Free Shredding 

Arrive early

Trucks available 

10am  - 4pm

 Call 311 for more info about Shred Fest

A Shoebox of Memories

I have looked at this shoebox of super 8 film for years and with a broken projector, had no way seeing these memories again.....until now.  There are services that will turn your old film into a DVD along with music, but that meant the service would have control over the images.  The editing process is the fun and they don't know my people or my story. 

Dijifi.com

Dijifi, is an absolute God send, I had been searching for a company that would take my film and make a digital format for me to be able to edit the way I want to.  They take your film, turn it into a digital format (they give you some choices depending on your project).  When it's done, all is transferred to your laptop or external hard drive.  

I grew up here in Lindsay Park, which was built in 1964.  2014 will be it's 50th year.  This film highlights a day in the Pool #1 (Lindsay has 3).  Below is the page from a brochure about the pool, which is hilarious, because I remember the promise of Ice Skating in the winter.  That never happened.

  

This is the first of many (remember I have a shoe box filled to the rim).

Old Photos...Here's An Idea

I have so many photos, which are in boxes and boxes.  I thought I would use them as wall paper, guess this is what it would look like. 
I found these ideas on Pinterest.

 

Living to Loving: Beaded Ceiling Fan

Roz has been given a boost on her quest to de-clutter and create a beautiful living space with the installation of my new light fixture. Of course, with almost everything she's done on this "Living to Loving"  journey, the "chandelier" is an original piece made up of items bought over the years, intuitively knowing that it would work into her plan. 

In her words:

"I purchased the beaded, wire mesh candle holder, that evoked a middle eastern/Mediterranean flavor and had it converted into a light fixture. Even earlier,  I bought a simple, inexpensive ceiling fan, quite boring actually but I knew that liked ceiling fans and I could make it work. Then after painting the ceiling and getting ready to install lighting, Eureka, hit! I thought, I could combined the two if I could get the person with the knowledge and vision to make it happen, and I did. I painted the drab brown of the fan's blades a reddish copper color that matched my crown molding and sprayed painted the shiny brass of the fan's drum a brown crackled metallic to coordinate with metal base of the candle holder. My favorite, talented and professional contractor extraordinaire, Noel Murray connected both pieces into one seamless unit, got the electrical components connected and working and voila, see the finished product in images and video."

Small Home, Big Ideas

I came about this through a facebook friend and I am impressed with what this family of 3 has done so much, with so little.  

I especially love the work space.  It inspired me to do........to do something.

Jealous Of Crown Molding

"My Home Coming Into Being", not my home my friends home.  She has got some crown molding put up in the apartment and I am so jealous.  It is not finished (that is obvious from the photos), but I love the molding going up around the room.

Noel (Joiner: Master Carpenter)

 OOOOOH and she has a specialist working his magic, it has got to be like HGTV.

She has a ways to go, but I am so jealous..........in a good way.

Recycle, Reuse, Re-purpose

Town Square

Recycle, Reuse, Re-purpose, and reap the benefits of a cleaner community.  I am packing my stuff up now and so should you.  You can drop off cleaned, gently-used clothing, shoes, toys, books, bicycles, computers, electronics, phones, and household items.  You can also walk away with as much as you want, which means you need to bring bags, boxes, carts, or your grumpy husband, to help take stuff home. 

The suggested donation is $5.00 and Town Square is a qualified 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution.  Your donation will be TAX DEDUCTIBLE to the full extent of the law.  That should de-grump your husband.

Green Cycle Swaps

Town Square Inc.

April 30, 2011
12pm - 4pm

McCarren Park

780 Lorimer Street

Greenpoint/Williamsburg

For more info:
Town Square Inc.
917.392.8450 
agnes@townsquareinc.com

Successful Transfer

Well it's been a long journey and the road has come to an...........OK I'm getting a bit dramatic.  A few posts ago I mentioned I was trying to get rid of some furniture.  

Cleaning House

I first posted the dresser on Free Cycle and I got no bites.  After the 30 day period (rules for re-posting) I posted again.  This time I got about 5 inquiries, that went no where.  One got so close I was practically in the hallway with the dresser.  Anyway, I went another route, The Salvation Army but they don't come to my area.  Then I tried Housing Works!  At that time I only had the dresser.  They needed more merchandise to send a truck out to Brooklyn, "when you have more please, don't hesitate to call."  This seemed reasonable.

 

About 2 weeks later I had more, two end tables that were in good condition, but needed a bit of elbow grease.  I called Housing Works  again, with photos of the items (scratches and all).  After receiving a message to call back and discuss a pick-up date, I was elated.  We played phone tag but I was still thinking they would be giving me a pick-up date.  Not so fast.  This call was to tell me someone would call me back and approve the furniture, WHAAAAAAAAAT!  The Housing Works caller informed me they have certain protocols.  So I explained, there was an email with photos, then a call, then...... "OK" she says "Hold on".  After a few brief minutes she says "I'm sorry, blah blah blah, your furniture is crap".  Not what she said but it was how it sounded.   Dammmmm, I'm trying to give furniture away not sell it to Sotherbys.  She did try to give me some other sources which did not pan out.

Now what, Creepies List, I mean Craigs List which is still Creepy.  I posted to Facebook, at least every one there is my friend (wink wink).  I got a bite from an old friend.  Laura  (Shop Zambezi) and her husband Lorenzo (Lorenzo Williams Photography) a power couple. 

It was a perfect fit just like they are.  They have a guest room that needed to be filled and this was perfect.  Thanks so much Laura and Lorenzo.

Just to add a note, Lorenzo and I worked on the same wedding, Roxanna Floyd's (I made her wedding dress) wedding, see his work here.

Clutter Artwork

At the Architectural Digest Show there was an artist that made work out of paper.  I couldn't afford the artwork but I was inspired by it.  The above piece is a 4 x4 using an old Trinidad Tobago stamp.

 2 Canada 4-cent stamps 

2 St Vincent Stamps

Smooth Transfer

I had file cabinet to give away and this went artist, Sophie Naess.  This Free Cycle transfer goes smoothly.

Closet Clean Up

My quest to clean up, decorate, continues, and Free Cycle a helpful source, where I can participate in the hip and happening trend of recycling.

Above are some ornaments that were sitting in the closet.  I still haven't done any holiday decorations inside and these ornaments were not family heirlooms. They were in a box in the closet wanting, waiting to be used, and I decided that I would post them to Free Cycle.

After so much success with my Piano, this should be an easy transfer.  Not so fast, I posted the ornaments with an error, the post was removed.  I posted again then that seemed correct but there must of been a technical error, and the post was removed for an error in posting.  But the post did get a response from readers.  However when I re-posted, believing I corrected it, yup, it was removed because you are not so re-post an item for 30 days (huh).  This is all happening the 2nd week in December, 30 days and would make the ornaments irrelevant.

Suffice it to say, I had a deal pending and even that fell through.  NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT, Max came through and on a street in Brooklyn the ornaments are off to a happy home. 

Vintage By Cassandra

 These items and more available on Vintage By Cassandra

When you are cleaning up an old space, there are a lot of gems of commerce.  They may be things I like but, have no interest in using or displaying.  Hiding them in a closet somewhere makes no sense or dollar cents.  I have an Etsy site called Vintage By Cassandra. Which is an opportunity to post photos my finds and creations to sell.  This site has a vintage feel to it and for now it is small.  
Visit my shop and see more.

The Paper Chase

In past posts (Shredder), I have talked about how shredding is a big part of organizing and decluttering.  It may seem easy enough to just take a pile of canceled checks, old receipts, and out of date documents and dump them, but with the risk of identity theft, I have to tear up all the papers into itty bity pieces.  Damnnnnnnn!  

Office Depot ( 1441 Broadway, NY) to the rescue.  For .99 a pound of paper, they will shred it for me (and you too).  I took my first bag ($1.98 worth), but my next bag will be filled to the brim. 

Another clutter issue solved.

Uncluttering

I have tons to fabric and I when it gets out of control, leads to disorganization, confusion, and clutter.  This is because I don't throw away big/little pieces, they can be worked into some random creative project that never happens.  This behavior holds me back so I searched online for someone or a company that will take these gems of fiber.  Eureka! Inklude Studio is a non-profit 501(c)(3), community based, art and design studio. They create an open, creative, and collaborative studio environment for adult artists with autism and other developmental challenges.  This was perfect, get rid of clutter and do good.  Inklude, the boxes are on the way.

PS. Inklude will take art supplies, materials, and equipment related to creativity.  

An Empty Box

I emptied a box today, Hurray, Zippity Do Da, Yahooooooooo!  It's not much but it is something to cheer about.   I'm one box closer to clutter free, Wooo Wooo!