A Layout, A Blog, & Accumulation

Ae_formargie


Hello Monday.


Above you see a layout I worked on this weekend. It's got a little bit of everything I am loving right now (or have loved for a long time): paint, square-punched photos, and hand-drawn boxes + journaling. My friend Margie will be teaching how to put it together (along with other pages) in some of her upcoming classes. You can email her for more information on when and where the classes will be held.


Last night I was checking in on some of my favorite blogs and ended up on Karen's (one of my all time favorite scrapbookers and all-around good person). I noticed she has some really cool project kits you can order: Interactive Scrapbooking and Snapshots of a Good Life. Just looking at the images of the projects made me want to make something.


I spent a good deal of time on Sunday cleaning up and clearing out all over the house. Are you ever surprised at how much accumulates over time in the craziest places like under the bathroom sink? Do I really need four different bottles of body lotion? It must be something about always thinking I am going to find one that is better than the one I always grab (kinda sounds like that whole "get real" thing - get real that all I ever really need is just one bottle of lotion). Live and learn...the key being the learning part.


When I get to this point where I am really wanting to simplify I tend to re-read some of Leo's posts from Zen Habits. One of my favorites is A Guide To Creating A Minimalist Home. Now if you have seen photos of my office you know I am not even close to living in modern minimalism. But I like the idea of it. I like the idea of having space and room to breath and less things to clutter & clog my mind, leaving me open for more creative thoughts + actions. And sometimes there are things we want that just aren't going to happen...


Such is life.


So here's my organizing goal: no shuffling stuff around or moving things from one pile to another. Make a decision, give it a home (or put it in a box: goodwill, garage sale, recycle, etc), and move on to the next thing that needs to be rescued from a pile. Even this is easier said than done.


Two more things for today: (1) I haven't forgotten about my follow-up Question & Answer post about organizing albums. Look for that in the next week or so. (2) Also, check out an audio interview I did with Jamie at Cereals on Art + Craft.

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48 thoughts

  1. Susan Kopp says…
    04/21/2008

    So true about the decluttering. I can't stand clutter but all the stuff I have (even have a storage unit) is denying the fact. So this week it is pricing of said items for a garage sale and then what doesn't sell goes to a charity. Even stuff in the storage unit that I have proved that I don't need since we haven't been there since we deposited the stuff.

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  2. Susan Kopp says…
    04/21/2008

    So true about the decluttering. I can't stand clutter but all the stuff I have (even have a storage unit) is denying the fact. So this week it is pricing of said items for a garage sale and then what doesn't sell goes to a charity. Even stuff in the storage unit that I have proved that I don't need since we haven't been there since we deposited the stuff.

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  3. Amy says…
    04/21/2008

    Love the MM layout, very cute! I actually just bought those 2 album kits from Karen a few weeks ago, they are awesome! I highly recommend them! I also did some throwing out this weekend. I re-watched the hoarder episode on Oprah not long ago (very sad) and the professional organizer that cleaned out her home , suggested for people that didn't have the extreme situation that she had (although my craft room is a bit more extreme than the rest of my house), to do 2 garbage bags a night for a week throwing stuff out. That's 14 bags of stuff you can get rid of pretty easily. I did my first two bags on Saturday, so I'm going to try to do it for this week. Extreme Spring cleaning! :) Have a great day!

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  4. Sasha J Nygaard says…
    04/21/2008

    I'm feeling the same things when it comes to "stuff"...it feels like a constant battle. As soon as the weather warmed up, I wanted to toss and donate. I get completely engrossed in tearing through the closet, basement, my scraproom, whatever...and it is a great feeling. But, I just feel like it's never done. I'm trying to work with my husband about what we really "need" to have (loved the tidbit about the lotion - seems like soaps, lotions, good smelling stuff is just bursting out of our bathroom and linen closet too). It's nice to know that I'm not the only one fighting the battle.
    The best part of all of it though is I feel the results - do you? In my scraproom especially, I've done a huge purge, and I'm suddenly feeling so drawn to make and play. As for the rest of the house, I think I need to listen to Peter Walsh a little more and take stuff out of the house, and quit bringing something back in to replace it.
    Thanks for mentioning this - it gives me the little push for the rest of the week!

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  5. Michelle B says…
    04/21/2008

    OHHHHH... love the layout! I might have to lift it! And yes - the "stuff" in the house... always too much stuff. I hear you on that one.

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  6. Diana Barnett says…
    04/21/2008

    Declutter? What a concept. I'm going to put my house on the market, so guess what I had to do? I packed ALL my stamping and scraping stuff. It hurt, but I know it is necessary and I was able to let go of lots of stuff. Now for the sewing room! diana

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  7. Wendy Kwok says…
    04/21/2008

    oh.. I love this LO.. I did a similar one 2 months back. And such a coincidence.. i used mainly MM noteworthy range too!

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  8. Diane Arias says…
    04/21/2008

    Great thoughts/ideas on pairing down and simplifying.

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  9. tna says…
    04/21/2008

    hello ali. :) you made me smile today cause i am guilty of the shuffling things around. but am getting the hang of simply giving away things that i don't really need because others may have more use of it than i have.
    thank you for sharing the layout. it is a very nice one. :)

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  10. Terence Lee says…
    04/21/2008

    to tell you the truth: i will never ever get tired of seeing square punched layouts. just asking, any circle punched? :)

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  11. Glee Scrap says…
    04/21/2008

    Ali, this post is just what I needed today. I have a hoarding problem. My word for this year is "release",although I'm still having a hard time doing it. I was cracking up about the lotion under the sink...my MIL decluttered under HER sink and offered me some soap, shampoo and lotion that she no longer wanted-AND I TOOK IT! (Rationalizing that they are "consumables" and will eventually get used up...and we live in CA, & when the "Big One" hits we need to have stuff stocked up)....see, I have it bad! Thanks for sharing your process.
    I love the lo you did on the weekend-so fresh!

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  12. Nicky Anderson says…
    04/21/2008

    Love the layout - looks like it was a fun filled day. Nothing like antigues to fill a void. I tend to clear papers and such, but pick up more and more antiques with hopes that someday - will have a spot for the very special ones. We have an antique high chair (much like the one in your layout) that my hubby's dad build and my hubby refinished it taking off the multiple layers and layers of paint - it is amazing in our dining room (even though all the kids have outgrown it) It will be in there always now!!!
    Nicky

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  13. alexandra says…
    04/21/2008

    I'm in the same clearing-out-mode over here. Ready to get things in order - hoping this will create a more zen feeling in my home and in my soul. It's amazing how 'junk' can almost talk to you and bog you down.
    Thanks for the link to your interview - always so good to hear you talk about your life and art.
    Cheers!
    A.

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  14. Marcia Bettich says…
    04/21/2008

    As ALWAYS blown away by your beautiful designs and your awesome use of product - always unusual and cool! Can't wait to lift this guy :))

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  15. MissKoolAid says…
    04/21/2008

    Oh how I wish I could live the modern minimalism life!

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  16. Molly says…
    04/21/2008

    Great post, Ali. I couldn't agree more about the stuff. Having 3 children you can imagine the outgrown clothing that piles up. Just sorted out 4 large bags to donate and 1 to consign this weekend - and OH ... I can see that corner of the room! I get my bedroom back, and there is nothing worse than clutter in the BR. Thank you for the link to Karen.

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  17. rena says…
    04/21/2008

    Ali,
    It is so good to have a voice to go with the face. I loved hearing your interview!!
    You are such an inspiration for me. The inspiration that I take from you is to find my own comfort level in scrapbooking and define my creative mind! I used to be one of those scrappers that couldn't come up with a layout of my own. I was always copying others. I decided that I needed to find out what kind of style is me... and you have helped me do that. SO THANK YOU ALI EDWARDS.. YOU ARE AWESOME!!
    p.s. I am entering SOY this year and I never would have had the guts to do this before I developed my own style!

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  18. Nancy Doren says…
    04/21/2008

    "So here's my organizing goal: no shuffling stuff around or moving things from one pile to another."
    EEK! That's me! Now that it's been pointed out I have no excuses! Off to make a pile for the Goodwill...

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  19. Michelle says…
    04/21/2008

    I have been working so hard to simplify our house! And my husband is on board so that always helps. We live in quite a small place and it's always a challenge to make everything fit. The only thing that really helps is to stop bringing stuff home. That is the biggest challenge for me but I keep trying because it feels so, so good to live in a minimalist home.

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  20. Melissa S-E says…
    04/21/2008

    Ali, you frequently talk about SIMPLIFICATION. I would love to hear any tips you've ACCUMULATED (ha - pun intended). I believe that creative-minded people are more likely to 'hoard' to some degree because we see the potential in everything.
    I will share my tip: Because much of my 'clutter' comes from things that evoke memories (and mine is TERRIBLE), I often identify things that I don't need but am keeping solely because of the memory - then I document it by taking a digital photo & get rid of the item. It takes up a LOT less space in my computer ;-> and one day I'm actually going to SCRAPBOOK all of the stuff that I was keeping & the memory that I was afraid I'd lose if I ever tossed it.
    Have a great day.
    'Still smiling over that adorable photo of your 4yo grandmother.

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  21. Deanna says…
    04/21/2008

    I'm guilty of shuffling sometimes and it drives me crazy. I like to have a "home" for everything, so it's very annoying to me when I can't find a good "home" for stuff. It always feels so good to clean out and get rid of some of the stuff that is just taking up space in my house.

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  22. Jen says…
    04/21/2008

    I love to declutter. :) It just seems I am not doing it fast enough.
    I wanted to share a site w/ you (and others)
    Stickyj.com If you go to medical bracelets
    and scroll down, they have a medical id plate for autism. I ordered 1 for my 4 y/o has a "just in case". He cannot say his name (yet) and now he has an ID that says Autsim, has his name and 2 cell #'s to call. After a couple of days of some fussing about it, Aidan wears his bracelet.

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  23. kate says…
    04/21/2008

    I feel the same way about stuff accumulating. One thing I'm trying to learn to do is use all of something before I buy more. I cleaned out my bathroom and found a number of lotions (what IS it about body lotion) shower gels, hair products. I've decided to get rid of some, give some to friends and USE the rest before I allow myself to buy any more.
    Hope the cleaning goes well. Even in this arena, I can take inspiration from you. Thanks.

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  24. Haylee says…
    04/21/2008

    What a beautiful layout! Just gorgeous!

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  25. Amber says…
    04/21/2008

    Great interview. The funniest thing was that as I was reading the first part of your entry, I was thinking, "It really would be nice to put a voice with the face, so I could hear it as I'm reading your posts". Then Viola!! A link to an audio interview. Too cool. Great job, by the way. I love that you are so down to earth {which I kinda already had an idea that you were}. Love the layout too! Love that you use paints, handwriting, etc in an abstract way that is not too wild. I've been dabbling with the whole "freestyle" thing, but sometimes it's just not ME. I need a little more order and structure to accompany, and I find comfort in your style. Thanks!! :)

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