Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The hoarder, part 2


If you missed part 1, you can find it here.

And this is what it looked like the last time I showed this basement.


After several weeks of puttering around about an hour at a time,

I realized I had probably exceeded the maximum amount of weight for this shelving unit.

Luckily I had more shelves.  Remember what I said about one step forward, three steps back?  I honestly had not thought this reorganization through as well as I thought I had!

Horrible photos, aren't they?  Bet you'll be glad when I finally buy that camera I now love so much.  But until then, I was shooting away any time I went to the basement.

In fact, taking photos of my progress was the only thing that was keeping me from giving up.

It was about this time I thought I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (tunnel of frustration).

At this point I had all three bottom shelves filled and stable.

It took another day to sort all the fabric that had fallen from the boxes I had so carefully sorted and segregated last November. But prior to that, I procrastinated for several days.  You can tell that I now have my new camera, so things might move a bit quicker now that I'm trying to be motivated.

I even found a container for the fabric that was at least one yard in length.  Note however, the sacks to the right of my small step stool.

These sacks, which were no longer in camera range, hold tissue paper, much like the tissue paper you see on the far shelf in the above photo.  Does anyone really need that much tissue?  And to think that all of it was either given me, or came with a package.

I'm not sure why I took this photo, but I think it was because the last ones I took of this area was too dark for you to see anything.

I think I was also procrastinating because I had no good idea what to do with all that tissue paper I had been given over the years.  And although I am glad I found all those file folders (I knew I had several in the basement), I had no idea I had that many until I had to account for them.  I am envisioning a few new books made from some in the near future. 

I finally found a large box that I could use to round up all that tissue into one place.  Let me walk you through the shelving and how my mind works.  On the top shelf (you can't see) of the left shelving unit are art pieces I have created that are finished.  If I ever decide to sell my art, that will be it.

On the top left shelf you can see are works in progress.  These are pieces I've already started, don't like and want to rework, or have gotten stuck on an idea for how to finish them.  I seem to have a lot of those projects, which are either wood or fabric.  Seems I don't start paper art unless I finish it.

Batting and pellon are next to the plastic bin of fabric on the above shelf on the left, while, at the time I took the photo, I was still sorting all my bed sheets I would use in my hand dyed fabric.

The two top shelves you see on the right shelving unit are my fabric swatches (those small pieces of fabric I simply won't let go, but are so small they must be used with other fabric), sorted by color.  Books and magazines are on both left and right bottom shelves.

Just two more shelves and a bit of straightening was all that was left.

I'm nearly finished, except for

cleaning the filthy floor.

Everything now has a place.

Ironically, all the shelves are completely filled, but there is still a bit of room on some of them.

I still need to clean and dust the small table (and its contents) on the left, but it now has a good home.

Because this shelving unit looks unstable to me, I plan to get a tie down to keep it from falling over.  But for now, this hallway is finished!!  And it only took me two months.  One month of procrastinating, two weeks of healing my back, and two weeks of actual work.

Now I'm off to find that silicon I originally planned to use when I found the nasty mess what seems like SO long ago.  And if you made it this far, all I can say is thanks for sticking with me through this nightmare.

21 thoughtful remarks:

Halle said...

Wowsers...that was a lot of work! Nice to have it all organized though I'm sure. Now you better get that shelf shored up before you have to start all over again!!

voodoo vixen said...

LOL... so glad yous tuck with it and didn't just give up halfway through! It all looks very organised now and I bet you know where everything is! :)

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Lookin' good! It is difficult to imagine but there are people in this world who don't have a room full of old book, maps, magazines, paints, tapes, glues, stamps, fabric, glues, stickers, pens and etc.,etc., etc. I'd rather spend time with people who do! Long live the hoarders!

Helen said...

I feel a lot better now about the amount of stuff I have, because I have little compared to you.. but yours is tidier! Well done for seeing it through, and I hope the shelves stay upright for you now. I'd hate for you to have to do that again...

Jo Murray said...

Are you sure you haven't been in MY workshop? (first photo)

dawn said...

WOW!! You did all this yourself, what a superwoman you are!! How great it must feel to be done and can sit back to enjoy it now. Great job!! I know this would have been too much for me, our garage looks like this and I just walk by with my eyes closed.
Thanks for sharing the process too! Now go have a cup of tea and pat yourself on the back!

Unknown said...

Lots of work and effort goes into this. You are amazing! xxoo

Darla said...

You have an amazing amount of stuff but now it is so well organized. Must be nice to walk in and find what you are looking for. Good job!

Darla

Craftymoose Crafts said...

You did an amazing job of organizing all your precious supplies, and even though it took a long time and a sore back, I am sure it will be worth it in the long run. The first thing that caught my eye were your supply of books just waiting to be altered!

Monica said...

You need to get rid of 70% of that stuff. If you have not used it in 5 years........ Your whole mental state is in the "i will need it some day" category. YOU NEVER WILL. Convert the cellar into a more useful space.

Dianne said...

O E you poor dear...what a lot of work! I agree with you that those shelves still look unstable. tie downs sound like a good idea. looks like the plastic is warped. You seem so organized...want to plan a trip to Ohio to help me with my hoard? =) Congrats on getting finished! hope your back is doing fine!

Crafted by Bairbre Aine said...

Bravo on the reorganization!!! It's such a relief to get through such a daunting task!
I feel the need to root out and sort out allot of my own supplies now, after seeing your photos and reading your comments! :)

Curtains in My Tree said...

I have been working on this same project some time now and I thought I had it all under control until I have to move things for repairs in my basement like water proofing or putting in new windows

I have all my shelves full also and so glad to know others have lots of stuff/ treasures like me

Nan G said...

Oh wow! So much work and now all tidy. Yes, nbr 3 is unstable. Invest in a new set of shelving, my dear. Once bent/warped the legs are not trustworthy even with tie downs. They will pop out from the middle. Can you say gastric explosion!

Dawn said...

What a relief this must be for you now sweetie, albeit the total pain in the bottom of it all, the hard work and the fully understandable procrastination. I just hope beyond hope that your back is better my lovely.
Huge hugs x x x x

Rita said...

These big projects are so overwhelming that it does take some thinking (procrastinating) before you work up to starting. Looks fantastic now, though!! Congrats on all that hard work. Whoohoo! :)

roffeycreations said...

Oh my goodness - I am so glad you got it all sorted - what a shock - I would have been in tears!! One day I may do the same thing in my garage - That is my hoarding room...Mxx

Monique said...

I'm glad you got it all done =)
Looks great. Now you can start playing again. Have fun with your silicone.
xx Monique

~*~Patty S said...

You are lucky to have so much great storage space
AND
it works because you work so hard to keep it nice and organized!
oxo

Anonymous said...

Good to clean out, stuff, body and mind, makes space for the new to come in. xox

Eliza said...

WOW wow wow, you have done a brilliant job. Does it make you feel good to see all that hard work pay off? it should. I am surprised at how big your storage area is.

Hugs Eliza