Make Room: Challenge One, Part One: The Clothes

Oh, I am so excited. I applied --and I was chosen!-- to be a member of Melissa Micheal's launch team for her new book, Make Room For What You Love. (Yes, it's an affiliate link! My first.)

I joined Melissa's 5 Week Make Room Challenge. You can too which is great because in my efforts to keep house over the years, I've found that doing it alongside kindred spirits has been so helpful. I hope you'll join me. It's open to everyone

This week, it's time to focuson the Master Bedroom. First, to switch the seasonal clothing (Part One) and then do a bit of spring cleaning. (Part Two). (It's a looong post, folks, sorry.)

But First: Background.

As most of you know, I don't have a lot of clothes. I wear a uniform of sorts to work (just so I don't risk getting paint on my everyday clothes) and I don't need much.

But even so, it's unbalanced. There are odd gaps and entirely too many of other kinds of things.


Last fall, as a way to get a handle on what to wear, I paid Alison Lumbatis to send me a shopping list and 21 outfits coordinated from that list. Then, I spent a mad few weeks trying to buy what was on the list. (I posted about what I wore for a couple of weeks. Week 1, Week 2.)

I considered doing the same thing for Spring, but it is more expensive this year...and what with the exchange rate on the dollar, I thought I'd pass.

As a bonus to the package I bought in the Fall, I did get the shopping list and outfits from the Spring of 2015. So, I used that to help me figure out what to keep, what to let go and what I might want to add.

After all--that's one of the reasons to let go of things, right? To make room for new.

So, one evening, I emptied out my closet and my dresser.

The Closet.

I worked from the door to the wall (so, right to left).

I tried on nearly everything. I used one of Melissa's questions: Would I buy this again?

I made the following piles:
1) too small (S)
2) donate/consign (D)
3) give to my daughter. (D)
4) pack away for winter (W)


First up: Cardigans.

I have 6. Six! It's absurd.

And they are all black or dark blue or dark grey. Blech.

Two cardigans were exiled to the "too small" pile.

I kept one I was iffy on because it was a gift from my Mom. It's awkward to wear (it is essentially a blanket in poncho-type form), but I decided to give it another year.

So, I left myself three plus the poncho thing. 2 black and 1 dark blue. I really wish at least one of them--maybe two--were in a fun, happy colour, as my Spring List suggests.

Party Jacket: 1

Black and sheer. It's one of the things I bought last fall and it'll be fine to wear out and about. Like so:

Vest: 1

My fur vest from the Fall shopping list? Obviously winter wear. However, I think I'll try and consign it next fall. It was fun...but extremely silly.

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok..." 

Tunics/Shirts: 10

3 Flannel shirts
2 collarless shirts, one black, one striped
1 burgundy tunic
2 jersey knit tunics, one "snakeskin," one black
2 sleeveless T's. One Eileen Fisher, white linen, 1 black and white plaid.

From the Fall shopping spree, I have two flannel shirts that I did not wear nearly enough. I absolutely love them!

But it isn't flannel wearing season anymore, so those have gone to the hamper to be washed. I gave another thin plaid flannel to my daughter.

Somehow, the collarless shirts survived the Great Purge of 2015. This time, the striped one went to donation and the black to the "too small" pile.

I put the sleeveless Eileen Fisher linen tank top in the "too small" pile, even though it fits. I found it extremely hard to clean. I'd like to consign it, I think.

Here I am wearing it in the summer of 2014 when I bought it. I was much thinner then than I am now.

I lent the plaid tunic to my daughter. I love it.

2014, again. old glasses.

I broke up the two long sleeved jersey knit tunic tops from H&M.* I put the snake patterned one into the donate pile, and kept the black, though I suspect it'll be too body-con. I also have a lovely burgundy light weight long sleeved tunic blouse. It's good for all but the hottest (and coldest) weather. It stays.

"Fancy" Tops: 2

A long sleeved top with a silver threaded center panel and a tank top made with sequins (shown above).
They stayed.


Pants: 9  10
2 pairs ponte knit pants, 1 grey, 1 black.
5 pairs of jeans. 1 dark wash "skinny" ; 2 boot cut, dark wash (same one, two different sizes); 1 white, NYDJ; 1 burgundy.
1 pr black leggings
1 wide legged yoga pants, black

Let's see, my 2 pairs of ponte knit pants are clearly winter wear and joined my flannel knit tops.

Of my five pairs of jeans, three; the NYDJ (I could cry), and two dark wash ( skinny and boot cuts) were too small and so exiled with the sweaters. So, I was left with a pair of boot cut jeans and the burgandy jeans. That left my leggings and sweat pants, which stayed.

Not in my closet, and, I had, in fact, forgotten all about them, are a pair of flare jeans I bought as part of the Fall Challenge. They need to be taken in at the waist, so, I removed them from the closet. I loved how I looked in them, though, and they fit, so I just may resurrect them for Spring. Full length jeans are too hot for me to wear in the summer.

I do have to wear the right height heel for them to work.

That gave me a few hangers!

I brought out the box of summer things I keep under the bed.

Blouses, tanks, shorts, tees and a pair of pj's. The warm weather essentials.

Blouses: 4 (all sleeveless)

All of my summer tops except one are sleeveless--and it didn't make the cut. I really need more short sleeved tees!

Cami/Tank:1

I've never worn it, but I'm sure I'll wear it someday!

Long sleeveless summer dress: 1/1


Closet Count:

Cardigans: 6 before/4 after (2D)
Fancy dress jacket: 1/1
Vest: 1/0 (1D pending sale)

Button ups/tunics/Tank: 9/2 (2W, 3D, 2S)
"Fancy" tops: 2/2
Blouses: 4
Cami/Tank: 1

Pants:   10/5 (2W, 3S,)
knit pants 2/0
Jeans: 6/3
Leggings: 1/1
Sweat pants: 1/1

Long sleeveless summer dress: 1/1

The Dresser.

Time to put away the little space heater, too.

I made short work of my dresser. Only two drawers (middle and bottom right) were of concern: one holding bulky sweaters, and one holding lighter knit tops. Three long-sleeved jersey knit tops stayed in the drawer. I had a short sleeved burgundy T-shirt, but I didn't like the way it fit, so I gave it to my daughter. I kept an old sleeveless black T shirt--I like to clean house in it!

My jersey knit turtleneck was packed away with my four sweaters and I donated a heavy knit purple turtleneck.

same tub as before, now packed with essentials for winter!

I put my two pairs of shorts in the sweater drawer. (I need more shorts!)


Dresser Count:

Turtlenecks: 2/0 (1W, 1D)
Bulky winter sweaters: 4/0 (4W)
T-Shirt, short sleeves 1/0 (1D)
T-shirt, long sleeves: 3/3
T-shirt, sleeveless: 1/1

Shorts: 2

Wow: that's 30 items. That seems like  lot to me. And yet....not quite enough.

Here's the closet, after:

Hmmm. Rather dismal.

Donation Pile:*

Alison's Spring list would have me purchase some light and bright coloured shirts, but I looked on-line and ran away from the prices. I think I can manage without.

But I do need/want to purchase at least one more pair of shorts (black) and two pairs of capris (dark wash denim and white). (Fortunately, I can source those locally, but still, pricey.)

I'd also like a few short sleeved tops--maybe 2 or 3? Plus shoes. And that should do me, I think. Well, OK, I just might get a pair of culottes--to go with my sequined top!


Many thanks to Melissa for inspiring this switch over! I've read about half way through the book, Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying and I'm happy to say I love it! (Yes, that's another affiliate link. The second.)

*Also, I want to mention H&M's fibre recycling program. You can take any clothing or textile in any condition whatsoever into any of their stores for recycling and re-use.

****************************************************

Be sure to catch Part 2!  Have these posts delivered right to your inbox!

Subscribe to Prairie Home Therapy

**************************************************

Day 10: Go Thru the Clothes Closet.

Read the previous entry in this series:  Day 9: Declutter Your Choice. My Choice? My Living Room or start at the beginning with the Introduction: 5 Ways Clutter Costs.


Apartment Therapy sprung a Closet Cure on its readers a few weeks ago. (Click that link for decision tree graphic if nothing else. It's awesome.)  It was a great opportunity to go through all of one's clothes in about ten days (and involved two weekends).

This is not that. (Unless you want it to be and then, hey, go for it.You won't regret it.)

This is fifteen minutes of going through the closet--looking at whatever you have hanging up in there and finally letting go of what you know should go.

Since I did participate in the Closet Cure, I went through everything in the closet. You can read about that here, if you wish.

The reject pile.

Be ruthless.

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.

Read the next entry in this series Day 11: Declutter Your Dresser Drawers

********************************************************

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to catch them all. Sign up to have each post delivered to your e-mail.

Subscribe to Prairie Home Therapy

*********************************************************

Fall: Fluffing the Bedroom

I've been wanting to switch the bedroom over from a happy colourful summer vibe to a more serious yet cosy fall feeling for a while now. I do this mostly with my bedding. I like to change the sheets, rotate the mattress, and clean a bit. This year was no different. I was inspired by the gorgeous stuff at Parachute. Fresh crisp sheets just seem to go with the crisp fall air, don't they?


But I had a bigger job ahead of me than usual.

We're working on painting the stairwell, the library landing, and the hallway all at once (since technically, it is all one space). But that meant the bedroom was just trashed.

I kid you not.

It was a three day job.

I was trying out these family photos from the hallway. I thought I might like them on a picture ledge, here. Turns out I like white space more than my family! 

Mostly, it involved vacuuming thoroughly--and washing anything I couldn't vacuum.

Friday after work I focused on getting everything sorted and packed up to leave the room.

That included a left over sock sorting project from the AT Closet Cure.

Lots of lonely socks, a few pairs.

Whenever I cleared some floor, I vacuumed.

Here we are behind the bed, after vacuuming. (I thought I'd take pity on you and not subject you to the jack rabbit dust bunnies.) I dusted the bed, too.

I stripped the bed and washed the mattress pad--but the dryer conked out.

I'd planned an outing to Ikea with my Mom, so we went. That night we slept with fresh sheets, but old pillowcases and the old duvet cover.

Saturday, I continued clearing stuff out, and miraculously, the dryer was working again, so I stripped the box spring cover--as well as all the pillow covers and the duvet cover. The dust was unbelievable. (It was a dry summer.)

I assembled two nightstands I bought at Ikea. I couldn't get the drawers to work properly. I took them upstairs, anyway. At one point, I had four nightstands in the room!

I got the boxspring cover back on. (It's just a white fitted sheet. I'm not fond of bedskirts.)

My daughter helped me rotate the mattress and we got it back on the bed. Then, I vacuumed it. (Of course I did!) I wrestled the mattress cover back on (I'd love to have two--but they are expensive!) put on the sheets, (hospital cornered the top sheet, natch) climbed inside a new duvet cover to get it on the duvet and redressed the pillows with their freshly washed allergy covers and pillowcases before I left for work.

Sleep was lovely.

Sunday was all about fluff. And pictures. I decided that with the new nightstands, there was just too much black with the bed frame and the picture frames. So, I switched them for a couple of pictures I had taken of places in Jasper. They had been on the shelves in the dining room

(I've missed them!) I found one of them right away. The second one was more of a challenge!

Found it on top of a bunch of boxes on the shelves in the basement.

Then I measured and re-hung--but I think I hung them a bit too high. What do you think?

Hubs fixed the drawer problem for me. Turns out I'd put some screws in backwards.

As I was fluffing, I kept Justina Blakeney's principles in mind (even though I wound up with all my botanicals in one place!).

 you will note that I finally hung that Target mirror. 

I was also thinking about how best to express the change of seasons by my decor--but without "decorations." A sober colour palette seems right for fall. Something masculine and strong, like this plaid. (Though my daughter did call it a "big tea towel.")

Layers pile on the cosiness. Other than the bed, I can add some to this little love seat. (sssh, it's really the dog's bed).

The idea of making our beagle sleep with a squirrel makes me laugh.

I am pleased--and so relieved to have my sanctuary clean, tidy, and peaceful once again.

What about you?
Do you do anything in your bedroom for Fall?

AT Closet Cure: Assignment #3

This was doozey of an assignment from Apartment Therapy. It was deliberately designed to be broken up over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday: Dresses and Skirts.

Although I only have 9 items in this category, it was hard to let go of some things.

I have one skirt (on the left, there, above)--actually it is a skort. I absolutely loved it for that reason. Unfortunately, I've put on weight since I bought it, so it is now too far above my knees for me to be comfortable wearing it without tights. (I hate tights.) So, after much dithering, that's in the donate pile.

I have two long dresses. The stripe I just bought this summer, so it's staying. The second is an L.L. Bean, a winter weight knit in plum and I adore it. It's my only winter dress--but, boy is it snug. I would be very upset not to have it should I lose enough weight to fit into it properly, so I put it back in the closet. It is that classic.

I have five--no six!-- short dresses. Two are properly tunics--very flimsy knit--but they still work. One is a maybe--and a fixer-upper. It also requires ironing before wearing. The thing is, my Mom made it for me and I want to keep it--but I won't wear it again. (sigh.)

The other three don't fit.

I'm keeping only 4 items. (The two tunics and the two long dresses.)

Saturday: Jeans and Casual Pants

Well, this was interesting. Turns out I had over twenty pairs of pants and shorts lurking about in the closet, the wash and various drawers. For someone who, in the past, has literally spent a winter wearing one pair of pants (though doubtless I had more than that in the closet) this was a shock to me.

I kept more than I ought to have (13!), but I did get rid of eight pairs of various yoga pants and shorts.

Namely, I kept two pairs of jeans which I can't fit into--but one of those pairs--my white denim NYDJ cost about $200.00!

I have a pair of jeans in the "maybe" category. They fit--but the denim is very heavy and I don't like how they feel when I put them on.

The rest are keepers.

For work:
(In case some of you don't know, I work in a paint department where I mix paint. So, I like to keep a dedicated wardrobe just for work.)
1 pair of capris (summer)
1 pair of yoga pants (winter). I could really do with one more of each, actually.

Strictly Summer: to put in my off season bag under my bed.
2 pairs of shorts
1 pair of white linen pants (to be ironed).

Winter/All Season:
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of leggings
2 pairs of knit pants, winter weight, both nice.
1 pair of knock about knit pants. (To be worn in the house and maybe on a quick run to the hardware store!)

Sunday: Tops and Jackets/Outerwear

This is a huge category.

First, the tops.
Total: 26

Summer: 12
plus work: 6

Winter: 4
plus work: 3

I am letting go of one--out of all of them!--yes, just one.


Second, Outerwear.
Total: 6

Keep:
1 wine faux leather Fall/Spring Jacket
1 black Winter coat: to be replaced as soon as possible
1 black knit zippered jacket.
1 light blue hoodie from Vancouver

Let Go:
Navy Spring/Fall Jacket (too small and has been for several years).
Grey and Black houndstooth men's jacket (snug).


So, at the end of assignments 2 and 3, this is the donate pile (not everything is pictured as I gifted some of my sweaters to my daughter):

In future, it'd probably be best if I didn't pile the discards in front of my mirror!

From the comments thread at AT on this assignment, I learned that H&M Canada has partnered with Unicef Canada, to recycle, re-use and reduce waste from unwanted clothing.  In light of the recent refugee crises, that's where these will be headed.


I wonder what's next?

AT Closet Cure: Assignment #2

Sweaters, she said.

Sweaters!

Oh gawd--it'll be like ripping off the band aid, I promised myself--quick, ruthless, still painful.

In the spring of 2013, I found, much to my delight, that at the weight I was then, I could find clothes--nice clothes--to fit me.

I went on a mini shopping spree and put together a cute little summer wardrobe.

When fall came around, I ordered clothes to be shipped to me--ordered them from Land's End and Old Navy in plus sizes. I tried them on, agonized. Returned, re-ordered and finally settled on some lovely things. All of them too good, mind you, to wear to work. (I do not want to get paint on anything costly or time consuming to replace. Though I have.)

But then I gained some weight. Not a terrible amount--but just enough to make the sleeves too tight and the hems too short.

I went back to wearing yoga pants and Walmart T-shirts.

So, tonight was the night.
Face the demons.
Face the disappointment, once and for all.

I counted.
I had 24 sweaters.

sorry for the crappy lighting, but I did it while I was motivated which was after 9pm.

That includes 6 cardigans (2 not shown) and 6 turtlenecks.

After the sort and purge, I now have 12 sweaters-- including 4 cardigans and 2 turtlenecks. Unfortunately, pretty much all the colour was purged as well.

That black and grey diamond up there? Bought that last year and nearly wore it to death. I want another one!

But it's Ok. I find sweaters far too warm for work (not that I'd wear these there, anyway) and a titch too warm for most days at home when I'm doing stuff around the house. I mostly just need them when I'm sitting at the computer or watching TV. And all I need is one good cardigan for that!