Monday, January 2, 2012

Thoughts on Stuff and Change

The new year brings with it the idea of a fresh start.


 Maybe this year I'll get some of those projects done.  Maybe this year I'll finally start eating healthy.  Maybe this year I'll overcome bad habits that I've had for so long it is embarrassing to think about it!

One of the things I am determined to do this year is get rid of some stuff.  My closets are jammed with fabric and linens I've saved to use for sewing or quilting projects.  I had a yard sale last year but didn't get rid of enough.


 Our attic has too many things I've picked up at yard sales with the intention of painting or repurposing.  I have so many prints and paintings that are just very dated looking.

And that's another thing I find my tastes in decorating are changing.  I'm longing for a quieter pallette.  I love bright colors but I am craving the peace that comes with softer tones.  As my mother got older she began to decorate in more neutral colors, which I used to think was boring.  Now I am understanding her need for serenity.

We have a sofa and two chairs with footstools in our TV room that are red and denim.  I'm thinking about making slipcovers for all of them in  white or beige or pale blue.  I'd like to find a great deal in a old indestructible leather chair for my hubby and get rid of his present one altogether!  All the quilts I have made are very bright crayon box colors and I use them as wall hangings which make a very bold statement in a room, but they are just too bright for me now and I don't know if I want that bold statement anymore.  When I mentioned my idea to change my daughter said, "But that's not you."  Maybe I am becoming a "new me." 

This is still in the planning not action stage, but I hope I can follow through with it. Thanks for listening to my ramblings today :)

Rhondi

18 comments:

  1. I 'whitened' almost everything in my house a couple years ago and I still love it.. I didn't realize it was an age thing, but I think you may be right..these old eyes just don't like the bright colors anymore.

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  2. I have a lot of the same "resolutions" that you do. I,too, have closets of fabrics for projects I have long forgotten. How are you planning to sell/give it? We no longer have Home Ec in our schools. How did you package/advertise it in your sale? I really want to empty a few closets myself! Good Luck.

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  3. Well, if you decide to get rid of some of your beautiful, bright quilts, please let us know - perhaps some of us will want to buy them... Happy New Year!

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  4. Just dropping by to visit my dear friend! I have not visited your blog or anyone's blog in soooo long! I have been too busy to do the things I enjoy the most!! I could of written your post today...I too want to "clean out" this year and I am having a change in my color taste! Let's both hope we can accomplish some of our goals this year!
    Big Hugs!!!
    ~~~rhonda~~~

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  5. I understand the yearning for a little serenity, and that's why I have slipcovers - they give me the opportunity for change when I need it, and then I can have another look when I need that. Perhaps for now you could make some quiet slipcovers and fold some of the quilts at the end of beds dressed in white.

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  6. About 2 yrs. ago I really changed how I was decorating. I made everything simpler. I have always had a white couch and one and half chair with matching ottoman. I love them!! I use pale blue pillows on the couch. I have a more beachy feel to everything in the living room now too! It is much lighter, brighter and simpler. Good luck to you Rhondi!

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  7. I have experienced the same change in taste, moved to quiet colors. I love the colors of the pastel eggs, they still are rich in colors, the blues, greens and tans. My room is now mostly beige and tans with a little black and I love it. If I had a second bedroom, I would do it in the egg colors - no doubt about it. I feel like I am constantly changing, makes for an interesting life.

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  8. I understand your need for change. When I turned 50 I started to want major changes in my life. Don't know if it was just hormones or age but decorating and hobbies that I once loved suddenly took a turn for something completely different. Change is good....nothing stays the same!~Hugs, Patti

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  9. You and I are in the same place, my friend. I hope to accomplish those unfinished projects, get rid of a lot of stuff, simplify my life and bring a softer color palette to my home. And I know my tastes are changing, too. I think it's a good thing! Wish we lived close enough to have the Garage Sale of the Year together! Oh, no - maybe that wouldn't be good. We just might buy each other's stuff and that wouldn't work!
    ~Adrienne~

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  10. I've changed my palette to fit my home, a northwestern mid century rambler. Sold the victorian stuff and redid the bedroom in a modern, monochromatic scheme of beiges, browns, taupes and a bit of black; with very little pattern. It took all the self control I had to not buy 'colors' and patterns. But the outcome is serene and gorgeous. Have fun with your changes, I think you'll like it!

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  11. Rhondi...I too think our taste changes as we become older and hopefully wiser. Which I think is one reason we seek to live simple...rid ourselves of things that we do not use.

    I have done this so many time just because of our missionary living overseas. Now we are stateside and I am finding how hard it is to keep that simple life. Too many choices make it hard to be simple.

    We have been sorting through things stored for many years...it feels good to give away items we have lived without and really did not miss. We move to California in a couple months with only a few household items, no furniture. With not much money I will certainly have to trust the Lord to supply all we need once again.
    So you can pray for me as I must be content with what God bring my way.

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  12. I need to follow again you as I miss your posts now that you are blogging again. Good to see you the other day. Your blog looks different !!!! Nice and no frills! It will be fun to see the changes you make in your house, but what about all your beautiful, colorful quilts? You probably could have quite a sale.

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  13. Rhondi, I can truly relate. I'm seriously working on cleaning out and getting rid of things. I've been to the thrift store there times this week to drop things off. Much like you, I have things that were waiting to be redone, fabrics sitting to become quilts, ... I've decided it's time to move this stuff out and into some other person's life. I thought about a yard sale, but that's just more work. LOL So I'm donating it all to my favorite thrift store. Wish me luck that I'll keep this up. It may take me all year!
    Happy New Year to you. I'm so happy that you are blogging again. ~ Sarah

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  14. Hi, Rhondi...soo glad to see you again.:)
    I am doing the same...cleaning out, taking stuff to the thrift store...
    taking lots of stuff off walls. I crave less and less on walls, tabletops, mantels. I think the more simple way of life is becoming more popular.
    hugs, bj

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  15. Hi, Rhondi...soo glad to see you again.:)
    I am doing the same...cleaning out, taking stuff to the thrift store...
    taking lots of stuff off walls. I crave less and less on walls, tabletops, mantels. I think the more simple way of life is becoming more popular.
    hugs, bj

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  16. Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

    HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

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  17. I am so there with you on this one. Good luck.

    My son always tells me to please not leave him with all of my "stuff". He makes me laugh.

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  18. I can totally relate to this - and one thing I try NOT to do is give all my unwanted junk to family members! If I don't want it, they don't want it either, and they have their own styles and preferences.

    I have a neighbor who is always trying to give her unwanted stuff to her adult children and they are always complaining about her offloading stuff on them, so I try to never do that!

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Hi
Thanks so very much for taking the time to leave a comment. I always read every one. I am glad you stopped by for a visit. Hope you'll come again!
Rhondi