Hoarding...

Am I a hoarder? I love watching Hoarders and Hoarders: Buried Alive because it makes me feel better about myself. I am not as bad as those people, or am I? I do not hoard garbage and I don't have to walk on a foot of trash to get around. And I don't hoard animals. But I do have a problem throwing things away and collecting things I don't have room for. I also have health issues that make it hard for me to keep up with housework. I don't really think I have to much stuff, my house is just too small!!! No, really!!! LOL

I live in a VERY small cottage. The main house is 24' x 24", 480 square feet! And then my scrapbook room is on the back porch in an area about 8' x 6', 48 square feet. That is only 528 square feet for my whole house!! Some new homes have living rooms bigger than that! That is seriously small, especially for a collector like me. Don't be scared, but I am about to show you some pictures of my scraproom, and also two other problem areas. My goal this summer is to clean them up, get rid of stuff and then organize what I want to keep.

First, this is my yarn areas. It is all in the living room. I have 6 milk crates full of yarn. Each crate holds at least 12 jumbo one pound skeins of yarn or 15 regular skeins, or more. That is just a drop of my yarn. There is another larger crate under the TV tray full of yarn, plus a couple of wip's in bags, and many spools of cotton. Next picture are my totes full of squares that need joining from the ladies at AC4C, plus a couple other boxes. Third picture is behind my recliner. There is a huge extra large tote full of yarn, plus 4 more boxes sitting on top of that, all full of yarn. So that is my yarn foolishness that fills the living room! I'm really not sure what to do with it though, but there must be a better way.

Now for the shocking scrapbook/craft area!!!

This is part of my table, it is supposed to be my work area, but you can't even see the actual table!

To the left of the pic are wire cubes full of paper and albums, and misc.

There are also 2 Iris carts, each with 6 12 x 12 containers (full of cardstock & paper)behind my chair. 

This is the picture from the doorway. In this pile of items there is a Cricut, a sewing machine, a Bind-it-all, a Cuttlebug, a Slice, all still in their boxes. No where to put them to use them. Plus there is an abundance of other containers of misc scrapping stuff that have no real home.

This is another look at the racks of paper and misc to the left of my table.

This green cabinet is full of scrapping supplies and misc. Most of it was my Leaving Prints stock. On top is an assortment of Christmas items

This is another view of my table. There are magazine holders full of scrapbook mags and all the supplies I always use, plus smaller embellishments. The photo boxes do not belong there. Actually most of the things on that desk should be somewhere else, but I don't know just where that should be!

This is a look at the right side of my desk. None of that stuff should be there, but it has no permanent home.

These pictures show my shelves. It is a huge unit and is full of shoe boxes. It holds 15 per shelf. 3 up, 5 across. Unfortunately it is overrun by junk that also doesn't go there. Plus there is another shelf unit and a 3 drawer cabinet. Just lots of junk that I should get rid of in this area.

And finally the area under my desk. it is full of boxes of pricesless mementos (I think), USPS boxes, scrapbook supples I never use, new purchases, and crap. As you can see there is a bag of jumbo punches, my wastebasket, a brand new lamp, and in my chair is a box full of my Angel Company stamps that need mounted and cut out. The room is just a catch-all for any overflow. It makes me sick to even go out there, I just don't know where to start and what to do first. I need some serious help out there! 

Now, for the next problem area. It is in my kitchen. I have a 6' x 4' table. Originally it was to hold my computer (my old one), and my printer, and an area for mail, and then a surface to work on for cookng.

Underneath has become a book depository, lots of craft mags, and purchases with no home.

It's hard to tell, but this is the top of the table. As you can see, the computer is still there, although you have to fight to get to it! Lots of junk with no home is on top of the table.

This is the other end of the table, Behind that stack of magazines lies my printer. You can't even see it! Hard to believe, but I did find room enough to fill my crockpot today!

So, what's the verdict... hoarder..... not a hoarder? It is a very fine line. And I am going to get something done with all of it. I belong to FreeCycle, but it just tortures me to give stuff away. Well, admitting you have a problem is half the cure, right? And I do admit I have a problem.

That's all for this post..... Later, Patti