Well, it's a week and a half since I said I was cleaning and reorganising my work room. This was an important task for me. It's the one room I let get completely chaotic before I fix it, and it's the space I am writing the book in. To write well, I need a calm, quiet space. When you see the photos of what it looked like, you'll agree, it was well and truly in need of some attention and care. But now, 1½ weeks later, and taking into account that I was down with a cold for some of that time, here I am to reveal the before and after photos. I am ashamed to show some of these photos but we're in the business of telling it straight, so here they are.
Here is the full extent of the mess. The result of two women (my sister and I) using one room in which to sew, and to write in.
I started folding and sorting out the fabrics first.
While piles started forming ...
there was still so much more to do.
Believe it or not, this is a photo of progress and moving forward.~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It took me about three days of slowly folding, sorting, cleaning and rearranging before I could start seeing an end in sight. I took a few days off with my cold, then back to finish up. And here it is now, where I am sitting right now writing this.
I started work on the book again yesterday and expect it to take up most of my time for the next few months. I have a wonderful editor at Penguin called Jo who is working with me and I am confident we will produce a book that will help us all move forward towards more simple and self reliant lives.
The sewing machine and overlocker/serger are in the cupboard and I doubt they'll be used for anything other than urgent repairs until next year.
Right next to the cupboard I have this little unit that holds genealogy papers and my knitting supplies.I am delighted I took on this task and persevered until it was finished. It feels so good to be sitting here right now knowing that everything is where it should be and that I can function well here. Having a clean and organised work area will support the work I have ahead of me.
I know a lot of you joined in this challenge and the thread over at the forum is now running 15 - 16 pages. It's been very encouraging to work alongside other women with us all focused on the same goals. I hope you'll all be finished your tasks soon and be as happy as I am that it's finished.
