Nesting in the NCC

My girls started it...first with the beads.

"Look at the new storage organizers I just received in the post for my beads!"

We all looked and were very impressed. Magical has a superb way of organizing her beads which had me thinking about correcting my stash...just a thought, but there it was.

As our chatting went on, the pictures flooded in with our usual show and tell (long distance digging through another's stash which is still great fun) and the conversation really kicked into high gear about bead storage and sorting and organizing.

The very  next day I had to make a quick trip to Joann's for something...now I cannot remember what...and was briskly walking through the store to my intended destination...where? hmmmm...no matter....and LO!! a sign that clearly stated that all organizer boxes were currently 50% off and THERE on the shelf was this suitcase filled with smaller boxes....screeching stop in the brisk walk and let's have a look.  Oh yes, this is exactly what I need.

Now I remember, I had gone in for velcro, more brisk walking, suitcase in hand, velcro acquired and now to pay and leave before anything else caught my eye (it's so hard...so many things to see!)

Taking my "suitcase" home I proudly shared with my girls who also really loved it.  I set to work sorting bead colors and then asking if I should combine beads and sequins into same color boxes...answer was yes I should.  And then it hit me like a slap!  I had entirely too many beads (gasp) and there were sequins in my storage containers (the old containers that leak sequins everywhere) I will never use!  If I'm going to downsize and re-organize I'd better do it right this time.

I ended up splitting most of my beads equally so that I could send squishy packages to all my girls with beady stash enhancers or starters (a few of the girls really don't have any beads to speak of) and two days later I had a wonderfully organized suitcase of love and five squishy envelopes stuffed with little packets of beads for my girls.

I got rid of those nasty, leaking containers for the sequins which also emptied out another one of my little totes.  Could not be more pleased!

And thennnnnn....

The conversation about floss.  The girls had been receiving their floss orders or subscriptions and you already know how that went!  More show and tell, lots of pictures, love and...

Yes, I had to dig out every skein of floss I had and input that into my phone app so I knew what I had and did not have so I could shop properly next time.  It turns out I have more than I thought but thankfully I already had three brand new floss boxes I had purchased two years ago just sitting there waiting for me to "bobbinate" (as the girls are calling it) my flosses.  

This will take awhile to finish up because I keep getting interrupted by things like "work", "family", and the cat.

I was not playing with your yarn, I was just making sure it was not in a ball for you!

Lady Door is her name and some of you have seen her before.  She has laid claim to me as her main "human" and insists on getting into things, practicing her lioness roaring and demanding I throw her favorite rubber band around so we can play fetch.

She is NOT my cat.  Her human lives downstairs on the main level, but she prefers my company to his most of the time.  I think she only visits him because he is the one who feeds her, but who knows?

She has NOT been instrumental in my kitting process, and now I can say that I have almost all of my patterns kitted up and ready for stitching.  This kitting process has been going on for a year.  It has been a really difficult time for me.  I want to keep the leaflets and patterns, but have to ask myself over and over, "are you really going to stitch this?"  So I put some leaflets into each of the squishy envelopes for my girls to go with the beads.

Now that you are done, this is mine.

I've even updated my LIST to show that I am really trying to be realistic.  My hobby can be an obsession, so let us just change the way we obsess to reflect what I am actually able to do and get that kitted up and never mind the hoarding.

I am officially going back on my pattern fast like I did last year.  It worked really nicely for months!  I have plenty of free patterns and have been updating the Resources page at the NCCIH for links to free patterns, but I will not purchase a new pattern for myself again this year.  You scoff, but I'll bet you a shiny nickel I can do it!

The last to be kitted up.

Let's not forget that I can "shop" in my girl's stash as well and ask if they will share...of course they will...they are enablers of the highest degree!

Then there are the  remaining leaflets that need to be kitted up. This does not include the special box with all of my Teresa Wentzler books, leaflets and printouts.

Those are special and receive a different kind of treatment.  Very careful consideration goes into those patterns.

I also have books I haven't even brought to light, and ancient manuscripts (they used to be called magazines but they are old and crispy and turn to dust when touched), but I like keeping them where they are, which is nicely organized on the shelf and in magazine carriers.  In case I need "something" that isn't already kitted up.  The Ancient Manuscripts are a project all by themselves but I keep putting that off.

Overall, I am very pleased with myself for downsizing, sharing and organizing.  I can feel that the end of this project is drawing very near, but it may be another year (or five) until it is completed.  I will be ready for retirement fully stocked, well organized and ready for full time fun!  My potential five year plan.  Until next time.....

How will I resist picking up a new TW pattern while on my pattern fast this year?  Oh dear, I may lose that nickel after all!