My new tickler file

I've really been enjoying the paper clutter class these past few weeks, learning a bit about myself and encouraged that I'm not the only one out there that struggles so much with all this paper LOL! One of my favorite take-aways from the class is the tickler file ... a set of 43 file folders labeled with the days of the month (31), as well as one for each of the 12 months. I set mine up about a week or so ago and it's already helped me tremendously. Here's a pic:
I used some colorful center tab folders that I wasn't using elsewhere, trimmed off the tab and added my own tabs using scrapbook paper and my dymo labeler. (Of course, this was totally unnecessary ... one could just label the original tabs and move on, but it was fun to be a little crafty and use up some otherwise ignored scrapbook paper.) I added a pretty tea canister (that I'd saved "just because") to hold a pair of paper scissors and a couple pens and pencils. I also added a stapler (it's sitting in front of the folders in the bottom of the bin) and a small pad of paper. The folders are contained in an Itso bin from Target.Each night I pull the next day's folder and set it out on the kitchen counter for me to work on the next day. First thing in the morning I check to see what's in there and plan my day around those items and any items listed on the calendar. Occasionally I will move something to another day's folder if it's not urgent and I know I won't have time that day, and it's such a great thing to know that it won't be forgotten or misplaced. When the folder is finally empty, back in the bin it goes ... my goal is to have it emptied by noon, if possible.

I'm also loving the tickler file for other reminders, too ... if dh asks me to mow the lawn the next day, I drop a note so I don't forget (because otherwise I definitely WILL forget LOL!) The small notepad is for this very thing. It's also great for prayer requests, like for instance, I found out earlier this week that my grandma was having surgery on Thursday ... I dropped a note in Thursday's folder to remind me to pray for her. Love it! And yesterday I came up with another idea, too ... I bought a new broom but am not sure if I'm going to like it, so I took off the cover and placed it in the folder for a week later ... I figure by then I'll know for sure if I like it or not, and if I don't like it, I can put the cover back on and return it. I'm looking forward to coming up with some other great ways to use my tickler file to keep me on track! I actually had 50 file folders so I have an extra 7 folders to play with ... still thinking about what I might want to use those 7 folders for. Any ideas?

How about you? Do you have a tickler file? If so, please share. And if not, put one together, give it a try and let me know how you like it. You can actually buy tickler files already put together and ready for your papers, but it's so much cheaper (and way more fun) to put one together yourself. If you're like me, you've already got everything you need LOL! Here are a few websites to get you started:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~charles57/GTD/tickler.html
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/back-to-basics-the-tickler-file.html
http://tickler-file.com/
http://www.shockmd.com/2010/05/31/tickler-file-system/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG0FU_M_YB8&feature=related
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45671.asp
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45672.asp
http://www.thehomeofficeorganizer.com/tickler-file-your-style/

Oh, my! There's a lot out there about tickler files ... I could go on and on LOL! Have fun!

I need to count my blessings ...

I've been in such a funk lately ... nothing really appeals to me, not on a gut level. No joy. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not depressed, at least not the need-to-seek-professional-help kind of depressed. But I feel like I'm just going through the motions, not really living, just getting by. Have any of you ever felt like that? I just want to pull back for a bit, take some time for myself to give myself a good talking-to. But who has time for that? Then, recently, something got through the fog. I discovered this project a week or so ago and I can't get it out of my mind.I think I need to count my blessings, too, to remind myself that there are some wonderful things in my life. Things to be joyful about. I know in my head that I am surrounded by blessings, but I've lost sight of them. This is what I need a serious talking-to about! So I'm digging out my embroidery floss, scrounging up a piece of fabric to stitch on, and I'm going to start counting. Would you like to join me?

Fighting the Paper Tiger

I mentioned in my last post that I've been reading a bunch of books about organization. Why? Because one of the biggest reasons for not having done anything artsy lately is that there's too much clutter in the way. Stuff keeps getting moved from place to place, and a lot of it ends up in the least used room of the house ... my studio! Well, it's time to fight back and reclaim my space!!

Now there's all kinds of clutter going on around here ... gadgets, extra clothing, unfinished projects, etc. But my focus for the next several weeks is going to be the paper tiger ... not an easy task because I **heart** paper. To help me win the battle, I'm taking Aby Garvey's online workshop, "Organize Your Paper Clutter", which starts today.

My goal is to create a central file system where every piece of paper will have a home, whether temporary or permanent, and I can put my fingers on any piece in minutes. A lofty goal, to be sure, but one worth striving for. I'm off to read my first lesson!

Expanding my focus

I'm here ...

I've been here all along, actually ... I go to my blog page every day so that I can visit all the websites listed in the sidebar. But when it comes to actually posting something on my own blog, well ...

See, here's the thing. Notice the little subtitle under my blog's name? It says "A shady little spot where I can post my humble attempts at art and life." Art and life. But if you look back, you'll notice that all my posts are about art, or things that are art to me (like aprons). I found myself only posting when I had created something that I could take a picture of and say, "Look what I made!" Where's the life? The things I think about or do when I'm not making art?

As you can guess, I haven't really done anything artsy in quite awhile (well, that's not completely true ... after making this journal cover, I made a second one). But I've done other things ... homeschooled my girls, lost 40 lbs. (and still losing), read lots of organizing books, increased my exercise, started doing some redecorating. And yet, no posts, because I hadn't done any "art".

So I'm expanding my focus ... this blog is supposed to be a reflection of me, and there is more to me than quilting, sewing, crocheting. I can't promise that I'll post every day, but I will post. My art and my life.