
Needlepoint Clutter
Clutter and how I wrestle with it is a recurring topic on this blog. Whether it is clutter in the home, garage, or yard, I win some and lose some. But I confess to a clutter mission as difficult as sorting photos, and that is my needlepoint projects.
Now, I picked up needlepoint in January of 1970. I hoped needlepoint would help me stop smoking. But I learned I could do both.
Eventually I stopped smoking, and I have completed several canvases. But I have accumulated quite a stash of unfinished canvasses – and so much thread!
So, when Netflix aired a whole series of Tidying Up I tuned in, hoping for motivation.
While I watched the families on Tidying Up make hard choices, I thought about the contents of a needlepoint bin on the top shelf of a sort of tidy closet. They started hailing me – “Yo-o-o-o-hooo, Let us keep you company while you veg in front of your DYI shows . . .”
I ignored their pleas, because a wholly different set of canvases were chirping in the sunroom – Turn off the television and come paint!
After binge watching several episodes of Marie Kondo help so many clients oppressed by their possessions, I was worn out, and too tired to sort those joy-givers in needlepoint bin.
Is this a first world problem or what?
But, as I was getting my strength back, I remembered estate sailing in Dallas, and the lessons I learned visiting some of the more posh places in Dallas. Seeing so many personal possessions valued, sorted and tagged was like seeing Ecclesiastes2:18-26 in living color.
On one of our adventures, I saw a display of so many unfinished needlepoint canvases and baskets of wool and threads. A few were appealing possibilities.
I felt joy!
But why take on another woman’s unfinished projects when so many of my own await completion – and may one day become a cheerless part of our own “estate” sale?
My unfinished projects are not the equal of the estate sale display – but perilously close.
You know you are getting old when it takes too much effort to procrastinate. ~Author Unknown
Maybe I need to teach our grandkids to needlepoint and sort wool. They have certainly make quick work of several painting canvases!

Artists at Work
I found the following article helpful and hopeful: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/does-she-spark-joy?fbclid=IwAR09J5n5jAslsMJea9sv-oG1qJZzZSMuZBBsR38BK2cEhj1mJhTJUDiKZc0
I tuned into Tidying Up and quickly tuned out, I’m in denial about my clutter.