What’s your favourite stationery tool or gadget?

…a relationship.

.. a job.

… a home.

…a time in your life.

…your stuff.

There’s no doubt that death is final.  And confronting.

In the past weeks, I’ve been working with clients who’ve experienced major changes through death of a loved one.  It’s made me consider how death is really is the only one truly inevitable moment in our lives.  And even if a loved one is unwell or elderly, nothing actually prepares you for the moment they die.

There’s also the end of an era (your children leaving home), the end of a career (retirement), the end of your home (a fire, flood or other event) or the loss of your belongings due to theft or loss (I still mourn my green and black coat left on a plane).

Of course, we all have personal experience of these events.  And sharing experiences is a valuable way to heal.  Has the death of a loved one impacted you? How did you deal with their belongings?  How did you deal with YOUR belongings (for example, the photos of your time together, love letters etc).  Or have you had a moment when letting go of the physical items helped you heal and move on? How long did the process take?  Have you grieved for lost belongings?

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

(this post inspired by Hellen Buttigieg, thank you Hellen)

What do you reuse? Wrapping paper? Newspaper? The back of envelopes? Twist ties from the bread bags? Does it save you money? Or just make you feel you are helping the planet? A woman attending one of my workshops sliced off the ribbons on new garments (the ribbons that secure the garment to the hanger) and saved them for card making! She was kind enough to let us all laugh at her (as we all held onto our own dirty recycling secrets).

I’d love to know: what are you silly, clever or not-sure-why recycling ways?

Yes, O, I see the sense.

Do you have The Crap Exchange at your place? What treasures go around?

To enter, simply email me with the words “Better Homes than Yours” in the subject line and tell me which year did I present 43 episodes of craft and design concepts?  Include your postal address and full name in the body of the message too.  Comp closes 5pm AEST this Friday 10th February 2012.

Good luck – and be quick these tix will go F-A-S-T-E-R than you can paint yourself a makeover.  And we all know you can’t have a makeover without paint, now can you?!

One of my favourite websites is Apartment Therapy (inspiring, diverse)

One of my favourite DIY websites is IKEA hackers (creative, curious)

Put them all together and you have a stunning take on the Expedit! I love this concept; I’m a big fan of wall mounted storage to instantly make a space appear larger.

IKEA Expedit, Rejiggered IKEA Hackers | Apartment Therapy.

“It’s so sad when what you leave is just a mess.

My MIL thought she was keeping the family’s history safe, storing heirlooms for generations and keeping the stories and traditions alive for each item’s use. But there are only 2 grandchildren, neither of whom really grew up knowing of those stories, traditions nor caring about these items. And my SILs aren’t into the family history nor into any inherent value the items might have for ‘retro fashion’.

In recent years, my in-laws were increasingly reluctant to throw anything out or rationalise any of their space. Everything is crammed in – dried flower arrangements from the 80s (amalgamated from those given for meaningful occasions now forgotten) stand among the photos on top of the entertainment unit full of videos no-ones watches, CDs no-one listens to, cassettes no-one remembers…the glass and china cabinet, the linen closet, her wardrobe, all are the same: full of memories no-one can unlock any more because my FIL has Alzheimers and most of the last 50 years are a blur.

We have scraps of notes for a family history, never followed up. Scraps of anonymous photos and handsewing, kept because ‘someone’ made them or was in them, we’ll never know who. My SILs aren’t interested in helping me clean up. FIL wants to sell what he can, and there’s little that’s saleable because of how it was all kept, jammed in with the plastic bags and the pantyhose, the handcreams and tissues.

I keep thinking we’re dealing with losing her just 2 weeks ago; we shouldn’t also have to deal with 20-year-old misshapen Tupperware, 10-year-old takeaway containers, 6 bags of old medicines; 2 cupboards of chipped kitchenware that are 40 years out of date and not used for the last 10………..

It’s heart-breaking. “

I’ve held onto the learn to crochet book.  Year after year, I’d lament my failed efforts.  Year after year, I’ve hung onto hope I will one day learn to crochet.  All I ever wanted was to be able to craft an Afgan rug (sometime known as granny rugs).  I can’t be that hard… can it?

Late last year, I  finally realised that that book represents who I want to be.  I want to be a skilled crafter who whips up pretty rugs in an evening while watching The Two Ronnies.  That’s why I couldn’t let the book go.  It held a dream of the person I wanted to be.  Once I realised that, things changed.  I set about becoming that person.  I booked into crochet lessons.  Four lessons, with the promise of having the basics at the end – enough to be able to craft that frickin’ Afgan.  I hoped.

The short version of the story is that after the lessons, I still felt ill equipped and was no more skilled.  The book, the beautiful new red anodised hook and the super soft baby blue wool had to go.

And last night, I thought, I’ll just try once more…

…BINGO…. I got it.  It’s like riding a bike.

I can finally crochet!  I get it!  Well, DC at least

It’s like Dr Phil says: Today will be a changing day in your life!!

What are you holding onto with hope?  What do you own that holds a promise?  What have you conquered?