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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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February 2, 2015

Go Small or Go Home!

No friends, that’s not a typo. I really do mean go SMALL or go home!

You see, I realized something recently. I’m fairly certain that if someone were to conduct a study on the feeling you get after accomplishing a BIG project it would be pretty close to the feeling you get after accomplishing a small project.

Think about if for a minute. You’ve been putting something off for weeks, months, maybe even years.

You know it won’t take very long to get it done. And yet, it always seems to be way down on the priority list.

And then, you finally come to that point where you simply can’t put it off any longer or where you simply can’t shove one more thing into that drawer or where you get attacked by ribbons when you open that cabinet door.

Please still like me after seeing this next photo. 😉

messy craft supplies

I mean, for reals folks. This is how this cabinet has been for a looooooonnnnnggggg time. Like, at least a couple of years.

For the love of all that is good and organized, look away you OCD people, look away! I don’t want to traumatize you!!

Meanwhile, while this basket sat there looking like it vomited ribbons, I’ve somehow managed to accomplish big projects. Like this one and this one.

Obviously I had the time to tackle my cabinet of overflowing craft supplies. But, it always seemed like there was sometime more important, more worthwhile I could be doing.

messy ribbon basket

Until one day when I simply reached my breaking point. I realized that I wasn’t even remotely interested in attempting any new crafting projects because I dreaded opening up those doors and digging through all of those supplies.

Enough was enough.

organized craft supplies in cabinet atthepicketfence.com

And guess what. This took me all of oh…say…about a half an hour.

organizing craft paint in cabinet atthepicketfence.com

And as I was throwing away old, dried up paint and little bits of ribbon (which had me seriously questioning my sanity because why on earth would I hold onto so many little bits of ribbon?!), I realized that the emotions I was experiencing were very close to the emotions I felt after I accomplished those so-called bigger projects.

organized ribbon drawer atthepicketfence.com

The thrill I felt looking at the row of ribbon all neatly wrapped and bound sitting in the drawer was almost exactly the same feeling I’ve felt after painting a room or doing a big DIY project.

organized ribbons in drawer atthepicketfence.com

I talked at the beginning of the year about how it’s ok to start small. Because starting small is better than not starting at all.

And I think I’m just going to make that my mantra for this entire year.

Don’t get me wrong. I still have BIG projects coming up. In fact, next week there will be some major painting and DIY’ing going on up in here.

But, frankly, it makes me exhausted just thinking about what needs to happen to get ready for this BIG project.

organized craft supplies in drawer

And, you see, that’s the glorious thing about these small projects. They usually don’t require BIG preparations.

I mean, honestly, the feeling of pure joy I get from seeing my scarves all rolled up in a drawer is pretty awesome.

Oh sure, after walls are painted and shelves are built next week, I know I will feel a lot of joy then too. But it will be tempered by the amount of work that will have gone into it.

But, this drawer, well this drawer can be just pure joy because so little effort went into getting to look like that.

organized scarves in drawer atthepicketfence.com

And, every time I go to pull out a scarf and see them all greeting me in their neat and tidy rows I’m reminded that you don’t always have to go BIG in your home.

Sometimes it’s just as good to go small. 🙂

Happy Monday Friends!

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7 Comments Filed Under: Decorating

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Comments

  1. Nancy says

    February 2, 2015 at 4:10 AM

    I know how you feel!! I did the same thing last week! All of those small disorganized space!! Spent a little time and voilà, nice and tidy. Ahhhhh!

    Reply
  2. Beverly Cook says

    February 2, 2015 at 4:27 AM

    What a great idea to tidy up the scarves in this way! I have two sock drawers that need to be emptied as I never wear the cute doggy socks anymore. Going to fold up my scarves and make much better use of the drawer. Thanks so much for this post. I’ll work on my ‘small project’ today!! <3

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    February 2, 2015 at 4:45 AM

    So good to see someone else who has little messes that are put off. I have been slowly cleaning up junky areas, too and it feels so good.

    Reply
  4. Jean from Georgia says

    February 2, 2015 at 2:34 PM

    I feel your pain. For two years my baseboards have needed sanding and painting. For the entire month of January I have been sanding and painting and getting fresh manicures each Saturday so I can attend church paint free. The project if about half finished and I am feeling so good! Hope to finish before spring weather makes me want to dig instead of paint.

    Reply
  5. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    February 2, 2015 at 7:27 PM

    I need to get cracking on my scarf drawer too!…Love that way you used the tiered stands to display and store your paints, glues, etc. Everything looks wonderful….and Happy Ground Hog Day too!….it’s too bad he saw his shadow!

    Reply
  6. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    February 3, 2015 at 6:46 AM

    So right Vanessa! I love to accomplish small jobs and I do get so much satisfaction! That’s how I accomplish big jobs too. I “chunk” them out! Little bit, by bit. I can get a little overwhelmed if I look at the whole big huge job! LOVE your ribbon collection. xo

    Reply
  7. Julia G. says

    February 5, 2015 at 10:44 AM

    Thank you for the motivation to make my scarves look neat and tidy!

    Reply

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