clutter

Consignment Tips from A Clear Place

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A Clear PlaceA recent visit with shop owner, Judy Gulledge of Upscale Consignment in SE PDX has prompted me to do another update of my consignment tip sheet. Click on the link at the end of this post to download the latest version of this handy pdf file giving you new store information along with the proven guidelines for  “What, How and Where” when consigning your stuff. Happy clearing and good luck!

“Where do I consign my stuff?” That’s one of the most common questions I’m asked in clearing work. The answer, however, has more layers to it than just where. You also have to consider what and how. I’ve put together a nifty Consignment Tip Sheet to address all three. Every city I’ve traveled to has consignment stores with items ranging from high end to low brow. If you are lucky enough to live in the Portland metro area, there are some great choices for consigning furniture, fashion and jewelry. But even if you live outside the City of Roses, my CTS (Consignment Tip Sheet) has helpful hints on deciding what is good consignment material and how to prepare your items to help ensure a higher dollar return. Click here to get the pdf file: Consignment Tips from A Clear Place

AUTUMN – The Season of Letting Go

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AutumnThis week’s pick from A Clear Place Wisdom Cards is AUTUMN. Fall is all about releasing and letting go. Like the trees shedding their leaves to allow for new growth, it’s a great time to let go of all that stuff and clear your clutter. The energy of spider reigns now and teaches us to live simply. To be strong and focused but also willing to let go of what was in order to build anew. Git rid of what no longer serves you. Autumn honors the cycle of adulthood and being responsible caretakers of the land and our loved ones. In your home, use images of sunset, flowing water or fall scenes like this one. Diffuse essential oils of cinnamon, orange, clove and nutmeg. All of these blend well or use them individually.

The Season of Autumn corresponds to the element of Water, the direction of the West and the time of sunset.

About this photo: I encountered this brilliant maple tree on a walk in NW Portland. The street below was blanketed in gold but there were plenty more leaves to follow in the weeks ahead.

View more Wisdom Cards and order your deck today!

 

Clutterers Support Group

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kitchen 3A reminder from my Resource page: Clutterers Anonymous holds weekly meetings for anyone needing help with clutter or hoarding issues. There are two Portland locations to choose from including Thursday evenings at the beautiful Alano Club in NW PDX. Click here to get details and please pass this on to friends or family members who could use support around stuff issues. Meetings are free and always held in confidence. Often times the emotional issues attached to extreme clutter or hoarding prevent loved ones from asking for help. Having a third party or anonymous support can provide the encouragement needed to get started and stay on track.

Clutter Still a Hot Topic

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Oprah is still challenged by too much stuff. This month’s O magazine features another de-clutter special. The editors bring us organizing tips from Peter Walsh and a peek inside Gayle King’s closet as it gets a major makeover. And the queen herself reveals seven categories of things she has decided to finally live without – from head to toe. My favorite article in this issue deals with beauty clutter and the monster created by all the products we accumulate in our effort to look good. The numbers are pretty staggering: one gal had 169 lipsticks, 33 eye pencils and 39 makeup brushes. Another woman counted 40 hair conditioners and 25 shampoos. Whew! Find out what products made the cut and what got cleared out. Pick up the March issue at your local news stand. Online option: view excerpts from the “de-clutter” issue now.

STUFF coming up!

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“The thing I came away with the most was a real paradigm shift – I was able to think of keeping the house clean and clear of clutter as an act of self-care rather than just a chore. I think that will really help motivate my efforts.”  AH, NE Portland

Tigard Library sponsors STUFF-ication by Jane Green this Wednesday evening. 6:30-8:30. Free. No need to register. Bring a friend! Click here for more information.

STUFF Sheds Light

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 Love hearing from audience members who are putting the ideas into practice!  Julie G. writes:

“Thank you so much for the stuffication workshop on Tuesday 2/1 at the Beaverton Library.  It was both helpful and inspiring. 
 
I very much appreciated your brief history on how we got here.  The immediate post-war period in the U.S. was unique in that two major transformations converged: the advent of 1) credit cards and 2) mass advertising. Together these two innoventions ushered in an era of unprecedented economic growth fueled by consumer spending on products that people didn’t need and couldn’t afford.
 
Since the economic meltdown of 2008-2009, I have been amazed at government efforts to “increase consumer spending” in hopes that we can somehow get back to the halcion days of unregulated credit and out-of-control consumer spending. It was such a breath of fresh air to hear you give voice to the obvious: we will never get back there, and that is a good thing.  The future beckons us to spend less on “stuff” that we don’t need and can’t afford.

I came home from your workshop and made a plan for small incremental changes which I began today.  First books, then clothes, then kitchenstuff. This project of cleaning out which seemed so overwhelming to me before your workshop, now feels very doable.  Thank you!”

Stuffed Class!

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A record 40 people attended last night’s STUFF-ication workshop hosted by Beaverton City Library. Clearly a sign that lots of folks are needing help with their stuff issues. Couples, friends, parents with adult children, widows, grandparents, partners … it was great to have such a diverse audience. Thanks to all who made the effort to attend and participate. Here are just a few of the comments from Continue reading →

Good Side of Bad Weather

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 The surest way to beat the blues of bad weather or tough times is to do something to help out yourself or someone else.  And one of my favorite ways of doing both is to CLEAR out your stuff. Next time you are snowed in or feeling snowed under, here are 4 simple, FREE ways to feel better:

  • Open up your junk drawer(s) and start purging.
  • Get out your photos and sort them into envelopes to send to your loved ones – or scan into your computer for easy storage.
  • Clear up your email Inbox. Archive or delete old correspondence.
  • Go through your kitchen cupboards and discard any expired items.

Remember to recycle and reuse what you can. Don’t hold on to outdated anything. Clearing your place will have an immediate “feel lighter” effect on you and it’s a productive, proactive way to beat the blues and make the world a brighter place. Note: While you are clearing out, think about doing more precycling and easing your burdens by buying less to begin with … what a great way to welcome in a new year!