Hello! Tomorrow is my 70th birthday! I have been decluttering seriously for the last couple of years and the enormity and sentimentality of the task is much more than I realized. I did decluttering/cleaning at my daughter's house after she died and cleaned out for my mother and mother-in-law after they passed. For myself personally, it is much harder because of all the memories. Good Luck to all of you cleaning out; don't despair - we can do it!

@yvonneiversen8749

2 жыл бұрын

Happy 71st birthday to you!

Hi Kate. I love your videos! Here is my clean out story. My mother was an award winning knitter and I inherited all of her sweaters, scarves and hats. It’s been 9 years since she passed, so I gave myself permission to donate some of her sweaters to my local thrift shop, which I did reluctantly. When sitting in church one Sunday, I saw an elderly lady wearing one of my mom’s beautifully made sweater. I was so happy to actually see it being worn by this dear lady, and was glad that she could use it to keep warm. Good luck with your clean out!

My dear Kate, YOU spark joy, even when you don't feel well. I know I don't post much, but whenever doing stuff around the house, I love to take you along and have you talk to me. So around here, between my husband and me, you've gotten the nickname "Come-along-Kate". Thanks for being the lovely human which you are!-

@083purplecola

3 жыл бұрын

When severe back pain gets me down, oftentimes I will start the video list from the first and listen (I can't watch often due to eye health). Hearing her calming voice is soothing.

@happyheidishow-2s268

3 жыл бұрын

Amy Adkins I so agree!!

Agnes’ quilt has a touch of Monet Water Lilies about it from a distance

in one of your videos that i recently watched you had asked us to mention how we found out about you - well i can't believe that i see the item that brought me over to you - its only seen in the beginning clip and the ending clip - well all the way on the right - in the back of your room - there is a window - and on your window you have this opened quilt curtain - from what i understand you can hand it in a doorway or on a window - i don't know what it's called - but my friend Becky watches you - and she made it - and was very proud of how it came out - so she told us about you AND lol - i am sooooooooo happy she did - you are the only one i've been watching all day - every day - for the last several days - you do everything that i love and enjoy - quilting - cooking - pottery - baking - making things lol - i am so glad to know you!!!

Don't beat yourself up, Kate. Listen to your body and take care of yourself. You did quite well with your editing of your wardrobe. That's a real accomplishment. The clothes that fit but not keeping, you could make a memory quilt

Phone your knickers.......oh my gosh Kate thank you for that. You have caught me off guard and laughing so hard my eyes are tearing. I needed that belly laugh. I just love you Kate!

Thank you for taking us through the ordinary. Not everyday is spinning beautiful yarn or glazing beautiful pots. We enjoy those tremendously ))). ..but you inspire us to do the ordinary as well. Clearing out the not-wonderful is rewarding. It lets us know we are worth beautiful in every aspect of our lives. Our not-wonderful can be someone else's perfect. Permission to let it sit for 6 weeks in the middle of the doing is reassuring that what we do is enough. The really ratty can be transformed into carbon for the garden. I love your choices of music. They are calm even when there is a bit of spice. I am so glad the lime green sofa extends all the way to my house. Hugs on you Lady. )))

Be an essentialist, keep what you need and love and toss the rest, but keep what is essential to Kate for Kate to be happy and healthy

Agnes' quilt is really coming along, it's really beautiful.

This has so many reverberations for me, I can sympathise with your lack of energy. I suffer with fibromyalgia and often have periods of exhaustion and it becomes so frustrating when you can’t do what you want. You have to slow down and pace yourself. Long hard days like driving down to your dad’s and back you will find very draining. I have the same problem with junk - it’s finding the energy that’s the problem definitely a case of the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Just take your time and you’ll get there. Take care, big gentle hugs, pace yourself and don’t overdo things

@marypiette5409

3 жыл бұрын

I get the energy (lack thereof) and fibro thing. I say what is most important to do today. Sometimes I get to it sometimes I do not. I don't worry about it.

I have clean out my clothes and any cotton shirt I cut up for fabric scraps. Then when a make a quilt for family they have a part of me in it.

@joharmon2148

4 жыл бұрын

I was thinking of this while watching her pile the clothes up.

Dear Kate I’m sure you can tell by the many comments we have missed you terribly. Continue getting better and take care. Hugs from the USA.

Hi Kate, so glad you feel you have returned a corner and have a little more energy, the danger is trying to cram everything into that small window of energy and crashing, the aftermath of overdoing any fatigue syndrome is depressing as you are then having to rest and watching things pile up again and back where you started. It’s a bit like learning to walk again, baby steps. So glad you feel that you can vlog again, it’s lovely to have you back! I have been watching a newer channel to the crafting, knitting, sewing and crochet world of KZread and i think you will enjoy her podcasts as she is relaxing to watch and unintentionally funny, and reminds me a bit of Alan Bennett’s talking heads series, but she is unscripted of course. You may have already found her channel, it’s “Stitched by Mrs D” and her name is Paula. Take care of yourself Kate and remember, baby steps lol X

When I purge, I try to think how happy someone else will be to be able to find this at their local thrift store. I know, if I kept stuff and cut it up I would just end up with more stuff I would eventually need to get rid of. So out the first time!! Wipe my hands of the mess!!

Great to see you Kate. Here's an idea for you. Take that lovely tunic you made off the body form and hang it in your blue section (even if it isnt hemmed), THEN, choose your absolute favourite non-fitting joy sparker from the pile and drape THAT on the body form. Tah Dah, a bit of joy every time you enter the room. Lose the rest, since there is SO much more joy to come. Take it slow and easy mate xxx

So glad you’re finding your way back. We miss you, but do be careful and don’t overdo!

There is a lovely woman in Australia called Evelyn Wood. She is a seamstress and a keen opponent of "fast fashion". She teaches sewing and refashioning of garments. Last year she started something called Monday mending. Every Monday, we chose something out of our mend pile and deal with it. Of course, you could do more if you wanted, but just knowing every Monday I will fix one thing has been just the little boost I needed to actually conquer some mending. I did what you are doing earlier this year. My closet contents shrunk down more than 50%. It was wonderful. Even if it was something I loved, if I wasn't able to wear it, I focused on moving it along to the charity shop so somebody else could love it. I am glad you are feeling better, and shall hold you in thought and prayer for a complete recovery.

@glennarenner4239

3 жыл бұрын

Just now watched your video on down sizing. I have spent the whole Summer cleaning out the basement after living here 60 years. It's been exhausting ! Now I need to tackle the main living area. It's hard letting go of things. I am a perfectionist and parents saved everything as they went thru the depression. Kate is a delight to listen to her U-Tubes.

You’ll like this...... keep your unwanted tights for when you render your beeswax. We put all the manky wax from old frames into a pop sock/cut off tights, tie a knot in the top and suspend it on a stick over an old jug (we have one specially for this task), put it in a warm oven to melt, just over 64 degrees C. The clean wax will drip through. We pour the melted wax into a takeaway container and, hey presto, you have an ingot of lovely clean wax. The tights and manky bits can just be thrown away. We can trade the ingot for new foundation wax at our local bee supplier shop. 🐝😘

@AdiarraS

4 жыл бұрын

What an AWESOME way to reuse those tights!!!

@sylviasidwell8949

3 жыл бұрын

brilliant! step by step is the way to go. I have been doing this, don't rush. I have a list, jobs most needing doing at the top. one job a day is important,, no more, too exhausting. you have less overwhelmingly down days. you won't get to the end if you keep wiping yourself out. I has taken me 10 months but all sorted now. just one job a day. miss you but only want you back when you are well and strong Sylvia xx

Your video isn boring, Kate, because YOU’RE not boring. If five minutes a day is all you can put to the task, that’s a start. Set a timer. Get done what you can in five minutes, and then rest. Then put in another five minutes again tomorrow. I read a book called A YEAR TO CLEAR by Stephanie Bennett (or Stephanie Vogt Bennett) which you might enjoy and which might be helpful. It addresses all sorts of emotional/psychological issues behind our *collections* of things, especially for us crafting folks and hobbyists, but not in a heavy-handed way. Most of the chapters are only 1 or 2 pages long. It really helped me focus and prepare to move out of state several years ago. God bless you on this journey. 💞 May your health continue to improve. 🌸💐

I really like the way you work on the big projects…steadily or when it suits you, and you do finish! Agnes has the love of 100k+ people in that beautiful quilt! She is well loved.❤

I enjoyed this video, because we all must face the beasts in our home that Rob of of our joy and energy. I too am ill at this time the desire is there but the spirit is weak. I did start my 1st crib quilt last night at class. The top is cut, one complete square is sewn, and the rest pinned and ready for sewing. I felt accomplished in that. The baby shower is April 10th so less than a month away. It's a simple 9 patch x 6. Unicorn's. I'm happy I have finally done it, attempting to learn, as I started this endeavor in 1975 Kate! How time gets away. Glad you're starting to feel better in this video.

Today is the first day that I watched your KZread presentations. I live in Michigan in the lower peninsula on the very very tip of the mitten. I am 77 years old. I have absolutely BingeWatch today I love your program your presentation your house your activities your talents your garden all of it I have been watching everything randomly I have nothing in order. You are so amazing I just love

I have been working on that for years. It intensified about 9 years ago, when we ended up having to start clearing out my parents home. I try not to acquire anything, unless I really need it, now. Your storage area is not bad at all. It is nowhere what we had to clear, which took us almost 5 years. After working on their house each time, I'd come home and want to clear out unused items at home. When I am recovering, I like to sort, and purge, since it keeps me from thinking about what I was feeling like. Even one little drawer, one box, one shelf is something. Then I'll read, or maybe stitch, or watch videos..

WE moved out of our home for 13 months several years ago to do a big renovation on our house, we only took what we needed for six months (that is how long we thought we would be out of the house). It was surprising how happy we were with none of our 'treasures' about. Since back I have had a big sort out and given away or sold many things. I now have a yearly routine where I give myself a month to tidy one room and remove that which I haven't used or don't need. I have a couple of empty drawers from the last tidy in the lounge!! I am a crafter so still need to keep stuff for knitting, quilting sewing etc. Love your Vlogs, so while you get better I revisit your older Vlogs. Take care, with love.

"Hello, is that my nickers?" = we erupted with laughter! So glad to see that you again. Do hope that your return to good health is slow and steady. Baby steps hey :)

@embroidnurse

4 жыл бұрын

Wendy Kemp England 😂

@annieoldfield1

4 жыл бұрын

Made me laugh too - so good to see Kate laughing again even if it was pre-recorded.

I have so much stuff, I bought all kinds of crafts when I was working to have when I retired, you can over 80 years accumulate, but I don’t consider myself a hoarder. I rented a small booth at a collectible shop and have put in all my downsizing things and for the last 6 years kept it stocked. Last year was a challenge with COVID. In 2019 I had the virus and hospitalized awhile and it took me a year and am finally feeling better. Hope you are feeling well. So enjoy our visits

Morning Kate, so good to see you back again, don’t push yourself to hard, take it easy, know offence but we aren’t getting any younger I’m (73), 🙈 so know what I’m talking about, when we get ill it takes our body a little longer to get back on our feet, so you take it easy, and take good care of yourself, it’s just great for all of us to see you back again, blessings from Scotland

Congrats on the progress you made sorting - we don’t always give ourselves credit for the exhausting decision-making process. You have done well with specific categories, and are well on your way! A delightful video!

Kate, you are such an inspiration! Thank you! 😊

Glad to see you again. Thank you for posting. 💕

Thank you for sharing! 💟

If you are thinking of' tidying up' the cats... point them in my direction . x The way I get rid of stuff when I'm in a get rid mood is... I go to each room pick one thing that I haven't used for months ( years!).. and put it in the Charity shop or freecycle.. 5 rooms = 5 things less ( usually more than 5 if I'm on a roll ) ... plus If I get something new, something old has to go out.. otherwise I would be the hoarder next door... but there's always room for a recycled cat or two.... Chins up, you may hopefully start to feel better now the weather has cooled...

Kate, so glad to hear from you again.

Kate, I am so so glad you're feeling better. I really missed you. I'm a nurse, in South Africa. Doing the terrible swabs for the Covid. Love Lindi.

@chokko4912

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you !I very much appreciate your work!

@AdiarraS

4 жыл бұрын

Stay safe, Lindi! *HUGS*

@083purplecola

3 жыл бұрын

Stay well, Lindi! 💙

All in good time. Love seeing you Kate. The quilt is beautiful, God Bless

So glad to see you Kate. I wish you good health. Big hugs 🤗

It’s so wonderful to see you and hear your voice today! Continue taking care of yourself and the kitties! ❤️

So pleased to see you back again

So glad to see you back and so much better. I’ve been binge watching some of your quilting videos trying to get inspired to get back to my own...I think it’s helping! I’m currently working on some grandmothers flower garden blocks. Agnes’s quilt is looking lovely!

Aaaawwwww loved catching up today ..... super to see you back ...... and love the music ..... soo glad to have you back !!! 🥰

Nice to see you, Kate, and congrats on the big closet declutter, wow! Please do continue to take good care of YOU!

Good to see you back Kate, many blessings xxx

Recently moved from a three story house to a 736 sq ft cabin in the woods. No closets. I have a small wardrobe so purging was a must. I truly understand the emotional task this is. I do feel very good now that it is done and dressing in the morning is so stress free! Love your videos and hope your health will continue to improve. Love and blessings from the USA.

So excited to see a new video! Keep up the resting and enjoying your beautiful cats, hens and goose!

So glad to see you again!!!

It’s so nice to see you looking better! I have missed you and the kitties and your garden and your home...not to mention all your beautiful quilting! 🐈🌸🤗

Kate, it is wonderful to see you again! I’m so glad you’re feeling better and pray that you’ll continue to regain your strength.

Such a beautiful scenery! You had a lovely trip, thank you for sharing this with us. Hope you soon will feel better Kate. Big hug for you ❤

It’s not boring . I love to hear your stories and hope you get to feeling better!

My thoughts and prayers are with you for a quick recovery.

Hello Kate, while I ,a am decluttering my big house, I started by the open floor plan areas, as in case somebody visits, it is more presentable. I am now also going through old albums from which some photos were out of them. I have envelopes per year for the photos around in boxes and again other envelopes. Then I write down per album the year and places in a notebook. Sort envelopes by decade and slowly but surely the photos are going back to where they belong.I also stick a paper tape in the back with the year and have the albums per year in my book case. Easy to find a year. I watch your videos while doing this at my desk. Enjoy your day. USA.

Yay!! So glad to see you again. Kudos to you for not succumbing to being totally "Kondo-ized"!!! I admire your independent thinking and realization that de-cluttering is more an emotional process than simple re-organization.

So great to see you!!! Agnes has a beautiful quilt coming along. Hope you are back to full health soon. Think of you often.

god bless you for tackling that when you weren't feeling well! you are always so positive!

Lovely to see you again. Well done for what you achieved, hard work. Hope you feel better every day ❤️

Aww Kate so very happy to see you back and on the mend. Keep up the good work. xx

You are a shining example for me as a crafter and quilter xxx

Lovely to see you Kate! I have to tell you that I loved making my blue pincushion! It was such a delight to use the fabric that you picked out and some of the Liberty prints I had not seen before! What a lovely surprise. I’ll post a photo to Instagram or Facebook so you can see it. Do continue to take care and I look forward to next time. Love from Colorado, Nancy

I can tell in your eyes that you’re better. Very glad to know and look forward to your decluttering series.

Oh how I needed this to inspire me Kate. We are moving next Spring and I can’t face moving all these belongings again ! I need to start working my way through things. Thanks x

You are a woman after my own heart as I need to declutter! Thanks for your encouragement 💖.

So good to see you looking and sounding more yourself. I may get inspired to do some more in my own closet and let stuff go.

It is very nice to hear from you! I hope to get inspired to decluttering! I bought a new sewing machine last May and still don’t have a surface to easily use it on! Plus my husband is working in a kitchen redo. I have way too much. I love card and paper crafts, quilting, dishes-I got into Rae Dunn dishes-but love other dishes too. Too much and little room. Books too, especially childrens’ books. Am enjoying KZread videos on journal making and glue books and more. I very much enjoy your videos. I have watched your older videos too since I just found you about a half year ago. You help me get through this crazy world, relieving my stress. Thank you! Continue to heal and rest. I’d love to know you in person but my online friends are meaningful. Hugs, blessings, peace!!

So good to see you up and about... your decluttering is an inspiration... I need to cut my stuff by 2/3’s as well... Looking forward to seeing your progress...

That quilt on the wall over your left shoulder is dreamy❤️

Oh, so lovely to see you today! Thanks for keeping us posted on you and your recovery. So sorry that you are still not feeling LOTS better, but you are smart to take time to heal. You are right -- the "stuff" will still be there; do what you can when you feel up to it! See you again soon!!

Lovely to see you Kate. Glad to see your feeling better. I need to get on with the purging too. Good inspiration from you. Hughs and love seeing the kitties.

Thanks for sharing Kate and I hope you feel fully restored before too long. I love the ‘sparks joy’ idea ... just what I need for the rest of my life. Thanks too for leading me to Mitsi; I’ve been watching most mornings for some time. x

We did some clearing out today too, I feel so much better. Love the blue green hexies

Good to see you again! Enjoy your chats and thoughts and glad you are on the mend.

Nice to see your on the mend Kate ! We will all be here when your ready , we’re not going anywhere ! Sending you healing and love 💞🙏🏻x 💐x x

Well done, such a hard thing to do, but you always feel better when you have a clear out of stuff, take care. X

Kate, you are tackling the same thing I’ve been meaning to get to 🤦🏼‍♀️ Keep putting it off because it seems so overwhelming! I think I’ll work along with you to start my decluttering! This video has inspired me! Thank you, Debbie from Texas

Kate, I discovered your videos recently and they are so nice and uplifting to watch and listen to, so recognizable! You feel a bit like my older sister who passed away years ago and who I still miss very much. I really hope that you will post such wonderful videos on KZread for a long time to come. Thank you very much!

Nice to hear from you Kate take care lots of love xx

Kate, it is so nice to see and hear from you.Agnes's quilt looks like a water colour paintng hanging there on your design wall, just beautiful.It is so refreshing to go through and tidy and especially get rid of things, not always easy I know. Hoping you will be back to full health soon.Hugs from Australia.

Listening to you going through this issue feels like you have a window into my life! I'm struggling with this issue now, needing to rethink and decide on how to declutter for the first time in over 30 years.....It's tiring, yet making space that's refreshing. As I continue, room by room, knowing you're doing the same, my tasks will feel lighter. So glad to see and hear from you again. Love to you in all your endeavors ❤

This was so relatable. I purge things (mostly clothes) in the spring and fall. This whole 8 months or so with Covid around and me staying home- I wear the same few outfits all the time, too. I think my life’s going to be this way for another year based on the way the virus is coming and going around the world. It’s wonderful to see you looking healthy again. Thanks for having with us. Mary

The interesting lines of your ceiling caught my eye, as did that teal outfit. Gave me the impression of silk dupioni. So pretty!

It's so refreshing and relaxing to listen/watch your posts. You don't need us to tell you to take it easy...you're doing that quite well on your own. The chores and decluttering will be there. I'd rather you be well; you have a family that adores you - be they related or just us on the LGS. I so enjoy being one of your "you tube" friends. Will see you in the next chat. xoxo

Loved seeing you again. Hope you keep finding things that spark your joy to do while you rest and take it easy. As you say, you will return to the cleaning out with new energy. A big hug to you, and know we love what you do, and know you need rest. Take care, Kate.

Thanks for this, Kate. I am inspired to get in under the eaves and have a go at my horde. As I have not had a lingering virus, I have no excuse. Glad you are taking the time you need to get well.

Thank you for this 'inspiration'. Every now and then I have to do that too ... and probably now is the time.

Thanks for this Kate. I need to do the same with my clothes. Especially now I have retired I feel like I rotate just a few sets of practical working clothes for when I am mostly at home. Take care and I do hope you feel your energy levels are gradually improving. Agnes' quilt is looking beautiful. I'm sure it's been a great project to work on slowly over these last weeks when you have been so exhausted. Take care x

It's good to see you taking care of yourself! I enjoyed the conmari declutter. A few years ago we went through everything. It sure is nice around here now. That said don't you worry about it if you decide to let it go for now. It's just stuff. Doesn't really matter! 😁😁😁 I love your channel you spark joy!

So glad to see you again!! Yes, we all have too much clutter around. Good for you for at least starting on this job of decluttering! I have moved 2 times in the last few years and that has helped me with this problem.

I was glad to see you. I want to declutter too so I will be thrilled to watch your progress. Keep well and take care.

Really enjoyed seeing you. Hope your energy continues to pick up. Shalom. ❤️🙏🏻

Hi Kate. How lovely to see you. Congratulations on making a start on your clear out. You are committed to doing it so I’m sure as you feel better you will be back at it. Rest and recover for now. 😘

Stay safe, dear Kate. What a good reminder to keep on with our sorting out. Big vertical hugs & blessings to all ❣💞💐

Glad to hear you are feeling better- I always find cleaning my closet takes an emotional toll because of the time and energy it takes but when I do it does feel good- I have stopped buying new clothes for some time but I do buy second hand and I often find it a challenge to get rid of stuff - especially when the fabric is beautiful even though it does not fit - I love to repurpose and remake clothing but you are right I do find I only wear a certain amount of clothing and really don’t need everything I have - I have been purging my closet twice a year for the past few years and I probably need to do it four times a years - with the change of seasons.I am looking forward to your decluttering adventure and will try to do the same starting one room at a time.💗

So glad to hear from you. Hang in there and keep on resting. I love your channel and always enjoy hearing about your days. Take care. Love from Chicago.

Looking forward to more vids but just when you can do it. Meanwhile I made my first hexie paper pieced pin cushion. It’s a test piece and I learned from it after I learned from you! Thanks for lighting my hexie quilt fuse. It not going to explode but it’s burning steadily. Your compassion for your being is inspiring!🦌💌❤️🙏

Glad to see you. Happy you are felling a little better.

Lovely to see you ... Glad you're taking the time you need to feel properly well again . It reminds me that too often we don't listen to our bodies when we need to recover. Best wishes xxx

Hello Kate. So happy to see you and to hear you are feeling better! Stay on course. You are missed!

Kate, all I can see is some nice material, ready for a memory quilt! Nice to cut up, but still have! I did this when my husband died, using his shirts and buying suitable fabric to coordinate. It kept me busy in dark days for a long time, good luck All love, Kris

@Early100

4 жыл бұрын

kris morris that’s a great idea 👍

@rachelburgener819

4 жыл бұрын

kris: I think that’s a wonderful idea! As you said it helped you to reflect, cherish, heal and mend your heart and soul🥰 Gods blessings❤️😀

@ginnybambino8117

3 жыл бұрын

That was my thought exactly! Just cut a square or two out and then slowly stitch them together when you have a minute or two to make a nice quilt that will "spark joy" because you really liked the garments. In the end, you will have a very special quilt just for you. And, boy do I really need to do what you did. I actually do have a couple bags of things to be donated but in the covid environment, there haven't been places accepting donations. I just received an email today that one charity is beginning pick ups so I need to be brave like you and make a pile of the rest of the stuff in my closet and make some more donation bags.

Good to see you back! Take care of yourself. Slow and steady Kate.

How wonderful to hear yoir voice again Kate. Glad to know that you are moving to the better end of things. I have had Cronic Fatigue since 1998 and i kniw fatigue is so difficult to adjust to when you are used to being active. Cuddle the cats and know you are in my thoughts. Looking forward to hearing from you soon as you have more energy. Bless you and yours.