I understand; it was hard to cut into these dresses, but I want to assure you that my client knew she was donating them to an artist who would. (What she didn't know was that I was giving her the tapestry to her as a gift.) She didn't want to keep them or sell them. She wanted to give them to the artist, and loved the idea of transforming the dresses into something people would enjoy, beyond herself. My client's wishes and spirit were being respected and expressed. Everyone is different. You would have kept them or sold them, which is totally fine, too!
I know, I know. It was a difficult decision to let them go because they were so beautiful. Client didn't need the money, but she loves art and supporting artists, so this solution fit who she is. Everyone is different, so different solutions are found. Take care, and thanks for subscribing! Grateful, Laura
Yes, they are worth money, but for my client, beautiful are was more important than making money. For another client, she may have decided to sell them. Everyone is different! Take care, Laura
For years now I have been playing with this idea of changing some of my daughter's clothes into art. I love Merill`s art. Great inspiration!!! Thank you both very much for sharing:)))
Hi - It takes your time to create. Before you can do that, you need to make it a priority to make the time. Most of us are busy just taking care of our daily lives ... Or let it go, and enjoy your daughter or memories of your daughter. Thanks for subscribing, more videos to comes soon! Enjoy, Laura
Thank you for the honor you gave Alice’s beautiful dresses. Your creative process inspires me to start thinking of ways to preserve memories in a creative way.
Thanks Christine! It was a wonderful experience for all of us! Thanks for subscribing, more videos coming soon! Hope they're helping you enjoy decluttering and organizing. Take care!
Hi Lianna, Just seeing your comment now. Yes, it was a very special project for us all. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe if you would like to see more videos. Thanks for writing!
Thanks Lianna! It really is beautiful way to transform clutter. Still working with Alice, so I get to see the tapestry every week. Take care, and thanks for subscribing!
Hi Lianna, Yes, it was a wonderful project. Still working with Alice too. Still delightful. Thanks for subscribing, and join me if you like for new webinars. Just posted video to describe them. Enjoy, Laura
@@ClutterClarity I love this idea and the video I was wondering if the dress material was stiffeed or was it backed with paper or board to allow it to be hung on the wall I am interested in textile surface design and would like to explore this method of artwork Thank you Laura for the decluttering advice i am following your advice and its working perfectly for me. Best wishes Lynda
WOW...WOW...WOW...this has been wonderful watching and seeing the intuitive way you brought all this together for a client. Compliments to you for all of this. God Bless, Sherry :)
My mom needs you. She uses the word overwhelming all the time. She has clothes with tags on them that don't fit. She wants to give clothes to my sister who has clothes all over. My mom has loaded the garage with more stuff after my dad died and there was a pile in the backyard and it all ruined. I was so sad having to break up a wing back chair and throw it away. At one point she wanted to move away but wanted someone to move everything for her. I would love to talk to you but my mom would never allow someone to help her. She is too controlling to the point that she wasn't happy that I helped 2 other women clean her house. One was her regular friend who has cleaned her house before. Not even a thank you and she didn't want to pay her that much. She can afford the money. The house is empty all summer and it is ready for her to come home. Sometimes we have to learn lesson from when things happen. There is still a coup!e more little things to do before she gets home and already I'm upset. Sorry for the long comment. I will be ok.
Your mother may be OK, but I am concerned about you. Your mother needs help, but may not want it. But you are in a difficult position. Reach out to someone, a counselor, or www.challengingdisorganization.org to help with the emotional and physical stuff. Not sure of your mom, but hoarding task forces are forming across the country to help in this very complex growing family and neighborhood dilemma. Maybe one is near you. Get support for your own well-being. Thanks for subscribing and take good care! Laura
I'm a believer in enjoying the journey not the destination. This holiday it was a challenge to find my tape, ribbon and wrapping paper but I remembered and repeated the mantra to 'slow down'. In the short run my elves wrapped and bowed 40 presents for a party game and my apartment is less cluttered by first categorizing, then organizing and finally cleaning. Now my next challenge are my clothes more 90s then 60s. I won't be destroying them for my peace of mind but giving them away.
I am going through the letters, photos, etc., that my mom saved. I am creating collages with the ephemera. It's creative, and I can look at "her" and what she treasured in my art pieces.
Wonderful story! Love the language of looking at her in your artwork. You may like my collages on the ClutterClarity.com website made out of paper clutter. Thanks for subscribing, more videos to comes soon! Enjoy, Laura
@@ClutterClarity, Yes I have visited her website and I am intrigued with the unique concept of her art work. I believe this type of art could help people through the grieving process of losing a loved one. I own nearly 40 neck ties that belonged to my late husband and have often wondered how I might use them creatively.
@@RLSCS Sounds like a perfect fit. The two Comeau's working together. Or she can be your inspiration. It's quite common now to turn a loved person's belongings into a quilt, prayer shaw, tapestry... to have forever. Enjoy, Laura
When Shirley went into Alzheimer care, we selected carefully a lifetime of art collecting. It maintained her for several more elegant years. Her death though was modest
Thanks so much Sarah! It was a great experience for all. Thanks for subscribing, and if you want to learn more, please join me for new webinars starting 10/18. They're similar to videos, but have new content to make decluttering easier. Visit ClutterClarity.com to learn more. Enjoy, Laura
Maybe not just learn from the vid, but simply enjoy the story about one person's tory about how to transform belongings into something beautiful when downsizing and moving.
Decluttering is an emotional process. Once certain emotional barriers are respected and cleared, it's so much easier to do the physical work. Dealing with the emotions is part of my three pronged approach: emotional management, time management and stuff management.
I wanted your advice on a collection of beanie babies I have. My sons and I collected them while they were young and it was fun to try and find the most valuable beanie baby at the time and we went to drawings and my dad actually won, on his birthday, the princess Diana bear:) He has since past away from cancer and my boys are men now out there doing their own thing. I feel like if I ever had a grandchild that I would like to save them for him or her. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment so space is a concern. I'm just curious to what you would do with them. Thank you:)
I just gave away 2 large black trash bags of clean stuffed animals and beanie babies to a woman who does addiction recovery counseling. She was delighted. Maybe you can find someone/someplace near you who could use them in the same way. If the beanie babies are in their original box, you may be able to sell them, but most aren't worth much any more. It may not be worth your time. If in boxes unopened, children hospitals will take them. List on Freecycle online, someone will pick them up for free. Good luck!
I wonder if you could record some stories about the beanies and what they meant to you and your sons and your dad. It sounds like you really value the Diana bear so maybe you keep that one and follow the suggestions for sharing the beanies with others. I suggested recording the stories both because of one of Laura's videos and because with my son's as they've gotten established they like hearing stories about their childhood. Just a thought...
I like the idea and the art work is beautiful, but the dresses were too - some young person would have LOVED to have bought these on Etsy and let Alice's memory live on by actually wearing them.....It breaks my heart to see them cut :(
I understand. It was difficult for the artist to cut the dresses. The dresses had stains on them, and it was the right decision for the client who loves art, and was delighted to have her dresses turned into something just as beautiful as the dresses. The dresses are in many different pieces of art, bringing joy in people's homes. Every client is different, making decisions to fit their unique circumstances and priorities. Thanks very much for watching, and subscribing. Take care, Laura
@@ClutterClarity totally makes sense if they were too stained. I like to upcycle vintage textiles into pillows, quilts and other home decor items. And, at the end of the day, it's what the client wants that matters most :)
Boy, you sure know how to make an already difficult operation MORE DIFFICULT and COMPLEX. My idea of downsizing This Dress Collection would be: 1. Choose JUST ONE dress with colors & pattern the client already loves and which, with minimal alterations, could still wear that garment (even as an apron). 2. If colors or prints of another dress are really of Client's Preferred Color Palate for Decorating, just make one-something which is simple: A toss pillow from it. 3. If #2 does not apply, then DONATE the rest of the dresses, or have a friend sell them on eBay. .... P.S. Too much video time is spent in talking. Boil it down: WORDINESS is also CLUTTER and requires too much Brain Bandwidth in the downsizing process. Have a great 2018!
I like the idea of Alice being able to wear at least one of the dresses. But I would never cut them up. They are awesome as they are and many young women would love to have one to wear. They are actually historical garments. They should be preserved and worn to enjoy the art form of fashion of the 60's.
Everyone is different; every client makes different decisions. Client was delighted to give them to the artist, had no interest in selling her dresses, or making another garment from them. The only surprise is this was the tapestry I gifted her that is now on her bedroom wall for her to enjoy. There is no one answer on what to do with our clutter.
ZaSu2u--I have a question for you. Why did you suffer through this video only to insult the people in it? Your comment is the equivalent of a snarky guest insulting the hostess of a social gathering in which she had put great effort and care. What a total put down of someone else's creative ideas--exalting your own ideas by diminishing hers. No one dragged you to this video, held a gun to your head, and forced you to watch it. You didn't need to take a dump here. It's easy in this day and age to find other TH-cam perspectives on decluttering that would align with your own. Moreover, there would be less clutter here in this comment section if you had taken your glorious presence and Brain Bandwidth elsewhere. Start a clutter business of your own since you have all of the answers. I am sure you could "boil it down" to perfection. I guess the old axiom is true-- For every idea put into action there will be resistance. I just hate to be the one that has to wade through all of the muck that you and a couple of other commenters so generously dished out. What a sad way to go through life. Ha! Alls well that ends well. I guess one just has to realize that rudeness is a part of this new anonymous commenting culture. "Sigh." As for the "How to Make Downsizing Enjoyable video"... I found it a pleasure to watch other people working through issues that so many of us can relate to and the process they were going through, even though it may or may not be different than the way I would approach it.
This Woman is an IDIOT!!! She is taking advantage of Alice who sounds like she may be senile. Why would she allow her priceless/valuable dresses to be cut up into NOTHING works of Garbage art by these IDIOTS!!!
Err...Quilters, crafters. So many uses for them. Not that expensive to make an art piece as you usually have all the threads and glues that you need when you do this for a hobby. No need to be an artist just a creative person. It's not difficult. Why would anyone NOT want to make something with them? Gorgeous colours and patterns. We are all different though and have different skills.
I love the idea of using Alice's dresses as an art piece!
I'm all for minimizing but I was silently screaming. Those dresses already are art....and boho is coming back in style. They are worth money. Omg.
I understand; it was hard to cut into these dresses, but I want to assure you that my client knew she was donating them to an artist who would. (What she didn't know was that I was giving her the tapestry to her as a gift.) She didn't want to keep them or sell them. She wanted to give them to the artist, and loved the idea of transforming the dresses into something people would enjoy, beyond herself. My client's wishes and spirit were being respected and expressed. Everyone is different. You would have kept them or sold them, which is totally fine, too!
LADY - I know................and they were lined yet!!!!! E-bay's prices are astronomical.
When you get older and are lucky enough to be financially stable, such as it appears this woman is, money loses it importance.
I know, I know. It was a difficult decision to let them go because they were so beautiful. Client didn't need the money, but she loves art and supporting artists, so this solution fit who she is. Everyone is different, so different solutions are found. Take care, and thanks for subscribing! Grateful, Laura
Yes, they are worth money, but for my client, beautiful are was more important than making money. For another client, she may have decided to sell them. Everyone is different! Take care, Laura
For years now I have been playing with this idea of changing some of my daughter's clothes into art. I love Merill`s art. Great inspiration!!! Thank you both very much for sharing:)))
Hi - It takes your time to create. Before you can do that, you need to make it a priority to make the time. Most of us are busy just taking care of our daily lives ... Or let it go, and enjoy your daughter or memories of your daughter. Thanks for subscribing, more videos to comes soon! Enjoy, Laura
Thank you for the honor you gave Alice’s beautiful dresses. Your creative process inspires me to start thinking of ways to preserve memories in a creative way.
Your image is reassuring! When my mother died, we donated 63 pairs of shoes.
Art piece isn't my taste, but, a great idea! Hope she adored it all!! Love the joyful processes!
She did! And Merill and I did, too!
Beautiful artwork and a great way to keep what is special to your client. Cheers to repurposing 😀
Thanks Christine! It was a wonderful experience for all of us! Thanks for subscribing, more videos coming soon! Hope they're helping you enjoy decluttering and organizing. Take care!
What a beautiful idea!! The dresses and the art are gorgeous. The smile on Alice's face is priceless.
Hi Lianna, Just seeing your comment now. Yes, it was a very special project for us all. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe if you would like to see more videos. Thanks for writing!
Thanks Lianna! It really is beautiful way to transform clutter. Still working with Alice, so I get to see the tapestry every week. Take care, and thanks for subscribing!
Hi Lianna, Yes, it was a wonderful project. Still working with Alice too. Still delightful. Thanks for subscribing, and join me if you like for new webinars. Just posted video to describe them. Enjoy, Laura
@@ClutterClarity I love this idea and the video
I was wondering if the dress material was stiffeed or was it backed with paper or board to allow it to be hung on the wall
I am interested in textile surface design and would like to explore this method of artwork
Thank you Laura for the decluttering advice i am following your advice and its working perfectly for me.
Best wishes
Lynda
Stiffened
WOW...WOW...WOW...this has been wonderful watching and seeing the intuitive way you brought all this together for a client. Compliments to you for all of this. God Bless, Sherry :)
Alice’s playful clothes story spoke to me. Thank you!
My mom needs you. She uses the word overwhelming all the time. She has clothes with tags on them that don't fit. She wants to give clothes to my sister who has clothes all over. My mom has loaded the garage with more stuff after my dad died and there was a pile in the backyard and it all ruined. I was so sad having to break up a wing back chair and throw it away. At one point she wanted to move away but wanted someone to move everything for her. I would love to talk to you but my mom would never allow someone to help her. She is too controlling to the point that she wasn't happy that I helped 2 other women clean her house. One was her regular friend who has cleaned her house before. Not even a thank you and she didn't want to pay her that much. She can afford the money. The house is empty all summer and it is ready for her to come home. Sometimes we have to learn lesson from when things happen. There is still a coup!e more little things to do before she gets home and already I'm upset. Sorry for the long comment. I will be ok.
Your mother may be OK, but I am concerned about you. Your mother needs help, but may not want it. But you are in a difficult position. Reach out to someone, a counselor, or www.challengingdisorganization.org to help with the emotional and physical stuff. Not sure of your mom, but hoarding task forces are forming across the country to help in this very complex growing family and neighborhood dilemma. Maybe one is near you. Get support for your own well-being. Thanks for subscribing and take good care! Laura
Oh hey, you're in my neck of the woods, I'm in New Hampshire. I just watched another video of yours. Excellent motivation and tips. Thank you!
I'm a believer in enjoying the journey not the destination. This holiday it was a challenge to find my tape, ribbon and wrapping paper but I remembered and repeated the mantra to 'slow down'. In the short run my elves wrapped and bowed 40 presents for a party game and my apartment is less cluttered by first categorizing, then organizing and finally cleaning. Now my next challenge are my clothes more 90s then 60s. I won't be destroying them for my peace of mind but giving them away.
Isn't this wonderful. Thank you for sharing this experience
I am going through the letters, photos, etc., that my mom saved. I am creating collages with the ephemera. It's creative, and I can look at "her" and what she treasured in my art pieces.
Wonderful story! Love the language of looking at her in your artwork. You may like my collages on the ClutterClarity.com website made out of paper clutter. Thanks for subscribing, more videos to comes soon! Enjoy, Laura
What a great idea …. thanks for sharing 🙏❤️ to all.
Comeau is my maiden name. I don't see it very often anymore. Made me smile.
That must have been fun for you. Did you look up Merrill's website? Thanks for subscribing, and enjoy! My best, Laura
@@ClutterClarity, Yes I have visited her website and I am intrigued with the unique concept of her art work. I believe this type of art could help people through the grieving process of losing a loved one. I own nearly 40 neck ties that belonged to my late husband and have often wondered how I might use them creatively.
@@RLSCS Sounds like a perfect fit. The two Comeau's working together. Or she can be your inspiration. It's quite common now to turn a loved person's belongings into a quilt, prayer shaw, tapestry... to have forever. Enjoy, Laura
Very respectful.
I live in a new area of New Mexico. Rio Rancho. Memory Care, it will cater to easterners. I would love to work in this field.
When Shirley went into Alzheimer care, we selected carefully a lifetime of art collecting. It maintained her for several more elegant years. Her death though was modest
I am inspired by this!
Beautiful
Wow I love this so much! Beautiful xxx 4:32
Thanks so much Sarah! It was a great experience for all. Thanks for subscribing, and if you want to learn more, please join me for new webinars starting 10/18. They're similar to videos, but have new content to make decluttering easier. Visit ClutterClarity.com to learn more. Enjoy, Laura
Wow! so Alice's dresses went to the thrift shop, I mean "museum".
I have more art than I can hang, last thing I need. Then again, dresses would not sit in my closets 40 years.
This didn't seem like downsizing to move. It seems more like a therapy session. I hope someone learned something from this vid.
Maybe not just learn from the vid, but simply enjoy the story about one person's tory about how to transform belongings into something beautiful when downsizing and moving.
Decluttering is an emotional process. Once certain emotional barriers are respected and cleared, it's so much easier to do the physical work. Dealing with the emotions is part of my three pronged approach: emotional management, time management and stuff management.
Clutter Clarity Yes. The emotional bit is so key! I appreciate your gentle, personalized and clear approach.
I wanted your advice on a collection of beanie babies I have. My sons and I collected them while they were young and it was fun to try and find the most valuable beanie baby at the time and we went to drawings and my dad actually won, on his birthday, the princess Diana bear:) He has since past away from cancer and my boys are men now out there doing their own thing. I feel like if I ever had a grandchild that I would like to save them for him or her. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment so space is a concern. I'm just curious to what you would do with them. Thank you:)
I just gave away 2 large black trash bags of clean stuffed animals and beanie babies to a woman who does addiction recovery counseling. She was delighted. Maybe you can find someone/someplace near you who could use them in the same way. If the beanie babies are in their original box, you may be able to sell them, but most aren't worth much any more. It may not be worth your time. If in boxes unopened, children hospitals will take them. List on Freecycle online, someone will pick them up for free. Good luck!
You can donate them to police and/or firefighters to give to children in traumatic situations.
Police stations may be interested. They give stuffed animals to children that have been traumatized or are scared. It helps comfort them.
I wonder if you could record some stories about the beanies and what they meant to you and your sons and your dad. It sounds like you really value the Diana bear so maybe you keep that one and follow the suggestions for sharing the beanies with others.
I suggested recording the stories both because of one of Laura's videos and because with my son's as they've gotten established they like hearing stories about their childhood. Just a thought...
Thank you for the suggestion. It is a great idea! It was sweet of you to comment.
Gorgeous 🤗🤗🤗🤗
I like the idea and the art work is beautiful, but the dresses were too - some young person would have LOVED to have bought these on Etsy and let Alice's memory live on by actually wearing them.....It breaks my heart to see them cut :(
I understand. It was difficult for the artist to cut the dresses. The dresses had stains on them, and it was the right decision for the client who loves art, and was delighted to have her dresses turned into something just as beautiful as the dresses. The dresses are in many different pieces of art, bringing joy in people's homes. Every client is different, making decisions to fit their unique circumstances and priorities. Thanks very much for watching, and subscribing. Take care, Laura
@@ClutterClarity totally makes sense if they were too stained. I like to upcycle vintage textiles into pillows, quilts and other home decor items. And, at the end of the day, it's what the client wants that matters most :)
Really.. 60s and 70s..? But I was thinking.. Life before big box shopping.
Boy, you sure know how to make an already difficult operation MORE DIFFICULT and COMPLEX. My idea of downsizing This Dress Collection would be: 1. Choose JUST ONE dress with colors & pattern the client already loves and which, with minimal alterations, could still wear that garment (even as an apron). 2. If colors or prints of another dress are really of Client's Preferred Color Palate for Decorating, just make one-something which is simple: A toss pillow from it. 3. If #2 does not apply, then DONATE the rest of the dresses, or have a friend sell them on eBay. .... P.S. Too much video time is spent in talking. Boil it down: WORDINESS is also CLUTTER and requires too much Brain Bandwidth in the downsizing process. Have a great 2018!
I like the idea of Alice being able to wear at least one of the dresses. But I would never cut them up. They are awesome as they are and many young women would love to have one to wear. They are actually historical garments. They should be preserved and worn to enjoy the art form of fashion of the 60's.
Also the art collage that was made looks nothing like the dresses that are shown. There is nothing recognizable in the collage.
Everyone is different; every client makes different decisions. Client was delighted to give them to the artist, had no interest in selling her dresses, or making another garment from them. The only surprise is this was the tapestry I gifted her that is now on her bedroom wall for her to enjoy. There is no one answer on what to do with our clutter.
ZaSu2u--I have a question for you.
Why did you suffer through this video only to insult the people in it?
Your comment is the equivalent of a snarky guest insulting the hostess of a social gathering in which she had put great effort and care. What a total put down of someone else's creative ideas--exalting your own ideas by diminishing hers.
No one dragged you to this video, held a gun to your head, and forced you to watch it. You didn't need to take a dump here. It's easy in this day and age to find other TH-cam perspectives on decluttering that would align with your own.
Moreover, there would be less clutter here in this comment section if you had taken your glorious presence and Brain Bandwidth elsewhere. Start a clutter business of your own since you have all of the answers. I am sure you could "boil it down" to perfection.
I guess the old axiom is true-- For every idea put into action there will be resistance. I just hate to be the one that has to wade through all of the muck that you and a couple of other commenters so generously dished out. What a sad way to go through life.
Ha! Alls well that ends well. I guess one just has to realize that rudeness is a part of this new anonymous commenting culture. "Sigh."
As for the "How to Make Downsizing Enjoyable video"...
I found it a pleasure to watch other people working through issues that so many of us can relate to and the process they were going through, even though it may or may not be different than the way I would approach it.
Thank you. My sentiments exactly.
This Woman is an IDIOT!!! She is taking advantage of Alice who sounds like she may be senile. Why would she allow her priceless/valuable dresses to be cut up into NOTHING works of Garbage art by these IDIOTS!!!
I lost interest when you called those MuuMuus "dresses." Who on earth would make them into "art." AND who could afford to?
It's funny you see a "muumuu" where others see a sexy colorful shifts from the 60's and 70's 😊
Err...Quilters, crafters. So many uses for them. Not that expensive to make an art piece as you usually have all the threads and glues that you need when you do this for a hobby. No need to be an artist just a creative person. It's not difficult. Why would anyone NOT want to make something with them? Gorgeous colours and patterns. We are all different though and have different skills.
Blah blah blah!!! Get on with it!!!