Getting a Round Toit

I woke with an overwhelming urge to clear the decks and "Today's the Day"-ness. There has been a lot of bringing in and not much in the way of putting away or tossing out, not to mention the buildup of dust, Popeye debris and puppy toys everywhere.
And then there's the studio. Ugh. Who can be creative when the stuff from my last bout of creativity is spread from here to Kingdom Come?

But where to begin?
1. Put it away.
2. Throw it away
3. Clean it up
Those three steps have always worked for me. Beginning small, just putting away the shoes, which are everywhere. No one puts on the previous day's shoes, we go get another pair, until there are no shoes left in the closet. And coats, hats and gloves.
One room at a time, clearing and cleaning down to the bones. Surprisingly it takes very little time. In fact a timer makes it seem like a game. 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there and in a few hours the entire house is cleaned up.
Except for the studio. I seem to have more stuff than room in the closet, which means a trip to the warehouse garage in search of empty Rubbermaids. I know they are there, just waiting.

4. Have a goal. It helps to have a before picture like this one.

When I was at the quilt shop Wednesday, one of the gals said that whatever one does on New Year's Day signals the way one will spend the new year. Folk tale? Maybe, but what an instigation for getting ready to have a fresh start.
In that case I will not be starting the new year with a hangover, or last year's messes.
Here's to the last of 2010, and the beginning of a wonderfully creative and colorful 2011!