8 | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Encourage creativity by de-cluttering crafting nook By Jennifer Forker The Associated Press
For crafters, de-cluttering and rethinking a creative workspace might reap benefits beyond just finding the right paintbrush more quickly. For some, it can spark creativity. “It’s different for everyone, but it’s superpsychological,” said professional organizer Fay Wolf, of Los Angeles. “(De-cluttering) creates space for the things you love and makes them ready to use at a moment’s notice.” “People think structure is bad, but I think rules are great. They give you this framework so you
have control.” A few years ago, Wolf set up her piano keyboard in a spare closet at home and found she began using it more. And writing music. And singing. Songwriting “became the primary creative thing in my life, and all because I set up the keyboard. I gave it its own place,” she said. Wolf shares tips for getting rid of stuff, including art supplies from long-ago craft projects, in “New Order: A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (And Everyone Else)” (Ballantine Books, 2016). She sets up a staging area with labeled sorting bins and warns against letting
perfectionism prevent progress. “What plagues many of us is the ‘waiting for the perfect moment,’ ” which leads to doing nothing, Wolf says in her book. “Ditch the excuses and start with any amount of time.” Wolf recommends using a timer, which many cell phones have. Set it for 20 minutes; you’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in that small amount of focused time. “You have to be OK taking small steps and knowing that’s the only way to do it,” she said, adding that it might take five such sessions before a crafting room starts to change.
GETTING RID OF INK STAINS In the past, you used hairspray to get out ballpoint-ink stains. But ink formulations, fabrics and hairspray ingredients have changed, so today rubbing alcohol is recommended. To get rid of ballpoint ink from clothing you launder, place the garment on a towel stain-side down. Lightly dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently dab (don’t rub) the stain. SOURCE: WWW.HELOISE.COM/
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