Professional Organizer | Clearing Clutter | Motivational Speaker | Salt Lake City, Utah

I told you last week when I showed the beautiful things Melissa sent me for the Great Pumpkin Swap that I would show you what I sent to her. Here is the photo. And the rest of the story.

The rules were we had to send at least 4 items, one had to be homemade and the package worth at least $25.00. Of course everyone recognized that handmade items are hard to put a price on. And one of the items had to be a pumpkin of some kind; after all it was the Great American Pumpkin Swap.

I got out my pattern books and poured over them because I wanted to make something wonderful for my swap partner. I decided on this crow on a pumpkin. I did everything by hand. It is made of 100% wool. When I was finished, oh I forgot to tell you this pattern was made into a pillow. When I was finished with the stitchery I looked at it and it cried out to me to be made into a penny rug—they go on tables but are called rugs (I don’t know why).

As you can see I made and sewed on 26 pennies. At first I didn’t do any in the corners and it just didn’t look finished—as you can see from the photo. I thought isn’t this just like clearing clutter, we get so far and stop and something tells us it just isn’t right, that it needs a bit of tweaking.

The same book had these beautiful coasters so I made those too. And I bought the cute pumpkin door hanger. I saw the sewing kit in the cutest store about an hour from my home and she had to have it as the pin cushion is a pumpkin and everything else except the thread was orange.

So, that is the rest of the story. The extra work of making the penny rug was s-o-o-o-o-o worth it as she had always wanted a penny rug.

Show ‘N Share Clearing Clutter Tuesday—Items from a swap

A few weeks ago I was surfing in blog land and I found a trade at

After signing up for the blog I was sent my swap partner’s name—Shelia. It was so much fun making things and sending to her and then on Saturday (last) I got this priority package in the mail from her.

She had said she was a little concerned about sending me things because I am an organizer and I am always talking about clearing clutter.

I want to say again—we can have things we love, use or get pleasure from by having them in our home. Clearing clutter does not mean we have a bare bones coffee table, fire place mantle or other places in our home.

Back to my creative package…I was so excited!!  She handmade all of these items. I like bunnies and sheep so she made these special for me. She is a professional flower arranger. The bouquet in the rusty can is beautiful. By the way, she “rusted” the can and the little hand hanging from it. (Can you see it)?

The basket is hanging from a bare naked nail under my window in my family room. This is just what it needed. The lavender soap is heavenly. (don’tcha just love lavender?—me too)

The bunny is snuggled up next to the cute sheep pillow. And the piece-de-resistance— she tucked in a charm pack as I am a quilter. This is gold to a quilter.

Shelia, thank you for your special care in making my first swap successful, fun and w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l!!

No clutter here!