Are you a Hoarder, a Shlumpadinka or Both???

Well, I'm afraid I'm both. Actually, I might well be the poster child for both categories. I'm not quite as bad as this hoarder, but I think I'm more representative of the typical hoarder. I took this test and found that my Clutter score is 4, my Difficulty Discarding score is 13 and my Acquiring score is 16. After I took the test, I walked around my house and realized my Clutter answers weren't really accurate. I guess I visualize my house to be in much better order than it actually is. When giving my test results, they believed I would probably need professional help to get my problems sorted out. Yikes. One more thing I need professional help with. I've not yet watched Oprah's hoarding show (it aired on the 26th), but while I was watching the online previews I was straining to actually see all the things that woman had. I would have sworn I saw tub of old ribbon!!! How can Oprah call old ribbon trash?? The woman also seemed to have mounds and mounds of clothes all over the place. Don't these Oprah people realize how many purposes there are for vintage clothes?? If nothing else the fabric can be used to make art quilts! All I could think while watching the previews was, "man, I'd like to get in there and pull out all the treasures then sell the rest on ebay!" Oh Lord, they're right, I do need professional help.

On top of all these problems I'm also a Shlumpadinka. I've often thought I really need to show some pictures of myself on my blog, but that would mean putting on makeup and clothes that match. Or I could just do head shots and get by with the Shlumpadinka clothes. The days I do wear makeup I just don't have it in me to make Brian spend an hour taking several hundred shots of me in order to get one usable shot. I did put a picture of myself on my Flickr Profile which makes me feel a little better. It's kinda weird not to know what someone looks like. BTW, I'm slowly working on my Flickr account. I need to add about a gillion contacts and a gillion more photos. Eventually anyway. So, I can't use the photo I have on Flickr anywhere else because it's a thumbnail only. I copied it from, I think, 2peas a year or so ago after I had a computer crash that cost me about 2 years worth of photos. That photo was among the losses so I only have the thumbnail. It's about 3 years old I guess, but I look exactly the same. Same hair. Actually, my hair has been different several times over the past 3 years, but it's back to that style now. I guess what all this proves is that I'm a Hoarder, a Shlumpadinka AND ridiculously Vain. OMG, how much is therapy?? I'm sure I'd have to curtail my ebay habit in order to afford it. Ouch! at the very thought of that.

I've been so busy organizing my studio and getting things ready to sell that I haven't made a thing. You can go look at my etsy shop to see all the new things I've added. I've got lots more stuff to sell, but I'm going to make some things before I prepare more items for sale. Since I haven't made anything I'll show you pictures of one of my jewelry box drawers. Love that vintage jewelry.

Here are a bunch of old, tiny watch faces and old ladies watches. Love these things too.

Now, for what's probably my biggest obsession. Vintage Swarovski. Particularly the stuff that's no longer made. C-a-n-n-o-t get enough of it. Love the way it's packaged. Especially when the paper is all yellowed. Big smile.

These are very unusual faceted bead ball type things. They are in Swarovski's Fuchsia color and they have a flat spot so you can use them like a flatback rhinestone, yet they are round. About 5mm. Seriously cool. I have quite a few of these and I'm going to make myself list some in my etsy shop. If not, my sons will put them back up on ebay when I die because I could never use all I have. I sure need to get a better camera in order to take pictures of things like this. I'll work harder to get good pics when I get them listed.

One more thing. As you know, I've been purging my studio and I'm moving through the house. I have one more HUGE hang up. My email inbox is almost to 1000. I have several recent emails that I will answer in the next few days, but I'm thinking I might need to do a "delete all" and start fresh. I think it's bogging me down and making me feel guilty. I know there are emails from way back that I never answered and I feel awful about it. Some are so old that it would just be plain embarrassing to answer them. I mean the people wouldn't even remember who the heck I am....ya know??? So, I may do a big flush. I'll let you know if and when it happens. Also, if you've emailed me in the past couple of weeks, I'll get back to you soon. Please write back if you've been waiting to hear from me because I have lost some emails and I also don't always receive them. I've had proof of this on several occasions most recently from my sister-in-law who sent me some links in an email that I never received.

Oh! Reminds me....one more picture to share. My beautiful niece, Emily, was asked by a local high end boutique to model a red dress for a local suburban magazine. Isn't she lovely?? Straight A's too. Love this girl so much.

Here she is regular:

I know she'll become a Hoarder, but I wonder if she'll ever become a Shlumpadinka?? HEY! I'd never have guessed I'm become one.

Comments

[Sarah]

Well, I just took their test. (Although I think the wording is rather broad. Do I have an immediate use for a 100 tablecloths? No. But do I use them all? Yes.)

My score was 2,3,6.

About the inbox, trash it all. It's liberating.

[Will]

My score would be much, much more scary did I not marry the queen of purge and neat and tidy. As you know, I'm somewhat of a hoarder (totally in the closet locked away key stashed) but only with things that are sentimental...and Trident gum (what if they run out?)

The beauty of Miss Em is that she is more beautiful inwardly than she is outwardly, and she's DROP DEAD GEORGEOUS!!!

[Heather]

OMG you have too much vintage jewelry.. send me some. I have a fair amount of swarovski but I am not using it.. maybe I need to sell off my beads too. I bet I am a total schlumpadinka and probably a hoarder too. I better go take the test but maybe it will make me feel worse about myself.

BTW I hope your niece does not turn into a hoarder and I don't think she could ever be a schlumpadinka.. she is too pretty!

[Bristol]

What a cutie your neice. I have been the same way~
Bristol

[Jeanne]

Unfortunately I am both a hoarder and a shlumpadika-hatchamacallit. Sad, but true. I watched that hoarding show (both days) both times it was on and found it completely fascinating. I'd like Peter Walsh to come to my house, but my DH would be mortified at the thought of airing our dirty laundry on national TV. One time I wrote the Dr. Phil Show for advice about something and the producer actually called me back and wanted to book me on a show! I freaked out and never returned the call.
xo
jeanne

[Nerissa]

I'm so glad you're back to blogging, I've missed you :)
As for the hoarding, like I needed to take a test! I'm dying over your vintage jewelry. I just started collecting to some to re-purpose. Let me know if you put some in your Etsy store. The newest Belle Armoire Jewelry there's the an article from Deryn using watches & parts.

Okay, done babbling. Have a nice weekend.
Nerissa

[Jeanne]

OK Donna, now look what you (or Oprah or that hoarding guest)started. I just read Heather's blog and now I am feeling guilty about MY stuff! Guess this will just have to be a purging weekend and that will be only the tip of the iceberg! When Peter Walsh asked that woman how many bins do you think you need to store gifts to give people, all I could think about was what I would say if he asked that about the stuff in my studio! Yikes!
xo
jeanne

[Littlepinkstudio]

Oh God, I just watched all that and cried. Then I made my husband watch it, telling him, "oh no, this is going to be me, cause I'm already on the road to it"..no kidding. I have been really struggling with it and it's driving me crazy!
Hey, I'm also with you on the makeup and dressing thing. Gosh, I am not really sure how I got to this. I never in a million years thought I would be..
Ugh, yuck.
I don't even think I will admit what my score was...
Sheesh.
Cerri xo

[kara Ward]

I think you are absolutely wonderful...it is eye candy to me...Kara

[Lisa Renea]

Donna, I started watching the Oprah show and could not finish the first episode. Yikes! On March 1st, I started my own personal goal of Create not Procrastinate (now on day 34) I'm tired of being bogged down by supplies. I love this post, thanks for keeping it real. Your niece is totally gorgeous!

[Sarah Preiss (Emily's Cousin)]

Hey Donna, I've just seen Emilys pictures she looks good.

(Susan's niece) Sarah

[Jennifer Paganellli]

Stunning girl but then again everything you post is stunning .by the way you do it so well!!!

[Kathy Schwartzbauer]

Do you get alot of your wallpaper on ebay esp. the flocked kind?

[debbie wood]

Hi no matter how I try to organize and no matter how much stuff (good stuff) I give away, I cannot seem to clear my house out. I'm doing 1000 percent better than I used to be, but I find myself daily so disorganized that I cannot keep up with my blood pressure medication (which raises it!)keys,lint roller,(hairy dogs--its important) and daily a hundred other things at least...I don't know how to help myself and can't afford a professional. do you have any ideas? I am dangerously overwhelmed and I do mean dangerously.