I’m weary of swords and courts and kings. Let us go into the garden. 🌸 Mary Johnston🌸 Chair dance anyone? Oui! ☺️ MUSICA
I ask myself the same question every day when I get up, “How do I move myself forward today?” It’s a great question, it gets me moving . . . because, I have places to go and people to see, and I need to work diligently in the direction of my dreams. Or I’m not happy. Even my tiniest steps forward add up!
For several years now, I’ve been on a mission, to learn more about the writing process, to see if I could figure out how to write my memoir books, to figure out how to get them 
published, and then to get it done. And while I did it, many other things in my life went onto the back burner. I was busy! And, one thing I wasn’t doing was deep cleaning, no good old-fashioned organization, or home care for my darling dear house that deserves better. But it got me for a mom, and 
therein lies the problem. As you are about to see. I can’t believe I am going to show such terrible photos. Normally I clean up before I take the pictures. It’s probably the worst I’ve ever seen it, mainly because we were hardly home last year, and when we got back, I began to “drop off” stuff in my studio, move it out of my view “until I had time to clean it.” I’m thinking someone else out there may experience this problem, so I thought I would do some before and after photos and talk about Spring Cleaning and how to de-clutter, lighten up, and simplify your life.💞 Shield your eyes, here we go . . .
The question is: Who’s in charge here? It was a daunting project to begin. I almost didn’t know where to start, every cupboard and drawer in our house is stuffed to the gills. But as 
time goes on, I’m becoming quite cutthroat about it. I choose emptiness. I took pictures of some of the harder things to get rid of. Now I own the memories associated with them forever! The bookshelves are full of books, some of which have been there since we moved into the house in 1989, any new books since then have had to find another place to go ~ I keep inserting tiny bookshelves in corners of the house, packing it all in even further, and now the only place left is the floor. But the floor is already almost totally covered with projects and boxes of who knows what, it’s layered. You could do a dig here, like James Michener’s The Source.
I began to empty the shelves and take most of the books to the living room, where I’m packing them to give to the second-hand bookstore on the Island. Not all of them of course. I kept the good ones! But not too many. I want empty shelves. I want empty shelves so bad. Room for new thoughts, new ideas! Room to breathe.
Because I can no longer live like this. I think it’s stealing my energy just having to look at it. There are three stacks of original art in plastic pages on the floor under the shelves! I don’t recognize the rest of it, it’s too much of a jumble. Stacks of books, stacks of papers, crowded Beatrix Potter people. I had to design cups on top of the mess in order to get them done in time. Doing a Willard in this mess would be impossible!
All so wrong. That door to the front hall has been blocked closed for maybe three years (It was way worse than this, I’d already moved most of the stuff!). And as I begin to move through it, I ask myself, do I need this, is it adding value to my life, and if the answer is no, then I say bye-bye! I want smooth surfaces, table tops especially. I’ve been getting happier and happier every day, and lighter and lighter, and basically, I’m downright giddy now! Waking up singing! The unbearable lightness of being!
It doesn’t look like this anymore. And as I’ve done it, shelf by shelf, going through everything piece by piece, file by file, box by box, I found interesting things I’d forgotten all about . . . and realized I was engaged in a form of treasure hunt.
I washed each shelf which had not seen the light of day since 1989. Basically the answer to how to do this, is one shelf at a time.
Yard by yard, it’s very hard, but inch by inch, it’s a cinch.
See the cupboards underneath? Same thing, one at a time. And that mess on the 
worktable? That BIG pile on the left is recipes, ideas, and quotes for my Tea Book which I’ve been adding to and saving for years, with no place to put it. It’s not there anymore. Now it’s organized, and my Tea Book project has one of those clean empty shelves all for itself!
And, I think, in my most maniacal of moments, now I have room ~ I can go antiquing again! 😜
Here’s one of the treasures I found, this card was in a recipe box I did for my mom around 1979. I forgot all about it, I don’t think I’ve seen it since then.
I’d brought home my mom’s recipe file from California, and inside were handwritten recipes and letters, from my mom, my grandma, and my great grandma. I also had recipes from my dad and my sisters . . .
And this detailed letter to my mom from my grandfather Willard’s mother, my mom’s “Gram,” and my great grandmother . . . her typing strokes are indented in the soft blue paper ~ Sioux City, Iowa is written at the top ~ and she is writing my mom in California about the only news that ever really matters to our lives. Turn off the TV, and this is what there is, the real stuff of life. 💌
This is the rest of the box I did for my mom . . . so I put all the recipes from everyone else in it . . . and a card explaining who is who, for the future people who will someday find it, maybe my brother’s and sister’s children, or who knows. Maybe some rescuing type of person in a second-hand store. But I have a picture of it now, so it’s mine forever, and the box will be saved in a special family file box.
Then I began on the file cabinet, pulled out each file, went through it, threw out tons of useless paperwork, then rearranged and put back what mattered. This de-cluttering adventure is a long-term project, but I would rather do it now when I choose to, than later, when I have to! Right now I just want to! Not all of it is memories, some of it is just stuff I don’t need. I’m recycling, donating, and throwing out. I already cleaned the kitchen and emptied the sideboard in the dining room, and got rid of 
half of it, and after I get this room done, I go upstairs! That’s also when I will get to start seriously painting four hours a day. As soon as the studio is clean and I feel the spaciousness of it, I’ll dip my brush in water, and hear the ringing sound as it hits the side of the dish and put my first color on the paper, early one morning, in the quiet, with my tea and my cat. I don’t think I’ll get the whole house done until sometime around August. I go as slow as I want. I go to the garden, I stare at the dogwood tree in bloom. Joe and I go to the nursery. I’m planning a tea party. I shoot hair bands for my kitty. I talk on the phone to Siobhan and Rachel in England. I design cups. I brake for John’s Fish Market chocolate shakes! But all while I’m lightening my life, and indulging in the treasure hunt and the joy of memory.
Luv-lee letters like this get photographed, and put into a “children’s letters” file. I’ve looked up names on some of the old letters ~ and amazingly found and followed them on Instagram (@susanbranchauthor)! Sometimes I don’t like the Internet, and sometimes, I love it!
And now, I have all my ideas for books in one place, in files, and NOT, as was before, in piles on the floor. Every day I feel better, I feel more and more inspired about what will come next . . . and think of the words I heard on some TV show, ” I tremble on the brink of life’s next great adventure.” But I can’t get there until I am out from under the weight of this stuffed house!
I’ve consolidated, whittled down, and distilled . . . honestly, so much of it just didn’t belong here anymore. I saved a few old things, like products I’ve made . . . put them into boxes, labeled them, and up the attic they go, saved for posterity. A very little bit of it. Stuff I hope that someday someone else will want. But if they don’t, at least it’s consolidated. I’m doing this thing just like I redecorate. Taking everything off the shelves out of the cupboards, washing and cleaning them, and putting back only what I can’t live without, and getting rid of the rest.
I had to keep a little bit of this! Just in cases.
And this too!
And of course the piles of original artwork . . .
All organized and stacked on those empty shelves where I can access them. Most of my original art is in an old bank safe in California. Each book I’ve written is totally intact, all the original pages are there, and each book is in its own acid-free box. 
Look at that. I’m making white space . . . ahhh, emptiness . . .
A finished person is a boring person. 💙Anna Quindlen
Don’t worry, I’m not the minimalist type, for me that would be going too far. And I’m not done. Only about half way right now . . . but I can see the trees in the forest! I thought you might like to see some of the treasures I found:
First off, this. The box of everything, all the photos, all the memorabilia, the diary pages, even some souvenirs, everything from the trip we took in 2001 with our nieces Heidi and Holly, to London, Paris, and Bath (where we first discovered the English Countryside) . . . our theme music from that trip was Dusty Springfield from the British Invasion cassette we had in the car . . . we sang as we traveled hill and dale . . . we still sing it. Joe sang it too . . .🎵 I don’t know WHAT to do with my self . . .🎵
Here we are boarding the ship in New York. In this photo, Heidi, on the left, is 11, my 
brother Brad’s daughter, who grew up in Colorado. On the right is Holly, she’s 12, she belongs to my sister Mary and grew up in California. The cousins had met only once before we took them away across the wide ocean for six wonderful weeks. We’d been planning it since they were six. It was the very best time I ever had. They were wonderful and funny and smart! The box with everything from this trip was on a high shelf here in my studio and hadn’t seen the light of day in years. I still have to go through it, and someday, when I get the photos scanned, I’ll do a post about that magical trip.
Something else, a note from my dad. Writing me about the correct way to drink tea.💞 Now it’s in my mom’s recipe box.
And this painting my dad did of his beloved dog, Chief.
And my mom’s jacks and balls. Which I labeled and saved.
And I found this photo of me and my brother Jim with my cute mom and dad, which I don’t remember seeing before, something else to put in her recipe box. Too bad about the over-exposure, but still . . . look how their arms lean into each other. They are in it together. And there’s a picket fence back there! I must have seen it and fell in love!
And this book was in the pile. I still remember the night I met Julia and how much it meant to me.
Deep in the files was this little notebook I used when writing my first book with all kinds of little reminders, quotes and notations, and even grocery lists. The address of Little Brown, and Random House. Lots of dreams tied up in this messy little book.
And I found the hollyhock seeds sent to me by Nicoline, one of our girlfriends from Holland, over a year ago! But I wasn’t here to plant them last spring, and we also went away in the fall, so they didn’t get planted then either ~ I decided to see if they would sprout, and look, they did!
Kind of a miracle . . .
You might remember Nicoline from our picnic in England! She and her husband came from Holland and she brought her own Petey doll to show me!
And now her hollyhocks are planted in my garden . . . I get so many plants from my girlfriends, I call my garden a friendship garden!
This was what it looked like outside this morning, the wisteria has begun to bloom, Lowely’s bluebells are blooming too, at the far corner of the picket fence!
I bring the blooming things in for the little shelf over my kitchen sink . . .
And took a photo of the inside of the little bells of Lily of the Valley . . .
And, you may ask, what has Joe been doing all this time! Oh, we are a team! He has been doing to the yard, what I have been doing to my studio. He’s been thatching, raking, mulching, top dressing, seeding and watering. Men ask, “What do women want?” But they should know . . . This is every woman’s aphrodisiac, someone to build a life with.💞 When we stand next together, our arms press together.
💛💛💛
You can hear Jack meowing! I love it when he talks in a video, not easy to get him to do it!
I heard the ferry boat whistle just now like a long musical note. 🎵 Sometimes I forget where I am, how close the sea is, until I hear the boat whistle!
And as so many of you know, the Studio has been busy too . . . sending out your new English bone china cups . . . 💞
And these are the people who’ve been making that happen. Alfredo, Sheri and Kellee at the Studio. Couldn’t do it without these wonderful people! Monday is Kellee’s birthday!
And I got mine!! Just as excited as everyone else!
I’m very proud of them. It’s hard finding really beautiful things, and then being able to afford to get them made, especially in foreign countries! Now we are importers! We talk palettes, air freight, and customs! TMI for sure!
It’s been a lot of fun on Twitter, so many Girlfriends have written and sent photos, saying, “Got mine!” Marcia (@msmrph) sent this darling photo of herself and her best friend Julie captioned “Tea for two Besties!” Makes my day! Our cup club is not very big, but it’s very wonderful!
We’re working to make your Christmas especially easy this year. I know it’s a long time until then, but in order to get things made in time, we have to start now… we love planning surprises. Especially for you. Like our dream charms. So many of you have asked us to bring them back, so we did. 💞 Here they are! I think they’ll be in our web store the first couple of weeks of June.
We reordered three of our most popular charms . . . Autumn (in that first photo), A Fine Romance (see the hedgerows?👍),
and the ever-popular “Be an Elf,” all with small gift cards . . .
And in the midst of cleaning the Studio, sort of on top of the layers, I did manage to finish designing the bottoms, the handles, and the backs of the new mugs, and sent them off to England where the process of manufacturing has already begun. They are supposed to be here by August! We’re taking no chances they would be late for Christmas, and we need that Autumn cup first! And, yes, they are in the web store for Presale right now! I know it’s hard to think Christmas, but please try, because, like with the last ones, when these are gone, they are gone. You’ll be glad when December comes and you don’t have to go Christmas shopping! ❤️ Here they are:
Santa Claus is coming to town! In 16 ounces of fine bone China from “the Potteries” in Staffordshire, England! And, yes, they are all dishwasher and microwave safe!
This is the back . . . (only a mockup, made from paper in these photos, will look a lot better in real life!)
I did a construction-paper chain for the handle. Oh by gosh by golly!
And we have a 16-ounce Bluebird of Happiness. Which is going to look really good in my new blue kitchen! 💙
Here’s the back. It’s trying to be whimsical!
And the handle. I think it’s adorable. But still, only paper!
And my Autumn cup is a little bit smaller, 11 ounces, because you asked! I’ll do one for every season, all this same size. The only difference between this design and the real life one to come, the handle is actually going to be on the other side . . . This quote will actually be on the “front” of the cup. . .
And this will be the back ~ the handle will be on the other side from what you see here, and the squirrel will be on the left facing the other way . . . I decided I liked it better like that. Decisions, decisions.
The handle. 🍂 Signifies abundance.🍁
And now, my Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams 16-ounce cup. You drink from it, and I hear, could be a rumor, but I think not, your dreams will come true. ⚡️
It’s a short trip to the Island, via cup. 🛳
And here’s the handle. 💙
Be sure to read the small print on the ordering page, it explains lots of things, like what we are doing, and why, when we retire each of the cups . . . too long for the blog, but extra reading while ordering and good clarification! Hope you like them!
Now, last but definitely not least, Jack. He has taught me a couple of new tricks. You know 
how cats jump up to rub on your leg? Well, he gets on the table and rubs (sort of butts) my forehead, and now I softly butt him back, and we have a meeting of the minds. He puts his head near mine and wants me to do it. We are blood cat brothers. He also LOVES the running water in the bathroom . . . we go there to play . . . he is rather calm in this video, because I have the camera and he knows it, but usually he makes me turn the water on and off really fast, he bites it and grabs it and sometimes he comes out of there wet! It’s his secret life. Joe doesn’t even know about this. How do I explain that I’m being trained by the cat?!
💙💙
And one more thing, I have a surprise for you . . . I thought we’d give away one of these new cups! If you already have yours, it’s okay, you’ll have a best-friend gift all ready to go!
And whoever our lucky winner is will get their choice of which one! In Love with Nature on the left, Little Things in the middle, or Love on the right. All you have to do is leave a comment! And in a week or so, we’ll get Vanna back from Bali (I think that’s where she is ~ she’s hard to keep up with!) to pull the winning name. And I hope it’s YOU! 🌸
Bye for now Girlfriends, have a wonderful day! Love and ❌’s, Me.
Oops! P.S. Almost forgot to say, in case anyone will be around, I’ll be signing books and visiting at Titcomb’s Book Shop on Wednesday, June 7, from 1 to 3pm … joining this wonderful, independent, family-owned bookstore in celebration of their 50th Anniversary! Please come by and say hello if you can! It’s on Cape Cod in East Sandwich, click above for details. There will be cupcakes, and you don’t need a ticket to come! 😘
I totally get it! I find that starting is always the hardest part, isn’t it?
Yes, and if you look at the whole big job, you may never get there! One shelf is always do-able!
Love your posts, like sunshine after a rainy day. It would be grand to win one of your lovely cups. So glad to see you on Good reads. How do you choose the books to discard? I know I need to but
I wrote this before, but I kept a copy so here’s how I chose the books to take away . . .
How to get rid of books . . . I decided to keep the ones I still want to read. And the ones that changed my life. I kept Gladys Taber, the Bartlett’s quote book, Agnes’s Joy of Cooking and some of the other the books I found at Holly Oak. I kept autobiographies of Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin, my first Julia Child cookbook, my favorite biographies of Beaxtrix Potter, all her vintage “little bunny books” Joe bought for me in England, and one each of our identification books for birds and wildflowers. I still use my quote books, so they’re here, at least for a while. I also kept all my vintage Christmas books. I’m not sure anyone will ever want my books, but these are the few I am happy to move if I have to, and need for peace of mind. And sometime, if I do win the lottery and manage to buy back Holly Oak, they would be perfect to go live there again. You never know!
Oh, how I WISH you could buy back Holly Oak, Susan! I think of this with my own last home, the vintage cottage we renovated over nearly ten years. I want it back SO, SO badly. I didn’t think I could miss a house this much…
Your mug designs are lovely.
Congratulations on the cleaning/purging. Quite a task but it makes you feel so much better. We are in the midst of a 2 bath remodel (why did we do 2 at the same time!!!???) and when they finish, I will be purging too. Already did some.
You will be my motivation. Thanks.
LOL Charlotte, 2 at the same time! 😃 You’ll love it when it’s done!
Dear Susan…
Love your post. Looks is like a daunting job to me…my house is small and it bogs me down at times.
At least you can stroll to the sea and refresh yourself! Your gardens look beautiful…my spring blooms seemed to fade quickly this year… so especially the lily of the valley. Now the Peonies are blooming along with the Azalea.
Love all the cups…blue goes great with my kitchen too…room is blue and yellow.
Have a great day
Kathie from Limerick
You too Kathie!
I love reading your blog, it’s always uplifting and sweet! I loved hearing Jack’s little meow too, he’s a special cat indeed! Thank you for your blog, your books, and now tea cups! I thoroughly enjoy your artwork as well. Today you’ve inspired me to clean and organize my music room! It’s needed it for awhile.
Understand the feeling of freedom after cleaning. My hubby and I just did the same to our walk in attic. You can actually walk into it now.
Congratulations! Luv-lee!
Thank you for once again writing such a positive, encouraging blog post. Coincidentally, I had just begun purging my sewing room (already have rehomed a couple of orphan projects). Would love to win one of your cups. It would have a place of honour next to my one prized Emma Bridgewater mug, which was a housewarming gift two years ago from my two tea-drinking friends. We get together regularly for tea, and in fact, call ourselves the “tea-umvirate”. Would love to have an authentic Susan Branch cup to share with them.
Tea-umvirate! Cute! xoxo
Hi Susan, I am one the “Carr Sisters” who read Isle of Dreams aloud to one another during our annual “Sisters Week”. Our youngest sister, Beth, brought our photo holding our books to you at your book signing in Asheville, NC. This year for our week together our sister, Becky, brought each of us a gift of one of your wonderful mugs! Since there were only three, now Becky doesn’t have one. She will buy on of your new ones, but of course she cannot buy one of the first ones. So – the four are each going to register in an attempt to win one for her!
Brilliant, and I so hope one of you wins! 😍
I was just taking another trip through this blog post and settled on the picture of you and your brother with your mom and dad circa 1949/50. I really think you could find a “master of digital technology” who could repair the spot of over exposure. You would still have the original, but would have a corrected copy. It’s just a thought. The picture is so beautiful. I know you were excited to find it.
Eagerly awaiting the next chapter in your wonderful story of life on Martha’s Vineyard. XOXO!
That’s a good idea, but I have so many, it’s really okay … plus I’m afraid I’d never find that person! And I have a studio to clean (and about 6 other rooms!).
Oh, spring cleaning is a wonderful feeling! I go through bouts of “give-aways” all year. Sometimes though, I get too zealous… Later, I’ll look for something and then realize, it’s gone forever. Oh no!
Thanks for sharing your “human-ness” with us. I love to open all the windows and clear out the corners. Ha ha! Love the mugs. Even if I win one, I will be ordering for Christmas this year. Hugs from Houston. xoxo
Your decluttering is an inspiration to me! I appreciate hearing that you didn’t do it all in one day but are taking your time and making real progress. Perhaps there is hope for me! Your mugs are adorable and I would be honored to win one!
Still doing it!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the before and after shots of your Spring cleaning! Isn’t it so LIBERATING to get rid of stuff and get things organized?! It’s one of my favorite domestic tasks to do. Thanks for sharing, inspiring as always!!
Great post, Susan!! I loved, loved, LOVED your trip down memory lane 😍😍!!!!
Love ya,
Cassandra
🌷😘
Love this post. I have been cleaning like this beginning in early May and every day I find things I thought were long gone and some I never knew I had. But I need to feel the “white space” and be able to breathe. Thank you for showing your pre-clean pictures — now I don’t feel so bad about the mess I make before I clean it all out. Thank you for the chance to win one of your cups, also.
You’re clearing out and organizing is inspiring and something I disparately need to do. I know all about trying to find enough space in my craft room to work on a project.
Love drinking from my “LOVE” cup which was a gift from my sister. She gave each of her three sisters one and now wishes she had one for herself. I would love to win one for her.
I hope one of you good sisters does win one for your sister!
I was out-of-town at a lovely Heritage Rose conference. I love old roses! So lovely and fragrant. And while I was gone, a package of one cup from Susan Branch was delivered. I still haven’t opened it. I’m waiting. I don’t even remember exactly which pattern I ordered. I was a late orderer and ordered the last few that were made available. I don’t think I can wait much longer! I may have to open it in a few minutes after I post this comment.
If I win a teacup I would share it with my dearest friend, Sarah. We love the “The Fine Romance” tea and call it “Super Tea!” because it definitely makes us feel energized! 🙂
I love a clean shelf, but I’m not so good at the cleaning part of it! And…I bought more books on my Rosy trip. And a few more plants.
It made me happy to see my little garden when we returned from green and lush Virginia it made me realize that is sure is HARD to garden in North Texas. Extreme heat, extreme cold, terrible soil, high winds, and inconsistent rain. It makes me feel very fortunate and blessed that I have flowers at all!
Every part of the country probably has something! We have sandy soil … and lots of humidity. I love roses, but my girlfriend Lowely calls them an “annual!” Hard to keep them happy! But we never give up!
I had dust bunnies (would be nice if they were cute!) on all my Jan Karon books & favorite Williraye figurines. There were bunnies everywhere! You know what they say about bunnies, they multiply at astounding rates. Anyway, decided to plug in the vacuum & use the brush attachment to suck up all the bunnies. Three long shelves made up of crates & old bookstore bookshelf boards are now bunny free. I am happy. On to my fabric bins & sewing table area. Love the white space too, Susan. Hope I win a mug. Have a lovely spring. 🌸🌸🌸
Sounds BEAUTIFUL!
Hi Susan…you have inspired me to declutter my home. You continue to be the “Master of White Space” even while Spring cleaning!!!
Oh, dear Susan this post came at the perfect time. I am not decluttering the inside of my house. I am decluttering the outside! My house is backed up to a beautiful forest which threatens to engulf us every season. It is a lot of work and it makes me weary to think about it sometimes. This week I have been focusing on small patches at a time. It is already looking so much better. Sometimes I giggle when I envision my house covered with vines and trees! Bye now, I am off to concur the forest primeval! I would also love a chance at winning one of your cute mugs.
I meant conquer, not concur!
I used to have to pull Holly Oak back from the woods every year. There was a constant reclaiming going on!
Oh My Goodness, Susan!
Over 1,400 comments so far! Did you ever dream that you would ever have so many girlfriends, fans and followers? So happy for you and your accomplishments . . . and speaking of accomplishments, congratulations on a job well done reorganizing and de-cluttering your work space. It took courage to share the before pictures and determination to get the job done. Looks great!
Thank you for inspiring us to tackle these tasks when we might otherwise choose to run away from them instead.
Fran
Thank you Fran! I’m not done yet, still doing drawers, and finding little hidden piles of stuff, leaning against the legs of the desk, or between furniture. It’s actually quite amazing what I’m managed to do here! Lighter every day! xoxo
I need to do some Spring cleaning too. It’s so hard to know where to start and feels pretty overwhelming, but I know it has to be done!
I just took everything off one shelf, cleaned it, and put back only what I need. Then I did the next one. Good luck Karen!
I’m cleaning and purging, too, so I loved seeing how YOU were/are doing yours. I bought two of your mugs and am sitting here drinking coffee out of it…and I took a selfie with the computer behind me featuring other girlfriends drinking from theirs (will try to determine how best to send it to you). Would love to win the giveaway and I will choose the mug that I didn’t get. LOL! Excited about your upcoming mugs, too, particularly the blue bird of happiness. Thank you for your chatty posts–always so fun to read!
Hi Susan! I am the youngest of the “Carr Sisters”. I met you and Joe at your book signing in Asheville, NC in June 2016. I brought photos of the four of us holding our Isle of Dreams books that we read aloud to one another during our annual “Sisters Week”. I was so excited about meeting you (my sisters and I are HUGE fans you know!) that I forgot to give you our names so you could put them on the back of the photo. If by chance you still have it, they are from left to right: Beth Ferraro, Margaret Balcer, Becky Cook and Pam Kerschner. This year for our week together our sister, Becky, brought each of us a gift of one of your wonderful mugs! Since there are only three in the set, now Becky doesn’t have one. She will pre-order one of your new mugs, but of course she cannot buy one of the first ones. So – we are each going to all register in an attempt to win a mug for her! We have our fingers and toes crossed and hoping! Hugs to you and Joe!
Hi Susan, I’m the husband of Beth, one of the four Carr sisters who meet in Surfside Beach, SC for their annual sister’s week each year. As you’ve read by now, one of the sisters, Becky, bought one of your first line mugs for each of her sisters for a Sister’s Week gift this year. This gift giving has become a tradition at Sister’s Week. Since the mugs came in a set of three, now Becky doesn’t have a mug of her own. This was a very generous and loving thing to do for her sisters, but that’s just the way Becky is, generous and loving. I don’t want to see this wonderful selfless act go unrewarded. I want all four sisters to have a mug. Therefore, I am writing in hopes of winning one for Becky. You have no greater admirers than the four Carr sisters. Thanks! and I hope I win because if I win, Becky wins.
Love.
What a lovely, inspiring post! Ready now to make some white space:). Happy Spring, Susan!
I thought I left a comment on the 22, but I don’t see it. It would be just like me to have not hit “Post.” Anyway, I love reading and rereading your blogs. In this crazy time we live in it is always a happy, breath of fresh air- Spring air. Although it is already hot and humid here in North Carolina. We have been planting new winterberry bushes for the birds and I found a purple honeysuckle to start. I love that smell, especially when I am on the back deck; which is where I live most of the day with my pups listening to the birds.
I have already pre-ordered 2 of your newest mugs. I just love the one I have already. My coffee really does taste better in it. I may have to order another as Christmas shopping has already started for me. I even have my husband, who enjoys woodworking, making wooden lanterns as Christmas presents. On order are the flickering, fake candles for them. So I start thinking and planning gifts for birthdays a month before and Christmas all summer and fall. A planner I am, but I know that not everything works out as planned…ever!
Happy Memorial Day weekend, Susan. My patriotic garden flag is under my oak tree out front and American flags are along the driveway. Yay, Summer!
Love you and thank you again for your blogs, books, mugs, everything Susan.
Hi Susan!
I LOVE my new Susan Branch Lambie cup!! Thank you so much. The four little lambs on the handle are just precious! Love them. My hubby and girls ordered it for me for Mother’s Day! (my suggestion) The perfect gift!
I hope to take the hint in your above post to get cleaning. Lots of stuff to do to feel inspired at my house! Enjoy Spring! Kathy
It is uncanny how sometimes we think alike! I, too have started decluttering one little space at a time. After working full time for seven years, I have resigned from teaching and are going back to be a homemaker full time! Absolute BLISS! But, my house and organization have suffered and clutter has taken over. So baby steps…each day I try to accomplish “3” tasks. This a suggestion by my mother. Yesterday, I cleaned and polished a little chandelier, and washed down a couple baseboards. Like you said, slow going but I am stopping to smell and enjoy the flowers and my garden at the same time. Right now in Missouri it is strawberry season, and I have been picking and freezing like crazy. Not to mention a little bit of strawberry pie baking. Just know that while you are decluttering and puttering a little friend a few miles away is doing the same thing to her nest!
Cups are beautiful! I pre-ordered the Autumn cup. Missed ordering the first time.
Cleaning house a great thing.I love how you have had a good clean out.I did the same thing in my spare room where I do my sewing and iorning.Also where my extra clothes live .lol My son moved back to Virginia from Maine and my husband wanted out little grandson to have a room to call his own when he visits It stills has the ironing board ,sewing space,but the antique bed that belonged to his grandfather is clean and clear for sleepovers .I totally understand how we hold on to things,I could fill a room with things I really don’t need .Thank you for sharing your life with us.Mary in Virginia.
Love reading your plan for cleaning and clearing!! I have unsuccessfully been
trying to do this for years…. I am now truly inspired! Thank you for sharing!
Oh my! This post definitely spoke to me. I’m in need of de-cluttering and reorganizing, and keep putting it off as too daunting a task. But one shelf at a time, one day at a time, I can do that. I’m usually all or nothing, but it’s time I changed my ways because I’m not as young as I used to be, and don’t want to drag everything out and then be too pooped to put it back where it should go. We moved across the country last October for my husband’s health (bad lungs – needed a lower altitude – so to VA from CO.) The first 6 weeks here, I was so sick with heaven knows what that it finally took steroids for 2 weeks to put me back to rights. In the meantime, my wonderful husband did all the unpacking, so it’s time to redo some of that and find new homes for some things. So tomorrow will be day one of doing a little bit every day until there’s a place for everything and everything in its place.
One little bit at a time Peggy. xoxoxo
You have inspired me to declutter as well! My office/craft room/guest room is overflowing!! I love your mugs… don’t have one yet, but would love to win the “small things” mug… cause after all, at the end of the day, it’s the small things that mean the most!! xo
Oh, Susan!
Inspiring, delightful…
The bluebird of happiness is charming
Blessings,
Patricia
Oh, my goodness! Still giggling after seeing all your “before” pictures!!!! I was mostly giggling because I learned something…I’m not alone!!!!! It’s not just me!!!! For me, it’s my den. The floor is covered. You have to step over stacks and stacks to get anywhere in that room! I scold myself saying this is not how I want to live, but I can’t seem to keep a handle on that room. I should just name it the “Dumping Room”!!!! But you inspired me to try yet again to get it organized and keep it organized. Going through everything and getting rid of what I don’t need anymore truly is the beginning. So thanks, Susan, for having the courage to share and providing the much needed inspiration for me to get my den taken care of!
Susan, I well understand the de-cluttering of your life. the deaths of my mother in law and my mother impressed upon me even more so that leaving the divestment of a life to one’s children is a “gift” not truly welcomed or appreciated. better to do it when one can cull one’s own life and gather the benefits from doing so. here’s to sifting and sorting!
excellent inspiration~ I need to tidy my bookshelf :-/
Well, we have never been more kindred spirits than this blog shows! Not only have I been working to pare down everything between the ceiling and the rug (just seeing a bare patch of the dining table sent me into paroxysms of sheer delight!), I was totally mesmerized when I saw the white bookshelves with the cupboards in your office – at Christmas I gave my husband an unopened set of the building plans for those very shelves (unearthed in a dark corner of an antique shop, ‘natch)! I have been binge-reading favorite authors’ series so someone else can have them all at once and never have to wait forever to find the missing middle volume where all the best clues are hidden. The space emptied by sending off all 26 volumes of alphabet-series of murder mysteries is a wonderful thing! I’m working through a holiday-themed series now – ho! ho! Ho! We really do hold onto an amazing amount of stuff (she says, looking up from the keyboard at a vase full of desiccated Valentine’s Day posies…) Magazines are a particular addiction, clothes I will never, ever, ever wear again, every musical instrument that has come through our doors (seriously, eight guitars, a trombone, a pump organ…) and those little ceramic treasures that come in the tea. And who can resist the perfectly-proportioned, well-built empty container (and why do we never seem to put anything in them)? And yet, the uplifted feeling driving away from Goodwill, the back seats of the van once again able to hold the carpool crowd! The joy of being able to actually set the dining table for supper instead of holding our plates in our laps in front of the TV! The simple pleasure of a place for everything and everything in its place. Spring cleaning, even if it isn’t finished until the leaves begin to fall, is still a thing worth doing. Go forth, therefore, and be not discouraged! Nothing shines so brightly as a job well done!
Good for YOU!!!!
Wanted to give you a suggestion for another mug. Home is where the heart is with a picture of your fantastic fairy tale house. Didn’t read thru all the comments by the girlfriends, so maybe someone else has suggested this? Anyway, love your mugs and don’t want to miss out on getting one of the first three! Thank you for offering this drawing. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Vanna picks my name!
Wonderful blog. Spring cleaning and sorting is good for the soul. I have my house done, except the kitchen … the hardest! I want all the mugs! The little things one is so pretty and fun to read while I sip my tea. Your blog is a great escape from one and one half weeks of cold and rain here. Thank you, thank you.
Love the mug designs! They are fantastic!
Such a great post! And wonderful inspiration to get started on going through cupboards, shelves, books!!! And my sewing room?!? Would love to win one of the cups since they were sold out before I made my choice and went to the website. Just ordered one of the new ones for a friend for Christmas! Thanks again for the inspiration to get started!
What a great post! Wonderful inspiration to get started on cleaning out cupboards, shelves, and my sewing room! Thank you!
…refreshed; now says 1425 comments but will only show the requisite 126 comments (none are awaiting moderation) as in past days (no change there), and my name still comes up as Susan Morgon from Ohio (with her personal email address) although I’m Vicki South of Arroyo – just checking to see if any diff on my google chrome today but, nope…and I’m sure somebody else out there is having my name and personal email address pop up each time, and that is ‘exposure’ I don’t like, but…transferring over now to internet explorer so I can read today’s comments…and still hoping this all eventually gets straightened out; I feel encouraged that your computer guy keeps working at it, Susan, so thanks for continuing to troubleshoot the problem for us…
It’s there, just above, May 24, 6:45 PM. But it will probably go fssst!
I always love reading your posts. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. I love the new teacups as well!
Opening your blog post is like finding a little hidden gift.
Spring cleaning…. does a girl’s heart good:-). Thanks for the inspiration! Can hardly wait for the mugs to come out. They are adorable and one or two will have a special spot in the ‘cleaned’ out cupboard, just waiting!
There must be something in the air as I too began to empty, sort and clean shelves! It’s a marvelous feeling to make space for life going forward. Good luck with the rest of your organizing~
Lovely post. Now I need to get organizing! You inspire me, as usual. Loved hearing Jack in the video. He is a natural actor-cat. xo
I just love everything you create. Your creations always put me in a nostalgic place, and that’s a very fine place to be. Looking forward to seeing you at Titcombe’s.
Me too Joyce, see you there!
I can totally relate to the Clutteritis, but I find it hard to know where to start. It is especially hard to part with things that other people have given to me (and I think it is illegal to throw out stuff my kids have gifted me). Everything has a memory attached to it. Then there is the old “maybe I’ll need that for something some day” excuse. As you say, just get organized and do it! Ahem!
So looking forward to the new cups!
I know what you mean, I can never give away the first cookbook my grandma gave me, but I have so much stuff here that has no memories, or very old memories, and only personal, not that someone gave me, to get rid of…. that alone will make such a difference in this house.
This is my first time leaving a comment even though I’ve been reading your blog for years. I’m always checking your website to see if you’ve posted a new one. They make me happy. Thank you for doing what you love and sharing it with everyone.
Nice to meet you Karen!
Hi Susan! I wish the world was full of more people like you. Whenever I need a little bit of sunshine in my life I open one of your books or read your blog. Sooo positive! And full disclosure from me, I’ve been following along for a while. This is my first comment but I’m finally coming clean…no pun intended (spring cleaning). I also work in an independent bookstore. We are encouraged to read the books and write reviews to help sell the books. Guess what books I have reviewed? Yep! Susan Branch has her books on the shelves and I’ve reviewed all of them. Our newspaper even carried one of my reviews! (proud moment for me) I feel so lucky to have introduced so many people to your wonderful books!
Happy to meet you Christine, and thank you so much for the reviews!!! Very sweet of you! What’s the name of your bookstore?
So anxious to see my new mugs, had them sent to our home in Idaho. Just came
in from planting tomatoes and working in the garden. Yesterday our resident
duck, Mama Vivian brought 8 fluffy ducklings to our pond,So Cute!!! While on a
recent trip, I read “The Lake House”, it was amazing. Now, reading ” Julia Child’s
Second Act” and there she is in your new Blog. Met you at the Gladys Taber
reunion a few yrs. ago, what fun to be there and you were the icing on the cake!
My sisters are getting your books for birthdays, would Love to win another
mug for one. Happy clearing out, we all need THAT.
Hi Susan,
My comment from yesterday morning (5/23 at 11:56 am) says it’s still awaiting moderation, so I’m not sure you saw it. But I did want you to know how much your book, A Fine Romance, has inspired me and is helping me plan my ‘dream come true’ 50th birthday trip to the Lake District and Hill Top Farm. I am so excited, and you need to pat yourself on the back for being such a huge influence on my travel bucket list! 🙂 Now, I just need to follow your example and do some major decluttering and cleaning out! Wonderful post…and LOVE the cups!
I know I read it, and answered it, and I’ve looked everywhere for it, but I don’t see even what you see! Rotten gremlins! So little and tiny, you learn to live with them rather than chance the terrible things that can happen when you move a blog, and most of the time they don’t matter, but sometimes I would really like to strangle them! Yes, your Birthday/Mother’s Day Surprise, SO wonderful!! The fall, right? You are going to love it! I will be perched on your shoulder the whole time! Congratulations Amy!!!
thank you for the spring cleaning inspiration….I will get going in the hot summer time when I’d rather stay out of the heat.
LOVE the pic of your adorable, so young parents. You’re pretty adorable too!
Lots of inspiration for me in this post Susan. Thank you for all the tidbits of organization info. I’m doing the clean out, purge here as well. After dealing with health issues for the last 5 years, it sure feels great to be getting back on track. You always seem to write the right thing…”How do I move myself forward today?”…I need to work diligently in the direction of my dreams…even my tiniest steps forward add up! This is just what I needed to see…gives me vision and helps me focus. It’s challenging to keep up with everyday life and go back and deal with what hasn’t been done in the last 5 years as well. We just buried a step-sister yesterday…in her 50’s and left behind a husband and 3 young boys. So I’m thankful to be here today to be able to do the cleaning.
I’m so sorry Rhonda. Much too young. 😢
What a great post! I love all the inside secrets of your world. Actually, inspiring me to do my cleaning so that I can be more productive and restful in my home as well. 🙂
I love your new mugs; the bluebird is extraordinary!
I think after a hard day of organizing, you need to go outside and sit with a glass of wine and pat yourself on the back. My kitchen table is always a crazy mess. I clean it off, and it happens all over again. All projects are conducted on the kitchen table. Sewing, card making, Bill paying, breakfast and dinner eating. I love all the little peeks into your charmed and charming life. You are such an inspiration to live creatively. I can’t wait for your next adventure. Hugs to you.
Susan, I am inspired reading about and seeing the transformation of your studio as you begin to clear the clutter. Of course, we (your fans) would probably “fight” for a piece of your clutter. I have always found the process of decluttering to be so therapeutic. My mind and heart feel lighter! Love the designs for the new cups! Your talent and creative flow are such blessings.
Dear Sue,
What a season of excitement and anticipation…especially with all the cleaning and reorganizing you’re doing! It brings such a refreshing and revigorating breath of fresh air this time of year. And I know just how you feel (except I’m only just beginning the journey!)…I just began classes for my Master’s degree, I’m wrapping up another school year with my 4th graders, and packing up my classroom to prepare for a move to a different school building! Just reading your post provides me with a much needed refreshing and revigorating breath of fresh air.
I love your new mugs, and was so sorry that I got to your website too late to order any of your first 3 mugs! Martha’s Vineyard and the bluebird one are especially intriguing…I love the peaceful blue tranquility. Maybe…just maybe…Vanna will be sipping tea when she returns from her exotic travels to Bali while drawing names and maybe she’ll just happen to find my name stuck to her fingers – I hear that Vanna likes honey with her tea, such a shame that it always causes sticky fingers! If only I could be so lucky!!
Well, that’s enough wishful thinking for now…back to schoolwork for a bit. I wish you and Joe all the best as you enjoy settling back into the refreshing routines of peaceful domestic bliss.
Happy Spring!
Samantha
Hello Susan, Joe and Jack, and of course FOSB,
It’s been a while since I’ve had time to enjoy reading your blog Susan. I feel the same as you, too much stuff in the house. After 41 years of accumulating, some of it has to go!! Plus, I like different things since those early days. I just haven’t had the spare time to take it on just yet. The Parent chapter is upon me with Dad almost 89, post stroke 2 years ago….and failing, and Mom 82 and coping. Just trying to make them as happy as possible in this time of their lives.
On that note Susan, Every photo of your art room had one thing in it that stood out beautifully…….that lovely picture of your Mom in the background. What a generation they are. I sometimes wish I had been born then as I yearn for the way they dressed. It’s so casual these days, I just love the vintage clothes I see. Sigh, those were the days. Well, I’ll try and catch up on the sorting and cleaning……you’ve done great!
Cheers,
Jan from Northern CA
You’re doing what I’ve been thinking about. At least you had a path through your office. My grandkids have been in my studio, and nothing is ever put back in it’s proper place – probably because they thought the proper place was on the floor. Spring has finally arrived in Colorado, after last week’s snowstorm; but I’m ready for your FALL cup. Here’s to the thought of a totally clean house, and to the messes that make our house a home and give us the urge to clean that house every 30 years!
Love your love mug. Fingers crossed I will love it in my kitchen. ❤️
Wow what a treasure trove your studio was….I just wanted to jump in and explore with you. I would have spent hours and hours exploring and delighting in forgotten memories. I love to tidy and make white space it makes me happy inside and out. I hope you are now inspired to write a new book.
My mug has now arrived back in England! It has pride of place on my dresser…shame it had to travel SO many miles…..perhaps I should offer to distribute in England?????
Jacqui X
East Sussex, UK
If you have a store that would be wonderful! They think they have an idea for me, but I don’t have anything firm yet. I’m glad you got your cup, best traveled mug in all the world!
Dear Susan, You’re blog posts are so inspirational, practical and just plain fun to read!! I am always in a state of organizing, reorganizing and trying to purge. What you have accomplished is admirable! 😀 And in the midst of all of that you continue to make
Beautiful art! I’m loving all of your mugs and can’t decide which one I should buy first. It would be a treat to win one of your very first ones. Maybe I’ll be lucky 😊
Spoiler Alert/Warning! Susan, I recommended “Anne With an E” on Netflix before I finished watching the entire series. Episode Seven is very dark, gratuitous violence etc. I have turned it off twice, and don’t think I can go back to it. Not like the dear book at all. But the first six episodes are lovely. Peace, Leslie
Thank you for the warning. They should not be fooling with Anne with an E! We love it too much!
Here! Here! I, too, recommended the new version of the Anne-Girl before I saw more of it. Why would anyone think it was a good idea to drag in the harsh reality? This beloved character certainly had too many bad things in her life as an orphan, and yes, they “informed her present” but just because you can add a dark cloud behind the silver lining, doesn’t mean you should. They have also taken some very odd liberties with the story line. I doubt Lucy Maude would ever have approved. Back to my beloved, dog-eared volumes.
That’s very sad. I agree, Lucy Maude, a brilliant writer and thinker, would really be mad!!!
I discovered you back in the 80’s and every time you write a new blog post, it’s like discovering you for the first time! Your writings are always new and refreshing! Thank you for the opportunity to win a lovely mug.
Blessings from Barbara S. in Parrish, FL
Thank you Barbara!
Hi Susan,
Once again you are inspiring me to “clean up”. It is an adventure….
Thank you too for the ‘gift cup’ give away….so fun.
I always like your home writings. It is like we are there with you!
Love it
Hillaire Gallager
Hmm. Not sure if my first comment went through? Something is funny with my computer’s connection to the blog… I haven’t received any comments after May 23rd at 4:00am, including mine … so I will try again:)
I LOVE the blue bird mug and have pre ordered one in honor of our first blue bird family to live in one of the boxes in our back yard! How in the world are they so blue in sunshine?!! They melt me:)
Yesterday, inspired as I always am by you, I took back our foyer! So messy, I was surprised someone didn’t break an ankle walking in there! It looked so pretty when I went to bed, sparkly clean and decorated for summer. And this morning when I awoke, it was messed up! I live with three!! emerging adults (that is what they are called!) 18-22yo! Humor, humor, humor see me through:)
I hope everyone enjoys this lovely, soft day.
Try refreshing Caroline, I think that will fix it! Oh yes, humor humor humor, oh dear! xoxo
I started a purge like this during Lent. Everyday, for 40 min, I focused on one area such as shelves or a closet, and was ruthless. I also do this periodically with books, and donate them to the school library. They have a book sale twice a year and use the money for the visiting author program. This way, my children benefit twice! Your office looks lovely, all neat and organized yet still full of interesting visuals.
Dear Susan, I can certainly relate to your home clutter photos as I have some of my own. We are on Martha’s Vineyard now. My husband, mother and sister are staying in a cute little cottage in Oak Bluffs. We have had a wonderful time exploring your island. It was you and your wonderful books, Willard, and your blogs that brought me here. The Wisteria is so lovely. Tomorrow we clean up our rental cottage and head back to Nova Scotia for my Mom and sister and us to Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Now I can scratch one more thing off my bucket list. Take care and I will be excited to get my new mugs from you when we get home. Thanks and all the best for the future. Love, Crystal Burns from Cannon Falls
I’m sorry about the rain! I thought it was going to stop today! At least we are green! Hope you had a wonderful time!
I hope Santa brings me a Christmas cup. It is beautiful!
How can there already be this many comments!? I must have missed cking. for a new post yesterday – I’ve been missing you – you are my “bright spot”. I absolutely cannot afford a bluebird mug but am going to try – and maybe when our dear Vanna returns I will win one of the other mugs for one of my dear ones.
Thank you for what you do for me!
I am working on a major project and keep finding myself trying to get out of it. We have one big room upstairs that needs to be painted and a floor to replace. It is my sewing/craft/exercise room. But it is full of “stuff” that I have to go through. Lots will be given away, some saved, some thrown away but after several months, am only half way done. I like the idea of thinking about it in inches instead of yards. There is no time table on getting it done and that may be my problem. Need to set a goal – like a party of something.
Anyway, thanks for all your pictures. I’ll go get started again…after my cup of tea. 🙂
Dear Susan,
Your post came at the perfect time…just when I was feeling the need to declutter and simplify again! Now I am motivated to get back to work. Thank you!!! And the mugs are gorgeous!!! Thank you for keeping it real!!!
Jonna
Thanks for the encouragement to get a grip on my house. My oldest daughter just got married & while I sewed her wedding dress I let the house go to wreck & ruin (not really but I do have a ton of Spring to catch up on now the wedding is behind us).
When I finish with my kitchen I am going to take a break and reward myself by painting a little picture for my wall saying, “Yard by yard, it’s very hard, but inch by inch, it’s a cinch.” to encourage me forward. Oh, dear, I don’t think it is a good sign that I am planning my breaks already.
The mugs are just lovely!
Seek peace,
Wendy
First thing’s first to the lovely wedding-dress maker!
As I drink lemon ginger tea from your “In love with nature cup”, I am making a grocery list and lemon chicken from Heart Of The Home, (signed by you in Brewster, last summer) is on the list!! Yes, I am a true fan of yours, Susan!! Shine on, beautiful lady!!
Hi Susan! I am the youngest of the four “Carr Sisters”. I met you and Joe at your book signing in Asheville, NC in June 2016. I left you a photo of the four of us holding our Isle of Dreams books that we read aloud to one another during our annual “Sisters Week”. I was so excited about meeting you (my sisters and I are HUGE fans you know!) that I forgot to give you our names so you could put them on the back of the photo. If by chance you still have it, they are from left to right: Beth Ferraro, Margaret Balcer, Becky Cook and Pam Kerschner. This year for our week together our sister, Becky, brought each of us a gift of one of your wonderful mugs! Since there are only three in the set, now Becky doesn’t have one. She will pre-order one of your new mugs, but of course she cannot buy one of the first ones. So – each of us are registering in an attempt to win a mug to gift to Becky! We have our fingers and toes crossed and hoping! Hugs to you and Joe!
With all of you in the drawing, how can you possibly lose???? I’m with you, fingers crossed and more power to the powers that be!
Hi Susan, I’m the husband of Beth, one of the four Carr sisters who meet in Surfside Beach, SC for their annual sister’s week each year. As you’ve read by now one of the sisters, Becky, bought one of your first line mugs for each of her sisters (Pam, Margaret and Beth) for a Sister’s Week gift this year. This gift giving has become a tradition at Sister’s Week. Since the mugs came in a set of three, now Becky doesn’t have a mug of her own and she really wanted one and they are not available anymore. This was a very generous and loving thing to do for her sisters, but that’s just the way Becky is, generous and loving. I don’t want to see this wonderful selfless act go unrewarded. I want all four sisters to have a mug. Therefore, I am writing in hopes of winning one for Becky. You have no greater admirers than the four Carr sisters. Thanks and I hope I win because if I win, Becky wins.
I hope you win Joe!!! You’re a wonderful guy ~ the sisters must love you!!
We sure do! Swell brother-in-law!
Little did I know when I finally got around to reading this post that it would INSPIRE me to begin my own purging and Spring cleaning! I had some dates scheduled in March to begin, but it never happened. I MUST do this…my office looks similar to yours…maybe not quite as bad, but close. And I have way more bookshelves to deal with. I actually purchased a wonderful sheet fed scanner to help with this project, but it sits collecting dust. I now feel inspired to begin…one shelf or drawer at a time or it will never happen! So thank you for sharing your clutter. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this😊 If I’m lucky enough to win a new mug, it will be displayed on a clean shelf for a bit of time💜
Such an inspirational post! I’m reading it a second time with my tea and toast. Maybe we tend to fill the space we have…the larger the home, the more things we save. Good for you for tackling it now, while you have the energy, and as you say, when you want to rather than when you have to. Your new mugs are just lovely. Thank you for all you share with us! xo
Dear Susan,
A friend of mine sent me a link to this post because I am in the midst of the very same activity at my house! We had A/C put in our 1939 house so, naturally, while so much of our stuff was already in boxes we decided to have the entire interior repainted since it was so overdue. Neither one of us is a minimalist and books are a particular passion. Our local used bookstore has no room right now for more contributions so I looked for another outlet and found Better World Books. They save books from landfills (!) and help fund literacy programs all over the world. I just thought I would pass this information along for future reference.
I’m on my own treasure hunt here in Philly finding all sorts of good things that I forgot I even had. Like you, I want to create open space and I am being very selective about what will go back in each room. Lots of donations going on. But here is my particular problem. Many years ago, my husband starting collecting teddy bears and the collection has taken over a lot of space. All the guys are currently in temporary storage and I need some creative ideas on how to display our buddies. They all have names and histories here so there is no chance of ‘thinning the herd’. Any ideas?? Thanks for this post and rooting for success for both of us in our space-making endeavors!
Very good! Better World Books, I wrote it down! Thank you! For the bears, I would have a set of shelves built (all one unit, no back), each shelf no deeper than a teddy bear butt (what else can I say, sorry), derriere, I forgot! And find a wide empty wall, make the shelf unit as tall and wide as necessary, measure your bears, then measure between the shelves so no space is wasted, the tiny ones go on top, down to the big ones on the bottom. Someone else may have a much better idea . . . so I’ll leave it to them!
That is a terrific idea, Susan! Thank you so much. I have some ideas already…and Olie, Lavender, Snoop Doggy-Bear, Cedar, Buddy, Salem, Winterbear, Teddy Mittens, etc, etc, etc, thank you too!
Hi Janet!
When I did store displays with Teddy bears I found I could place a lot of bears with the taller ones, 12″ – 14″ H, standing up in what are called doll stands. Just make sure the stand is the right height for the bear because they do come in sizes. If they are too small the bear will topple over. I’d put shorter bears in front of the taller one, maybe a little off to the side, and if jointed it could be sitting in front. Or two could sit together, like the taller one in behind, with the smaller one between it’s legs sitting It was easier to do a display with a deeper shelf….maybe 12″-14″ as you could stack the bears one in front of the other in the way described If there were a bunch of smaller, let’s say 8″ H bears, I’d grab a little prop such as a basket or a doll chair, little wagon etc. and arrange them in there. You could, for visual interest place some on a stack of books rather than just have a straight line. Pretend if you will, as if you’re taking a photograph of a large group of people … some are in behind, some in front, some angled slightly, some sitting. If your bears are dark haired it may be best to use a lighter colored shelf so that there is contrast. Even a few ordinary book shelf units could work, unless you wanted them behind glass. Hope this helps. Have fun!! xo
Erica, this will make the display even better!! Thank you so much I can just see it coming together. Doll stands – of course!!
Janet, This is so funny…I am cleaning out an antique dresser of my Aunt Agathas….I found a treasure of mine…two small bears that I have had since 1980’s…saving them for what??????? Well I put one
sitting in the window sill (no sun hits the window) behind my sewing machine and the other one sitting on top of the dresser next to the antique vases. I f I am good the vases usually flowers in them….fresh ones not the ones that have seen better days hahaha You might want to spread some of your bears out through the others rooms…that way you can enjoy them through out the house and them you..Enjoy the journey. Susan P.
Hi Susan! As I write, I’m snuggled on the couch with my two sweet petty-pet doggies Daisy and Lizzy, sipping my morning coffee drink out of your “Little Things” cup! And, as all things fom you do – it is bringing me much Joy! It seems that every time I write you my husband and I are going through another round of adversity – but the key word there is “through” – we always get through it! And, I always feel that it’s with a little (or a lot!) of help from You because you always bring me such Joy! When I wrote last Fall, I was recuperating from my third ovarian cancer surgery in 12 years, and we were taking care of my father-in-law (a widower) as he fought bladder and lung cancer. And, I was also worried and agitated about the state of our Country as well. But, as always, your posts lifted me up, comforted me, and renewed my hope and joy. I am fully recovered from the surgery now, for which I am grateful, but sadly, my father-in-law passed in February. We take great comfort in the fact that he is at peace now, and laid to rest by my husband’s mother in beautiful Vermont, where they were both from. And, now we have two precious petty-pet doggies since we inherited my father-in-law’s doggie Lizzy. She and our sweet Daisy are both rescues from when they were puppies and they are sisters by adoption – two peas in a pod! As you can imagine, these days I take more comfort than ever in the “little things” in life,
and am enjoying my beautiful cup so much! I gave my Mom your gratitude book for Mother’s Day, and your lovely Nature cup as well. I didn’t order the Love cup, because our budget is tight with me off work because of the cancer, thinking I could order it down the road. So, I missed getting it, which makes me very happy that I may have a chance at winning one of you cups, and a could choose the Love one! I will sign off for now, but, as always, I send you gratitude, joy and love, Diedra 😊❤️🙏🌷
It’s Spring Diedra, sweet lovely springtime, time of new beginnings. Wishing you every good thing. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Thank you dear Susan! You are absolutely right! Spring is a time of new beginnings, and I embrace that and look forward to all the lovely things ahead. I forgot to comment on your Spring cleaning! Thank you so much for showing your before pictures! After all that’s happened in the last year and a half, our home is in need of a major purging/cleaning, and that is my project for the coming weeks! I always marvel at how beautiful and perfect your house looks so that encouraged me to no end that you can relate to “clutter” too! Wonderful post, as usual! 😊❤️🌷
de-clutering must be in the air! or the age! That’s what I’ve been doing these past few years here in beautiful Montana. De-cluttering clears the mind and makes room for room new thoughts, dreams, projects. It’s my cup of tea and I’d love a cup to enjoy it in!
Thank you, Susan, for being brave enough to post your “before” pictures . . . believe me, though, I’ve seen much worse!! Once again, you have inspired me – this time, to “pitch and purge”, as I like to call it. I will, however, be leaving a special spot in my cabinet for one of your gloriously beautiful mugs . . . one can always hope, right? 😉
We have recently helped my mother to “deep clean” while moving into a new home. What memories we have unearthed! It’s been a very eye-opening experience, in more ways than one. Good for the soul . . .
As always, Dear Girlfriend (for that is what you are, with a capital D and G!!), I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your heart, your thoughts and your life with all of us. I hope all of this spring cleaning will inspire you to write another book – I’m growing desperately hungry for one!! (P.S. – Do you remember the name of that beautiful pumpkin color on the walls of your studio??). :))
I don’t remember! I finally wrote the kitchen paint color in my little book here in the Studio, if you would have asked me that, I could have told you! 😆 But I forget the pumpkin color! Sweet comment Patti! Thank you!
Hi Susan! So glad to know I’m not the only one who is daunted by the task of beginning Spring cleaning! I actually LOVE cleaning and purging so it’s just the getting started that’s the hard part. Thanks for the inspiration. I’m known for my love of organizing and cleaning and have family and friends who let me know what they’ve done and how many bags they’ve filled to go! Needless to say, I could hardly wait to see your after pictures🤗 Happy Spring to you and all of the girlfriends🌸💫🌺☀️
Helen Fite
Your new blog posts make me so happy! Happy Spring Susan! I’m inspired to do some spring cleaning myself! ♥ Love, love, love your mugs! xx
I retired last year and the first thing I did was a major declutter–my rule is: Do I love it? Do I use it? Got rid of so much and made room for what I am wanting to do now and all my future goals–very freeing! I have my three beautiful mugs on my kitchen table with a large porcelain WHITE vase filled with pink roses and dark pink sage–all things I LOVE! I am making room for the white! Thank you for always reminding us about LOVE!
LOVE you Dorothy!
Your cups are so beautiful! Thank you for the chance to win one.
Thank you very much for urging me get moving on spring cleaning! As soon as I finish this post to you, I’m off to the cleaning supplies! I’m making room for a new Susan Branch cup!! I love them…thanks for birthing them! They are perfect in every way!!
Birthing! Love it!
Thanks for another lovely blog post. I agree that it feels so freeing to let go of items that no longer fit our life. I’ve been living vicariously through your books and your blog posts about England. I hope to go in person one day but till then it’s a pleasure to read about your trips. One day in the future, I may even make it to the Jane Austen festival in Bath! God bless you and hope you enjoy the beautiful spring/summer weather.
Her house in Chawton, where she wrote most of the books, is open all the time and filled to the gills with her things. You would love it.
my dog has me “trained too”!
Your blog post always brightens my day! Thank you.
Hi Susan,
Your purging gives me real hope, as everything gets stuffed everywhere to be organized at a “later” time. Unfortunately LATER HAS BEING BANGING ON THE DOOR!!!”
I love that “a yard is very hard” but “an inch is a cinch”. You give me a starting point; just a shelf….shoebox….. or drawer…at a time!!
My thrill of the day is my desk drawer right under where this computer is now. It’s almost empty! I cleaned it! What WAS all that stuff??? For one thing there must have been 25 little pads of post-its in there! Not anymore! I open it and stare at it, call Joe in to look at it!
Hi Susan,
Love this post (and all of your posts really, ha.) Cleaning and organizing feels SO good! I read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up this year, and though it is extreme, it definitely inspired me to discard what I don’t love/use which is creating so much space.
I wish I had found out about you years ago, so I could have scooped up those limited addition goodies you put out, but I discovered you about six months ago and now am a proud owner of Heart of the Home, The Summer Book, A Fine Romance, and just finished The Fairy Tale Girl which I borrowed from the library. LOOOOVVEEEEE your work. It’s so creative and inspiring. I made the cajun shrimp for my husband’s birthday dinner this week and after his first bite looked at me like it was the best food he’s ever eaten! ha.
Also, can I say how excited I am to hear about this Tea Book!! Because I got downright giddy reading about it and what goodness it will have in it.
Enjoy your lovely home, and simplifying it! I realize this comment is entirely too long. lol.
Love,
Kristie
THANK YOU Kristie!! Love hearing about your husband and the shrimp! xoxoxo