Okay, that's not actually my house. It's one I saw deep in the wilds of Alabama and it reminded me of what can happen when one accumulates too much stuff -- an event horizon that our house is rapidly approaching, especially in my workroom and my closet...
I've taken twenty or so boxes of books off to our library and how good that felt! -- but I couldn't resist bringing home two boxes of books that my friend who's moving offered to me.
I tell myself, as I've told myself before, every time I leave the house, I should take a box or two of 'stuff' -- to the dumpsters or the Goodwill.
But which stuff? I have a massive fabric collection --I hardly ever make a quilt anymore but I might take a notion...
My painting supplies, including a giant easel, take up a lot of space in my workroom and I haven't touched a brush in five or six years. But am I ready to say never on that particular avocation?
I won't even mention the gourds...
32 comments:
I have been doing that all winter. Forcing myself to evaluate which of my past passions are likely to rekindle at some point, and which are not. It generally turns into an exercise of compromise (okay, I'll get rid of this, but not that). But hey - some progress is better than none, right?? My sister is about to get a truckload of free scrapbooking supplies. But alas, couldn't part with the martial arts stuff. You never know...
I've been having a purge, too. I've discovered all manner of items I'd given up for lost. Now I'm trying to justify keeping them, even though I've lived without them for years. Bite the bullet!
Oh this is such a hard thing to do. Love your quilt and art.
I'm facing the same dilemma with my stash. Your quilt is lovely, picture, too. So much talent!
Well, I think it's just a phase people are going through - getting rid of stuff - seems to be THE thing now. What would have happened if the Victorians just threw out all their stuff - where would the antiques world be?
We all need our stuff! You're right, we might all just take a notion to do.... whatever. If we got rid of our stuff, well, where would we be?
And books... well, one has to have books.
Funny, but I have had the same thoughts on my mind. I'm amazed at how much stuff surrounds me that is totally NOT necessary. Today is going to be rainy, so perhaps it's a good time to dig in and clean out.
Getting ready to move to our farm has been a real challenge for me. I have enjoyed collecting all the stuff in my studio and one of these days...but do I want to haul it to the mountains? It will have to stay in storage for maybe 2 years. So every few weeks I go in and take out:<Next my clothes-I only can keep what I can store in the Airstream. Not much but when I think about it I usually wear my favorite things over and over so Goodwill here I come!
haha. i hear you. we have plenty that could go to the dump...i recently started dabbling in art again after 20 years, so i was glad i still had my supplies tucked away...
It's always best not to mention the gourds....
I've completed doing what you're contemplating. I rarely quilt now, and got rid of about 80% of my stash. If I want to do a small piece sometime, there's enough fabric left. Clearing things out makes me feel freer to be more creative. I figure if I get rid of something that I want later, I'll buy another at that time - probably used from someone who is cleaning house!
Ah, gourds. I collect pottery and when I go to craft/arts festivals I like to pick up something to support them as well as something I enjoy. Thing is, with gourds unless it's for a birdhouse that benefits birds, I don't have room for art display gourds. But I hate to pass by the booths with lovely work that is beautiful. My house is tiny so I've managed down to one large gourd with fish etched on it.
I can't bear to throw things away. The only way I can even slightly feel good about it is to remind myself that I come from a long line of relatives who couldn't throw things away either. And books in particular are difficult for me to part with.
Sam
How funny ! Love that Alabama porch! When you find yourself sleeping out in the yard and you can't find the sleeping bag, it's probably time to consider an inventory reduction...! I finally made a decision to focus on only three pasttimes (and it was past the time to make that decision!) And BTW, I read about a program for donating used books to prison libraries. Since I live by the federal prison for women at Alderson, and my friend, Debbi, volunteers there, I donated a pretty good collection of paperbacks to them (Though I am NOT parting with ANY Vicki Lane mysteries, thank you very much! Not one. Period.
Elora
Well, I can certainly relate to this---our little doublewide is bulging at the seams. Books everywhere---stacked on the floor, in the closets, and a lucky few on shelves. So hard to say goodbye to my book friends, though...
By the way, your quilt is lovely. At first, I thought you meant you were getting rid of the quilt and I was about to suggest a very good home for it.:-)
You are quite a talented woman
I confess to the book thing too..out then in with more
Yes, I think it is that time of the year for us to purge
..it does clear space for good energy to come in
Glad that was not your house ;)
I've got three generations of stuff to go through and get rid of. I'm putting it off until Spring arrives, so I can park the car outside and use the garage for the boxes of stuff that have to go somewhere.
It's that time of year. I cleaned out three "junk" drawers over the weekend. Whew! You would have thought I'd run a marathon.
Good luck with throwing material away. It is something I am unable to do. I might need that scrap!
Your quilt is very pretty. Maybe I need to finish the one I started 5 or so years ago!
Ah, I see I'm not alone. I agree with With of S -- we do need our stuff. But I don't want to become one of those hoarders who has to make pathways trough towering piles of old newspapers.
I did major "getting house in order" when we moved back to NC in 2006. I must say, I regret almost every single thing I parted with. I'll never do it again as long as I still have storage space and things are boxed and out of the way. Although I will do better about passing along books I've read and don't need to keep.
LOL I knew that wasn't your house before you even said... (wink) But, gee, what a timely post as I continue my own process of cleaning out since we will be relocating to another state this year.
Engaging artwork, Vicki! Makes sense that you wouldn't want to remove those potentials for spontaneous art! I feel blessed that my only real creative tendency is writing so that I at least don't have a lot of other artsy stuff! LOL
I have been trying so hard to do the same. Somehow I never seem to get it all done before I start a new collection of "stuff". Loving the colors on that quilt!
Funny how we gather 'stuff' isn't it. Our consumer world encourages it. When I first retired i gathered hobby materials like an insurance against - I know not what, but I'm over it and the recycling depot and Op shops have benefitted.
Your spring is upon you Vicki. I can tell.
Getting rid of stuff always makes me feel good-if I can just make my self do it : )
Granny is the ultimate pack rat-and we all fuss at her for it-but then when you need something-she always has it : )
Until such time as you actually can't get in or out of your house I should wait with getting rid of things, at least those things you mention. There must be other, useful stuff that has outlived its right to houseroom that you could discard first?
Happy sorting.
Honest. I did attack, organize, and throw away. Last spring. Maybe only one room or two. But how long is that good for? A year's credit?
Kath
It must be in the air- I'm still cleaning on my office....but I've been doing that for six months now and not accomplishing a durn thing. I might be a packrat....
I'm quite good at throwing things away (though looking at my study right now you wouldn't know!) But there's nearly always at least one thing I go hunting for later and then remember I got rid of it!
Today, I purged photos taken throughout my long life. And I cried some, but find that I don't want to look back. If I change my mind, I will still have plenty. I love your quilt and glass. What a multi-talented woman you are. Also, I hope I didn't offend, when I asked about the library for your books, but right now, I'm seriously broke. We have paid for two houses and a lot of land for too long.--Inger
Time to get mine in order, too, Vicki. It's hard!
I've started parting with a few things that don't have a special memory attached by giving it to a friend who might have admired it at some point.
Books are hard to part with, except we've reached the point that it is a necessity. I took a couple hundred books to my office and offered them up to the department right before I retired and they were gone within a few days.
Here's news that might help. I read an article recently about how giving gifts promotes good health for the giver.
LOVE your quilt! LOVE the irises! My mom carried irises when Donald and I married and they always remind me of her.
Oh, gosh, I need to spring clean my closet in the worst way. It is definitely not in order.
I've been doing it a little along since the first of the year. I used to save everything but not any more. I'm getting used to being clutter free now. Still can't part with any of my books yet.
No no no no NO! Never get rid of creative tools and materials! The urge to make must always be obeyed, and you never know when or what it's going to want to do, so you have to be fully prepared at all times!
It is so hard to do, no way around it! :-(
Prior to moving here, I spent a year and a half sorting through 18 years of living in a big house. It was the hardest, back- and heartbreaking letting go of things ever! Alone the three vans full of boxes with books of mine that I gave away (and as I know now, there were accidentally several boxes among them with my art and photography books and a few novels - like the first edition of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" - that I did not intend to give away)! There were still so many books and my piano left that my husband jokes that this alone took up three quarters of our container. ;-)
Interestingly, our youngest, already as a three year old went through her room on a regular basis, leaving me stuff and books she did not need anymore (her words) in a laundry basket. The most curious incident was when she took off the book jackets of her Harry Potter collection (today she is grateful I squirreled them away in a safe place). She intends to become a medical doctor. I can see her, with a stern look, scolding her patients for leaving too much stuff on their bedside tables. ;-) She is the sweetest thing, but a pain when she comes into the room, looks at your desk and asks, "Mom, do you need any help with that?" ;-)
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