Thats sounds so familiar, I have a pile for the charity shop in a box on the landing, I dread to think how many months its been there! And now I have to resist the urge to check what I am getting rid of! I too get overwhelmed with things not ending in landfill but be given more life which stops me from clearing the clutter. Its an ongoing battle!
This made me laugh as I have a box of bits for the charity shop in the boot of the car that has been put back in my hall and then back in my car more times than I care to remember. And yes I will often sort out clothes to get rid of and then go through them again and change my mind! It's all so familiar
Gosh Gina, that could have been me writing that! I keep looking at what I call my 'craft room' and despairing about the clutter and stuff. I also think about clearing things so that my children won't have to do it later - didn't know it had a name! May go off now and make a start ( after I've walked the dog and generally procastinated!)
I think we are probably all the same... reaching a certain age ofter years of crafting and accumulating stuff. I'm trying to do it by small baby steps... just a few things each day if possible, although I've yet to see any difference!
I feel stuck in a place which is neither what I should do, or what I want to do. Husband is constantly muttering about too much stuff and huffs everytime an amazon delivery arrives - even though I point out it's only something like shower gel or loo cleaner. As he's the one who hates supermarkets and we've no local store, we can't go totally unwashed or not clean the loos.
Since I had a stroke a few years back, I can find no enthusiasm for sewing, knitting or other crafts. I've managed to gain control of food shopping and making most meals, which he took on when I was incapable, but I've only got to think I might make cake to find him in the kitchen already with a cake in progress! Does mind reading come as standard with 40 odd years of marriage? Anyway, I'm very grateful he's so competent, but I wish I could find a switch to turn myself back on - before he tarts investigating my fabric and yarn stash! (He does have an entire room of bookshelves full of books, enough sheet music to start a shop, and 6 keyboard instruments, but those are life necessities, apparently). Daughter is long resigned to what she may have to deal with, but the full-sized violin that has followed us around for many house moves, has suddenly become granddaughter's prized possession, so it isn't all useless. 😂
I do feel for you Jane, life definitely does get harder as we get older. I think I’m thinking about all the stuff that needs clearing more recently as I know I’m going to have to sort out all my mums stuff before too long. And my husband also has a room completely lined with books that he’ll never get to read!
My workroom major tidy was pronounced done yesterday evening. And it’s only three years since we moved house. Now, what to do with the excess of ambition as expressed in unused fabric stockpiled in case of some world emergency. The stockpiling took thirty years and the emergency never arrived.
The office is next. I fear a surfeit of remembering will prevent a substantial reduction in weight of paper, but at least that can be shredded.
Then it’s on to the books. Oh dear! Too many books, by any measure. Some go back as far as a great-grandfather’s library collected over a lifetime of learning from the 1870s until 1929. I shudder at the thought of skips and destruction, so procrastinate yet again.
So the question really is this: if I deal with the excess fabric and shred the paper, can those who come after me deal with the book problem? Sounds fair to me.
I loved the idea of an excess of ambition expressed in unused fabrics (and yarn in my case!) And yes, leave the books to future generations because they are easy to deal with!
I never knew Swedish Death cleaning was a ‘thing’ but I feel this in my early 50’s as I want to make space both mentally and physically for my ‘art’. I have been busy declutterring a lot over the last 6 months but the more obsessed I’ve become with the process, the more I don’t ‘do’ art which is one of the main reasons for the declutter in the first place 😂 !! however I found great solace in creating photo memories for my family and re arranging things in my home which I feel is a creative process anyway and I keep telling myself that ‘art’ will come one day!!! It’s funny how our brains work and how different we all are ❤️
Mel, I feel this need to declutter is also part of the reason I’m not making art. Whatever I do whether textiles or painting it just produces more stuff!
Thats sounds so familiar, I have a pile for the charity shop in a box on the landing, I dread to think how many months its been there! And now I have to resist the urge to check what I am getting rid of! I too get overwhelmed with things not ending in landfill but be given more life which stops me from clearing the clutter. Its an ongoing battle!
This made me laugh as I have a box of bits for the charity shop in the boot of the car that has been put back in my hall and then back in my car more times than I care to remember. And yes I will often sort out clothes to get rid of and then go through them again and change my mind! It's all so familiar
Oh yes.. giving the charity box outings to ride in the car boot for a while 😂😂😂 I am good at that and then completely forgetting its in there 😂
😂 I guess it’s good to know we’re not alone!
Gosh Gina, that could have been me writing that! I keep looking at what I call my 'craft room' and despairing about the clutter and stuff. I also think about clearing things so that my children won't have to do it later - didn't know it had a name! May go off now and make a start ( after I've walked the dog and generally procastinated!)
I think we are probably all the same... reaching a certain age ofter years of crafting and accumulating stuff. I'm trying to do it by small baby steps... just a few things each day if possible, although I've yet to see any difference!
I feel stuck in a place which is neither what I should do, or what I want to do. Husband is constantly muttering about too much stuff and huffs everytime an amazon delivery arrives - even though I point out it's only something like shower gel or loo cleaner. As he's the one who hates supermarkets and we've no local store, we can't go totally unwashed or not clean the loos.
Since I had a stroke a few years back, I can find no enthusiasm for sewing, knitting or other crafts. I've managed to gain control of food shopping and making most meals, which he took on when I was incapable, but I've only got to think I might make cake to find him in the kitchen already with a cake in progress! Does mind reading come as standard with 40 odd years of marriage? Anyway, I'm very grateful he's so competent, but I wish I could find a switch to turn myself back on - before he tarts investigating my fabric and yarn stash! (He does have an entire room of bookshelves full of books, enough sheet music to start a shop, and 6 keyboard instruments, but those are life necessities, apparently). Daughter is long resigned to what she may have to deal with, but the full-sized violin that has followed us around for many house moves, has suddenly become granddaughter's prized possession, so it isn't all useless. 😂
I do feel for you Jane, life definitely does get harder as we get older. I think I’m thinking about all the stuff that needs clearing more recently as I know I’m going to have to sort out all my mums stuff before too long. And my husband also has a room completely lined with books that he’ll never get to read!
My workroom major tidy was pronounced done yesterday evening. And it’s only three years since we moved house. Now, what to do with the excess of ambition as expressed in unused fabric stockpiled in case of some world emergency. The stockpiling took thirty years and the emergency never arrived.
The office is next. I fear a surfeit of remembering will prevent a substantial reduction in weight of paper, but at least that can be shredded.
Then it’s on to the books. Oh dear! Too many books, by any measure. Some go back as far as a great-grandfather’s library collected over a lifetime of learning from the 1870s until 1929. I shudder at the thought of skips and destruction, so procrastinate yet again.
So the question really is this: if I deal with the excess fabric and shred the paper, can those who come after me deal with the book problem? Sounds fair to me.
I loved the idea of an excess of ambition expressed in unused fabrics (and yarn in my case!) And yes, leave the books to future generations because they are easy to deal with!
I never knew Swedish Death cleaning was a ‘thing’ but I feel this in my early 50’s as I want to make space both mentally and physically for my ‘art’. I have been busy declutterring a lot over the last 6 months but the more obsessed I’ve become with the process, the more I don’t ‘do’ art which is one of the main reasons for the declutter in the first place 😂 !! however I found great solace in creating photo memories for my family and re arranging things in my home which I feel is a creative process anyway and I keep telling myself that ‘art’ will come one day!!! It’s funny how our brains work and how different we all are ❤️
Mel, I feel this need to declutter is also part of the reason I’m not making art. Whatever I do whether textiles or painting it just produces more stuff!
I took have been having a clear out and the hall is filled with rubbish and bags for Oxfam. It feels very liberating!
I love the doll! I haven't seen one like it in years and it was lovely to see.
As for not painting, I think fallow times are necessary, though I used to worry about them, I now just see them as getting ready for the next burst!