In the last month that I've been away from writing blog posts, I have been a very busy lady. My first collection of cotton fabric has been edited and approved and sent off to press. My home office has moved from upstairs to downstairs. My stash of fabric is smaller... and life is good!
As a born pack rat married to a tidy person, it has taken me years and quite a lot of effort to part with stash fabrics (yarn and paper, too). I didn't intend to hoard things, I'm just a magpie with more creativity and enthusiasm than I had time and energy to finish things. I have been a natural and enthusiastic collector of craft materials for most of my life. So, as I undertook the three-week process of moving my studio to the downstairs common area of my house, I made a lot of decisions about what was really important and where I wanted to focus my creative efforts and energy. It was time to do a purge.
Every box was gone through - Scrapbook paper that I had collected in college while I was still scrapping with a friend as a social activity got savagely cut. Excess yarn that was never going to find its way to my needles went to triage. Outdated software manuals went to recycle... and my Mount Everest of fabric was reduced to a manageable collection of vintage gems and useful basics, with room for projects in progress.
Since I was in junior high, I've had a huge stash of fabric - most of it never got used. It was always about 80% stash. This time I took the opportunity to ask myself, "What do you REALLY want?" and I answered "I want to be the lady who decides on a dress to make, then goes out and buys the fabric and finishes it before I start another one." So far so good. It's my new mantra.
I know, I can sense many of you fellow pack rats and collectors out there cringing... but understand that I didn't throw away everything. I kept important pieces, inspiring bits, and a few indulgences. I am, after all, a collector and curator. The major difference now is that I have space for the things that matter and a cleaner, clearer space where I can create without so much clutter.
As a born pack rat married to a tidy person, it has taken me years and quite a lot of effort to part with stash fabrics (yarn and paper, too). I didn't intend to hoard things, I'm just a magpie with more creativity and enthusiasm than I had time and energy to finish things. I have been a natural and enthusiastic collector of craft materials for most of my life. So, as I undertook the three-week process of moving my studio to the downstairs common area of my house, I made a lot of decisions about what was really important and where I wanted to focus my creative efforts and energy. It was time to do a purge.
Every box was gone through - Scrapbook paper that I had collected in college while I was still scrapping with a friend as a social activity got savagely cut. Excess yarn that was never going to find its way to my needles went to triage. Outdated software manuals went to recycle... and my Mount Everest of fabric was reduced to a manageable collection of vintage gems and useful basics, with room for projects in progress.
Since I was in junior high, I've had a huge stash of fabric - most of it never got used. It was always about 80% stash. This time I took the opportunity to ask myself, "What do you REALLY want?" and I answered "I want to be the lady who decides on a dress to make, then goes out and buys the fabric and finishes it before I start another one." So far so good. It's my new mantra.
I know, I can sense many of you fellow pack rats and collectors out there cringing... but understand that I didn't throw away everything. I kept important pieces, inspiring bits, and a few indulgences. I am, after all, a collector and curator. The major difference now is that I have space for the things that matter and a cleaner, clearer space where I can create without so much clutter.
