Frontier Dreams: Purging

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Purging

Please notice C's hand on her baby brother. It just melts my heart!

The sad state of my office shelves

I am feeling rather exhausted but accomplished from our weekend. There was lots of time spent working on plans, back up plans and back up to the back up plans for our future. A smaller home will absolutely be in the future for us. I look forward to downsizing even more. I am feeling a bit less terrified and more hopeful and excited for what is to come.

The whole family was motivated to declutter and purge all weekend long. The children pleasantly surprised me with how much they wanted to get rid of. They have inspired me to crack down on my unreasonable craft supplies. I mean seriously look at that madness above! Not to mention how unorganized it is. Granted I haven't actually started yet (I was focused on purging books and fixing up the back yard all weekend) but hope to this week. I already know I will have a hard time purging my fabric stash but it just needs to be done!

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Katie · 421 weeks ago

Yep it's a hard job working through all that crafty potential.... Whilst I'm in favour of decluttering almost everything else, unless you are selling things on, would it be worth boxing them up compactly and then 'shopping' from those boxes to do all your crafting for a year? They would be expensive to replace and wool really does squash nicely into a box. Or you might want to make some things to sell from your fabric when you are settled in your new place, or sew the fat quarters together for curtains etc.

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amothershares 33p · 421 weeks ago

That sounds like you are doing lots of positive steps towards your move. I spent the whole weekend decluttering too and am also exhausted! It's amazing how much stuff you accrue over time. I had so many art/craft supplies, when I moved house two years ago, the movers couldn't believe it! I have since moved many things onto charity, but I still think if you are crafter you need a decent stash of wool for felting, yarn for knitting, needles, ribbon, fabric, felt etc etc, so you can begin a project whenever an idea comes to you or for a last minute gift. I think Katie is right about fabric being expensive to replace and it looks like you have a lovely selection. It could be a fun challenge to use all your old supplies rather than buy new ones for a while. Skirst are always quick to whip up :-) If you can't ever imagine finding a project for them, let them go to a new home, but otherwise, what I do is store them in large plastic boxes - one for felt, yarn, wool, fabric, quilting supplies, sewing supplies etc and only as much as fits in a box. When the box is full, I need to cull them. This keeps my stash down to things I will definitely use ...at some point....if there is the time....:-) You know how it is. I have started a blanket, like the one Amanda Blake Soule (soulemama) made here" http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2014/01/still-... with all my odds and ends of yarn from various past projects in an attempt to reduce the surplus yarn -too little to pass on but I couldn't throw them away. I hope it will be a nice keepsake. I wish you luck with all your decision making. Warmest wishes, Anna

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Brandy · 421 weeks ago

Another vote for holding onto the fabric and wool. :) Toss the tiny scraps that can't be used and keep the rest. Best wishes on the months ahead!

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paulaayn 37p · 421 weeks ago

A smaller home only works if you have lots of storage/closets in it. We have a small, old farm house, eg., our addition was going to be the size of home most people START with. Our house looks cluttered, but that's mostly because I have no where to put anything! To have a spotless, minimal looking home I would have to stop knitting, sewing, and reading.

Also, be careful purging the material and wool. I did a big purge a few years ago of all my 'office' clothes material (don't need many power suits now). Now I'm having a bit of a panic because I think I've gotten rid of all the wool/linen that I need for my medieval clothes. I agree with Brandy, get rid of the bits but keep the yardage.

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marthahelen 28p · 421 weeks ago

Ooo.. what will you do with all the crafty supplies you get rid of? I am really wanting to get into sewing. Maybe you could do a fun little "de-stashing" giveaway and have each winner pay shipping on the item they win or choose? :) Not that you're busy or anything.

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Corinne · 421 weeks ago

Oh my!.....your craft shelves look like fun! I could go shopping in there!
I am hoping and praying that things work out great for you and your sweet family.

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Melissa · 421 weeks ago

Downsizing is hard i've done it quite a few times it seems like every time we move its time for a purge. Sometimes its nice to get rid of all the extra that you don't realize you had and sometimes its anxiety ridden especially when you have to decide between keepsakes. First i'd say sort it all out some of the stuff you may have fallen out of love with and that can go in the not keeping pile. Some of it you may have forgotten you have and might even re-fall in love with it and its make priority might move up. For everything you keep long term id say vacuum seal bags! Its amazing what will fit in a vacuum seal bag and they make them for giant comforters and you can get a lot in one of those. For everything thats leaving you could do a little Etsy pop-up shop and make a little money off your purge. Moving always absorbs lots of money. Good luck with the purge!

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guidetograssandguns 2p · 421 weeks ago

I'd shop in your craft supply area myself, but I think you should keep that stuff. It's too valuable and troublesome to shop for. I think it is worth keeping everything that you don't hate. ~Emily

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laurelmountainmama 16p · 421 weeks ago

Funny, I'm working on a blog post with the same title! lol! It's amazing how stuff multiplies, isn't it? We aren't minimalists by any means, but we own a fraction of what our friends and neighbors do and we're still getting rid of so. much. stuff!
I wouldn't consider your craft supplies to be "unreasonable" at all, especially because you are (or seem to be anyway) a relatively prolific crafter. The space could do with a bit of pruning and a different organizational method if possible, so it doesn't feel so overwhelming. Would you consider photographing it all as an inventory and the putting it all into storage bins? I have no craft storage in our living area, so that's what I have to do. It's kind of nice being able to grab a binder to see if I have enough of X yarn for a project instead of digging through a pile of it (which was the alternative for many years! lol!)

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Jacquie · 421 weeks ago

I thought that was the after picture. Relax! And before you cram yourself into a tiny home, kids GROW! They become teenagers. Boisterous smelly teenagers who need room. You need room. Your husband will need room. I adore my stepsons but the teen years are no joke. I've taught middle school. Now that it's just me and Jim, we've down sized. Make it easier on yourself. Make sure you have spaces for the young adults they will become. Everything is so much harder when you're on top of each other.

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Laura@sewknitgrow · 421 weeks ago

It will feel so good once you do it though! All steps in the right direction to make your life what you want it to be. Your shelves look eerily like mine did two moves ago. And while we are now back in the area we left from almost a year and a half ago, I don't regret a single book, skein of yarn or yard of fabric that I gave away....and I gave away about 3/4 of all of those mentioned. When we decided to move back, we knew we would also have to downsize with house size since the housing is much more inflated in Colorado than it was in Illinois. I would assume it is the same moving from Idaho to Oregon, so I understand that it is not because you necessarily want a smaller house, but that it is what needs to happen to live in the city that you want to raise your family in. I also have 4 kids, one a teenager and all girls, but we still make it work in our 3 bedroom house. So worth it though! It feels so much lighter, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. It really makes you take inventory of your life and makes you think about what areas you are ready to leave behind and others that you are ready to expand. Good luck with your purging!

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Sharron · 421 weeks ago

I had been saving old clothes and sheets to re-purpose and make all these wonderful things I had seen on pinterest and in magazines. For at least three years! I finally had my wonderful sister go through and bag it and take it to charity. I told her to only show me things that might have been my daughters' things. I knew I would be re-inspired and not throw away anything, but I also knew I had no time in the next several months to follow through on my inspirations and I needed the space. It was wonderful!

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Lulu · 421 weeks ago

love you shelves, such nice crafty bliss..

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Lauren Thomas · 420 weeks ago

As much as I love downsizing and cleaning clutter I always find it the hardest to get rid of the fabric and yarn as it ALWAYS gets used eventually, even my scraps!

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