ckcowl

I worked Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Had today off then back to work again Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday so, I decided to clean out my desk ( which is where my sewing machine lives). One drawer under the machine, then a stack of 3 drawers on the side which over time have collected lots of stuff. I completely emptied all 4 drawers, tossed a lot of miscellaneous papers & junk that really had no reason to even be in the sewing room. Cleaned each drawer, rearranged and organized and as I was doing that many things either belonged in or had things that went with other things in the sewing cabinet- I have a sewing cabinet with three drawers ( and a 65 year old singer in it) so that got all cleaned out and organized too. When I had both of them all done I still had an hour before I needed to start dinner so I also attacked one shelf of one of the book shelves. I have 3 7 foot book cases in there ( one shelf at a time) I put a lot of patterns into a box to donate somewhere and a stack of books - most of which are new- to maybe offer for sale somewhere. I noticed some of those books I’ve had for 18+ years and have never made a single thing from them or even done more than thumbed through them a couple times. I pick them up & think- this is kind of cool- but then I have to tell myself- it’s just taking up space I’m never going to make any of the patterns in this book & someone else might actually like to make some of these quilts.
anyway— I managed to get a lot done today. ( my hubby says that room has been in chaos since the day we moved in. ) I keep making strides in getting it decluttered and organized- I know I’m making progress even if he can’t see it.
i felt like I was Spring Cleaning in December today.

Tartan

Good for you!

RedGarnet222

I also have been trying to re-organize my sewing spaces and storage. I have been working on the spare bedroom closet last. I honestly have a problem getting rid of sewing/quilting anything. Whether it is patterns, kits or fabric. I have donated small boxes of things, but, I need to be more aggressive. I don't know how. Anyone have any ideas on how to put myself in a better frame of mind to give? I could never use all of this.
I had grandiose dreams of starting the new year with a fresh start.

petthefabric

RedGarnet222; for me, I asked my sister and daughter to help, neither sew and has no emotional connection. Each spent 3 days. Seriously supportive people. Since then I've been able to continue the process.

CKcowl; congratulations! You deserve a big reward. Non-sewing related: glass of wine, pedicure/manacure, new book......

juliasb

Great accomplishment! Someday I will tackle this room and declutter there are so many things that are not being used anymore. Congratulations.

IrishNY

RedGarnet, I find I have to be in the right mindset. I don't like clutter and always have a Goodwill box going as I pick something up and think "do I really need this?". But to do the deeper, more aggressive weeding out, I find I am best to wait until a day that I am feeling more need to get rid of stuff than to hold on to things that I probably won't use but am not quite ready to concede it. If I start and know I am not being ruthless enough, I just stop and wait for a day that I am. It always comes. But trying to force myself is just a waste of time for me.

SallyS

You must have felt wonderful!!!

Onebyone

I take a picture of any quilt pattern in my books I think I may want to make and then I feel fine with getting rid of the book. I email the pictures to myself and then download to a USB drive. One little stick is so much easier then a stack of unused books or magazines.

ckcowl

I scheduled a Pedicure.
for a long time it was difficult for me to get rid of my stuff- but I ( finally) decided to Get Honest with myself. I pick up a book or pattern and look at it, remember often when I got it then ask myself * what are the chances you will ever actually make this ? Or anything in this book? It’s really quite ridiculous that I have so many patterns and books since 98% of the time I don’t use a pattern, I put quilts together ( make them up as I go) my granddaughter tells people “ oh my grandma, she just wings it” I tell people I’m way too undisciplined to follow a pattern; so why do I have hundreds of them??? For ideas, jumping off points I guess. But, I don’t have to keep all this ( stuff) for that when we can browse on line all the time. There are a few I’m keeping mainly because I have a specific person/ project to do but all these that have just been on my shelves for years and never used- time for them to go.

RedGarnet222

Thank you both for your input on how to force myself to organize and get rid of my stash of overflowing sewing and quilting things. I went up and got rid of some of the cuttings from the batting I had saved for belts and potholders or whatever little things. I am feeling gratified at having done the thing and evacuated it from the room. It was six plastic quilt bags full. I thought I would make dog beds from it, but, I don't have time for such nonsense. Now to tackle the bins of scraps and what was I thinking fabrics. I think I can, I think I can ....