STUFFUS
(my made up word - LOL)
The "BIG SORT" continues and I believe it will continue for quite awhile!
There are cupboards, drawers, baskets, bins, boxes, etc full of STUFFUS. It's a bit overwhelming but rather than let it get the best of me I've laughed at myself. Seriously, why did I buy much of this STUFFUS and why do I continue to hold on to it?
I'm actually quite proud of myself because I've already emptied most of the overhead cupboards and 9 drawers. Whew! I'm working in the walk in closet today - this is a daunting task! (6 of the 9 drawers in the closet are totally empty - WOOHOO)
A very good friend has given me some sage advice about doing the BIG SORT. One bit of advice is to use a large space to move stuff into - so here's my kitchen table - not showing you the rest of the kitchen (the island, the counters, the stove top) Yes, the stove top - LOL!!!!
Besides asking myself why I purchased this stuffus and why I continue to hold on to it I've also been asking myself why I continue to sew/quilt. I mean seriously this is absolutely ridiculous!!!!*
I can't seem to answer those questions - can you?
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Stay tuned for more "BIG SORT STUFFUS" updates throughout the week end! :-)
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Thanks for popping in to visit!
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In Friendship!
37 comments:
Because at some point it brought you joy and sparked your creativity...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
You may have some empties now but that's only because it's all in your kitchen. LOL
I guess I know what's cooking for today's dinner -- Cloth Casserole a la Fabric Frenzy.
Sorry Darlene, no answers here. I seem to have the same affliction.
I see some great stuff on your table. Why do we buy? Because we love to create and when the new fabrics come out we envision getting these wonderful projects done and displayed in our homes. We think we could really use a new Fall laptop quilt for our couch this Fall or come Christmas wouldn't that new quilt be perfect for our wall? We get excited about the new books and patterns and it makes our creative wheels start turning in our head of making this and making that and the other too. So we buy and we give it a good try to make these wonderful projects; and just when we think we have a good handle on our stash and getting stuff done the fabric designers come out with new fabric and patterns that we simply cannot live without. So we start the cycle over again but through it all we discover we are getting some of our projects done and enjoying every minute of our quilting lives and sharing this love of fabric and quilting with wonderful quilting friends.
I think we all suffer from this same problem. I know I am too overwhelmed by all the stuffus in my sewing space to even sew. I think I will join you in the Big Sort - perft for this rainy weekend.
Don't know why you have so much STUFFUS but I do know why you continue to sew/quilt . . . . A) you're a very giving person and B) You're REALLY good at it...so go with your strengths!
I quilt for my sanity. :-) And I always tell hubby, better to spend the moolah on fabric than gambling. LOL Someday I may need to pad the house~ I already spend so much time in a padded room. :-)) Seriously, you quilt because it is your creative outlet and you stash stuffus because fabric prices may sky-rocket. ;-)
Wow, you're coming right along wiht this! I think you continue to sew bz you (deep down in your heart) enjoy it!
I think it's great that you bought some fabric and are now willing to part with it, it really helps new quilters like me get lovely fabric that's no longer available. I see some great stuffus on your table, I can hardly wait to see what you've decided to part with!
Holy moly Darlene! Well, I figure it this way - when a fabric line is gone, it's GONE. No reprinting. So, either you buy it when it's available, or you miss out. If you really love it, then why not? It'll get used sometime! However, the curse of the quilter is that it takes longer to make than to buy, so we end up with way too much, lol!
I'm coming to play at your house.
Not that this may help cause you got more stuffus than me.. (but that may change once I see all the new goodies you list:-))With 3 kids i have limited space. So I have an antique china cabinet, cedar chest, and my sewing table cubbie and all my stash must fit there if it doesn't I get rid of something to make room for the new stash. I have a good friend who has a very limited fabric buying budget and it feels good to give it to her and know she really aprreciates it. Sale some, give the smaller pieces to a needier friend, and limit the space it takes in your house so you don't get overrun (I used to have more fabric but a smaller oraganized space works better for me)Not sure if that helps, best wishes with the oraganizing!
Oh, Lordy, girl, you made me laugh out loud! If I could answer that question, I'd be a millionaire! We buy because we love it. We keep it because we love it. I guess it just comes down to deciding which we love the most and sending the rest to the pound to be adopted into its forever home. Have fun sorting! Bet you find a bunch of stuff you plumb forgot about!
Coming from someone who doesn't really have a stash and wish I did, I really like the look of your kitchen table. In fact, I wish mine looked like that. :)
No definitive answers here either - I know that when I bought my goodies they made me happy and when I can't remember why I wanted them I usually try to pass it on to someone else so I like to think I'm spreading the joy around - LOL As for why we continue to sew ( and after 25 yrs I have pondered this) all I can come up with is the inner need to create something pretty. I think quilting is the best of all the crafty stuff since you can create something pretty and practical all at the same time and it feels so good to give a blanket of love to those who are so dear to us. Have a great weekend.
Great job! You're making progress. Perhaps, I gather some inspiration from you to "tackle" my room. Have a great weekend!
I can just imagine all the yummy quilts you are going to eventually make out of all those fabrics on your kitchen table.
Your post inspires me, as my hubby is cleaning out a room for me to move all of my sewing studio into. I am excited and yet am dreading it.
Keep up the great work!
Isn't it amazing at how much stuff we collect, being sure as we're collecting it that it will all be put to good use. If I love to be 105 I will never use up all my "just have to have and make" stuff. However, I am making good progress on the bolts and bolts of fabric left from my business. The shelves still look full, but many bolts are almost empty. Anyway, good luck! Nola
Because it's cheaper and more fun than drugs!
I don't need anything either, Darlene but I just had to do my bit to help the economy again today!
Uh....empty cupboards and FULL kitchen....Hmmmmm. :-)
I happen to like your STUFFUS!
You're doing a fantastic job...we sew because it makes us happy...and as I tell Andy, it's much cheaper than a therapist and it's not bad for our health...LOL! We loved it when we bought it...didn't have the time to do it and now our tastes have changed...we're allowed to change our minds...
Wow- that is serious stuffus! Good for you- I look forward to seeing the end result and what you have for sale.
Wow - great organizing and getting rid of stuffus - I think we all must come to that point at some time - and need to clear things out - I'll be watching.
I know that I felt really good a while back when I donated a BUNCH of stuff to our guild auction.
We buy because it's part of the collecting portion of the hobby!!! and it's pretty. You've got some great stuff on that table too!!
Isn't it nice to have empty space. So you can fill it up again? lolol
Good luck with your Stuffus. Was that the word??
You continue to quilt so you can be an inspiration to us and to give us beautiful things to look at.
Yes! I can answer that!
I need it for relaxation, diversion, expressing creativity, tactile enjoyment, visual stimulation, and it's cheaper and way more fun than therapy! I am happy with everything I have accumulated but I need to get it organized because I don't want to leave my children with a big mess to deal with (although I love my mess!).
You must have been tempted at some stage to buy the stuffus like we all do. Gee I like that word, might have to use it.
Inspiration! That's why we buy so much stuffus! At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Do you know if there is a cure? LOL
We do it because it makes us happy and brings us joy to be creative. I can't imagine not having some Stuffus to fret about, okay maybe I could clean out some old stuffus. It does feel good to clean out and start fresh but we'll always have quilting/sewing in our life to keep us smiling...:-)
My goodness, you have a lot of things!
Micki
I quilt for myself, I enjoy it and it helps me relax. The stuff just come along with it.
Quilting something pretty helps me escape, if only for a little while, the depression caused by chronic pain, and because of that, the loss of my job, income and livelihood.
There is something of value inside me- and beautiful fabric makes me smile and brings me peace
You're making me feel better. I suggest you find someone with an even bigger stash than yours. It's therapeutic.
Okay - I love the word "stuffus" - may I borrow it? I've been thinking about these same things - and I think the answer is different for everyone. I'm hoping to return to the simple joy of quilting, and can't wait to hear more from you on your answers!!
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