I think hoarding is something nearly every knitter/scrapbooker/crafter can relate to. We pretty much all have more STUFF than we know what to do with! In knitting, they call it SELE -- Stash Exceeds Life Expectancy. I'm there!
Why do I amass so much product yet don't take the time to actually DO anything with it? That's the question I have been pondering lately. I want to scrap/paint/collage/knit, but I don't have the time or I fear the process for some as-yet undiscovered reason, so I go out and buy MORE yarn/paper/idea books. It's a safe way of being involved in the activity. Much like, I imagine, someone who's interested in skydiving might pick up a magazine on the topic before signing on the dotted line and throwing oneself out of a plane a mile up in the sky. Much, much safer.
There's an obvious tangential question here -- WHY do I feel scared or hesitant to create? But I am not going to tackle that right now. Instead of diving into the deep, dark side of my psyche, I am going to address the THING issue. I have too much stuff.
The solutions are simple -- buy less, use up more, purge. Either that or move to Wisconsin where I can have a full crafting basement and storage space is no longer an issue. But seeing as I'd have more room in my bed, too, because there is no way in heck my hubby's going to relo to the midwest (is Wisconsin in the midwest, technically?), I think I'd better assume that we are geographically fixed.
So. Using. Not buying. Purging. They're all challenging in their own way. I know some crafters who hate using their "good" stuff, preferring instead to view their stashes as collections. I know some crafters who could sooner cut off their arm with a Fiskars paper trimmer than stop buying new. And I know some who cannot get rid of anything, including Mrs. Grossman's stickers of the evil-looking bear holding the big red heart.
Which is toughest for you? I'll share my challenges next time.
I am so in agreeance with you! I buy more than I can use, and I tend to not use up because it's my "good" stuff and I can't bare to part with it. I know what you mean. But I'm in a total DECLUTTER phase right now! Maybe it's nesting - lol. Oh - by the way, I'm putting my blog back to public this week sometime -so it'll be BACK TO it's old self, and then you have NO excuse not to come and read and LEAVE COMMENTS! I miss your comments on my blog! I'll let you know when I'm up and running back to public mode. I figure, why should I hide from one girl who has the need to know. So what if she knows what I'm knitting or where I went for dinner, or what book I'm reading.... right? :)
Posted by: Robyn | December 18, 2006 at 10:08 PM
I'm fine with purging...did that a few times this fall, sending nice, big boxes of goodies to a few different folks. Love doing that, actually, because there's always so much on hand to share. I finally got over my "save" mentality with regard to my stash...I used to wait for "just the right project" to use things on, but no more. So, I'm pretty good at using.
The not buying? That's my downfall. See, I don't have a good LSS nearby...the closest is over an hour away, and it is HUGE. So, when I make the trek, I figure it only makes sense to stock up on every lovely and wonderful thing I see because who knows when I'll get back up there, right? :} Add to the fact that I belong to their "club" which gives you weekly coupons and cumulative money back rewards (in the form of store credit) and I'm all about buying stuff there.
Then there is my travel buying, which, this year included scrapbook mecca, Utah (as well as Arizona, Texas, Ohio and Florida!). More than most sightseeing, I LOVE finding scrap stores when I'm out of town, and I buy like crazy there, too, because they often carry things that aren't at my regular store.
I was just at my LSS last week (and hit my next-to-last reward level for the year...which means I'm doing better because last year I topped out, hitting all the levels LOL) and as I was coming home I thought it might be a good idea not to renew my club membership. That would elminate one buying motivation, anyway. But then, as it happens, there is a new LSS opening just about 20 minutes from me, and I hear it is going to be a really nice sized store. :::sigh::: This could be so freakin' dangerous....
Posted by: Lisa | December 19, 2006 at 08:07 PM
my problem (not that it is a problem) is that I
1. buy too much just cause it is cute!
2. Make too many project without a cause...just makin things cuz I like too...no homes for them...
3. spend a little bit toooo much time looking at blogs...cant help it...cant explain it...and I knwo that I am not the only one...
cant help it...it gives me this unbelievable amount of happiness to do all this...and for a living, too!
thanks for all of your comments...your posts make me giggle...out loud!
like the chocolate...gramham cracker, carrots, cracker and back to the chocolate...
it really is so unbelieveable how much we are alike!
Posted by: stephanie | December 20, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Yes, Wisconsin is in the Midwest. = )
Posted by: Jessica | January 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM