The reduction in messy places goes
on-and-on-and-on-and on!
I wonder what decluttering means to you?
Is it just a case of unwanted stuff leaving the premises, in other words
working towards minimalism? Or do you see it more as an exercise in
tidying and organisation? I suppose for most of us the answer lies somewhere
between the two.
The problem with stuff just leaving the
premises is that it may still have its uses within my home. The part of
me that longs to be more frugal wants to make the most of what I have got, even
though another bit of me wants just to run through the house with a big black
bag and then hire a skip whilst ignoring the part of me which hates landfill.
My problem is finding that fine line between frugal keeping of stuff and
just plain hoarding. I doubt if I am alone in that predicament.
 |
| About a third of a lap blanket |
As I have gone around the house I have
found quite a lot of knitting yarn which I have now collected in a designated
drawer whilst thinking of how to use it up or pass it on. This week I have had
problems with my eyes which have meant that I don't want to do any sewing so I
got my crochet hook out and I have started on a lap blanket. It's
nowhere near finished but it has satisfied my need for something to do which
doesn't require good eyesight, my need to do something with various small quantities
of yarn and my fast approaching need for extra warmth over the winter.
Not just win:win but win:win:win!
The trouble is that I may feel like a
decrepit old granny when I use it
I think we are all the same about possessions. I regularly get rid of things - some things that I regret parting with afterwards! I can let go generally, but I think my problem lies in having very little at all for many years - and the fear of that happening again.
ReplyDeleteThe second wife of my friend's uncle is Italian and grew up with terrible wartime hardships (as most people did here) but it has turned her into a complete hoarder - a warning of how not to be!
If weather forecast is to be believed we will all be wrapping blankets around ourselves this winter so you have the right idea!
I read the Marie Kondo book on decluttering and it's caused an amazing transformation in this previously bordering-on-hoarding person.
ReplyDeleteI can look at something and genuinely let it go if I don't have a need for it.
It's so freeing!
I've got a small box of items to keep, but have got rid of so much that I was keeping 'just in case' before!
I had a look at the Marie Kondo stuff and could see the attraction but it's not for me. It's too ruthless! It's almost painful to admit it. I want to make things and I need the stuff to do it!
DeleteSh really does seem to have inspired a lot of people.
I use everything that I can, if something starts to irritate me I look for a new home for it. I used to keep every book that I bought but moving meant many had to go, now I use the library service.
ReplyDeleteI still look at the pictures of your craft room and drool, Pam.
DeleteMy brother in laws motto was: It will come in handy one day, even if I don´t use it. My sister reminded him many times when they had to hire a skip to get rid of all his rubbish. But then one persons rubbish is another persons treasure!
ReplyDeleteI am in the EXACT same place with you on the dilemma of finding minimalism, tidying up, and still holding on to things for frugalities sake: they shall be useful at some point. Oh, the seemingly impossible balance!
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't end up feeling like a decrepit old granny under our fabulous lap blanket this winter! You should feel creative and productive and all sorts of other good things. I LOVE IT!
I've kept many things over the years just in case they might come in useful one day, not any more, I really need to declutter and bit by bit it's going. I've thrown very little out though, most things are passed on to people I know can use them or donated to a charity shop, so I don't feel too bad about letting things go when I know someone else is getting some use out of them. Your lap blanket is lovely, nice and colourful.
ReplyDeleteI put a shell stitch around small granny squares and they are doll blankets, great gifts.
ReplyDelete