Breaking up with a whole pile of hobbies
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009 at 9:07 AM 
When's the last time you broke up with a hobby? Because I've unintentionally-but-decidedly been doing a lot of that lately, I got a kick out of the way my actions were so well described in these Unclutterer.com pieces:
Reading them was so affirming, and also provided further ideas concerning creative ways to unload even more unnecessary items I have hanging around.
Although the size of my storage unit is so outrageous that my friends, upon first seeing it, have extreme reactions (see photo,) it's easy to forget just how much stuff I have. And how many now-defunct hobbies.
But I'm on it. Finally.
In addition to pulling together my pottery supplies (clay, tools, wheel, glazes, books, etc., ad nauseum,) and 65% of my jewelry design-related stuff for my mom, who will have it in her eagerly-awaiting hands asap, (Thanksgiving?) I also have been hooking up some friends.
This weekend, I shared:
- some yarn (not much; the friend who got that is an admitted yarn snob, and I don't mind, there's plenty left to keep me busy if I ever do decide to knit more scarves, and also to share with others. Anybody?)
- candlemaking supplies. A whole box of 'em. And votive holders. Who needs that many, seriously?
- stamps and stamp pads and fancy scissors and other things related, I guess, to scrapbooking. Which I never actually did. I just had a bunch of stuff scrapbookers use. Can't remember why now, but it seemed like a great idea at the time. I'm sure whatever I made for the five minutes it was on my radar was highly creative and glorious to look at.
- new and used canvases, sponge brushes. Those will be used by children, so they'll surely not mind painting over the old canvases.
I already gave away some stained glass-related materials, a few months ago. Which is a hobby that never did take off. And some paints. (More in there, I'm convinced, somewhere.)
Still have tons of fabric, and really who knows what else? But most of it's going. No need to keep paying to store this stuff. As was mentioned in the first of the two Unclutterer pieces, if it's been this long since I've used the hobby accouterments, it's not really a hobby anymore.
Amazing how attached we can become to our things. And how good it feels, once the decision finally appears, to get rid of it. Very freeing. Especially since I know it will be enjoyed far more by the people who are receiving it, than it was by me in recent months.
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Save some of your scrapbooking stuff for me--someday I may want to get rid of it--but right now I occasionally do some of it. I love sissors that look like you have torn the paper--got any?
Wonder where you got the pack-rat gene? I think you got it from both sides. Someday when your Dad gets our house built I hope to have everything in it's place where I can find it. Right now, I 'm going through some of my stuff so that I can have room for some of yours.
Can't wait to see your stuff--that sounds bad doesn't it? Aren't you already missing some of it? Probably not!
Love you,
Mom
Just got through using Pa Paw's dictionary. I couldn't remember if occasionally had two c's or two s's. I have great stuff from your Pa Paw.
I thought I had changed the author. Opps!
Hey there!
So...wondering where did all the completed necklaces go? You don"t have them on the site anymore? If you still have some let me know...need to add to my MW collection (pendants on cord w/o beads) are all the EAC ones gone forever? I need a new one, named my band (lapband) claire so it has dual meaning to me now :)
Miss ya, long time no talk
Jen
And now a word from your interior decorator!!!
This is great and I will be blogging about decluttering your life soon.
Getting rid of tired, old stuff feels so good and it is a basic Feng Shui principle. And when you say goodbye to previous hobbies (worst case: you can always buy more stuff if you decide to take them up again) opens up room for wonderful "new" things to come into your life. This is a proven fact.
I had a client with a closet stuffed with clothes that were two sizes too small (who has not been there?). I made her get rid of them (really get rid of then, not hide them). Guess what? A year later she called to tell me that she has shed many pounds and is like a new person. Once she was freed from the guilt of looking at those clothes every day, everythign changed.
Whether it is a medicine cabinet, a desk drawer, pantry or stuff under your bed...decluttering (I like to call it editing your life) is good for your soul. Enjoy your day as a domestic diva!
Mom, I have saved you more stuff than you will ever have time to use. Even fancy scissors, although I don't think they have a faux torn edge.
Jen, we must speak about necklaces. I still have some, although mostly I've sold them, and recently donated some remainders to charity auctions. Still, I think I might be able to hook you up. Going to storage soon and will bring back some things, then will call you...
Wrenda, thanks for this. LOVE your story about the client who shed many pounds after getting rid of old clothes! And "editing your life" is a great way to put it!