The Task: To collect all of the projects I have on the go and either complete them, make some progress on them, or abandon them along with all of their accompanying craft clutter.
The Why: I have a confession to make: I like to plan for and shop for a project more than I like to actually work on a project. My craft closet was stuffed to the brim with the makings of some great (and some not-so-great!) craft projects than never came to fruition.
Plus I occasionally put off mending a torn piece of clothing for so long that by the time I finally do mend it, it no longer fits the child it belonged to when I first said "oh, no big deal, mommy can just sew that...."
When we think of clutter we often think of knick-knacks and useless kitchen gadgets, but to me the absolute worst type of clutter is to-do list clutter. Projects that hang over my head undone stress me out and make me want to avoid working on projects at all!
The How: I unloaded the craft closet into my laundry room (I wish I'd thought to take a picture. It looked like the craft store went binge drinking with your grandmothers fabric stash and together they threw up all over my laundry room.) Then I went through each item and decided which projects I would complete and which ones should be abandoned.
I spent a couple hours today working on the projects I decided to keep and was able to mend a stack of clothing and make some real progress on a couple sewing projects I am excited about.
And I have a mostly full tote of craft supplies to give away.
The Verdict: I feel so liberated! All of those projects I had planned for and shopped for and then lost interest in are no longer hanging over my head! The only half done projects left in my craft stash are ones I am super excited about.
By completing some projects and abandoning others I was able to move most of my craft stuff to just the top shelf of the craft closet, making room to use it as an organized homeschool closet as well! Woohoo!
And it is so nice to be caught up on all the clothes mending. In fact, I just might like this feeling enough that next time I say "mommy can just sew that button back on..." I will actually do it, like,um, that day!
We are doing one small thing (almost) every day for a year to create a simpler, quieter, more intentional life. Take a moment to read all About Us, check out The Rules of our year long project and sign up for our RSS feed or "like" us on facebook so that you can follow our journey to radical simplicity!
I need to do this, too. What will you do with your "give-aways"? Do you have friends who will want them, or give to some sort of nursing home or youth organization? (I might be more motivated to do this if I knew what to do with the left-overs, you know?)
ReplyDeleteI have crafty friends who will want them. Homeschool moms or moms who run a home daycare can often make use of some of the more kid-friendly craft supplies too!
DeleteI unloaded the craft closet into my laundry room (I wish I'd thought to take a picture. It looked like the craft store went binge drinking with your grandmothers fabric stash and together they threw up all over my laundry room.)
ReplyDeleteThis line made me snort ginger snaps out my nose. Hilarious! It was worth the hurt.
LoL. Awesome!
DeleteMade me laugh out loud - love the imagery!
DeleteI read this out loud to my husband after he heard me snickering :)
DeleteGood for you! This is a very freeing feeling. I had cleaned out all of my craft things back in April and I have days that I think to myself I wish I would have kept _______.Then I think to myself why? It was taking up space and energy almost making me feel guilty for not getting to it.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and your daily posts. Keep up the great work. Hugs, Bobbi Jo
You've inspired me! This morning I went into our "office" (really junk room) and instead of seeing what couldn't be done, I looked at what could be. Even though I don't have spare cash for more shelves or energy for cabinet painting (I have a cold), my eye drifted over the stack of vintage goodies that have made it into my collection over the years and then slowly, due to changes in my taste and living style, drifted into the backs of closets. And I *finally* re-opened my Etsy store and started listing items. I'm so proud of myself! See! http://www.etsy.com/shop/sorceress78
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for the inspiration. Even little gains toward living clutter free are still gains!
I NEEDED to read this post. I have a to do list as long as my arm this week while my husband's away on work and I am already losing motivation. (He left this morning.) Back to work, Becca!
ReplyDeleteI have been so inspired by this blog. I went through my clothing and fabric over the weekend and got rid of two garbage bags of fabric and one huge tote of clothing! I also moved my "in progress" projects to a container out in the open, got rid or projects I have no intention of ever completing and scheduled a sewing date for next week to work on said projects. You should link your homeschool space and this post to each other! Happy crafting and homeschooling!
ReplyDelete-Sandy C
I meant to link the posts to each other, but I forgot. Thanks for the reminder, Sandy!! :)
DeleteUnfinished craft projects, umm, yeah, I don't even want to go there.
ReplyDeleteLuckily most of them are tucked away so far away in the closet that I don't have to think about them every day :)
Ieva
I have 4 sets of 'fat square' bundles for making quilts & a set for sewing a purse. Unfortunately I don't know how to sew & I don't have a sewing machine. I was thinking of turning them into napkins (after your cloth napkin post!) but again, no machine & I don't know how to sew! I think it's time to pass them on. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThis is such a timely post for me! I'm getting ready to tackle my closet in the master bedroom (the one that is stuffed to the brim with "unfinished" projects) and I'm finally ready to abandon the past. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKelly, I have recently found your blog and have read your posts from Day 1 of your Year of Less. Bravo! Love, love, love your style.
ReplyDeleteI applaud your ability to tackle ALL of the various areas where we tend to hold on to STUFF. Thanks for helping to fuel my fire!
And you are SO RIGHT! It's amazing how much power we give to stuff and how liberating it is to your soul when you let it go! (I'm thinking our "To Do" Lists should be re-labeled as "To Me, My Family, & Friends" List and put only things that nourish our souls on our lists. Ahhhhh.....
Such a great idea. I'm putting this project on a sticky note and adding it to my binder. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteShow us your homeschool closet! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's on my other blog. Click the link in the second last paragraph of this post :)
DeleteAll I have to say is you are amazing! I started off trying to do everything you were doing, but it started really stressing me out when I couldn't keep up. Now I choose to admire what you do, and try to implement what I can. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, if I were to clean out my craft stash of uncompleted projects I would fill so much more than one tote - that is really a depressing thought. Kelly, feel good that you only filled one tote. ;)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I really like that green striped fabric pictured in the bin. Just saying.
The sad thing is, that I did this about 2 weeks ago when cleaning out my office/playroom/craftroom. Well, that's part of the problem, WAY to many functions in that room! Anyhow, did this, down to one small flat tub of projects and am having a hard time getting those done! Grr, maybe need to abandon them all for awhile.
ReplyDeleteOK...got in there last night and cleared out the projects! I am down to only two projects going now...a rag quilt....(from your rag quilt tutorial on your other blog-love) and figuring out how to make a tractor Halloween costume for my son out of a giant cardboard box. (I TRIED talking him into cowboy or Charlie Brown (his fave)- something easy...NO...he HAS to be a TRACTOR!??
ReplyDeleteI did this when my kids entered high school (we also moved during that same period). Purged almost everything. Posted them as "lots" on Craig's List, saying that I would leave them on the curb - free for the taking - and that each taker should only take what they would use. Everything went. Received several thank you notes in my mailbox, mostly from young teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great feeling that was!
Thank you sooo much for this post. I have a project (hanging family photos going up the staircase) in the works for 5 years now. The stuff from it takes up a shelf in the basement. Almost every time I go up the stairs (100 times a day), I think of it. When read this post last week and I immediately started hanging pictures. This has become easier than it would have been 5 years ago, with the invention of command strips - or at least me realizing that I could use them to hang pictures instead of stressing about putting holes in the wall. So I suppose there was some benefit to my procrastination! I love this blog - it is my all time favorite and I am implementing many of your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you how much I love this blog! I have been wanting to purge our house in depth for a long time. Because you are blogging about it I feel better about doing it myself. It's almost like I have permission to go ahead and stop storing up things we aren't going to really use (I mean other people are doing it too). The more I give away the more items I find to give away too. I gave up trying to sell items and have been posting them for free on Facebook. It feels so good and we discovered I don't need to buy a new storage unit, infact I just emptied half of one in the hall to repurpose!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post because it really made me think hard about my personal crafting passion. I actually decided to close down my Etsy store and sell the stock items off because it was just stressing me out and not really making enough money to keep going. Very freeing!!! Anyone want a good deal check out www.facebook.com/MeAgainCreations
I need to do this! I ran across a box of planned sewing projects the other day, containing baby clothes for my daughter who is now 8! I guess the good thing is, I now have another baby daughter, so I can still make and use the cute little dresses!!!
ReplyDelete