In the age of electronics

Books vs. e-readers.

In my life, I am very guilty of collecting or acquiring things. Books are no different than the fabric, yarn and craft supplies I keep.

Until last summer, I honestly don't know how many books I owned. Boxes and boxes, for sure. I had a living estate sale and sold or donated many of my books, I kept my absolute favorites and the others, if I thought I would one day read it, or if a craft book use it, I put them on my wish list for Kindle, or bought them if free.

I had to make a decision to reduce stuff, and unfortunately books are stuff, and take up space.

I can get just as much enjoyment reading on my Kindle as holding a "real life" book, and it helps me by reducing the amount of *stuff* I have around. me.

Kindle Paperwhite

I love my Kindle and the number of free books that Amazon offers sometimes is just crazy! I love sharing the free e-books here when I come across them, so be sure to take a look often!


Happy Monday and welcome back to my blog!

In Our World Today

Everywhere you look....it's "more", "bigger", "better", "faster".

You can have this and that and the more of it you have, the better.

Then there is the "always have to be quicker, faster and EASIER" way to do things. Fast food, microwaves, quick short cuts....

Gotta have the bigger house, bigger car, bigger yard.....bigger, better, more more more!

Source

These words are terrible in the mind of a person with obsessive personality behaviors. Whether formally diagnosed or not, one can identify if they have obsessive tendencies.

I have them.

I am ready to end them, at least get them under control.

Quilters call their love of fabric and continuing to purchase fabric even if they don't have a specific project for it their "stash".

Knitters and crocheters-the same with yarn.

Along with any hobbies.....there's the books, patterns and magazines to taunt one, as well.

Just think of all the money tied up/invested in thousands of yards of fabric....yes, I have it....as do so many people.

THEN.....there's the collectables. I have seen some people that collect things and OH MY GOSH! I just shake my head. But then, looking at my fabrics, yarn, books, and kitchen things.....I shouldn't be shaking my head..... I am just like those people. But I don't "do" collectables, per se.

I come from a line of women that have this thing for dishes and kitchenware. Now just how many sets of dishes does one household need anyway?  I have three sets. One set was my Mother's (that I have never used since inheriting them in 1984), one was my "good" dishes (that I have never used) when I married my ex-husband 13 years ago. The third is the dishes we use every day. This is INSANE! Not only dishes...but bowls, bake ware, silver serving pieces, glassware. My mother had lots of these things, and my sisters and I have just let it trickle on down the line.

Our genetics just drive us to wanting more STUFF! It has exhausted me. I hate it!

Source

Yes, nice things are pretty, don't get me wrong. But one can have pretty things that they enjoy having around without having SO MUCH OF THEM.

I can so understand those hoarding shows! Hoards like that don't just happen overnight. They take years. It's begins gradually, then grows and grows. I know I could be there easily in a few years. I have been in a position over the past few years, that I don't know where or how to start. That is how, I think, hoarding begins. I look around and don't know what to do first, or next, so I just quit. Then more "stuff" piles up and up and up! Yep, I understand hoarders.

The constant feeling of being overwhelmed is terrible.

It stops now. I have begun to lighten my load.

I am ready for less. Less of everything possession wise. Possessions are just things and things are not what is important in life. All I need is my husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. Those are the things we cannot live without. Those are the things that are important in life.

Commenced!

Fabric organization and de-stashing has commenced!

I saw this idea on Pinterest a couple of months ago.

Source

I ordered the cards from Amazon in January, (Ultra Pro Golden Age Size Comic Boards (100 Pack))and finally got started yesterday.

So far it is working splendidly!

I haven't even made a tiny dent. This is just one shelf, I have done two. I have used nearly the entire package of 100 boards. Ordering more today. I am putting pieces that are more than one yard on the boards. One yard and smaller pieces will be folded and put into stacks on other shelves. So far, I have cleared out just part of what was in our closet and a cabinet in our bedroom. In the storage shed, there is a line of boxes and plastic tubs full of fabric. The wall is eight feet wide, eight feet tall and the boxes are one, sometimes two deep along the entire wall, all the way to the ceiling.  This is serious, friends. I have to get this all organized, inventoried and get a good bit of it sold off. There is no way in the world I will ever use this fabric all up!

Making myself a list

checking it....oh so many times!

In order for me to keep myself on task, I MUST have a list. As hard as I have tried over the past many months, and just ignored what I know I needed to do.

I bought myself a steno book and am doing much, much better!

I will share my "method to my madness"...if there really even is one to speak of, once I we are moved and settled into the new house.


So much to do but so much happiness for us ahead.

Sensibility Patterns ~ 25% off ~ No Coupon Codes

Yep, you read that right! Everything on Jennie's site, Sense and Sensibility, is 25% off today. She is calling her sale "Pink Monday".

I purchased this pattern a few weeks ago. It's the Romantic Era dress pattern.

Today I ordered the 1914 Afternoon Dress and the Regency Gown patterns.

My friend, Emily, from Desert Rose Homestead, has made these three dresses in the past and I just love them. I finally decided it was time to make some for myself.

This past weekend, I spent my time cleaning out and straightening up my fabric and yarn stashes. I have a bit yet to finish up today, but then I'm so ready to get busy sewing!

all image credits: Sense & Sensibility