Stuff - baskets of it everywhere

As you can imagine I'm trying to spend some time each day sorting through things AND trying to throw stuff away. You cannot believe how much stuff I have. Today I started wondering when exactly I became a hoarder. I clearly remember leaving home at eighteen to go to College with one suitcase full of stuff. After that I had a bit more stuff when I moved into my first house share but a few years later I managed to go to Japan with not much more than a suitcase.

When Tom and I moved into our first flat back in 1989 we didn't have much more than clothes, books and a bit of furniture. Even when we moved out of London in 1998 and had two children there still wasn't that much stuff. I think I started on this orgy of collecting when I started crafting in a big way and that must have been about seven years ago when I moved here. In my last house I had a bit of knitting wool and some needles and thread. Then I came here and got into felting, doll making, sewing, knitting, plant dyeing and with that came accumulating raw materials for each hobby. Maybe that's why I have so much stuff because I do so many things.

I have baskets groaning with felted jumpers:

baskets full of fabric:

thick knitting wool:

sock wool:

doll making materials:

shelves full of craft books:

plant dyed blanket and silks:

and this is only some of the stuff in my workroom. I haven't shown you the under stairs cupboard yet OR the shed in the garage.

You know what - all this stuff makes me feel sick sometimes. I feel so tied down by it. I feel as if every basket has tentacles that wrap around me and I just can't seem to get them off. And I can't bear to throw any of it away because I might need it. Since I've been teaching handwork at school and crafting at home I've just collected and collected stuff that I might want to use. These days I can't seem to go past a charity shop without coming back with a bit of fabric, a couple of books, wool or blankets. I've noticed that I love having a piece of nice fabric or that pink felted jumper. I just like having it and owning it and sometimes I can't bear to cut into it.

It's an addiction isn't it. It has to be. I make excuses that I need stuff for my work but somewhere in my mind it must make me feel better having it. Of course it does initially and then I feel sick looking at it all crammed everywhere. I'm finding this hoarding thing fascinating at the moment and it's akin to my other fascination with comfort eating which I can bore you with another day.

I'm seriously debating chucking it all away but I can't. If I do that what will I have left. What will define me. Who will I be without all my stuff. But STOP - it isn't just nameless good-for-nothing stuff is it. It's raw materials that enable me to craft which is what I do. It's my job as well as mum, wife, daughter etc. Dare I say it I'm an artist and the stuff is my tools and materials. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT JUNK OR STUFF.

I guess I just need to change my relationship with it that's all. Mind you I can pare it down a lot too (that's the job for this morning then, going through the room again).

So what's your view on collecting or hoarding stuff? Do you have baskets full? Do you find it oppressive or do you know when to stop? Do you buy things because they're beautiful and then can't bear to use them? I'd love to hear.

I don't really think I'm a crazy hoarder but I do recognise that I have those tendencies. I collect children's books too and I'm sure I do that because we didn't have any books in the house when I was growing up despite the fact that I loved reading).

---------------------------------------------------

PS Just listed some lovely fabric here for you to add to your stash - ha ha.

Comments

[Gail]

I know exactly what you mean - just before I moved recently I suddenly got monumentally 'oppressed by stuff' and started becoming really ruthless about what actually made it into the boxes. That's natural when you're confronted with it all. Also natural for crafters to hoard supplies, keep them for the perfect project etc... don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead rationalise the *rest* of the stuff. That's where the ruthlessness comes in useful...

[tony(a) Lemos]

Hi there,

I know EXACTLY what you mean Simmy, it is a love hate kinda relationship. I cherish every bit of my stuff...a lot of it has a story or a dream that goes with it, a ream that may never actualize and at the same time there are piles of stuff just taking up space and getting dusty. For me having Zoe and getting into crafting made all the difference, in the past 5 years my stuff has increased tremendously. Crazy!, I often fantasize about being a minimilist but thats probably another lifetime.

[bex]

OK. I can relate to your WHOLE post.
The moving, the need to have to either pack it, give it away or ditch it.
This one line I can especially relate to, "I managed to go to Japan with not much more than a suitcase." Of course.
But ya know what? I think I beat you 'cause as I was looking at your pics I was covetting everything in them! Crazy...Xxx

[bex]

Oh & I really love your baskets too...Xxx

[Ali]

I hear you about the 'drowning in stuff' thing. When my neighbours house burned down I have to admit to fantasizing how liberating it must be to be without possessions in some respects.

So I am vowing to myself not to collect yarn in the way I have hoarded fabric. Because all I have ended up with is piles and piles of mediocrity instead of selected bits of beauty.

And once you have it, it's nigh on impossible to be strong willed enough to get rid of it.

[dottyspots]

Erm, I have a bit of a yarn habit and I collect a lot of 'stuff' - but I just *know* that if I was to pass any of it on (I couldn't throw it away) then about a week later would be when I'd need it!

I have taken to doing some swapping though, which is atleast bringing something new to the stash and benefitting someone else - but I'm definetely on a 'use what I have' drive atm.

[Sequana]

You ARE an artist. What artist do you know who would not have supplies?
Many times the materials themselves spark the thought for a new creation.
Don't be so hard on yourself, and don't get rid of much. You'll only want it later and be sorry you let it go.
Well, that's my advice anyway. *S*

[liz]

someone once said 'you can never be too rich or too thin'I think that they really meant to say you can never have enough fabric, wool, books, paintings etc - oh,and of course,shoes. You may be big and brave and give some away - it does give you a great feeling, i gave away some wool the other day and i felt quite liberated. May have been cos i also bought some - at a bargain price of course. Someone also said recently that if the house was on fire she didn't know what part of her wool stash she would save - i can identify with that.

i totally understand the 'have to have it - don't need to use it' syndrome - it's just nice to touch these treasures and look at them.

But you know yourself when you reach the limit - a couple of months of using what you have and whittling every thing down is enough to clear one's conscience enough to make space for some new bargains.

have fun!

lizzi

[Rada]

The good thing is---now get ready---your gonna like this---what you are hoarding are things that last. As I go through my mom's things(the queen of hoarding), she had bags and baskets galore of beautiful scrapes of material for quilting, skeen after skeen of knitting wool, and fabric just screaming to be made into something. I'm talking a lot of this was 50 years old or more. She kept every book bought by herself, my dad and all four of us kids. She kept books from her and dad's youth. All of this is still in tact. All of this is something that her children can keep, share or just give to Senior Citizen Organizations or thrift stores. Now, a lot of other stuff she kept, like newspaper clippings, papers, broken pieces of jewelery, bottles and bottles of lotions and cosmetic and health stuff. It had to be pitched. This is merely the top of the iceberg. She once told me when she died, she would be in heaven laughing at us trying to clean out the basement. That is because some of us never got out our stuff and one brother moved back in with a whole lot more stuff and moved out leaving it. So just remember that if you have room to cram all your treasures of art and crafting, great! Keep what you covet and let go of anything you want. Most books last too. I have some of my dad and mom's and grandmother's books. I will never let go of them as long as I am alive. Get more after you move. That stuff lasts. Someone can use it one day even if you don't.
I am glad she could keep her crafting things because she was able to do it when she wanted when living alone and she had lots to choose from.
I just realized this is my mom's birthday. Feb. 7th. Happy laughing mom and good luck Simmy!

[hunnybunny]

My husband once remarked when I was showing him some Fos on a website that "It's all you crafters, you just collect" he was right. I know I have too much and am trying to use what I have but it seems like I'm always missing one thing and when I go to the store to buy a crochet hook I come out with that and some remnants. For me I go through periods when I look at the stuff and it drains all my energy. I've been working on organizing it better and hoping that helps. If all else fails I think I will be donating a lot to my daughters Girls Scout Troop, at least they'll use it. I think it's very personal our relationship with our supplies.I just think mine is rather dysfuncional right now. My biggest problem is ignoring projects because of everyone's beautiful blogs. Is there help for that?

[Jordi Waggoner]

And the piles of stash reflect the layers of obsession. I have a book obsession that started in childhood, and small figures that are now part of my "shrine". There is a continuing paper obsession with excavatable layers of paper of different kinds.. drawing, painting, collage, bookmaking....

I have folded (empty) "unique" boxes from grocery stores around the world to make into books.

Then there is the yarn layer. OH, and just around the same time the button layer... all bakelite and celluloid arranged by color..sort of. The yarn, book and button layer continue and THEN there is the found object layer.. this is the one my friends understand the least.

"It is a piece of a car run over by another zillion cars... WHAT are you going to do with that? You ARE going to pry it out of the street, aren't you? Well, I'm going to stand over here and pretend I don't know you."

Oh damn. I am sure there are layers I haven't even mentioned... photographs, pastels and paint... jewelry....the list (and the road) goes on forever, I hope!!

[PG]

Of course you need it, and if you enjoy it, then have it. I am constantly finding uses for stuff I acquired years, even decades ago - if it gives you no pleasure, then get rid of it. But if you still thrill at a colour or texture, then hang on to it. Everything I have is part of the stuff which inspires me and feeds my creativity. The secret is to keep it all organised and tidy. :)

[Barbara]

Honestly that post could have been written by me. When we moved here 10 years ago I had one cardboard box of fabric. Now... well you know the rest of the story.
I too often feel tied down by and sick of all my stuff but I've never heard anyone else say that before.

At the moment I feel quite enthused though and I am trying to make stuff with what I have and definitely not go to the charity shops quite so much - or be more selective when I do buy. Something might be a good bargain but for someone else, not me! Also I have plans for better storage which will make things more accessible. I know that buying stuff fills a need in me and I do have to fight against it. Especially as I see my daughter falling into the same pit!

What Ali said about losing all your possessions in a fire being liberating in some way. I get that totally. When I'm on holiday in a little chalet I love just having the bare minimum. It's very freeing somehow.

Moving house though is a good time to pare down and keep what you really want to keep. Sell what you don't want/need and spend the money on really good storage for the rest.
Good luck.

[TACE]

Crafty/artistic people have it the hardest. You look at those decorating/organizational shows on tv and think "oh sure it's easy for them to alphabetize their cupboard's contents...they don't have a zillion and a half empty jars tucked away for possible craft use. They don't have a pile of twigs that might make a good nature project, or bottle caps...for...something bottle cappy." Crafty people should have a whole other set of organizational/storage standards........ That said, I too have days I wonder why I am keeping two dead blenders....

[Tom, dear husband etc etc]

Go on girls (and you all are, it just might be a factor here) GET RID OF IT ALL. Someone once said to me: "you know I was really happy when I could pack my whole life into a Ford Escort and just go". Just an idea, back from London, wondering how we're ever going to get all this stuff from one side of the country to the other.......

[Celeste]

I sympathise, I think hoarding is in the nature of every crafter/arty person. We see beauty or usefulness in everything so never want to throw any of it away, and we can't resist buying the pretty things in charity shops online etc.
I've never been good at throwing stuff away, I still have some of my notebooks and workbooks from when I was at primary school... although actually they're at my parents house, Mum keeps asking me to help her sort out, as she won't throw them away either.

I moved all my crafty things up to our bedroom where I have a little work area, and I was determined not to let them spread. Things have strayed out of there, its not practical to craft in there when I have a 6 month old to entertain, but at least I've not bought anything new so there's still room to put everything away.

I've only moved house once. I didn't have much of a craft stash then, just lots of books... we're never moving.

[Angela]

There is nothing wrong in having stuff. As you said, an artist has their tools. Be careful chucking it all in the moment. Better to pack it and then think on it. Being overwhelmed we sometimes make perhaps rash decisions. And moving has got to be high on the list of most overwhelming events. AND with moving 5 people!! :o) It will work out. Just breathe!

[Jennifer]

Thank you. Not junk. Not stuff. Raw materials. I needed that! (our family of five has been on the transient life for over a year now, and "moving" stuff is a constant source of, er, discussion. But creating keeps us all sane, and raw materials are essential!).
love it!

[Marie]

I know what you mean about stuff Simmy! A few years back I spent over a thousand pounds just having a bunch of stuff sent over from Canada that I had been storing at my mom's. At the end of the day it's not worth much, but the sentiment makes it priceless, not to mention the fact that I may actually use it one day! Angela posted some good advice. Don't be throwing anything away when you are overwhelmed by the size of the task which faces you. It's so eash to make a mistake you'll regret. (((hugs)))
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

[stella]

Dont worry, i have a huge stash of junk (including beads and felt). I bought a lovely litte diary last year which is blue and has a finch and cherry blossoms drawn on it with silver, IT IS GOURGEOUS. so gourgeous infact that i cant even write one word in it. sigh.

Goodluck, S

[katie]

what a scary post - I had to check to make sure I hadn't written it - you describe so exactly my relationship with my stuff - a house full and now a shed full of it - that 'might come in useful' and now that I am getting a reputation for being the 'recycling queen' I can't throw anything away - the tops off milk containers, the boxes the crackers were in ... its depressing!But maybe it is also deeply creative too? I haven't got a solution - but I am going to carefully check all your comments now to see if anyone else has!
hey - thanks!

[ramona]

oh simmy, i so relate to you relationship with all the stuff. i feel the same hate-love about my craft materials. and although i keep sorting through it and buying nothing new, it seems not to get less. but then again it is so inspiring to browse through all the things and know what possibilities there are, once I would have time and energy.

Ah, maybe during sorting through your stuff you find some red & green yarn, no matter what weight. I want to knit strawberries, but don't want to buy new yarn just for such small projects. so if you have some small leftovers, i'd love to have them. i can trade, make art, pay...whatever you think fits best.

[willywagtail]

I think it all just comes under the title of MATERIALism.LOL

[Rada]

Oh Tom! We're busted! How did you know, you clever man? Alright, so we are all women and I will fess up to one thing. My mother never had to move in the 50 years of mine and her life. She had a large basement and lots of closets and it has been crazy sorting through everything. But! I stick to my guns about the material, books and yarn. At least some of it. A big box of yarn or craft stuff to each power tool or any articles you want to keep for yourself. Ok?
Peace and much luck. Wish I could help you move but alas, I'll be busy that week. Not to mention being across the ocean.

[Kate]

i don't feel oppressed by my stuff per se (most of the time) but what I did notice a year or so ago is that I do buy things I like and then not use them because I am "saving them for something special". So I made a resolution (not a New Year's, because those never work somehow) to USE my stash. Not use it up, because it's useful to have a variety of things on hand, and mine isn't stupidly huge, but to not be afraid to use something. And also, not to be afraid to get rid of something if I don't think I will get around to using it in this lifetime (this applies more to leftover blocks, partial projects, and so forth, than just bits and pieces). I also have a good clearout of my workroom (i.e. boxroom - not very big) several times a year which not only helps me tidy up, but also helps me thin out things I really don't need and reminds me of things I have I might have forgotten about.