Today was rainy, cloudy and just plain yuck. I didn't get out for a walk. I cleaned up something I had been meaning to, I sorted a little, played with photos. Middle son stopped in for a while after car shopping with husband. No luck on the car. They didn't find anything remotely close to what he is looking for. He has a set amount budgeted and used car prices are terrible right now. Hopefully he will find something soon. It was nice to see him. He stayed to watch a film and have something to eat before husband drove him back home. I went along for the ride just to get out of the house for a while!
I did get up in my craft room today. It's part of what the Thinking Out Loud title comes from. I just have too much craft stuff. Way too much. I admit to being a paper hoarder. I need to seriously thin out my craft items. I think that a part of why I haven't been crafting too much is because of the space. I am just too overwhelmed with all that is in it. I'm not sure if this is coming from dealing with Mum and Jane's things, but I just find myself wanting less things and more space, more a feeling of calm.
My dilemma is this - what do I do with all the items? What would you do with all the items? A lot of them are unused and I'm not swimming in money. I'd love to be able to go to visit my sister this summer and spend the anniversary of Mum's death sitting on her bench and remembering her. Air fares are going up so I will have to budget the money somehow
Do I...
a) Ebay the items
b) Open an Etsy shop where I can sell some craft supplies as well as finished items
c) do a combination of either a or b and donate some
d) let it go and just donate the lot
I'm tempted to do C. As I said, I could use the money. D would be the easiest. I suppose I could give a limited time to sell some and if it doesn't go then donate it.
What would you do?
Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 78/365
I'm the same as you, too much stuff! I'm not crafting as much, due to an arm injury, so I have cross stitch designs, wips, cottons, fabric and then boxes of buttons, ribbons and card making stuff.. then there's wool, and craft magazines as well. We moved last year and ever since, I have been trying to get rid of it all!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the injury! I have lots of cross stitch items too. Have you been selling it or just donating it? I don't want it sitting around for ever but would perhaps like to make a little money.
DeleteI hope your son will be able to find and buy a suitable car, soon. Well done getting the crafty album completed! As for the craft supplies, I vote for C. I have no idea how Ebay, Etsy, etc. works, however. Could you also put together smaller kits of the supplies needed for a project, put the rest of the supplies away, and maybe just work on the kits you've made for yourself? You could perhaps sell the kits, too (I'm saying this because my daughter wanted to try a couple of new crafts and she bought some kits).
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea! I might try putting together something like that - a mini kit or two.
DeleteI do want to make sure I can get things down to a manageable size so that I actually do enjoy working on things! At this point I can't find the things I need for projects even though I know I have them somewhere!
I'm exactly the same with crafting stuff. I have so much of it that I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. I've already given a huge amount away and I'm baffled now as to where I stored it all as I still have a vast amount of everything.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the curse of being a crafter. There is so much lovely stuff around and it never seems to stop coming! I have a lot that even though I know I have what I need for a project I can't find it. It's really frustrating and is making me determined to tackle the stuff.
DeleteI've heard people say it's almost worth the long wait and getting a brand new car, the way used car prices are rocketing at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAnswering your question - C sounds the most sensible, if not the easiest plus, as you suggest, making it time limited. D9o you have the energy for that?
xx
If he could hold off on the car he would, but he really needs something new. He can't go anywhere far and, unfortunately he's stuck in a small town.
DeleteI'm leaning towards C but not sure I have the energy. We're still working on Jane's and that takes a lot of energy. I am going to keep trying though. Hopefully I can get rid of quite a bit through donation.
I think I would be tempted to give them away as in my 'old age' anything else is a faf! but you are much younger so A B or C would help with the air fares
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to just give it away, but I really could use money towards the air fare, so if anything perhaps that will motivate me. I really want to visit Mum's bench.
DeleteI think I'd do an Etsy shop for finished items as you can set your price and an eBay auction for supplies.
ReplyDeleteI've found that the more I've let things lave the house and the more space I've created, the more energy I have to spend time on my hobbies. I found that having too much was stagnating and the less I have the more I appreciate it and the better I do.
That's what I'm hoping. Strange to say, but the stuff is getting so draining. It's out of control. I'm pretty sure the last year didn't help as crafting and books are what I tend to buy when stressed.
DeleteI would suggest looking around where you usually buy and see what sells. I also suggest that you consider that your mental health has a value.
ReplyDeleteIt may be that if you try and make a challenge out of selling, you could do quite well, and it would be an excuse to get you out the house if you have to go to a post office or similar.
Sending hugs. x
Thanks.
DeleteI'm thinking it might be quite stressful to sell, but when it's gone I think it will help my mental health as I want to be in a space where I'm not overwhelmed or stressed. I used to enjoy the craft room, but now all I see is stuff.