tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post6214426501602964137..comments2023-11-10T00:56:30.857-08:00Comments on Existential Neighborhood: Limitations: Clearing Out StuffJane Dunnewoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254943030333257172noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-20824757295286171372010-12-16T12:18:53.635-08:002010-12-16T12:18:53.635-08:00This lesson keeps talking to me. I have the boxes...This lesson keeps talking to me. I have the boxes ready and the Volunteers of America are coming to pick up through our neighborhood on 12/20. This time it will be a big giving. I still cannot give up the boxes of shells, the old and vintage textiles and some other stuff from passed on to me by my mom. Some day, but not now.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this lesson.Diana Angushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064080545640142443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-54006085199239216612010-12-14T22:02:40.123-08:002010-12-14T22:02:40.123-08:00I actually have a physical need to purge this time...I actually have a physical need to purge this time of year. I move into a very busy season for my "other career" (the one currently paying the bills) and need the peace of a clutter free space. Freecycle and the local art colleges are where most of the studio items end up. I really like knowing I am helping students find free materials to work with. Clothes are not my weakness so emptying the closets is easy and go to the Salvation Army or one of the women's shelters. And Jane you are right, the benefit of giving freely, out weights any of the costs. Years ago I was told you pay for material items three times...first, to accumulate it; second, to maintain/store it; and third, to dispose of it. And that is just money, then the cost in mental energy regarding stuff is hard to track.Jerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00583785380523833479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-2875530091836243682010-12-14T06:46:40.670-08:002010-12-14T06:46:40.670-08:00Tis the season to clean, limit and gift others - c...Tis the season to clean, limit and gift others - check out my blog on the same:<br />http://chadalicehagen.blogspot.com/2010/12/inventories.htmlchad alice hagenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17978585916721992480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-17691469467345133652010-12-14T06:00:24.606-08:002010-12-14T06:00:24.606-08:00A few years ago I stayed with a woman dying of can...A few years ago I stayed with a woman dying of cancer. Her home was chock-a-block filled with antiques worth tons. I was with her the night she died and a week later saw all the lovely contents of her home in second hand shops - those "priceless" items she had hoarded for her family. That was a big eye opener for me. I too had been saving things for my kids who I assumed ( and we know what that means)that they would want these things too. I imagined my kids "clearing" out my house after my death and all my lovelies ending on the tip. So I have preemptively have started selling all my goodies and I am using the money for art supplies and workshops - actually yours Jane is one of them. I DO feel lighter and looking forward to all the fun I will have spending my new windfall.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17095809082494749979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-58407315305093551032010-12-14T00:17:18.448-08:002010-12-14T00:17:18.448-08:00great post jane! i live in a small apartment and h...great post jane! i live in a small apartment and have been complaining about this for years until i discovered the benefit of it: it's impossible to accumulate "stuff". i have to clear out my studio and the the other rooms on a regular basis.Marlishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06351840888197783938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-50646978011203139862010-12-13T17:56:07.018-08:002010-12-13T17:56:07.018-08:00When I found up that I was allergic to wool I deci...When I found up that I was allergic to wool I decided to give all of my wool fabrics (hundreds of dollars worth) to the VCU School of Fashion Design. Fortunately I took it in several trips. After the first trip I found out that the INSTRUCTORS were taking the fabric. The rest of the donations were conditional on them only being given to students.<br />I love doing a clear out periodically. I'll give away anything that someone else can use.Vicki Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06929340703066037054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-54925532198888675842010-12-13T16:27:39.553-08:002010-12-13T16:27:39.553-08:00Yes, letting go and clearing out gives one a great...Yes, letting go and clearing out gives one a great sense of accomplishment and peacefulness! "GROJ" (get rid of junk) was written in a predominate place in my parents home - I think that would be a good thing to post in my home as well.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16882425345884793319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-7911725337784577842010-12-13T12:06:22.110-08:002010-12-13T12:06:22.110-08:00I just did two closets on Saturday. I think the ho...I just did two closets on Saturday. I think the house gave a great sigh along with me. Now the little clock my daughter gave me has broken, too sad. I will check to see if I can find a new inside for it, but if I cannot, I am determined to throw it away. In one closet I found a box of children's books I'd used as a teacher; off they went to the library for their book sale, desperately needed right now. Mucking out helps the spirits, it feels very good. Some marginal things I've kept, but next time...they'll be gone. Thank you for a timely, thoughtful post and Merry Christmas!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730298448632087144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120593322934217357.post-13888881152721344142010-12-13T09:11:26.972-08:002010-12-13T09:11:26.972-08:00Artists and crafters seem especially at risk for c...Artists and crafters seem especially at risk for collecting too much stuff - after all, we reason, it is the tools of our trade - those bits and pieces of fabric, paper, buttons, and braid (to mention just a few potential stash items). We are going to make something else out of all the bits - we aren't collecting them just to have.... or are we? Will a particular piece of marbled blue paper suddenly give us a talent we really don't have, or will the perfect length of fabric magically turn us into an award-winning quilter? Probably not (except of course for those of us who already are!) but we continue to fortify our insecurities by continuing to collect. I've been sewing up my stash and am having fun doing it!! Using combinations of fabric I would never otherwise have thought possible had I given myself permission to run to the quilt store. Likewise with the paper art I create. It has been an exercise of necessity and invention to make do with what I have - repurposing, recycling, rethinking techniques, and altering. At this point, I have to sift through too many files of embellishments even to remember what I have (carefully labeled though they are) and when I open my drawers of fabric, I am always surprised to find fat Q's I'd forgotten all about! You are correct Jane, when you say that clearing out makes room for new energy!arts4allhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06251970436965021618noreply@blogger.com