I've started...

[idleleaves]

... a reorganisation/excavation of my studio (i.e. my writing/photography/sewing/etc. room, i.e. the spare bedroom). In the beginning it was sort of procrastination from writing (which I am finding insanely difficult at the moment) but now it's turned into a project I really want to see through to the end.

The big surprise is that I've actually added a fair amount of art/craft supplies to the donation pile. I've never been good at letting those go, but I'm trying to be realistic about what I'm likely to use and what's likely to sit around forever waiting for a maybe. Like the ceramic coasters I used to make. Making them was calming and satisfying, but I no longer have a properly-ventilated space to use the spray sealants and such that I need to finish them. So... it doesn't really make sense for me to keep all the supplies. I'm saving the materials I used to make the decorated tops, but I'm going to give the ceramic tiles to someone who can use them and pass on the sealants and paints, too.

I'm also trying to go through my notebook collection - I've become very picky about notebooks as of late, because I've noticed there are certain traits that make me more or less likely to write in them (... about as much as I ever write in any of them, anyway, and don't try to tell me I'm the only one with a slew of blank notebooks). It's difficult, because notebooks, but if I have too many of them they just end up being one more collection that attracts dust and cat fur.

I'm not thinning out my fabric or yarn stashes. I'm fine with my yarn stash being large (it's significantly smaller now than it used to be, but still) and my fabric stash, as far as I'm concerned, isn't big enough. I have enough wovens, I suppose, but not nearly enough knits.

Ramble ramble ramble.

Comments

[yuuago]

Oh man, yeah, admitting that you're not likely to return to certain crafts is... hard. BUT somebody is probably going to be really happy to receive those things. :)

[idleleaves]

SO HARD. Plus there's also the guilt in having spent the money on the supplies in the first place... urgh. But, yes, I think that's what I need to keep in mind - I'm going to make someone happy.

[erulissedances]

I totally admit to having too many empty journals and notebooks. I have come to the solid conclusion that I hate writing in longhand, although I don't mind using notebooks for drawings and sketches. I'll keyboard in my writing, so I really don't need bunches of notebooks. I've always envied people who could sit and write longhand and get a book out of it, but my thoughts are already two paragraphs ahead, if I had to actually write them down, I'd be in the next chapter before two pages were down in ink.

- Erulisse (one L)

[idleleaves]

The only time I find it useful to write longhand is when my brain is so cluttered up that I can't manage to sort out what should go where - then, because longhand is so slow, it makes me take my time and sort things out one sentence at a time.

Mostly it's just a pain in the arse, though. There is no actual reason why I need so many notebooks.

[independence1776]

You're definitely not the only one with a bunch of blank notebooks! Congrats on being able to get rid of some, as well as the craft supplies; I haven't been able to bring myself to do that.

[idleleaves]

It's so hard! Craft supplies exist to me as like... possibilities, not clutter. I look at them and see things I could do and that makes me happy. But I guess there's only so much space in a two-bedroom apartment, and I want to make sure I keep space available for things I'm actually likely to do.