Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett is a great book for helping one recognize and deal with one's clutter/stuff (among others available)

What I like about this particular one - the sections are short - the illustrations are funny - and he makes getting rid of unwanted/unneeded stuff into a virtue!

There comes a time when too much of anything becomes a burden - and no longer a pleasure.

And much as I hate to admit it, sewing supplies and fabrics are in that category for me.

Bearisgray I can totally relate to this. My DH told me the other day I am bordering on being a "hoarder" I hate to admit it but he's right. I need to make a vow to NOT buy any more fabric, patterns or tools until I clean out some of what I have. I am thinking of packing up alot of my extra fabrics and donating it to the project Linus group that meets at my LQS. That way I know it will benefit some deserving child. Then I need to concentrate on my UFO projects that need to be completed!! Would someone PLEASE get a cattle prod out and give me a blast in my backside to get me moooovin' *LOL*
crafty_linda_b

Perhaps this should be on a required reading list before anyone decides to become a quilter?

The trick for me was moving from a 5 bedroom house, to a 3 bedroom townhouse to a 2 bedroom patio home in 3 years. That'll force you to rethink what's important and not so much. By the third move, my clothes almost didn't make the cut! I learned a whole new meaning for the word brutal. :-D :-D

A co-worker mentioned she is going clothes shopping for the best deals and all I could think about was fabric at my LQS on sale for 30% off tomorrow!

ohh, how interesting...I think I have one of his books.
I'll have to come back to this, later. thanks!!!

Thank you for sharing this book with us :D:D:D

I have all three of his books dealing with clutter to cleaning. Read them in the late 80's early 90's.

It's one of the few books that I find I NEED to read every few years.

It has been around for a while - my Mom gave me a copy when it first came out -

Mom, were you trying to tell me something then?

What an appropriate topic for me to read right now, I was just organizing my "office" where I keep my stuff for sewing (garments and quilts), scrapbooking, ancestry and spare bedroom all in one. I lost the bed somewhere under a bunch of piles after we had a garage sale this summer. I just found it again, but still have to locate the desk LOL. It's tough to let go of things we might use "someday", but I've decided I'm more productive and less stressed if I'm not overwhelmed with possessions and projects. Good luck on your clutter control!

I'm still working with Flylady, and I agree, it IS hard to get rid of
stuff you "might need one day", especially when you were raised in the depression. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. And do not throw away anything that can be used again.

It's hard with today's buy it, use it and then toss it mentality.

I come from a line of people that saved any and all plastic - bags, jugs, cartons - any and all glass - can always put jelly or jam in it - all the old twine from the bales - could tie up plants with it - or something - about a foot of newspapers - always good for packing something - old metal coffee cans - cut the buttons and zippers out of totally worn out garments

My step-dad even saved old USED oil filters - I have no idea what for - maybe to keep track of how many times he changed oil? bent nails -

My grandma saved all the old sturdy dog food bags and put kindling in them.

It is HARD to put some of that stuff in either the trash or recycling!

We were allowed burning barrels - way back then - but very little was actually burned.

Oh, yes - the table scraps and vegetable peelings either went to the pigs or to composting.

oh yes...I come from a long line of "savers", but most on mom's side, used that stuff,
...my dad's side? the savers - saved!
Me?...somewhere in the middle, of course! ;)
I do used saved stuff and glad of it, but I tend to keep far too many boxes, bags, ice cream buckets, plastic containers, mailers for remailing...yada, yada, yada.
Got some of those space bags yesterday. The medium sized ones, bc I didn't want to spend too much and then find out I wasn't happy with they way they function.
Do you/anybody? think it would mess up fabric?
I'll try these on blankets, etc.
Got a real cleaning, donating spree on the horizon as soon as my dd gets out of hospital and can care for wee ones. ;-)

Other then my quilting stash and DH's hobby stash, I don't have stored clutter. My girls didn't want the passed down china I had with all the fancy serving bowls or the fancy stemmed glassware. We seldom use it as it had to be handwashed and no one wanted to wash dishes. I certainly didn't. I donated all that to Salvation Army and have never missed it. It was old and nice but didn't suit our needs as it did my grandmother and great aunts. My cousin gave it all to me when I married to get it out of her house. LOL

I might see if my library has this book. The biggest thing that gave me the push to really clean out my house was the show "Hoarders" (on A&E). That really made me take a look at everything to see what I needed to keep or make go away.

I've been clearing out over the last year; I feel so much better now than when I started. :)

Still working on the fabric issue, BUT one thing at a time. :)

another thing to think about, to get you going, is to imagine your heirs having to deal with all your stuff after you pass, rolling their eyes and saying, "what was she thinking?"

Also, say to yourself, what is the worst that could happen if I get rid of this? usually the answer is not that bad, you might have to buy a new whatever.

I agree about the 'heirs' thing.