How did you handle it?
 

Not complaining but would like to hear how you resolved it.



Not complaining mind you but l have too many interests and with those interests come baggage. Love to quilt, sew, crochet, knit, draw, paint and read. But with each craft comes a myriad of necessary supplies....fabric, batting, sewing machines, threads, bobbins, crochet hooks, patterns, knitting needles, yarn, books, sketch pads, brushes, paints......well, you get the idea.

l am truly blessed to be able and to have the desire to pursue those things considering I'll be 80 this August but, truthfully, as organized as I am, it's still just too darn much stuff!!! And, realistically, how much can I honestly expect to accomplish before Gabriel blows his horn?

So,if you've had the same problem, how did you handle it? Pick just one or two things and get rid of the baggage from the rest? And then, how did you pick the one or two you decided to concentrate on? Did you pick ones that required less baggage? Did you get rid of it all and try something entirely new?

I would just keep enjoying the crafts that you are doing, but maybe just shop from your own supplies. No reason to stop doing what you love to do.

I have enough projects I'll have to live a lot longer. Some times the grandkids come over and we use up materials pretty fast.

I hope it's a few years yet before you hear that horn!! In the meantime, if it gives you pleasure you might try giving a few choice items to a few choice people so you can share/see their delight and try to shop from stash.

My neighbor made a "craft will". She had 4 kids. Every kid gets a little bit of something depending on the craft they've shown the most interest in. If their interest changes they can give it to the person of their choice but need to ask within their siblings first. None of the sewing/quilting machines get sold unless all siblings are in agreement. Aside from that at 75 years of age, she isn't ready to let loose of anything yet!! She actually has given a copy of her will to each of her children and it's an attachment in her actual will.

when i downsized for my last major move, i got rid of all of my hand knitting tools due to my arthritis. 3 years later, i am using hand knitting tools again. luckily, i didn't have to repurchase anything... got some when my aunt passed away. the moral... keep what you have as long as you possibly can... you just never know when you'll have the urge to use them again.

Sometimes I have an item that I haven't used for a long time. For example: I had doubles of some quilting rulers. There's a new quilter in my church, so I give them to her.
As to your real question: I have no idea how to decide what goes or stays. Although my stamps might be able to be donated to the prison ministry...it's a sticky wicket to decide.

I have experimented with a lot of different crafts. I try to keep a little bit of every type so that if I want to start over, I have a place to start. For example, I kept brushes not paint or paper. I kept two crochet hooks and a few patterns but not the entire yarn collection and the different sizes of hooks. I kept scrapbook paper but not all the embellishments. So if I want to go back and try it again, I can start with what I have.

Recently I went through all by knitting needles and crochet hooks. Any duplicates, I gave to the senior resource center. Lots of yarn, I made some afghans, gave those to hospice., left over yarn, again to the senior center. As a quilter, I have lots of fabric. My plan for that is sort, cut and label and sew into scrappy twin size. They will be great for dorm room, camping and in the car. And books and magazines. Ever notice how most drs offices have magazines aimed for men and medical issues. I "accidently" leave my book or magazine there.

How much of each do you REALLY need to keep on-hand to enjoy each hobby? Decide that, and clear the rest out.

We have this issue with Mom. She cannot possibly use all the craft supplies she has. But, it makes her happy to have them available. So we will sort, sell or donate when she has gone. We have a good idea where to send the donated items. Just so much to go thru but it is serving it's purpose now. So we won't rock the boat

I am having a yard sale the end of the month to sell my quilting book library. Will charge $10.00 each. I have about 60 books. I just don't want to have the library sell them for 25 cents apiece.

Well I find myself with the same problem. At 78 my home is full of crafting,painting, sewing,quilting,books,cooking and gardening tools. DH told me he thought we need to start getting rid of a lot of stuff and I had a fit, not my stuff. Now after giving it a lot of thought he is right and I have more than I can do in this lifetime. DD said she will use most of it as we have the love for the same hobby's but there is so much she couldn't begin to take it all. I know when I let go of something that is what I will need with my next project but I need to start somewhere.

I use to crossstitch, crochet, and draw before quilting. I gave the supplies away. (I kept my grandmother's crochet hooks and tatting shuttles.) Last week I got the urge to crochet a dishcloth so went to the store and bought a skein of cotton yarn, enough to make two cloths. I didn't have to dig out my bins, search for what I needed and put it all away again. I don't have the save for later I may need it one day mindset (except for money LOL) I do have a quilting stash because I use from it continually, not have it stored and not used. I can't tolerate stored clutter.

OMG you sound like me. Im74 and my problem is finding the time to do all I want to do. I like to quilt, read, knit and practice my piano plus in winter I love snowshoeing, xx skiing, and when conditions are right ice skate. I gave up crafts a few years ago as that does require so many different supplies. I try to divide the day up into sections and do my hobbies in a select time frame. But I'm always saying I need 36 hr days and 9 days in a week. Lol

Oh boy... I'm younger than most of you, but I think about this all the time, especially since I have no children or anyone else to pass things down to. Unfortunately my only niece (who is 20) did not inherit any crafty genes from my side of the family. :)

All I can say is, over the years if I've decided that I'm not going to do a particular craft anymore, and I get rid of that stuff, I have always regretted it. About 20 years ago I said I was too slow a knitter to continue and got rid of everything knitting related. So what am I doing now? Knitting, of course. Still slowly, but still enjoying it.

So if I can possibly find a little nook or cranny to keep my stuff, I keep it. The things I use the most get prime placement, and everything else is not so easily accessible. But I've become very creative with the use of closet space.

I say do what pleases you. If you can afford it, and have the space, have fun. I have little space, but feel lucky to have a room for sewing,even if it is actually half the bedroom. Jim never complains, and compliments me and my abilities often. I used to worry about the "horn" too. (turned 63 in Feb.)I wondered who would pick up where I left off. Now it does not bother me. I will go when called. (guess that is why I have so many UFO's). :-)

The only thing I have gotten rid of and never regretted was my painting supplies (I have no talent when it comes to painting and hated everything I did). My crochet and sewing take up the rest of the room and when I am gone then my family can do with it as they please. When we tried to get my mom to down size it was because she and my dad saved every plastic bag they brought home and didn't repurpose. (There were so many bags of bags it was crazy - but the thrift store said they wanted them, they would repurpose them.) And my mom had a different color of Keds for every pair of pants she owned, but stopped wearing Keds when they didn't give her the support she needed. They collected art and had so much every room in the house was covered, and under all the beds and in all the closets, etc. But it meant something to them so my sisters and I never said word one. They had so many little bronze statutes we gave them to people that admired them. (Oh and they had every check they wrote in 59 years and the pay checks. You never know when you will need that check from 1952 for groceries.....)

A friend of mine collected antique furniture - all different kinds, but she has a room so full, it is stacked and and hanging in the garage, etc. Her daughter told her to get rid of it because she didn't want to deal with it when she is gone. It upset my friend and I said to enjoy it and ignore her. Once she is gone, that if her daughter is foolish enough to just give it away, so be it, it will make someone else happy. But if my friend ever needs the money, she can sell it knowing it won't matter to anyone else.

I am 62, no one knows when the horn is going to blow, so enjoy what you can and what happens after won't really matter.

I know I have too much stuff - but fortunately I do have a granddaughter who likes to sew and craft. I have given her instructions on how to dispose of what she doesn't want. Right now I'm in the process of making denim quilts for Christmas (12 of them) - this is using up all the jeans I have saved thru the years, along with all the scraps of batting from various quilts and lots of fabric (about 40 yards from my stash). I also got some jean donations from friends so I wasn't a bad hoarder! I will work diligently for as long as I can to use up what I have. At least my kids won't have to figure out what to do with 150 pair of jeans and bags of batting scraps!

This is me!!!! I hear people talk about purging and de-cluttering and remember doing it and then needing what I just tossed out and having to go buy it again which always annoys me. The last time we got to where we had too much stuff (between my husband and I we collect and have many interests) we just bought a bigger house lol

We have downsized,due to circumstances,3 times.DH never had a lot of hobby interests......so cutting back wasn't a problem for him.My cookbook collection went,making clothes for DDs went too.Computer & Ipad took over my reading.I still have one medium box for yarn & needles.Quilting took over every space we had.Interest is gone,so need to sell my machine & all that goes with it. Now & then I look at the stacks of fabric & wonder what was I thinking?

Neither DDs or Grdaughter have any interest in sewing-quilting ....so what is left when the bell tolls for me will probably end up at Goodwill.That's ok,I had lots of enjoyment from "my stuff".

Enjoy what you do, and don't listen for the horn! I quilt, do tons of crafts, read, and collect more things than I care to admit. I have "organized" storage boxes marked craft supplies. I love being able to make something in the spur of the moment. I thrive on organized chaos....could not live in a sterile "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" environment. I respect that others do...just not me!

I crochet, quilt, embroider, and oyher stuff, I try to put each catagory together, t use bins, shelves whatever, trying not to buy but use hat I have

When I realized we had too many books, I decided to start purging by "tithing"--giving 10% of them away. I'd take 10 books off my shelf, find one I could part with, then put it in a donation box. At first this was REALLY hard for me because I grew up believing books were almost sacred (my mom being a major bookworm with 5 college degrees to her name). Six-eight months later, I did the same, except went for 20%. That was easier. Then I read the Konmarie method and she says "if it sparks joy, keep it." That was the only criterion. Does it spark joy? This works for books, crafts, clothes, linens, dishes, furniture, everything! It became easier to let go as I asked myself that question. It wasn't about $$, or memories, or space, or whatever. But the burden of keeping things because it meant something once upon a time, or someone I love gave it to me, or I might need it someday, or it's still in perfectly good condition...none of those were compelling enough. I am systematically decluttering my house this year and loving it!

I would keep doing the crafts you enjoy - that is a blessing that you have so many interests! If you are into quilting more, just keep your other crafts separated in a bin. I know how to hand embroider, crochet, knit, counted cross stitch, needlepoint, but know I'm more into quilting. I had a lot of DMC thread and gave it to my daughter. I had too much yarn and donated it. I'm hesitate to give away all the yarn as I'm still interested. So just keep enjoying yourself with all your crafts!

I will be 80 in September. I love to knit and quilt. I cook every day for a family of six. I just keep on doing what I have been doing for the past 60 years and will let my daughters deal with what is here when I am gone. I try to use materials that I have but seems like I always need something to finish the current project. Purchased a sit down machine two years ago and love quilting my own quilts with it. Working on my backlog of tops. Have a supportive husband. I always told him that my hobbies are the best therapy and cost a lot less than a doctor because I have something to show for the money when I am done. Have only a couple of projects to complate and my UFOs will be a thing of the past.

Well good luck with that....just had a garage sale.....I must live in a quilt-sterile community as I could not sell the books for $1.00 ea...and ended up,donating a box full of books and a box of fabric to a church group next town over...but at least they will be used and appreciated.

[QUOTE=plainpat;7820280]Quilting took over every space we had.Interest is gone,so need to sell my machine & all that goes with it. Now & then I look at the stacks of fabric & wonder what was I thinking?

Is the lost interest in doing it alone or doing it at all? If the former maybe teaching a friend, church-group, 4H, or similar might rekindle your love of quilting. Just adding a social level to the hobby might help.

But, if the love is gone, looking at it can be depressing. Maybe a short hiatus where you box up as much as you can but don't get rid of it? As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. : )

I hope you can find the joy in it again or, if not, find a new passion - one is never too old for new ways to use creativity.

I have lots of supplies for my different craft interests and have collections of other things that I like. I have told my niece and her husband that they will inherit everything and have fun. Seriously, I told them to keep what they and their kids like and sell the rest. (I have kept a list of what I paid for various items so they have an idea of its worth but still encourage them to sell what they don't like.) Meanwhile I am enjoying it all!

I like what lettawellman said in her postings: If our longevity is determined by all the things we want to do, then I will never die. I love this philosophy!

I try to not get into anything new. I still have my knitting, but the macrame has gone by the wayside. I'm back to tatting on a very limited basis, but don't like when our quilt group wants us to do things that are not quilt related. I'm trying, not too successfully, to get rid of STUFF. It takes a lot of my time and I'd rather do the quilting and let the kids get rid of that.

When my inlaws moved into the retirement home - actually first they moved into assisted living then after dad passed mom moved to the retirement side. Mom disposed of all her crochet things except hooks. Well after she was settled in the retirement home, she wanted particular patterns that she'd given to daughters and grand-daughters. Everything was picked through then excess disposed of so a lot of her patterns were gone. So be careful what you wish for.

I am 72 and like you have mucho stuff from different craft forays. My best friend just passed away and I promised to handle her collection. I know some of the places that she wants it to go. I have been thinking about my own stash and need to use the DNR rule of "catch and release." I have caught all of this stuff, much of which I will not be able to use unless I live to 167. So, I am going to work on releasing it to people who want and will use these supplies.

I don't have any intention of getting rid of my crafting/sewing/quilting/painting supplies while I can still use them, but I need to get them organized better. So they can be donated in an organized fashion when it's time for that.
I think grand daughters will want quite a bit of it, as they are more interested in these hobbies than their mothers are.