mckwilter

I found myself a couple steps short of becoming an episode of Hoarders, so I went room to room and looked at everything asked myself how long it had been since I had used each one and was I saving it because I might need it some day. I did the same thing with my closet, asking would I ever wear it again, even if I did lose enough weight to fit into it. If I hadn't used it in over a year or I would never wear it again, I sacked it up and sent it to Goodwill. Except for t-shirts, which will one day become quilts, I divested myself of soooooo much stuff. I also went through files and shredded and threw away old receipts, etc. and patterns I knew I would never make. Now, I scan and save the patterns, and get rid of the paper.

My stash "sparks joy in my heart". I review my fabrics periodically, and if there is something that doesn't make me happy anymore, I give it to my quilt guild for charity quilts. Having an organized sewing room does give me "peace, joy, harmony and order".

Macybaby

here is my problem - the stuff in my house that does not spark joy - belongs to my husband and he loves it. And it's true the other way around - my fabric/sewing is just a "mess" to him. However we do love each other so we make it work

I have plenty of things - the only reason I have them is they make me smile every time I look at them. So they are staying.

RST

I do think her folding techniques and the idea of arranging everything so that it is visible and easily accessible is a good concept for fabric storage. I think that she's on to something with having people regularly handle and fussily fold and arrange all their belongings -- sometimes doing that is enough of a fix to avoid going out and buying more stuff. Plus, if you've handled it a lot, you remember you have it and don't replicate purchases.

I don't generally speak to or thank my inanimate items, but I could make an exception for my Bernina. I think I will go thank her for years of service and ask if she might like a clean out and a squirt of oil.

Stitchnripper

I guess I can see her point. I do declutter pretty regularly, but, things that bring me joy can become fluid, if that makes any sense. Something I'm not interested in for a while can jump back up into my consciousness and bring me plenty of joy and happiness and something that was up there can go back down for a while. So, I guess that's why I keep some of the things I do. I did get rid of a whole bunch of stuff a while back and now keep a donation bag going. A little bit at a time. I was talking with some friends and we decided that if our houses blew away in a hurricane we would miss our pictures. I'm the only one with the sewing machine collection so I guess I would miss those, but then I'd start collecting again. We don't have any heirlooms as such, so that stuff isn't valuable to us.

I don't have much of a stash. Too much fabric isn't a joyful thing to me. I know I am the odd ball, but, that's the way it goes!!

Luv Quilts and Cats

I have not heard of her. That being said.....as I get older, in my 50's, I find myself thinning out my things, like books. I decided more good can come out my donating books than holding on to them. I have a collection of star, moon, and sun items. Even though I have not bought anything to add to the collection in a long time, I just am not able to get rid of the pieces because they are still beautiful to me. Fabric....that's a whole other story. I love to just go through my stash, look at the colors and plan the quilts I want to make. Plus finish my UFOs. I don't think I'll ever be ready to part with fabric unless a friend sees something she likes and I can bear to part with it. LOL! Other than that I just don't collect anything anymore. I don't want the clutter and all the dusting. I don't think I am an organized person, but I have been able to reduce my clutter lately.

Krisb

She would take every fabric in the stash and throw it in the middle of the living room floor. Then pick up each piece, one by one, and ask if it still brings joy to her life. If no, it receives thanks for the good job it did do, and goes to a place where it can now bring joy to someone else's life. If yes, press it, refold it using minibolts or some other method that allows it to be seen and loved every day, and replaced tidily in the cupboard. Then it is time to attack the gadgets, rulers, etc. I am quite sure that only one of the two 6x24 rulers is loved and used.

GrandmaNewt

I have not heard of her or her method either, but going from Krisb's description, I guess I am right on track with my stash.
My stash consists of 2 bookshelves side by side. One side is for the fabric designated to garment sewing, the other side to my quilting. All of the fabrics on both shelves are neatly folded or on mini bolts and arranged in such a manner that they all give me joy, and inspiration for projects too when I sit looking at them.

My quilting stash bookshelf is sorted from top to bottom: top shelf is all the usable scraps of reasonable size. Folded and stacked in sort of a color coordinated way. There are also several baggies containing random cut squares one 2 1/2 inches, the other 6 inches. These are for scrappy quilts when I save up enough of them! second shelf is all fat quarters, all folded to the same size and stacked in groups of colors. Bottom 2 shelves are yardage, each piece 1 yard to 6 yards long, all also folded in the same manner and stacked according to color. The top of those 2 shelves contains prints, the bottom is all solids.

Peckish

When my kids were little, I did this with their toys. I would box up the stuff they'd grown tired of and stick it way up on a shelf in their closet. 6 months later, I'd pack up another box of toys and swap it for the one on the shelf. It was like Christmas all over again, they found new joy in their old friends. It also seemed to cut down on the "buy me this" syndrome.

Becky's Crafts

I have a fairly large stash which I'm always working from. There's some gorgeous fabric in amongst it & I even love going through the tiny bits not quite small enough to toss. I really don't throw much away, but find some way to use it. My quilting is my Zen time, so no... I won't be getting rid of it any time soon!! I live full-time in a camper, so I think I've cut back far enough!!

tessagin

I'm more the Peter Walsh type. He's on Rachel Ray often. I've gotten rid of a lot of things since I first saw him. if I happen to catch one of the hoarder shows on tv and him in the same week, I can get pretty motivated. I have to be careful though if DH gets really bored and catches a show Peter Walsh is on. He's like getting a shovel out of the shed and God help us which room he heads for. I try to direct him to the attic or closet behind the tv in the living room. I did let him into the closet in the sewing room that way I could have more room for my stuff. Never heard of the other gal.