Ah! Spring Cleaning

Getting rid of junk is hard. It wasn't junk when I got it - either by paying money for it (with coupons, of course!), receiving it as a gift (well, thank you!), getting it at a yard sale (Ta-dah!), or making it myself.

I'm trying to reduce the clutter in my crafty room and I'm having a very hard time. So what if I haven't used it in five years! I'll probably really, really need it next week, and then it will be gone. I'd better save it.

It looks like I've done something. I've taken two boxes and by juggling around a little, I've managed to put all of it into ONE box. Hey! That's reduction, isn't it? I've got too many "how-to" books. I tried to put some in a give-a-way pile and some actually made it to the pile. But, what do I do with the book that has this one great, terrific idea in it that I'll never remember how to do if I don't have the instructions? There were about 10 books with one or two great ideas. I'd better save them.

I have a container that has a 1/10th finished quilt in it. I haven't worked on it in about five years. It's an easy quilt that is finished when you sew the last little block onto it. No finishing, no batting to worry about, no endless "quilting" stitching to do. I know that one day I'll have the time to sit down and do it. I'd better save it.

I can't get rid of my card making supplies. I have a bin of scraps that I can't throw away. Scraps are the backbone of card making and scrapbooking. The only problem is that the one bin has now become two. Hmmm. Maybe I need a larger bin.

I can't get rid of my knitting stuff. I can't get rid of my cross-stitch stuff. My crocheting supplies are necessary; so are all the pattern books. I have the instruction pamphlet for the yellow crocheted hooded cape we brought Kara home in. I can't get rid of that. I'd better save it.

One thing I will throw away - my collection of birthday, Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, anniversary and get-well cards that people have sent me over the years. Oh, wait. Some of those are from Maggie and Emma. I'd better save them all.

I'm exhausted. I've spent the better part of the day sorting through all that stuff. I do have two large, black trash bags full to throw away. Maybe I'd better sift through them before I take them to the dump.

There might be something in there that I'll need.