I made a big push toward less stuff by tackling my laundry room. This little room is also a hallway, that we all walk through several times a day to get to the garage. So the room needs to be kept neat and free from shoulder brushing hazards, so the mop or vacuum cleaner doesn't jump out and attack.
What clogs up this room the most is that here I store my craft supplies. I had shelves full of drawing paper and pencils, embroidery hoops, yarn and knitting needles, etc. And then I have this dresser and basket tower full of fabric.
When I spent time over winter break on self-discernment, I realized that I don't really enjoy crafting much anymore in my life. I have a creative job, so it's not like I need a creativity boost at home. I don't have enough time, either, to pursue all the possible hobbies out there. And the goal of making my own clothes is an actual downer, because it makes me feel like I shouldn't buy clothing when "I could make that", but I don't have time to make that, and it's always a huge disappointment if I make the time and then don't like the way it turns out.
I have enough body image issues that it's better to just try the stuff on at a store and know that I like the way it looks on me. Sewing stuff for myself is a bad idea. So goodbye to all the patterns and some of the fabric.
At the same time, I realized I don't have the time or patience right now to learn how to knit. So goodbye to the knitting books and yarn. I'm just keeping enough to knit wash clothes with, since that's all I'm really interested in doing.
I don't have time or interest to really work on learning to draw. Goodbye charcoals and paper. Lest you think I'm cheating the kids, I donated the drawing supplies to Carbon's school, and he can use them there.
Same thing with all the old counted cross-stitch projects I had. What can you really do with a counted cross-stitch picture? I already have one hanging here, and I gave one to my mother and she has it at her house ... No more counted cross-stitch.
So I'm down to sewing for the kids, doing small projects like embroidered napkins and lavender sachets, and doing minor alterations and repairs. I'm not getting rid of the sewing machine, so I can always start sewing more if I want to. But I need to get rid of the pressure, the feeling that I should be sewing.
Honestly, I can't work a full-time job and be a domestic goddess at the same time.
Good for you! I did something similar earlier in the year. I like to knit, so I kept those supplies but the sewing was haunting me. I love the idea of sewing my own clothes, and have tons of ideas, but lack the space, time and tools to create properly fitted items (dress dummy, etc). I decided to ditch the patterns and a few bags of fabric and keep only supplies for simple sewing (tote bags, etc) and mending. I am much happier. It seems like you are already as well.
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