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Dec 1, 2010

More DECLUTTERING delight!



Meet Marcia (name changed to protect her from envious MPB stalkers), the proud new owner of my beloved Singer Genie.  Please don't hate her.  The machine was actually a gift to Marcia from a friend (an MPB reader, no less) and Marcia came to pick it up not even knowing what it would be.  I could have given her my old razor with no questions asked.

Friends, so much to tell!  I have sold two more sewing machines in the last twenty-four hours, and I'm confident one more will go out today.  I thought I enjoyed buying sewing machines till I tried selling them.  It's thrilling!

My very first sewing machine, my uber-powerful, speedy Kenmore 158.1212, is now owned by a man named Pablo who wants to sew leather with it. Perfect.
 

My White "Fair Lady" -- a gift from my friend Jamie and Jamie, if you're reading this, don't hate me -- is now the property of lovely, young, multiple-pierced Tara. As you can see, I'm not very sentimental about gifts.



I think these machines went fast because I sold them at very reasonable prices, plus they're nice machines.  I now have enough cash to cover the cost of my vintage taupe American Tourister luggage set and maybe a bagel and coffee, I mean tea.

I think we may be saying good-bye to my Brother LS2125 later today.  Someone who originally expressed interest in the White (which had already sold) may purchase my Necchi 555, which is nearly identical to a Supernova Julia.  That one I won't part with cheap as it's a fantastic, unusual machine with a lot of accessories.  I hadn't thought of selling it originally, but why not?  I don't use it.

Still no bites on the Elna Grasshopper.  

I must recommend this decluttering book.  I've read a lot of these kinds of books and probably you have too, but Organizing for the Creative Person is my favorite so far and really speaks to a right-brained type like me.  You can buy a used paperback copy for a penny on Amazon.



Next, I went to work on my fabric stash.  Actually, not my stash, my fabric scrap pile.  This is where I generally run into trouble.  I don't really have a big stash because, as you know, I tend to buy fabric as I need it, locally.  The fabric in my stash is mainly stuff I bought with a particular project in mind that just got stalled.  But I have a lot of fabric scraps from completed projects.  I started a very amusing thread on the Pattern Review message board about it yesterday.  People are divided into highly polarized pro-scrap/anti-scrap-hoarding camps.  Fascinating stuff.

Anyway, I just bit the bullet and stopped worrying about what I would do if I needed to repair the cuff of a shirt I made six months ago and sorted through all that crap, dumping 80% of it.  Frankly, by the time I've finished a sewing project, I don't want to see the fabric again!



I have three large bags awaiting pick up.  I posted it in the free section of Craigslist and within ten minutes had eight responses.  Let's see if anyone actually shows up to take it.  There's something about free that attracts impulsive types who don't always follow through.  Maybe I should have charged $1 per bag.



I'll be posting more stuff on Craigslist today, including an old bike and some more lamps.  I have been bitten by the decluttering bug (or haven't you noticed). I may have to change the focus of this blog from sewing to organizing!

Sadly, still no takers for this:



Friends, please don't think I've completely forgotten about sewing.  I've received some wonderful new patterns of late, including two handbag patterns and my men's toggle coat pattern (shipped all the way from sunny Barcelona).  As soon as my space is tidy, I'll be getting back to work.

I hope I am inspiring some of you to dig yourselves out of the detritus.  It has truly made me feel happier and healthier.  I can't explain it.

Have a super-organized day, everybody!  If in doubt, throw it out.

UPDATE, 3:30 PM: 

Brother LS2125 - SOLD!
Bags of fabric - GONE! 
White dog - WHINING FOR DINNER.

25 comments:

  1. I noticed the Snoopy trash can in the last picture. Is that vintage? I swear my brother had that very same trash can when we were growing up back in the 70's!

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  2. Tracey, yes! It's pure Seventies. I love those old metal trash cans. (I also have a Laugh-In one.)

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  3. Okay, I'll take the set of Chihuahua's. If you're interested in a trade then you can have my large, emotionally unbalanced German Shepherd... I'm sure she'd love New York!

    So glad you're finding happiness in decluttering. I've been thinking about purging some of my machines also but all but three are packed away... it's really starting to bother me that I'm storing something that I don't want anymore. At least this way when they are unpacked they can go straight to new homes!

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  4. Oh, I think I would love a German Shepherd! Does she have a loud ear flap?

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  5. aww, your little doggies are so cute..
    I went through a phase of buying and selling sewing machines. (I just could not commit! I keep seeing another cute one while I was still sewing on the one I was with!)
    I sold several on eBay and met some nice people along the way, too. The key is FULL DISCLOSURE.
    I have now bonded thoroughly with my current partner, er, sewing machine.

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  6. I completely understand the thrill in selling the machines. There's something so satisfying about seeing a fabulous vintage machine being united with an appreciative, loving owner. My ex told me I was the crazy cat lady of sewing machines: I just want them all to have a good home.

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  7. Glad the decluttering is going well! I feel all inspired to... well, go downstairs and rearrange my piles ;).

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  8. Peter, for future reference, scrap fabric (and even old clothing too ratty for Goodwill) makes wonderful stuffing for Snuggle-ball-style dog beds. Cut the big pieces into smaller chunks. Toss in a bag or two of cedar-chip hamster bedding to combat odor. I made the bed out of muslin and the zippered cover (which comes off for laundering) from fleece.

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  9. Peter, she's not much of an ear flapper but she will take up a little more room than what you're used to. :)

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  10. Hah Jan! Freddy and Willy don't sleep on (gasp!) dog beds. They use the sofa and then in the middle of the night, flap ears on Peter's bed. ;-)

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  11. You have inspired me to declutter as well...I took 5 big boxes of patterns to the thrift store yesterday. Linda scolded me and said "I don't want to see you digging through those patterns now" I'll have to stay away to avoid the seperation anxiety. As for the chihuahuas...I have my own ear flapping pomeranian with his own quirks...no room at the inn!

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  12. I'm so proud of you, Peter! I didn't think you'd be able to let go...

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  13. The three bags of fabric just got picked up too. Hurray!

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  14. Congrats to Marcia! Great going Peter!!

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  15. You're an inspiration Peter! Not only have I resisted buying the Futura II that's tempting me off Craigslist, I've sold off furniture that isn't giving me the satisfaction of owning it anymore. Tonight my mid-century console stereo may be gone as well leaving that wall as the new rightful spot for sewing central. And although I usually hold on to stash thinking I should donate it to the students currently in Apparel Design at MCTC, I may just list it on Etsy. Purge! Purge!

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  16. I have that book! Time to re-read given the condition of my desk.

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  17. Yay! That MPB reader would be me! "Marcia" was indeed pretty excited. And is already looking for sewing classes, she says:)

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  18. "If in doubt, throw it out." Do ya know that clutter (whether "real" or thoughts) CLUTTERS our minds, makes us feel tired, defeated... etc. :-(... You're REALLY on your way, Peter!!
    Yippy, yahoo for YOU!! ;)

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  19. Good idea giving away scraps on craigslist. My scrap pile is getting so scary... starting to take over my sewing corner... I am going to take a cue from you today to list all my scraps! yay!

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  20. I'm currently working on gathering and cluttering... as my sewing room 'studio' has been rather recently "decorated" i need to have many things that I can't easily find - then I feel relieved, like there's a chance I might have whatever I'm looking for, it's just that I can't find it:D... every paragraph above goes like an arrow pointed at my heart:| a lil more and I couldn't have taken the emptiness...

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  21. I will put that book on my reading list (cluttered as it!). I usually don't list anything for free because of the flake factor, just a nominal charge (like $1/bag). People are more responsible when they're paying! I have some bags of fabric and patterns to get rid of SOON.

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  22. Decluttering is like therapy for me. Something to do with taking control or just plan getting rid of junk. So proud of you.

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  23. After Christmas, and the three outfits I need to make for Evie, I will be using up scraps. See, for Jeron's birthday, I'm going patchwork. For Evie's, too. And it's not quilts--well, not exactly. Jeron is getting a stuffed patchwork turtle, and Evie will be getting a dolly-sized quilt. *That* is what I save scraps for, but I have "rules" Anything smaller than 3 X 3 gets garbaged because it's not useful. Bigger than that, and I can use it for quilts and dolly clothes... or even kids' crafts.

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  24. Whoopeee! Catching up on 22 posts of yours. Bought the book just now, it better be good!

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  25. I need to do the same, I made some bad sewing machine purchases and I want to unload them. Unfortunately, I paid too much for them and will probably not get my money back on them, boo!

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