I am a magazine freak. If my Tesco vouchers are expiring, I’ll get a magazine subscription with them. If someone mentions a new publication on twitter or IG, I’m planning a trip to my nearest big town to get a copy to try. I suppose I’m the same with craft books and craft supplies. They keep coming into the house and I manage to find a place for them.
This year I have started addressing the craft supplies issue. I have kept to my plan and stopped buying anything that isn’t necessary. It’s hard when I see beautiful fabrics or pretty papers, but I’m also enjoying working my way through my WIPs. At the moment I’m concentrating on a special gift so no pictures until after I hand it over.
I am now looking at my magazine mountain. Every night I am trying to look through a few more, rip out only the projects for me (nothing for the shop at the moment) and then recycle them. I decided that I wouldn’t really be looking through them again and again so out they go.
On dragging out another batch from the bookcase, I had a glance at the books there and started thinking. Do I really need some of these books? One had a dentist’s appointment card from 1988 in it. If I haven’t had the inclination to read it in the last 25 years, would I manage it in the next 25? Do I really need a copy of the books I read for O level English Lit and A level French? Do I need 3 books on Feng Shui when I live in a house with 2 little girls who like chaos and hate tidying up?
I’ve now got 2 carrier bags of books for the charity shop, some free downloads on my tablet, and space on my shelves to properly display my craft books and recipe books. And a floor full of magazines to sort through, but I’m getting them out faster than the postman can deliver them. Feeling declutteration in my living room and my head and that is good for me.