Another way to get rid of stuff: the expiration date

 
 
  
 

I once thought it would be an excellent idea to buy vintage books and papers and sell them on Etsy. I still think it's an excellent idea. For someone else. In my brief experience, I found it too much work for too little reward. Maybe if I were a scrapbooker or altered art-maker or a paper crafter of some sort, I would have found it really enjoyable. But I didn't.
 
The part I like is seeing what other people make and find. Lindsey, for example, has just the sweetest tutorial for a last-minute Valentine card. It's so cute that even I may need to make one.

 
 

This realization leaves me with an awful lot of stuff I don't need and no longer want to accumulate. Children's books. Ledger pages. Old coloring books. Color prints from a French dictionary. Too good to throw away. Too much to keep. And so I have whittled down the collection to a reasonable size (maybe the equivalent of a small dresser-drawer full) and here's how I'm finally getting rid of it: It has an expiration date. Just like a gallon of milk. As soon as I'm back on my feet and up to hauling boxes, I'm going to destash like I've never destashed before. If the paper isn't gone by the sell-by date, it has to go anyway. It will be no good. It will have expired, just like a gallon of milk.

 
 
I imagine that when the sale season rolls around again, there still will be paper things I want to buy, like old greeting cards. And if I run across something too good to pass up, I'll certainly get it. Last summer I found a pile - like 20 or 30 - of tiny, never-used ledger books, and they sold as fast as I could list them. I think those ledger books bought a week or two of groceries.

But I'll be less inclined to give the sheet music and old books a look. They'll find good homes with someone else. I'm very much feeling the need to focus more on fewer things. It's finally dawned on me that I can appreciate what other people make or have without needing to make or have it myself.

 
 
That leaves just one little detail: the actual expiration date. If I commit to a date, I have to stick to it. So: April 30. This is more painful that I thought it would be, I have to admit.

Comments

[Lindsey]

Thank you for your sweet comment Barbara! And thank you for mentioning me. I'm sorry I have not been commenting more but now I am going to be stalking your blog to see when you start getting rid of your vintage cards and paper!
I hope you feel better soon!
Lindsey

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

Too bad they won't smell really bad when they expire. It would be alot easier to get rid of that way, wouldn't it?!

[Alli (One Pearl Button)]

I love this line - "It's finally dawned on me that I can appreciate what other people make or have without needing to make or have it myself." That's a lesson that I need to learn! Thanks for the inspiration.

[julie]

I'm taking this quote "I can appreciate what other people make or have without needing to make or have it myself" and displaying it prominently on my craft cabinet.

[Mrs. Cozy Home]

Great idea ... you have a healthy attitude!!

[Janelle]

When you decide to get rid of the papers, be sure to let us all know! I haven't set an expiration date for all of my crap yet, LOL!

[Jenifir]

A good philosophy! My Grandma gave me one of those parasol girls cards for my birthday when I was little and I loved it. I hope you make your expiration date.

[sue]

You are a brave, brave grrrrl. I don't think I could do that. But I will, once I open the etsy shop!

[Linda @ A La Carte]

Proud of you! Sometimes we just have to acknowledge that we aren't going to use something and pass it on to those who will.

[Shelley Germann]

Some great ideas Barbara. I can always count on you for pearls of wisdom!

[HeidiAnn]

Barbara - Just in case I haven't told you lately, I LOVE your blog SO much!
Your photos are great, we so obviously are attracted to the very same sorts of things always, and you are a source of inspiration to me.
Oh, how I aspire to share your newfound desire to purge some of your stuff. I feel as though I am addicted to stuff - and I seriously need to work on that. It has become overwhelming, and yet I have SUCH a hard time parting with things!
I'm trying to work on it, and, as I said - you inspire me. Thank you.

[Martha]

I applaud your desire to cut back on the stuff, but I would have a hard time with the books. That is an adorable illustration for "The Land of Counterpane."