One way to get rid of stuff

 

Like everybody else, after New Year's I was really in the mood to organize and clean up. In my case that meant tackling a lot of stuff that I had somewhat categorized and stashed away but not really sorted - like the vintage suitcase full of patterns, and the vintage suitcase full of sewing notions, and the vintage suitcase full of linens. You can hide a lot when you have a sufficient number of vintage suitcases.

I don't set out to buy junk. The problem for me comes with box lots - those boxes that I love to find at sales that are full of great stuff, and also a lot of terrible stuff. I manage to get rid of the obvious junk right away - stuff that is broken or just plain awful. My downfall is the borderline stuff: the Very Easy Vogue patterns from the 1980s, for example. What if they're worth something? What if they're not worth anything, but maybe they will be a generation or so from now? The volume of borderline stuff really had begun to feel suffocating.

You know what helps? One short exclamation: "You bore me!"

 

It's best to say this to yourself, unless you really want your family to think you're crazy, sitting up in the attic talking to your collections. There's something about taking charge of your stuff, rather than the other way around, that's very helpful. The stuff I have needs to start earning its keep. It needs to have resale value, or it needs to amuse and delight me. Everything else is just boring. I don't want it.

This works with everything, by the way. Partial spools of thread in unattractive colors on plastic spools. Plain brown buttons. 1970s craft magazines. And at least a shoebox full of Very Easy Vogue patterns from the 1980s, almost all of which are for suits with ghastly shoulder pads. It's all headed for the thrift store.
 
 

This pattern isn't going there, by the way. It's in the resale-value category. In case you were wondering, in 1957, when this pattern was made, the measurements for a size 12 were a 32 inch bust, a 25 inch waist and 34 inch hips.  

Comments

[Sonya Dime Store Thrift]

I like that...talking to stuff...it works!

[Linda @ A La Carte]

Maybe that's what I need to say to my stuff. Make me smile, amuse me, be worth something in resale or adios! LOL...great post!

[Tina]

Even though I feel like a 21st century cow, I must tell you that I love the word "ghastly"! It reminds me of the movie, Mame. Best of luck on your resales!

I can't wait to see what else you dig up in your attic, and, I'm sure your family doesn't mind hearing you talk to your collections. You should check to see, however, if the attic door now has its lock on the OUTside, just in case.

[LiLi M.]

Ok, next to William Morris's old 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful' we now have Barbara's 'do not have anything in your house that hasn't has any resale value or amuses and delights. Anything else bores and tell that to your stuff, before you get rid of it!'

I think I will embroider that!

[Diane]

Oh yes great advice that is exactly what I have set out to do! Yeah to a New Year time to clean and purge! I think the "you Bore Me" is a great way to look at keeps or not keeps. Great advice. Hugs., Diane

[Maureen]

Does that advise count for some people in our lives, too? ;)
Maureen

[nanette]

My my how sizes have changed. This is a beautiful pattern.

[Whit]

You bore me. Huh? I love it! Especially because we have our eye on another little farmhouse that is about 1,000 sq ft smaller than what i have now. Can't fit much uninspiring stuff in a small house, eh?

Now, if you'll excuse me, i have some magazines and old appliances taking up valuable space that needs to know how i really feel about them. :o)

Hope you are feeling better!

[Julie]

Man you had me worried for a moment - I would never let that pattern go - but I hear you - I have three (yes 3) large postal bins of old McCalls magazines in my basement (1960s) which on the one hand I love but they STINK to high heaven (unfortunately). Everytime hubby goes down stairs and asks "What's that smell" I tell him it must be a dead mouse some where (yeap, its that bad). Thing is, I can't help but think they must be worth something - but who would ever want them - and there are too many to "deskunk"...oh well, I think they may need to go to the Recycling Center. Sniff.....

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

It's so reassuring to know that there are others out there. Others who accumulate mass quantities of stuff, in hopes of using or reselling said stuff in the future. I watched an episode of Hoarders on Sunday, and was immediately compelled to fill a banana box full of stuff from the basement. That show is the best motivation ever!

[Karla Nathan]

I have a container on my desk right now that came with other stuff. Buttons that I do not collect and aren't that great but might be to someone else so I hate to just get rid of them. But they really do need to go and don't belong here!