The fabric stash

Now that we got those repairs out of the way, I think I'm going to take it easy tonight. We brought back 2 bins of fabric from storage that I may decide to go through tonight (there are still 2 more fabric bins in storage!). I currently have 1 shelf where I can put sewing fabric, so I might have to give up some, which I really don't want to do - or figure out a larger storage place for them, like the carport. I know I want to keep the fabrics I bought special, but I might need to make hard choices about the thrifted fabrics. 😩

I'll see how I feel later on today...this might not be a good day for hard decisions. 

I've been in a decluttering mindset since we got back from visiting family over Christmas. I've been following several YouTubers who specialize in decluttering - primarily Dana K White, Minimal Mom, and Clutterbug. I also am interested in watching Matt Paxton's Legacy List, and reading Margareta Magnusson's book, "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" (I checked out the audiobook on my library app).

Dana K White's advice has been really transformative. She teaches a no-mess decluttering method, which takes a lot longer, but prevents overwhelm and burnout, and doesn't preach minimalism. It's not that I'm against minimalism, but I don't see that working for us. We have too many hobbies requiring tools and supplies, and we would end up buying things over and over again if we got rid of stuff we aren't currently using (like oil paints, for instance). 

Ugh, I LOVE my fabric. The purple bin is full of linen, and I have more I love equally, if not more, in storage. I think I need to get some sewing projects done to use some of this up! I have a ton of denim I bought for making jeans - enough for mockups and final versions. The peach pink cotton sateen sheet (thrifted) would make a really cute summer dress. It's a color that always looked nice on me, I think. The flannel is cute and cozy. Would make another nice flannel dress or some flannel jackets. *Sigh* not having space for things you like to do is frustrating.

12 HOURS LATER....

This is my whole fabric stash, in 5 bins & 1 box...a lot of thrifted items (sheets, clothes I wanted to salvage fabric from or alter in some way, and lots of scraps!!)

The trash bag and donation pile. All the sheets and clothes I was never going to get around to mending because they wouldn't fit me anyway went in the trash. Some were thrifted, some were well-used. I just didn't want to deal with it anymore. No emotional attachment, just "would be good for..." things.

My keep pile. Cottons, linens, swimsuit, flannels, denims. The tablecloth is going to my MIL.

They all fit into 2 bins!! I'm amazed I was able to get rid of so much bulk! We're going to make space in the carport storage area for these, plus 2 bins for Nick's things. Whew! I was worried about this task, but it wasn't bad at all!