2013 Annual DeStash-Along

[gaudiknight]

I just noticed the Givers and Needers swap has another round going.  This may be of interest to those who are already finding supplies that can go to new homes.

And I'm totally stealing the calendar idea too.  No more guessing when I started a knitting project when the time comes to update my ravelry account.

[trinalocakary]

This is a repost from 50 in 2013 but I thought it would give an idea what I am talking about when I say I am desperate to destash and organize

So one of the first big steps to fixing my art room up have been boxing everything that was in there up and putting everything except the paint, pens, markers and glue containers in the garage. We have a birthday party we are hosting here for a friend on Saturday so we will be sweeping and vacuuming in there then putting down a lot of floor pillows and putting our spare blankets in pillowcases so that people can lounge around and sleep in there if need be. Then Sunday we will bring in the rolling drawer units and clean them out and organize them how we want and hang up the plastic shoe bags I store small things in. We will mark everything with what goes where and I will bring in one box of things at a time then sort and inventory everything and put it away. This is my goal over the next 6 weeks. I wish I could go faster but between dealing with hundreds upon hundreds of different bits and pieces of art supplies that are in total disarray (literally hundreds of pounds of stuff, yes I am a hoarder) and my physical limitations and other commitments I will be lucky to be done that fast.

Right now the hard part is as I packed stuff up I want to use it, I left some supplies in my backpack to use when we go to coffee but I can't let myself start crafting out of the stuff in the garage or nothing will ever be put back the right way. Right now I am only giving myself a few hours a week to craft or art journal until it is all done

Here are some photos.
Pile of material that is now bagged up in the garage


Art room, computer desk now in my bedroom closet


More art room, supplies moved into garage, furniture stayed


And more art room





BEFORE any of this stuff went in the garage this stuff was already there plus more I didn't get photos of

[meowari]

Thanks, Sharalee, it makes me feel better knowing that there are others out there that are just as bad or worse than mine! 
Yesterday, I cleared enough space off of my work table to use my sewing machine! I spent $110 to get my machine serviced in November. November of 2011, that is... It's been in a box since then, and it was so nice to use it last night!
I also neatened up all of the stuff that is piled up on the futon, I'm almost ready to start sorting some of the boxes that are under the work table and I'm using the futon for sorting. I am giving myself until the 15th to get it cleared off, because our friends are staying over on the 17th and need the futon. I would love for it to be usable as a guest room/craft room/ music room by then, but I don't want to get ahead of myself...

[ScrappySue]

ok if you have a weak stomach, look away now










I can only open two out of three doors, doh



admittedly, lots of stuff does get made out of this chaos, its not just storage.
S

[Kookaloo_Starr]

I'm a bit envious of the stashes posted, everyone seems to have waaay more stuff than me, I just don't keep it under control 

[trinalocakary]

I'm a bit envious of the stashes posted, everyone seems to have waaay more stuff than me, I just don't keep it under control 

I will be honest 75% of the time I only ever touch about 20% of my stash
I get stuff on crazy ass clearance and then never figure out what to do with it...I am hoping that having it organized means I might actually do something with the 80% of my stash I never get into.

[Kookaloo_Starr]

I LOVE your stash of dresses you've slimmed out of T'rina, all that lovely velvety goodness. I'm a sucker for textures and velvet is on of my favourites, I'd have to make cushions with them so I could sit and stroke them all day long 

[fishstix43]

Alright, so I got my stash organized in record time, sort of by accident.  Here's the timeline:
Monday- Get super inspired by you guys to clean my stash
Tuesday- Buy new shelving and assemble, drag everything out
Wednesday - Get notice that they're showing my apartment on Thursday?!?

So...yeah.  My whole crafting area is a nook in the hallway of my apartment.
Before:


This one is under my sewing table:


After:



One of those sewing machines is going into storage, I just haven't done it yet.



So the stuff actually in my area is pretty good, the problem is the stuff you don't see.  Outside of this I have my patterns in another random cabinet with my boyfriend's Dungeons and Dragons miniatures, as well as another large Rubbermaid container of fabric, in our storage unit.  My goal for destashing is to have all of it contained in my actual area by the end of the year.  The cube cabinet isn't organized exactly how I'd like it yet, but at least everything is put away.  For now. 

[lovesclutter]

Oh, I was feeling so bad and you all shared your hoards as well. Like Trina I do have some physical limitations, but I think it can be done. Will check out the givers and needers swap too.

[meleriffic]

In an effort to destash, I just ordered some more fabric.  I ordered 3 1/2 yards to use up two charm packs. And of course, I'm going to have to buy even more to complete the projects. Shrug. At least they are projects I already had planned.