De-Cluttering Fever Strikes!

This usually happens to me in the autumn...so I'm not sure what is up.  I have this overwhelming urge to clear out, overhaul, cull collections, sell things to get rid of them.  It seems to get worse the older I get.  Don't get the idea that my house is anywhere near a Minimalist Retreat!  But it's a lot less cluttered than it was say, ten years ago.  Which means I had a lot of c-r-a-p back then. 

Our book shelves are lighter today by a small box of books--and we only keep reference, not fiction.  My closet is lighter by two large trash bags of clothes.  The studio is lighter by a very large box of...stuff I was going to make into other stuff. 

I have to be careful when this mood hits.  So far (knock wood) I haven't regretted any purging I've done in the past.  Okay, maybe a time or two I went looking for something and then remembered I'd given it to charity...but no bad regrets and never a need to replace anything. 

As the years go by, and this de-cluttering hits more often, and with a stronger intensity, I have discovered a corresponding restraint when shopping.  Will I really wear this?  Will I really make xyz out of it?  Will I get aggravated at having to pick this up to vacuum or dust around it?  Nowadays when thrifting, I'll put something in my cart and keep looking, but before I go to the register, I reassess what's in the cart, and usually put half of it back.  Sometimes most of it! 

I just checked out a bunch of library books on Minimalism.  I'll never be a minimalist.  I like my house cozy, and it will always be full of books, textiles, interesting boxes, and crafty stuff.  There will always be funny things on tables and window sills, and always house plants galore.  But every year I "need" less stuff sitting around, and find experiences more interesting than things. 

Lest anyone think I'm finally growing up--we'll just chalk it up to getting lazier about cleaning.  :~)  Are you a collector?  Do you go through your collections and change things out?  Do you hang on to things because they "might" someday be useful?  What about sentimental things?

I'd love to hear about it. 
Cheers!

Indiana Bound

This wee girlie is on her way to Indiana tomorrow. 

I don't often get to work with pink on a custom, so this one was a feminine treasure to dress.  The doll-mom wanted both a cloth and a straw bonnet, so that the straw one could later go with other dresses.  Reminded me how much fun they are to make!