Homespun Magazine

Too much stuff! That’s my new mantra. My personal goal for the foreseeable future is a net decrease in the quantity of “stuff” that surrounds me. If I bring home a bag full of groceries, an equal or greater amount of stuff has to make its way to the recycling center. If I bring home a new item of clothing, then an equivalent item must go to Goodwill. You get the idea.

Mind you, this is no easy task for a certified pack rat. Unfortunately, I have a weakness for art supplies and see potential in almost every item that crosses my path. A scrap of interesting paper? Surely I could use it in a collage project. An out-of-style garment or a dress that has mysteriously changed size in the closet? Why it could always be remade into something else, right? A magazine only slightly outdated? There could be recipes or an interesting article lurking inside. Yarn? Don’t ask! A stray button? Who knows…I might need it someday.

Then there are the items I find intriguing and just can’t part with. Sewing patterns from the 1940s and 1950s? I’ve got ‘em. My mother’s hats from the days when headgear was required at all social functions? I have those too…and more!

The result? My collection of stuff is reaching critical mass. It’s threatening my sense of control and my ability to actually find an item I need. The limitless possibilities of too much stuff leave my mind in a whirl and instead of completing a project, I find myself sorting stuff—like I did with a button collection one evening last week.

Reuse—the second rule in the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” motto—is all well and good, provided some definite movement of stuff actually takes place. Saving stuff for projects is good, if the projects actually materialize. Right now, I doubt there are enough hours in my allotted time on the planet to realize all the potential trapped in my stash of stuff.

For Earth Day this year, a friend devised a project that helped get rid of one stash—printed t-shirts, while reducing the use of disposable shopping bags. She asked all her friends to send her their old shirts, which she then stitched into tote bags. Those who contributed shirts were provided with one tote bag for every three shirts donated. The rest of the shirts she plans to distribute around her community. I got a couple of tote bags in the deal—and more room in my dresser.

If I can’t get rid of all my stuff, then the next best thing is to avoid accumulating more—the “Reduce” part of the picture. That means bringing my own shopping bag, buying only what I need, avoiding extra packaging—you get the idea. The question remains—what do I do when I find a great yarn sale?

What about you? Do you travel light or do you have the “Too Much Stuff” dilemma? Share your thoughts and solutions with Homespun! Write to us at: P.O. Box 271, Ironton, MN 56455; or e-mail: ripriv@mlecmn.net. —ACS