Time to Destash and Declutter

I am part of a coaching programme at work, which is supposed to focus on me achieving work-related goals, but the coach and I spend a lot of time focusing on just me, and how to be a better, calmer, less stressed me.  I find that one of the things that should bring me most calm and peace is my hobbies, but these seem to be stressful too. I think I may have figured it out though.

As someone who loves all things crafty, I end up buying all sorts of craft supplies and projects and then start to feel a little stressed, possibly a lot guilty, as to when I will get to do it all.  I know it sounds a bit strange, but it really is stressful. I have to stand up and say, hi everyone, my name is Kogi Naidoo and I am a craft hoarder!  

I started with a very organized little craft room with shelves and labelled boxes and soon the shelves were overflowing, and even more storage boxes were purchased to the point where every available space is now full. I have worked myself out of the room…literally.  Soon my craft supplies made their way into the lounge and the bedroom and it slowly overtook the spare bedroom… I think I may have a problem!

As I approach my forty ahem*** birthday, I decided to set myself a goal.  Clear up the clutter and destash. You know the age old saying… “organised clutter is still clutter, get rid of it”.  So, I have less than a month to create some peace and calm and of course some space in my craft room to ummmm actually craft.  

Where does one start though?  How does one make the distinction between sentimental and garbage?  I have boxes of patterns from when I was still at school, and that was more than 25 years ago.  I watched an episode of Marie Kondo on Netflix and her philosophy is “keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go”. 

I decided to carry out the exercise, but there were too many emotions, too much value given to particular items and of course there were some frivolous buys too. I looked through my cross-stitch kits and designs and remembered why I bought them and the plans I had for them.  Given how long it takes to complete one project, it became obvious that there is not a chance that I will be able to do all of them in this lifetime, especially when I also want to crochet, knit, sew and now more recently diamond painting.

The weekend before last I visited my gran – the matriarch in our family.  It pained me to see a once strong and vibrant woman now fading away slowly.  Her once bright eager and shiny eyes are now dull. Her dementia has worsened, and she has become frail.  Everything I am and my love for crafting is from her. Seeing her gave me some perspective. Her motto was always ‘save for a rainy day or leave a little for tomorrow’ and it’s what I’ve been doing.  I have been storing and saving for a day when I will have more time and the harsh reality is – I don’t know what the future will hold.

I recently received a box full of tapestry in various stages of completion and clearly, it belonged to someone who was passionate about this craft.  The entire box was donated by her family when she passed on. I tried to re-home some of the complete pieces, because I know the effort that was put into it. It made me sad.  

So, I have a plan… time to destash and declutter and replace all the boxes of “stuff” with a gift to me – from me, for my birthday.  Just one item that I need and will use and that will spark some joy in me, so I am having a sale on all things crafty during the month of January.  Keep an eye out on the Stash Unload groups, as well as the Creative Kogi page. Who knows, there may be something that may ‘spark joy’ in you!

Until next time, Create, Craft and Inspire

Best wishes

Kogi