This was the view inside the trunk of my car on Saturday morning, what you see here is just a portion of twenty years' (plus) worth of accumulated quilt magazines on their way to the recycling center. I have wrestled with the ever-growing magazine monster for a very long time. I had great intentions... I thought that one day I would go through each issue and keep the patterns and articles that were important, or caught my eye, I planned to scan them into computer files. I even began that process and then wondered "why?". It was time consuming and I sincerely doubted that I would ever come back to these, after all I hadn't honestly looked back in all those years. As long as I can remember I have been putting off making the decision about "what to do with the quilt magazines". I have organized them. I have moved them. I have moved them again. I finally convinced myself that the time was right to move on, to get rid of them and lighten the load; I felt genuinely good about my decision; this deferral was only getting larger and growing heavier. Second thoughts crept back in on my short drive to the bin. Was I doing the right thing? I began to feel uneasy and strangely connected to my "collection" all over again. I knew it was time to be strong. I pulled up beside the enormous steel recycling container and popped the trunk release. I took a deep breath and started emptying the trunk with a renewed strength and determination. It felt good, but I have to admit I was confused by my conflicting emotions. When it was done I literally felt lighter, free-er. My husband reminded me that by recycling these magazines I was providing the necessary resources for printing new ones! Good point. I drove home feeling proud of myself, I realized then that I hadn't been 100% convinced that I even possessed the courage to make such a clean break. Well, almost clean... I kept one!Life is Good!
30 comments:
Oh, there is some hope for me: a sisterhood of "Keepers"! Hope you'll relish the "one"!
Oh, my...we are all keepers in so many ways! Now, it's too late for this trunk load...and it did go into the recyling of life process...but in our guild we bring old patterns, magazines and even bits of leftover scraps and place them on a freebie table. At the end of the meeting they've all disappeared. (Now if I could just get the trunk of my car closed.... ;)
Congratulations on your courage! Every 4 or 5 years I take my collection of magazines into our guild meeting or to one of the sewing retreats. I have never had to bring any of them back home. It's fun to see the new quilters ohhh and ahhh over them.
I am exceedingly impressed.
I am glad you had the strength, I on the other hand will continue to move and organize mine. I LOVE my magazines and read and re-read them over and over. I have a short memory so after a while it is like I have a shelf of new ones.
Life IS good!
I just got rid of a ton of magazines, too. It feels so good and well, makes me want to go out and get some new magazines. lol
We are on the same page, pun intended! My local quilt shop has a "leave one (or 50), take one (or 50)" magazine basket.
I made one final, looong night's work of going through my magazines, kept surprisingly few, and said goodbye!
Our League (guild) has a donate table that I donate all the quilt magazine I no longer want. It is actually easy for me to do since the only mag I keep is QNM and I am considering ditching those too. Good for you!
After the washing machine ruined the carpet in my sewing room and during the subsequent moving out/moving back in process, I swore I was actually going to do SOMETHING with all my quilting magazines! So I sorted them into boxes and have all good intentions to scan in those patterns I want to keep . . . but similiar to you, I believe I'll be fighting the terrible MM (magazine monster) for quite a while yet! I have such a hard time getting rid of stuff - you know, just in case!! ;)
....and a burden has been lifted. Take flight again!
Congratulations! I need to do the same thing....sometime. :-) Have a great week!
And here I am just starting to build my collection of quilting magazines, wondering which one are better than others. Although recycling is great, reuse is better. I'm sure someone like me, would have loved to take them off your hands on craigslist...although craigslist/freecycle are alot more trouble than they are worth with all the scammers out there! Happy Sewing!
Now could you please come to my house to host a quilt magazine and woodworking magazine intervention for my hubby and me? :)
I just got rid of about 1/2 my magazines but I just couldn't get rid of all of them. Hats off to you!
Good for you . . . . you are very brave *s* Just a couple of weeks ago, I was faced with the same decision. I chose to leaf through my collection (9 years worth) and pull patterns. At about the halfway point that got old and I had to rethink my plan. So I didn't make the clean break that you did - but I am a little lighter.
Debbie,
Well done- though I am like all the rest- have a growing pile and not quite ready to part with them. I did go through some old ones recently when I was looking for star patterns. It really is a challenge when you live in a small space. I know that I will someday get to the same spot as you and be able to part company with them.
Happy quilting in your new space.
Regards,
Anna
Oh you are my *hero*, I want to be brave and JUST DO IT!! I think I will do the "rip and file" process, but I don't! I decide to donate and then rethink it...I need intervention for sure :>)!! Have a great day tomorrow, and breath easier with the new space at your house...shelf space that is!
Our guild has a silent auction table where items can be donated and the proceeds go to fund our library of over 2200 quilt books. I often donate my old mags. and I buy some one month and donate them back the next after reading. Good riddance!
I have done the scan thing, and while I may never use them, it does make the parting easier.
Good for you Debbie!
jan
When I get in my sewing room the next time for a good cleaning, I intend to do the same thing. Never look in them, then never look back.
That way I won't remember what it is that I am going to be missing. My biggest problem is that my sister and her friend send me all the books they don't want anymore and I have shared most of them with a friend, but.....not all. Iwill...I will.....I willllllllll
Yep, I'm gonna!
You are brave! I have kept the things I liked and organized them into binders. Believe it or not I really do flip though them for ideas, still! Glad you feel better. I guess my kids will end up throwing mine away, LOL!!!
You're much stronger than I am. I love my magazines, but they are taking up more space than I would like. My first step is to not renew subscriptions. That has slowed down the growing piles, but is not a complete solution to the problem.
I subscribe to only one quilt mag but have bought many others. They occupy a good chunk of space but I haven't yet felt the need to get rid of them. I purge now and then the "other" mags into the recycle bin but wish I had someone to pass them on to. Congrats on your clean break, even though I know how hard it must have been!
I have also thought about what to do with the magazines.... I have started by considering the renew or not to renew issue...
I also have moved my older mags to a spot to "look at". I was considering pulling the interesting parts out, but I may just try the donate to the guild option. I would like someone else to enjoy reading them...
I've given away boxes of magazines through freecycle - the lady who kept picking them up worked with children and they made collages. Now, the Kidney Foundation accepts magazines as well, so I try to give some away everytime they come.
I haven't been able / willing to give up the quilt magazines though.
Congrats on the purge. Just one thing though. Those stuck in waiting rooms at doctor offices and hospitals are thrilled to find quilt magazines among the usual sanitized offerings.
I have every magazine I've every gotten since 1994! Plus I've collected from others when they've purged.
I don't know if I could ever do what you've done!! Congrats on being so strong.
You're a braver soul than I am!
Sometimes we just have to let go in order to move on ... good for you!
If you ever find the need for one of those magazines, call me. I have them all! Maybe someday I will get brave like you!
I help with this problem by not subscribing to quilting magazines except every other year or so. Meanwhile, I read and read the books I already have. I find that they look "new" to me and I never fail to find something I want to make.
Our Friends of the Library have a monthly book sale and those magazines would have been a "hot" item!
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