I have found a great solution for magazine subscriptions. Our provincial library system allows library members (free membership) to view any of their huge list of magazines online for free for 3 weeks at a time. I love this because I only go into browse when I want to, when I need some inspiration or distraction. Nothing sits in my home or on my computer or in my email. If I really want to keep a copy of a pattern I can print out just those few pages. I love this!
What a lovely service for your library to offer. I will have to check with our New Brunswick Public Library to see if they offer this service. Happy stitching.
In the US, most libraries offer Libby, a digital library (formerly known as OverDrive). Lots of quilting magazines available with instant access. You can even look at back issues! And you can choose to be notified when a quilting magazine you like is available each month!
I like to take the pages out of my quilting magazines of the quilts I plan on making. Then I put the pattern of the quilt in a plastic clear sleeve and put it in a notebook binder. Then get rid of what is left of the magazine.
My oldest magazine is a Ladies Circle Patchwork Quilts from 1976. At the time, I fell in love with the content but felt I could never make those beautiful quilts. It did inspire me and in 1983 I took my first quilting class and I've never stopped! I'll always keep that magazine even though I continually toss my other magazines in the recycle.
Books & magazines are done but email & utube sites are drowning me! I spend more time watching someone else then sewing/stitching myself. My goal is to pick 3-4 and cancel the rest. Tks for pushing me in the right direction!!
I like the idea of keeping the quilting magazines out of the quilting space, and keeping them in the bedroom where you can relax and go through them at your leisure.
So glad you added the email unclutter! When I finished the 2022 declutter challenge I realized immediately after that I needed to declutter electronically, too. I didn't stop with emails. I found my mornings had filled up with lots of clicking so I unloaded games and news feeds, too. Although I want to follow just about everyone you interview, I am more selective now on who I pick to follow. I can always go back to someone on a quiet day if I want. I felt very free when I got my mornings back! Thanks, Karen!
I have learned that there are always more ideas than I can ever pursue in my lifetime! I used to keep a folder of ideas and inspirations from magazines, but it turned out, I never looked at them after I put them in there! Yet I can't bring myself to get rid of the folder... It's like a thumbtack holding me stuck in one place in my memories. I am working on releasing myself from the fear that those ideas will somehow get lost and never return.
You are absolutely right. Thank you. I have been hanging on to things I want to do someday for 20 years. I think this year it’s time to do them or let them go.
Last declutter, I released magazines to a fellow quilter that was just getting started. I had yellowed and tattered patterns that I didn't even remember where they came from and patterns pulled from magazines that I hadn't looked at in years (I didn't even go thru them again) I just picked up the pile and threw them away. I stood there for a moment but was eventually able to walk away. I have started deleting old emails. I see a no longer necessary email pop in, I hit unsubscribe and go to the magnifying glass type in the name of where it came from, and all the emails come up from over the years. I mark delete all and then have to do that over and over until they are gone. Then go back to email list and do the same process to the next no longer wanted email. I have thousands to go thru. 😂
I’ve been getting rid of my magazines after clipping out a few articles from some. Fons and Porter is my last stack. It’s the hardest because I want to save so many articles, but the magazines need to go because I need the space for other things.
I remember we used to have decades worth of National Geographic between my parents and grand parents collection. It looked so pretty and, pre-(widespread) internet I would read through them and use them for book reports... but after the internet it became much harder to justify the space and we donated them to the library.
I stopped my magazine subscriptions years ago when the magazines’ content no longer matched my needs. Through my local library, I can look at some quilting magazines using Libby. It takes me less than 5 minutes to “leaf” through a magazine issue. They are fun to look at, but I’ve never seen anything that I wanted to make. I sometimes feel bad when I unsubscribe from a RUclips channel, but I do it anyway. I have a few criteria that I use. The first one is bigoted opinions; yes, even quilters can have them. The second is sloppy technique. If someone is demonstrating a project and cutting wrinkly or creased fabric, I hit unsubscribe immediately. Lastly, I unsubscribe if I don’t feel I can learn something from the channel. I don’t read blogs because I don’t have the time. I like RUclips because I can listen to that while I do other things.
Also RUclips channels were the host demonstrates a technique not using a close up, videoing everything they cut, sew, pressing, every single item in that step, unless using fast speed, not being prepared (this is on cooking channels, one was a recipe for pecan something, but the host forgot to purchase pecans so substituted walnuts), and I agree sloppy sewing techniques.
I’ll unsubscribe from a YT channel that doesn’t get to the point, I don’t have time to hear all the details in their life if that isn’t what I tuned in to hear. A 2 hour video that should have taken 30 minutes, well let’s just say I don’t have patience for that, unless it is really funny or interesting.
I thought I was the only one that did that. I just speed through the chatter and get to the point if possible. I'm amazed on how many viewers as the host what is the color of your nail polish/lipstick, why did you change your hairstyle, and other personal questions. Will copying the host styling make one a better quilter?@@karenbennett3662
I inherited many quilting books from my grandma. None of the quilts were really my style but I couldnt get rid of them emotionally until I moved. I think I kept one out of about 30 and gave the rest to a friend’s daughter who was starting her quilting journey.
I get rid of fabric before I get rid of magazines! 😂 I pile them up beside me with some sticky flags and can spend an hour or more flipping through them or googling terms and techniques. Truly one of my joys.
Great tips! I had quilting magazines my mother had collected since the 1980's and they took up an entire shelf. I finally took an afternoon, paged through them all, tore out patterns that appealed to me and put them in a folder. Every now and then I go through the folder, think fondly of my precious, quilty mother and cull the collection down further. At this point I probably have only about a dozen. And YES on the online subscriptions! I unsubscribed from two yesterday! Doing these things is very liberating.
No pyhsical subscriptions here. I cleared out most of my magazines in last year's challenge, and only added 3 magazines to the pile this year, and one of those was for the All Florida Shop Hop (so it's a great reference for finding quilt shops across Florida). I'll be using remove and replace for the Shop Hop magazine as this year's magazine is coming out in mid-January and I'll be using it to plan my Shop Hop strategy for March and April and I've heard they have a lot more shops involved this year. I will be spending some time looking through my 3-ring binder of quilt pattern ideas/inspiration articles, but I'm happy with the space limit I gave to magazines and books last year. e-mail on the other hand is a constant declutter process.
I found this part of the challenge a bit tough when I did it four years ago, but I learned so much from it. I now have reduced any paper subscriptions to magazine and those I really enjoy I get electronically. However, the twist of reducing unwanted email subscriptions will be a new part to redo constantly. Thank you Karen, this is a very needed idea.
I think my oldest magazine is a Quilter’s Newsletter from 1980-something. I have saved all the oldies, but goodies of ALL of my quilting magazines. My husband built special pull-out/roll-out shelving for under the stairs in my studio, many, many years ago. Unfortunately, the way my studio is arranged now, I can’t even GET to that area. There are things in front of those pull-outs, and I would have to totally move those things out of the space to access the under-the-steps area. AAACCCKKK!! That’s where all those mags from the ‘80s are hiding. Out of sight, out of mind. I need to thoughtfully go through all the other magazines that I have kept over the years since that space is full now, and donate or recycle, after I look at them, just for old time’s sake. That will take some time. Thankfully, I only get 2 subscriptions now. And one subscription that I had received for YEARS expired, and I didn’t even notice it until 2 years after the fact!! YIKES!! What does that say about the level of clutter in my life?!? To be honest, though, I have had major life changes that happened 3 years ago, and I’m still digging myself out from that. But THIS year, I am going to De-Clutter!! Probably once every 21 days!!! Or not. Certainly more often than once/year. And I have multiple BUILDINGS to de-clutter. Not all of it is my quilting “stuff.” The second floor of my studio was my husband’s business. He passed away 3 years ago, the business is closed, but ALL of his “stuff” is still there. First, my studio, and THEN the business stuff which hasn’t been touched in almost 3 years. Big sigh. Onward and forward in 2024🙌🙌!! Thank you, Karen, for motivating me to actually do this👍👍!!
If you can manage just 15 or 30 mins everyday, it's surprising how quickly its noticeable that its going down and you feel much better, sorry for all your losses, slow and steady you will get there.
You can think of it as an iterative process too. Try just decluttering the really obvious stuff in any space. Leave the things that need thoughtful decisions for later passes. (My favorite decluttering book is "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" by Dana K. White.)
I have been SOOO ready for this DeClutter Challenge. I’m finally in the right “head space” to do this. I’ve been doing a little bit at a time for months, but haven’t really dug in to the nitty gritty. My favorite way to tackle this is by setting that timer🙌🙌!! It really IS amazing what you can accomplish in 20-30 minutes at a time. I used to just dig in, make a mess, then fade after awhile, and I had a bigger mess than when I started. It’s the brain power required to make all of those decisions. Taking one bite of that elephant at a time is so much more manageable. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worked for me in the past, and it will work for me during this DeClutter Challenge👍👍. If I would have tried this last year at this time, I would have gotten ride of ALL of my quilting supplies😱😱!! I was so overwhelmed, so depressed, and just so not connected to my quilting. And I KNOW I would have regretted that decision. Far better that I waited until my SewJo returned over the course of 2023. It does ebb and flow, though. It went away for SO LONG in 2023 that I didn’t think it would ever return. And I’m so happy that it did. Thank you everyone for all of your encouragement. I will do what I can during the rest of this challenge, and I will keep plugging away in the future as needed. I think I need SEVERAL timers for all over the house. It works for house chores, as well. I have friends that just don’t understand this method, and just want to “get ‘er done.” Sounds wonderful, but I know I fade after awhile. I need rewards and a mental break after doing all this work. Good luck to everyone else with this challenge. Together we can do hard things!! Woo Hoo!! Go team🙌🙌!!!
I have a Readly subscription and LOVE it!! It's inexpensive and I can read quilting, craft, and travel magazines from all over the world. And the best part is that you can bookmark the projects you like to easily find them again!
Fewer and fewer places except magazine to recycle. I give them to my daughter's pre school once a year so they can be cut up. I no longer buy magazines but get them from the guild free table once I have read it I donate it back the next month. Right now I have three magazines I am using to make a project with but they will go back to the guild once the project are done. I use to scan the directions but now find keep the whole magazine does better but I only keep the ones I am making a project out of.
Donating magazines to a preschool is a great idea! I used to teach preschool and early Elementary. When we wanted to make collages or posters of things, it was always hard to find enough magazines to cut up!
I enter every magazine into an excel spreadsheet and note each quilt design, marking with an exclamation mark (for searching later) the patterns I'd like to make. I write whether it is easy or hard, what type of piecing is required (1/2 squares, geese, etc). I let all my subscriptions expire as i have wayy too many to ever complete! But i can search by type of quilt-- 9 patch, applique, or any other tag i set when it was entered onto spreadsheet. It's helpful to even list if i used a pattern for someone's wedding gift or other notes. I love my magazine collection! I store them in a closet separate from my sewing room in boxes specifically made for magazines. I'm lucky i have room to keep them all. I need to put all of my cross stitch mags into a spreadsheet too! Love your vids!
This used to be a big problem for me, but after last year's declutter challenge, I realized buying a magazine (or pattern, for that matter), did not make a quilt and that I rarely referred back to them. That helped break my habit. I'll go thru my magazines because there may be some I couldn't give up last year, but I haven't added to my collection. And that's a positive!
Ive given up magazines and subs. Ive torn out the things i love, and stored them in a single book of display pockets. More useful is the photo file on my phone where i store good ideas
I no longer subscribe to any physical quilting magszine, I only buy or pick up free from others ones that have a specific pattern or article that interests me, and once I've read the magazine I pull out thr parts I like and file them in plastic sleeves in binders by type (pattern type, trchniques, history, artist bios and columns). I do refer to them, but I'm starting to see some duplication of ideas so I could cull those and see if I can reduce the total number of binders. Thank goodness magszines have realized we do this and now avoid having two patterns occupy both sides of a page!
I used to keep magazine's and put a sticky note on patterns I liked. Last year's challenge I removed patterns and put them into a folder. Need time on the computer to unsubscribe to many annoying emails. Time spent looking at these certainly adds up.
When I volunteer I usually have some time to peruse a quilt magazine. However, I stopped my subscriptions years ago. Oh yeah, that one is from 2003. Once I look thru it, then it goes in the recycle. Ok, I will take out the pattern insert if I want to. About once a year I may buy a new one. When our large fabric store closed down, there also went the new quilt magazines from Australia. I keep those. Thank you Karen. Marion in Oregon.
Karen, the magazine thing makes me laugh. I have kept some pages from a magazine that I’ve moved 3X across Canada. I finally made the quilt (without reading the pattern first), thinking it would be quick and easy…. It had 9 25 patch blocks with each finished square being 1”. It finally has been thrown away. Fortunately the recipient LOVES the quilt!
I have had that same experience! That quilt is still in rows, stacked up in order, in a bag (only since last spring?), waiting for another quilt retreat where I can spread it out again, and sew the rows together. Then I will recycle the magazine!
Email subscriptions are sn enormous problem. It seems every website asks for your email address. I get so many I've had to ask my friends to send me a text if they email me to let me know to look for it in the sea of other stuff. A friend siggested setting up a separate email address to send these to, so one could look at them when desired like magszines. I haven't done it yet though.
I set up a separate email a long tim ago and I have found it is easy to go through and do a mass delete as there are many I quickly look over but don’t want to keep. I also use this account when I purchase items from shops I know I will never buy from again (also so they don’t get my personal email address)
I hope you had a great holiday! Just want to give a shout-out to you for doing an amazing job making these videos. I love watching them. I hope the content creator job is treating you well. I couldn’t do it but wish I could do something like make a business for myself like this from my hobby. Thinking about one day learning to longarm so I can make that a fall back/side business or main business when I am older. Maybe do more videos on something like that? I work full time as a tech writer but think about what I can do on the side that I would love after my kids start school, and what I could do if AI ends up taking my job.
I have all my hardcover books in a bookcase outside my sewing room. Magazines, I keep intact and take the ones I no longer want, or will never make to our group and someone always takes them. I answered an email from a well known firm offering a prize and then got swamped with emails from places I never subscribed to. There were some that had no unsubscribe link, or the link didn’t work. I marked them as spam. I love my books though and they include hand embroidery, knitting, lace making etc. So I am keeping them.
I can’t agree with you more. I get so overwhelmed with my email. It’s funny yesterday I as looking at my MSQC Block magazine and realizing I needed to cancel that. I have so many and have never even looked at them.
I was just thinking the same thing. I've subscribed to the BLOCK magazine for a couple of years and have never made one quilt from it. I do have digital patterns and paper patterns from MSQC that I have made so today's challenge was needled. I will call and cancel my subscription but for now will look through my magazines one more time and then donate them to my local quilt quild.
I have 6 magazines in total and several garment and quilt sewing books I use that take up half a short shelf so that isn't my problem. My problem is all the emails. I purge and then end up with more again, lol. Yeah, that's my losing battle.
Ladt year I went through magazines and kept only ones I felt i might sctually make the patterns inside. However I have been trying to cut back on email etc but they and new ones keep popping up.
I keep a folder on my computer for quilt projects. When I see a great pattern in a magazine, I take my scan pdf app, scan the pattern and directions into a pdf and shoot it to the folder on my computer. When/if I want to make it, I print it on my color printer.
This days challenge i need weeks not minutes to do and its going to be hard so I'll donate 30 minutes each week till it is done. I got so many magazines and emails almost 10,000.
Yeah! Thank you! Out went about 1/2 of my magazines to the library give away shelf. AND I unsubscribed to 4 newsletters and will continue that for a week or so as they hit my inbox. Thank you! I now have more mental space, less distractions and an open bookcase shelf 👏😍💜
I have one shelf allotted for magazines. I put post-it flags by the patterns or ideas I like. If the shelf is full, I go through them all and cull the ones that no longer have patterns that appeal to me. I really like physical magazines and leaf through a few over a cup of tea when I need inspiration.
I started this declutter challenge, not sure how much I would need it since I decluttered a lot of my sewing room last year already. However, Karen has inspired me to get much more ruthless in getting rid of magazines (I kept ONE yesterday that I found, though I feel a couple more are hiding somewhere 😂). Also, I got rid of a lot of online subscriptions related to all sorts of things, not just quilting. I am so looking forward to the rest of this challenge. Thanks, Karen!!❤
Oh this is a biggie for me! I have one shelf…some are 20 years old. I love looking at these. So I need to put them by my chair and take time look at each one and decide if they are worth taking up my space… thanks Karen.. 😊
Not quilting or crafting magazine but my two oldest magazines are my Saturday Evening Post from May of 1950 which my sister gave me for my 50th birthday and Modern Bride from 1973. My 50th wedding anniversary is tomorrow, Jan 5. I would have posted photos of them but that's not allowed.
I don't have too many magazines because I culled them a while ago. But I do need to go through them again. They're a process. I have to do yesterday's challenge too because in spite of good intentions, I ended up not feeling my best and did nothing all day. I'm good today so I'm off to conquer my challenges!
I had been a subscriber of American Patchwork and Quilting since it began. I kept every issue. When one of my girlfriends was looking for an issue or pattern, I could go to my shelf and pull it out, lend it to her and put it back when it was returned. I haven’t been as pleased with the magazine lately, but I kept getting it because I always had. A couple years ago I sorted my magazines. Since my quilting changed, articles that didn’t appeal on the first “go round” were new discoveries. So I kept magazines without looking at them for two more years. Last summer I boxed them and took them to our guild’s garage sale. We sold them for a quarter each and they made so much money. I stored my specialty rulers in the spot that was formerly taken up by those mountains of magazines. I still have incredible numbers of magazines that I plan to look through for today’s challenge.
I did get rid of some of my magazines during last year's declutter. But I also never finished the rest of the decluttering. I have a renewed interest and energy for this challenge. One thing that I have been noticing about my magazines, (and books and patterns) is that I am too good at collecting them, but not so great about putting them into action. I'm realizing that I'm using these things much like social media - as a distraction from getting the real jobs done. I want to let go of the mental and physical load associated with keeping these things so that I can put more full attention on actually sewing. Your words of wisdom are so helpful and inspiring. I find myself very eager to check in each day. :)
I inherited some old magazines from husband's grandmother. I thought I would keep the patterns I liked, but it has been two years and I'm not using them.
I really appreciate having this challenge. You are giving me tasks each day and it is very do able. So far I am not overwhelmed. Magazines are a problem with available storage. I am going to call and see if the local library would like to have them.
Our Local Rotary Book Sale of Used books - does not accept used/new magazines, for their annual Fundraiser... so I was just about to leave, when the back doors opened up, and a volunteer came in with hundreds of Quilt Magazines in a shopping cart, filled to the brim...apparently someone did a Drop Off and Dash with them...and the organization couldn't just leave them outside the rented building, so they decided to bring them in! I was very tempted....SO tempted...but thought "What Would Karen Do?" ... and smartly,. left them behind, even though they were 25Cents each!
I was able to go through all my magazines and books. I was able to donate every single issue of magazines and books and also got rid of some sewing items I will never use. We have a community group buy nothing sell nothing and its a great way to share items. My sewing space is coming along nicely. I agree with electronic subscriptions as well. I too go through it once a month to get rid of unwanted subscriptions. My oldest magazine was only a couple of years old so it is still relevant.
I can't go through all the issues of magazines I've kept over the years. If I go down that rabbit hole, who knows when I'll return! LOL! The oldest issues I see are from 1995, Quilter's Newsletter. Into the recycle bin they will all go!
I forgot to let you know that I doing this declutter challenge in every room in the house but doing it the day challenge will take a month for the job then i can move on to day 2 challenge. I Have talked my husband and my daughter into using the timer and not over doing. I never like to do comments. BUT you have made changes in my life. Many thanks
I have just watched the challenge for today so I haven't been through my magazines yet, but when I did the declutter last year, I ran across the first quilting magazine I ever bought. When the colors were mauve and dusty blue, 9 patches and hearts!! Ugh!! WHY had I kept that all those years??? I only subscribe to 2 magazines now. They don't seem to have the content they once did. Sometimes there isn't even one quilt that inspires me so off to the free table at my quilt guild they go!
Oh my, I stopped purchasing magazines a few years back, I found I wasn't looking at them anymore, the ones I did have, I donated to a small quilt group that I sometimes quilt with. But NOW, the online is driving me crazy. I get up in the morning and I have (sometimes) 35 emails. I'm going to follow your advice, because some of them I just hit delete, so I'm guessing those I can unsubscribe from them. Love your tips and tricks.
I’ve stopped magazine subscriptions. I could have gotten the subscriptions paperless, but I really wasn’t using them either. I like appliqué so I draw my own art for them. I get tired of a theme once I do it, so I rarely keep the patterns parts. But I do keep the initial art copied to my computer. In a 9”x10” room you can’t keep much I’m finding.
I started Quiltfolk when they launched. I found after awhile that I wasn’t reading them so I gave it up. Same with Missouri Star Block. I have a magazine from the 1976 celebrating bicentennial quilts. I really need to work on the email clutter.
Yes, this is something I need to do - again. I have old books that are still my go-to. Definitely faves - Georgia Bonesteel's Lap Quilting is my staple. It's what got me quilting in the 80's and I still use the block patterns today.
It really is a tactile thing with magazines. I love that interface… but I don’t subscribe anymore. I will also often print a pattern or design idea to put into my quilting binder that I can refer to for design inspiration. I cull my binders (knitting,sewing, and recipe) often so I’m not just hoarding paper. I find storing patterns and design ideas on my computer good but truthfully prefer the binder.
My mom was the worst about subscriptions!!! 😩😩😩 They would come in the mail and they would just end up in a pile. So annoying. She lives with me now so no more of that
I have resisted subscribing to any sewing/quilting magazines. I learned that from my years of beading. Hubby sold those magazines on EBay and that got them out of our house. I love the idea of unsubscribing from emails that aren’t being read, that you only signed up for because you could save 15%. I’ll continue to unsubscribe from them once I know they aren’t being read. Good things to think of today!
I stopped subscribing to magazines years ago, I found I wasn't reading them. None were about quilting at the time. I save things on pinterest for all kinds of crafts, ideas, and recipes. I watch a handful of YT channels on quilting and I save some pictures from 2 quilting groups on facebook for inspiration. I have a few quilt pattern books now but will probably not buy more, I find I like making up my own patterns. So I'll continue sorting out the stuff that doesn't belong today since I didn't finish that yesterday.
I’m such a young quilter that I’ve never had a physical magazine subscription for quilting. Like a landline phone it just never made sense for to have. Pinterest is more than enough for me.
I must have been using some of my generally nonexistent self control, I have no subscriptions and no squatters yesterday! Perusing my older quilt books for a few minutes and reevaluating whether I really want them.
I have stopped all subscriptions years ago, so no New one is coming. My still existing magazines are already very limited. Thanks to the declutterring last year 👍 they only take up a small shelf. And I am happy with that, I leave it as it is! Today, I will commence with yesterdays' task... There is still a lot to do.
Reading all these comments with idea files and binders, I do the same. I also start new quilt projects as I see them on YT or other sources, and there sit the ideas in plastic sleeves in binders. So, my New Years resolution is to put the project I like in a project box with fabrics from my stash. That way when I need a new project, I go to the project box and start it. This limits how many ideas I like to the space for project boxes, and don't save anything in a binder.
I had a huge rectangle basket of magazines and clipped patterns that was overflowing and was way too heavy to move. I culled about half the magazines, threw out the patterns I didn't want and put the rest in a binder. My basket is only 1/4 full now and I plan to keep it that way.
I've not subscribed to magazines, I just collect a few books. I think magazines are good in that they cover a lot of things, especially for new quilters to open their minds, but I know what I like and the books are geared to my taste - or curiosity!
Thankfully, I took care of all of this when I moved a year and a half ago. I'm not into books and magazines and I just look at content on you tube and go from there. I have more ideas than three lifetimes could take care of so I don't need to go looking.
I haven't had a magazine subscription for many years and last year the ones I had kept went out the door and donated to a community charity yard sale. I have missed them at all. I now browse Pinterest and I do get a few fabric catalogs in the mail a few times a year. They often have patterns and inspiration. But they don't live long and are soon recycled.
The emails, groups, blogs have become my books and magazines. I started culling magazines and patterns with your challenge 3 years ago then last year with the move more were donated not only sewing but all the other areas gardening, how to’s,religious,bonsai, this year I am letting go of my printed patterns and will go into my you tube library on my computer and remove a lot of those. As you mentioned yesterday I am branching into other areas of the house.
If I find something that interests me in a magazine I keep just that article and not the entire magazine. If I don’t refer to it or use that information I get rid of it too. I can’t stand the clutter of all those magazines!
I have found a great solution for magazine subscriptions. Our provincial library system allows library members (free membership) to view any of their huge list of magazines online for free for 3 weeks at a time.
I love this because I only go into browse when I want to, when I need some inspiration or distraction. Nothing sits in my home or on my computer or in my email.
If I really want to keep a copy of a pattern I can print out just those few pages.
I love this!
What a lovely service for your library to offer. I will have to check with our New Brunswick Public Library to see if they offer this service. Happy stitching.
Great tip!
And when one comes due it just disappears from the computer! No need to remember to return a physical item, no overdue charges.
In the US, most libraries offer Libby, a digital library (formerly known as OverDrive). Lots of quilting magazines available with instant access. You can even look at back issues! And you can choose to be notified when a quilting magazine you like is available each month!
It’s called Libby and it looks like it’s in other libraries too.
I like to take the pages out of my quilting magazines of the quilts I plan on making. Then I put the pattern of the quilt in a plastic clear sleeve and put it in a notebook binder. Then get rid of what is left of the magazine.
My mother did that with recipes, and after she died, we threw out boxes and boxes of recipes... so curate your clippings severely!
Great idea
Yeah, I used to do that too, but eventually purged most of them 10 years later. But it is fun at the time so enjoy.
That's what I do!!!
I do that, too
My oldest magazine is a Ladies Circle Patchwork Quilts from 1976. At the time, I fell in love with the content but felt I could never make those beautiful quilts. It did inspire me and in 1983 I took my first quilting class and I've never stopped! I'll always keep that magazine even though I continually toss my other magazines in the recycle.
Books & magazines are done but email & utube sites are drowning me! I spend more time watching someone else then sewing/stitching myself. My goal is to pick 3-4 and cancel the rest. Tks for pushing me in the right direction!!
I like the idea of keeping the quilting magazines out of the quilting space, and keeping them in the bedroom where you can relax and go through them at your leisure.
So glad you added the email unclutter! When I finished the 2022 declutter challenge I realized immediately after that I needed to declutter electronically, too. I didn't stop with emails. I found my mornings had filled up with lots of clicking so I unloaded games and news feeds, too. Although I want to follow just about everyone you interview, I am more selective now on who I pick to follow. I can always go back to someone on a quiet day if I want. I felt very free when I got my mornings back! Thanks, Karen!
I have learned that there are always more ideas than I can ever pursue in my lifetime! I used to keep a folder of ideas and inspirations from magazines, but it turned out, I never looked at them after I put them in there! Yet I can't bring myself to get rid of the folder... It's like a thumbtack holding me stuck in one place in my memories. I am working on releasing myself from the fear that those ideas will somehow get lost and never return.
It took me three years of decluttering before I could release mine. It takes time for some items
You are absolutely right. Thank you. I have been hanging on to things I want to do someday for 20 years. I think this year it’s time to do them or let them go.
I really need to decluter my email account. I have email's in my account that are two or three years old.
Last declutter, I released magazines to a fellow quilter that was just getting started. I had yellowed and tattered patterns that I didn't even remember where they came from and patterns pulled from magazines that I hadn't looked at in years (I didn't even go thru them again) I just picked up the pile and threw them away. I stood there for a moment but was eventually able to walk away. I have started deleting old emails. I see a no longer necessary email pop in, I hit unsubscribe and go to the magnifying glass type in the name of where it came from, and all the emails come up from over the years. I mark delete all and then have to do that over and over until they are gone. Then go back to email list and do the same process to the next no longer wanted email. I have thousands to go thru. 😂
I know. It really adds up
I'm doing that now too. If it doesn't work (sometimes they keep coming) you can set up a filter so they are deleted as they come in.
I have some Fons and Porter magazines that were my mother’s from years ago. Just can’t let them go.
I’ve been getting rid of my magazines after clipping out a few articles from some. Fons and Porter is my last stack. It’s the hardest because I want to save so many articles, but the magazines need to go because I need the space for other things.
I have cross stitch magazines from 1985. But not in my sewing room.
Dedicated one cubicle to magazines for motivation.
I remember we used to have decades worth of National Geographic between my parents and grand parents collection. It looked so pretty and, pre-(widespread) internet I would read through them and use them for book reports... but after the internet it became much harder to justify the space and we donated them to the library.
My husband laughed when he heard you say clean out the coffee and tea cups. I have a no drink zone rule for my sewing room😂
I stopped my magazine subscriptions years ago when the magazines’ content no longer matched my needs. Through my local library, I can look at some quilting magazines using Libby. It takes me less than 5 minutes to “leaf” through a magazine issue. They are fun to look at, but I’ve never seen anything that I wanted to make. I sometimes feel bad when I unsubscribe from a RUclips channel, but I do it anyway. I have a few criteria that I use. The first one is bigoted opinions; yes, even quilters can have them. The second is sloppy technique. If someone is demonstrating a project and cutting wrinkly or creased fabric, I hit unsubscribe immediately. Lastly, I unsubscribe if I don’t feel I can learn something from the channel. I don’t read blogs because I don’t have the time. I like RUclips because I can listen to that while I do other things.
Interesting.
Also RUclips channels were the host demonstrates a technique not using a close up, videoing everything they cut, sew, pressing, every single item in that step, unless using fast speed, not being prepared (this is on cooking channels, one was a recipe for pecan something, but the host forgot to purchase pecans so substituted walnuts), and I agree sloppy sewing techniques.
I’ll unsubscribe from a YT channel that doesn’t get to the point, I don’t have time to hear all the details in their life if that isn’t what I tuned in to hear. A 2 hour video that should have taken 30 minutes, well let’s just say I don’t have patience for that, unless it is really funny or interesting.
I thought I was the only one that did that. I just speed through the chatter and get to the point if possible. I'm amazed on how many viewers as the host what is the color of your nail polish/lipstick, why did you change your hairstyle, and other personal questions. Will copying the host styling make one a better quilter?@@karenbennett3662
I inherited many quilting books from my grandma. None of the quilts were really my style but I couldnt get rid of them emotionally until I moved. I think I kept one out of about 30 and gave the rest to a friend’s daughter who was starting her quilting journey.
I get rid of fabric before I get rid of magazines! 😂 I pile them up beside me with some sticky flags and can spend an hour or more flipping through them or googling terms and techniques. Truly one of my joys.
Great tips! I had quilting magazines my mother had collected since the 1980's and they took up an entire shelf. I finally took an afternoon, paged through them all, tore out patterns that appealed to me and put them in a folder. Every now and then I go through the folder, think fondly of my precious, quilty mother and cull the collection down further. At this point I probably have only about a dozen. And YES on the online subscriptions! I unsubscribed from two yesterday! Doing these things is very liberating.
No pyhsical subscriptions here. I cleared out most of my magazines in last year's challenge, and only added 3 magazines to the pile this year, and one of those was for the All Florida Shop Hop (so it's a great reference for finding quilt shops across Florida). I'll be using remove and replace for the Shop Hop magazine as this year's magazine is coming out in mid-January and I'll be using it to plan my Shop Hop strategy for March and April and I've heard they have a lot more shops involved this year. I will be spending some time looking through my 3-ring binder of quilt pattern ideas/inspiration articles, but I'm happy with the space limit I gave to magazines and books last year.
e-mail on the other hand is a constant declutter process.
This one hits home for me. Seems I am constantly cleaning email subscriptions. Thank you
I went through magazines about a yr ago, tore out patterns i wanted & recycled what I didn't. I only hv 1 subscriptions
After I read one of my quilting magazines I bring them to the monthly guild and leave them for the members. Email, I unsubscribe and delete daily!
I found this part of the challenge a bit tough when I did it four years ago, but I learned so much from it. I now have reduced any paper subscriptions to magazine and those I really enjoy I get electronically. However, the twist of reducing unwanted email subscriptions will be a new part to redo constantly. Thank you Karen, this is a very needed idea.
I think my oldest magazine is a Quilter’s Newsletter from 1980-something. I have saved all the oldies, but goodies of ALL of my quilting magazines. My husband built special pull-out/roll-out shelving for under the stairs in my studio, many, many years ago. Unfortunately, the way my studio is arranged now, I can’t even GET to that area. There are things in front of those pull-outs, and I would have to totally move those things out of the space to access the under-the-steps area. AAACCCKKK!! That’s where all those mags from the ‘80s are hiding. Out of sight, out of mind. I need to thoughtfully go through all the other magazines that I have kept over the years since that space is full now, and donate or recycle, after I look at them, just for old time’s sake. That will take some time. Thankfully, I only get 2 subscriptions now. And one subscription that I had received for YEARS expired, and I didn’t even notice it until 2 years after the fact!! YIKES!! What does that say about the level of clutter in my life?!? To be honest, though, I have had major life changes that happened 3 years ago, and I’m still digging myself out from that. But THIS year, I am going to De-Clutter!! Probably once every 21 days!!! Or not. Certainly more often than once/year. And I have multiple BUILDINGS to de-clutter. Not all of it is my quilting “stuff.” The second floor of my studio was my husband’s business. He passed away 3 years ago, the business is closed, but ALL of his “stuff” is still there. First, my studio, and THEN the business stuff which hasn’t been touched in almost 3 years. Big sigh. Onward and forward in 2024🙌🙌!! Thank you, Karen, for motivating me to actually do this👍👍!!
If you can manage just 15 or 30 mins everyday, it's surprising how quickly its noticeable that its going down and you feel much better, sorry for all your losses, slow and steady you will get there.
good luck Rosie take breaks often & let stuff go...I bet you'll develop a rhythm after awhile. that's what I am hoping happens for me too.
I know it appears daunting but 30 minutes every day will get you there. It may take three years. Slow and steady always wins
You can think of it as an iterative process too. Try just decluttering the really obvious stuff in any space. Leave the things that need thoughtful decisions for later passes. (My favorite decluttering book is "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" by Dana K. White.)
I have been SOOO ready for this DeClutter Challenge. I’m finally in the right “head space” to do this. I’ve been doing a little bit at a time for months, but haven’t really dug in to the nitty gritty. My favorite way to tackle this is by setting that timer🙌🙌!! It really IS amazing what you can accomplish in 20-30 minutes at a time. I used to just dig in, make a mess, then fade after awhile, and I had a bigger mess than when I started. It’s the brain power required to make all of those decisions. Taking one bite of that elephant at a time is so much more manageable. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worked for me in the past, and it will work for me during this DeClutter Challenge👍👍. If I would have tried this last year at this time, I would have gotten ride of ALL of my quilting supplies😱😱!! I was so overwhelmed, so depressed, and just so not connected to my quilting. And I KNOW I would have regretted that decision. Far better that I waited until my SewJo returned over the course of 2023. It does ebb and flow, though. It went away for SO LONG in 2023 that I didn’t think it would ever return. And I’m so happy that it did. Thank you everyone for all of your encouragement. I will do what I can during the rest of this challenge, and I will keep plugging away in the future as needed. I think I need SEVERAL timers for all over the house. It works for house chores, as well. I have friends that just don’t understand this method, and just want to “get ‘er done.” Sounds wonderful, but I know I fade after awhile. I need rewards and a mental break after doing all this work. Good luck to everyone else with this challenge. Together we can do hard things!! Woo Hoo!! Go team🙌🙌!!!
I have a Readly subscription and LOVE it!! It's inexpensive and I can read quilting, craft, and travel magazines from all over the world. And the best part is that you can bookmark the projects you like to easily find them again!
Wonderful!
The magazines all go into the family room bookshelves. I have very few, as I get so many ideas nine.
Fewer and fewer places except magazine to recycle. I give them to my daughter's pre school once a year so they can be cut up. I no longer buy magazines but get them from the guild free table once I have read it I donate it back the next month. Right now I have three magazines I am using to make a project with but they will go back to the guild once the project are done. I use to scan the directions but now find keep the whole magazine does better but I only keep the ones I am making a project out of.
When we get to books that is where I am in real trouble.
Donating magazines to a preschool is a great idea! I used to teach preschool and early Elementary. When we wanted to make collages or posters of things, it was always hard to find enough magazines to cut up!
I enter every magazine into an excel spreadsheet and note each quilt design, marking with an exclamation mark (for searching later) the patterns I'd like to make. I write whether it is easy or hard, what type of piecing is required (1/2 squares, geese, etc). I let all my subscriptions expire as i have wayy too many to ever complete! But i can search by type of quilt-- 9 patch, applique, or any other tag i set when it was entered onto spreadsheet. It's helpful to even list if i used a pattern for someone's wedding gift or other notes. I love my magazine collection! I store them in a closet separate from my sewing room in boxes specifically made for magazines. I'm lucky i have room to keep them all. I need to put all of my cross stitch mags into a spreadsheet too! Love your vids!
❤❤❤ All my subscriptions are on line - RUclips….
This used to be a big problem for me, but after last year's declutter challenge, I realized buying a magazine (or pattern, for that matter), did not make a quilt and that I rarely referred back to them. That helped break my habit. I'll go thru my magazines because there may be some I couldn't give up last year, but I haven't added to my collection. And that's a positive!
I just decluttered my RUclips subscriptions. Don't worry. I'm still subscribed here.
I have a magazine from May/June 1988. It is leaving this week
Ive given up magazines and subs. Ive torn out the things i love, and stored them in a single book of display pockets. More useful is the photo file on my phone where i store good ideas
I no longer subscribe to any physical quilting magszine, I only buy or pick up free from others ones that have a specific pattern or article that interests me, and once I've read the magazine I pull out thr parts I like and file them in plastic sleeves in binders by type (pattern type, trchniques, history, artist bios and columns). I do refer to them, but I'm starting to see some duplication of ideas so I could cull those and see if I can reduce the total number of binders. Thank goodness magszines have realized we do this and now avoid having two patterns occupy both sides of a page!
I got rid of my old Threads magazines and I’m sorry I did it. I miss them.
I used to keep magazine's and put a sticky note on patterns I liked. Last year's challenge I removed patterns and put them into a folder. Need time on the computer to unsubscribe to many annoying emails. Time spent looking at these certainly adds up.
When I volunteer I usually have some time to peruse a quilt magazine. However, I stopped my subscriptions years ago. Oh yeah, that one is from 2003. Once I look thru it, then it goes in the recycle. Ok, I will take out the pattern insert if I want to. About once a year I may buy a new one. When our large fabric store closed down, there also went the new quilt magazines from Australia. I keep those. Thank you Karen. Marion in Oregon.
That reminds me … I should pull out my great grandmas quilting magazines I have and look them over!! I am having the itch to stitch!!
Our library is in the primary bathroom we each have one shelf
The only issue of Quilt Folk I own is the one Im in! (San Francisco)
Ok Mom I’m done with my chores and now I’m sewing. But I have to say it’s lookin’ good.
Have fun
Karen, the magazine thing makes me laugh. I have kept some pages from a magazine that I’ve moved 3X across Canada. I finally made the quilt (without reading the pattern first), thinking it would be quick and easy…. It had 9 25 patch blocks with each finished square being 1”. It finally has been thrown away. Fortunately the recipient LOVES the quilt!
Ha.. thanks for sharing
I have had that same experience! That quilt is still in rows, stacked up in order, in a bag (only since last spring?), waiting for another quilt retreat where I can spread it out again, and sew the rows together. Then I will recycle the magazine!
Email subscriptions are sn enormous problem. It seems every website asks for your email address. I get so many I've had to ask my friends to send me a text if they email me to let me know to look for it in the sea of other stuff. A friend siggested setting up a separate email address to send these to, so one could look at them when desired like magszines. I haven't done it yet though.
I set up a separate email a long tim ago and I have found it is easy to go through and do a mass delete as there are many I quickly look over but don’t want to keep. I also use this account when I purchase items from shops I know I will never buy from again (also so they don’t get my personal email address)
I hope you had a great holiday! Just want to give a shout-out to you for doing an amazing job making these videos. I love watching them. I hope the content creator job is treating you well. I couldn’t do it but wish I could do something like make a business for myself like this from my hobby. Thinking about one day learning to longarm so I can make that a fall back/side business or main business when I am older. Maybe do more videos on something like that? I work full time as a tech writer but think about what I can do on the side that I would love after my kids start school, and what I could do if AI ends up taking my job.
I have all my hardcover books in a bookcase outside my sewing room. Magazines, I keep intact and take the ones I no longer want, or will never make to our group and someone always takes them.
I answered an email from a well known firm offering a prize and then got swamped with emails from places I never subscribed to. There were some that had no unsubscribe link, or the link didn’t work. I marked them as spam.
I love my books though and they include hand embroidery, knitting, lace making etc. So I am keeping them.
This is the one that kills me…. I struggle soooo much with this.. all the pretty things…. 😩
I can’t agree with you more. I get so overwhelmed with my email. It’s funny yesterday I as looking at my MSQC Block magazine and realizing I needed to cancel that. I have so many and have never even looked at them.
I was just thinking the same thing. I've subscribed to the BLOCK magazine for a couple of years and have never made one quilt from it. I do have digital patterns and paper patterns from MSQC that I have made so today's challenge was needled. I will call and cancel my subscription but for now will look through my magazines one more time and then donate them to my local quilt quild.
EXCELLENT point about decluterring our virtual world.
The online email subscription hit the mark. I need to do that for sure.
I have 6 magazines in total and several garment and quilt sewing books I use that take up half a short shelf so that isn't my problem. My problem is all the emails. I purge and then end up with more again, lol. Yeah, that's my losing battle.
Ladt year I went through magazines and kept only ones I felt i might sctually make the patterns inside. However I have been trying to cut back on email etc but they and new ones keep popping up.
Lol I have craft magazines I found in an attic from 1950's! they will never leave lol
I keep a folder on my computer for quilt projects. When I see a great pattern in a magazine, I take my scan pdf app, scan the pattern and directions into a pdf and shoot it to the folder on my computer. When/if I want to make it, I print it on my color printer.
I have a stack of pages I've taken out of magazines which need to be gone through. I had to quit buying mags years ago. 🙄
My “art room” is 9 by 9. On the small side. Don’t get me wrong,I love it,but I have to be smart about the use of it.
This days challenge i need weeks not minutes to do and its going to be hard so I'll donate 30 minutes each week till it is done. I got so many magazines and emails almost 10,000.
I really need decluttering my magazine's and email.
My magazines are all cleared out. I tore about 4 patterns rhat I've not seen in any other kind before so I kept those ans threw out rest to recycle.
I send a lot of my unwanted email subscription to spam. I don't have see them and they still get send them out to the distribution list. Lol
I don’t subscribe to any quilt magazines but I do pick them up at the quilt store
Any future subs will be digital.
Yeah! Thank you! Out went about 1/2 of my magazines to the library give away shelf. AND I unsubscribed to 4 newsletters and will continue that for a week or so as they hit my inbox. Thank you! I now have more mental space, less distractions and an open bookcase shelf 👏😍💜
I take out the patterns and info out of the magazine and put them in a page protector and a binder.
I have one shelf allotted for magazines. I put post-it flags by the patterns or ideas I like. If the shelf is full, I go through them all and cull the ones that no longer have patterns that appeal to me. I really like physical magazines and leaf through a few over a cup of tea when I need inspiration.
I started this declutter challenge, not sure how much I would need it since I decluttered a lot of my sewing room last year already. However, Karen has inspired me to get much more ruthless in getting rid of magazines (I kept ONE yesterday that I found, though I feel a couple more are hiding somewhere 😂). Also, I got rid of a lot of online subscriptions related to all sorts of things, not just quilting. I am so looking forward to the rest of this challenge. Thanks, Karen!!❤
Oh this is a biggie for me! I have one shelf…some are 20 years old. I love looking at these. So I need to put them by my chair and take time look at each one and decide if they are worth taking up my space… thanks Karen.. 😊
Not quilting or crafting magazine but my two oldest magazines are my Saturday Evening Post from May of 1950 which my sister gave me for my 50th birthday and Modern Bride from 1973. My 50th wedding anniversary is tomorrow, Jan 5. I would have posted photos of them but that's not allowed.
Oh happy anniversary!!!
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
from a 43rd yr & counting...
I really needed this subject. I have the early editions of Ouilter's Newsletter. I haven't looked through them in decades (the 80s)!
I don't have too many magazines because I culled them a while ago. But I do need to go through them again. They're a process. I have to do yesterday's challenge too because in spite of good intentions, I ended up not feeling my best and did nothing all day. I'm good today so I'm off to conquer my challenges!
I had been a subscriber of American Patchwork and Quilting since it began. I kept every issue. When one of my girlfriends was looking for an issue or pattern, I could go to my shelf and pull it out, lend it to her and put it back when it was returned. I haven’t been as pleased with the magazine lately, but I kept getting it because I always had. A couple years ago I sorted my magazines. Since my quilting changed, articles that didn’t appeal on the first “go round” were new discoveries. So I kept magazines without looking at them for two more years. Last summer I boxed them and took them to our guild’s garage sale. We sold them for a quarter each and they made so much money. I stored my specialty rulers in the spot that was formerly taken up by those mountains of magazines. I still have incredible numbers of magazines that I plan to look through for today’s challenge.
Thanks for sharing 🤗
I did get rid of some of my magazines during last year's declutter. But I also never finished the rest of the decluttering. I have a renewed interest and energy for this challenge. One thing that I have been noticing about my magazines, (and books and patterns) is that I am too good at collecting them, but not so great about putting them into action. I'm realizing that I'm using these things much like social media - as a distraction from getting the real jobs done. I want to let go of the mental and physical load associated with keeping these things so that I can put more full attention on actually sewing. Your words of wisdom are so helpful and inspiring. I find myself very eager to check in each day. :)
I inherited some old magazines from husband's grandmother. I thought I would keep the patterns I liked, but it has been two years and I'm not using them.
It’s almost always the way
I really appreciate having this challenge. You are giving me tasks each day and it is very do able. So far I am not overwhelmed. Magazines are a problem with available storage. I am going to call and see if the local library would like to have them.
This is a hard one, lol … especially the emails, but definitely necessary 👍🏽
Our Local Rotary Book Sale of Used books - does not accept used/new magazines, for their annual Fundraiser... so I was just about to leave, when the back doors opened up, and a volunteer came in with hundreds of Quilt Magazines in a shopping cart, filled to the brim...apparently someone did a Drop Off and Dash with them...and the organization couldn't just leave them outside the rented building, so they decided to bring them in! I was very tempted....SO tempted...but thought "What Would Karen Do?" ... and smartly,. left them behind, even though they were 25Cents each!
I was able to go through all my magazines and books. I was able to donate every single issue of magazines and books and also got rid of some sewing items I will never use. We have a community group buy nothing sell nothing and its a great way to share items. My sewing space is coming along nicely. I agree with electronic subscriptions as well. I too go through it once a month to get rid of unwanted subscriptions. My oldest magazine was only a couple of years old so it is still relevant.
Sometimes unsubscribing doesn’t work and you need to block the sender…that has helped a little bit slow down the avalanche in my inbox
Every reputable company should have an unsubscribe that works. If not, you know it is spam and should be reported as such.
I can't go through all the issues of magazines I've kept over the years. If I go down that rabbit hole, who knows when I'll return! LOL! The oldest issues I see are from 1995, Quilter's Newsletter. Into the recycle bin they will all go!
I forgot to let you know that I doing this declutter challenge in every room in the house but doing it the day challenge will take a month for the job then i can move on to day 2 challenge. I Have talked my husband and my daughter into using the timer and not over doing. I never like to do comments. BUT you have made changes in my life. Many thanks
I love to hear when family members get involved. You’ll be surprised how it improves your relationships
I have just watched the challenge for today so I haven't been through my magazines yet, but when I did the declutter last year, I ran across the first quilting magazine I ever bought. When the colors were mauve and dusty blue, 9 patches and hearts!! Ugh!! WHY had I kept that all those years??? I only subscribe to 2 magazines now. They don't seem to have the content they once did. Sometimes there isn't even one quilt that inspires me so off to the free table at my quilt guild they go!
Oh my, I stopped purchasing magazines a few years back, I found I wasn't looking at them anymore, the ones I did have, I donated to a small quilt group that I sometimes quilt with. But NOW, the online is driving me crazy. I get up in the morning and I have (sometimes) 35 emails. I'm going to follow your advice, because some of them I just hit delete, so I'm guessing those I can unsubscribe from them. Love your tips and tricks.
I’ve stopped magazine subscriptions. I could have gotten the subscriptions paperless, but I really wasn’t using them either. I like appliqué so I draw my own art for them. I get tired of a theme once I do it, so I rarely keep the patterns parts. But I do keep the initial art copied to my computer. In a 9”x10” room you can’t keep much I’m finding.
I started Quiltfolk when they launched. I found after awhile that I wasn’t reading them so I gave it up. Same with Missouri Star Block. I have a magazine from the 1976 celebrating bicentennial quilts. I really need to work on the email clutter.
Yes, this is something I need to do - again. I have old books that are still my go-to. Definitely faves - Georgia Bonesteel's Lap Quilting is my staple. It's what got me quilting in the 80's and I still use the block patterns today.
It really is a tactile thing with magazines. I love that interface… but I don’t subscribe anymore. I will also often print a pattern or design idea to put into my quilting binder that I can refer to for design inspiration.
I cull my binders (knitting,sewing, and recipe) often so I’m not just hoarding paper. I find storing patterns and design ideas on my computer good but truthfully prefer the binder.
My mom was the worst about subscriptions!!! 😩😩😩 They would come in the mail and they would just end up in a pile. So annoying. She lives with me now so no more of that
I have resisted subscribing to any sewing/quilting magazines. I learned that from my years of beading. Hubby sold those magazines on EBay and that got them out of our house. I love the idea of unsubscribing from emails that aren’t being read, that you only signed up for because you could save 15%. I’ll continue to unsubscribe from them once I know they aren’t being read. Good things to think of today!
I stopped subscribing to magazines years ago, I found I wasn't reading them. None were about quilting at the time. I save things on pinterest for all kinds of crafts, ideas, and recipes. I watch a handful of YT channels on quilting and I save some pictures from 2 quilting groups on facebook for inspiration. I have a few quilt pattern books now but will probably not buy more, I find I like making up my own patterns. So I'll continue sorting out the stuff that doesn't belong today since I didn't finish that yesterday.
I’m such a young quilter that I’ve never had a physical magazine subscription for quilting. Like a landline phone it just never made sense for to have. Pinterest is more than enough for me.
I must have been using some of my generally nonexistent self control, I have no subscriptions and no squatters yesterday! Perusing my older quilt books for a few minutes and reevaluating whether I really want them.
This will be a challenge for sure. I need to clear out to make room for my frame which is on order
I have stopped all subscriptions years ago, so no New one is coming. My still existing magazines are already very limited. Thanks to the declutterring last year 👍 they only take up a small shelf. And I am happy with that, I leave it as it is!
Today, I will commence with yesterdays' task... There is still a lot to do.
Reading all these comments with idea files and binders, I do the same. I also start new quilt projects as I see them on YT or other sources, and there sit the ideas in plastic sleeves in binders. So, my New Years resolution is to put the project I like in a project box with fabrics from my stash. That way when I need a new project, I go to the project box and start it. This limits how many ideas I like to the space for project boxes, and don't save anything in a binder.
I had a huge rectangle basket of magazines and clipped patterns that was overflowing and was way too heavy to move. I culled about half the magazines, threw out the patterns I didn't want and put the rest in a binder. My basket is only 1/4 full now and I plan to keep it that way.
I've not subscribed to magazines, I just collect a few books. I think magazines are good in that they cover a lot of things, especially for new quilters to open their minds, but I know what I like and the books are geared to my taste - or curiosity!
Thankfully, I took care of all of this when I moved a year and a half ago. I'm not into books and magazines and I just look at content on you tube and go from there. I have more ideas than three lifetimes could take care of so I don't need to go looking.
I realized last summer that I got too many quilt shop emails, so unsubcribed to most of them! I need to do it again, plus many other sellers!
I haven't had a magazine subscription for many years and last year the ones I had kept went out the door and donated to a community charity yard sale. I have missed them at all. I now browse Pinterest and I do get a few fabric catalogs in the mail a few times a year. They often have patterns and inspiration. But they don't live long and are soon recycled.
The emails, groups, blogs have become my books and magazines. I started culling magazines and patterns with your challenge 3 years ago then last year with the move more were donated not only sewing but all the other areas gardening, how to’s,religious,bonsai, this year I am letting go of my printed patterns and will go into my you tube library on my computer and remove a lot of those. As you mentioned yesterday I am branching into other areas of the house.
If I find something that interests me in a magazine I keep just that article and not the entire magazine. If I don’t refer to it or use that information I get rid of it too. I can’t stand the clutter of all those magazines!