By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, February 7, 2004
After work and other responsibilities, how do you spend your
time? Do you have a hobby that is fulfilling? Is your home set
up for pursuing an activity, just for the pleasure of it? How
you spend your time is a true indicator of what’s important
to you.
Sometimes so-called hobbies are no more than good intentions,
or an excuse to accumulate more stuff. For example, making jewelry
was appealing at one time, but you’ve lost interest now.
If it’s been years since you’ve touched the beads,
it’s time to pass them on to someone who would enjoy using
them, such as a scout troop.
Sometimes the reason you don’t actively pursue your hobby
is that the supplies are difficult to access; the physical roadblock
provides a mental roadblock to actually doing anything with your
hobby.
If you think this is you, gather your supplies in one convenient
place and see if your interest is revived. If having access to
your yarns, pattern books, and needles doesn’t spark your
interest, it’s time to pass them on. My friend Dana keeps
her scrap booking and stamping supplies in the dining room, where
she and her children can--and do--work at will. (They have another
table where they eat meals.)
When “Melanie” received a custom-made Valentine card
from her husband saying “You take the cake, most of the
covers, part of the closet, the dining table…,” she
knew she needed to seam up her sewing projects. She liked sewing
where she could be near her family, but also needed storage for
fabrics and sewing notions. By tapping the storage of cabinets
in already in the room, she was able to contain her supplies.
Be careful not to let your hobbies take over the house.
Unless you work on your hobby daily, you won’t want your
supplies out where they can be damaged, lost, or otherwise clutter
up the place. Use a carry-all case that can be grabbed, such as
the cases scrap bookers use. Use a rolling cart with drawers;
the wheels make your hobby truly portable. Use a basket and keep
your supplies close to your favorite chair. This works great for
those who embroider, cross stitch or do other handwork.
If you are lucky enough to have a room for a hobby, use a pegboard
with hooks and clips to store tools of the trade. Use folding
banquet or card tables covered with butcher paper for a work surface.
If the space is needed for another use, they can be folded away.
One of my clients is a prolific stamper. Some of her stamps can
be stored in the hard-body plastic packages they come in. For
others, she grouped similar stamps together and stored them in
small plastic bins with labels.
Don’t forget to recycle when looking for containers. Sometimes
an empty coffee can, baby food jar, oatmeal box or cigar box works
just fine.
My grandma thought everyone should have a “collection”
of some sort; she collected teacups. But grandma knew something
that many collectors don’t: she knew when to stop. When
the china cabinet that Pop Pete built was full, she quit adding
to her collection, unless she subtracted one by giving one away.
Grandma’s wisdom then, is to find a cabinet or container
to house your collection. The container sets a limit to how much
can be collected.
Start giving it away: A collector of ladies hankies gives brides
in her family a hanky to carry on her wedding day. When I married,
two people gave us antique bowls from their collection. Collections
can also be donated to a museum.
Rein it in: Pare down your collection to only a certain
color or category.
Trade up: When you find something that’s better than what
you have, replace it with the better quality.
Use it: Who says your china collection can’t actually
be used? Will it give the most pleasure from use or simply display?
Make your collection a part of your décor by integrating
it among other treasures. That’s what I did with my blue
and white china collection, inspired by my great-grandmother Della.
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