Hiatus. Stuff and Things.

Last weekend, I made a vow, of sorts, to myself... in front of the people that love and support me... to take a HIATUS from thrifting, collecting, yard-saling, rescuing orphans from the side-of-the-road piles, "gifts" of cast-offs, findings, as-is stores.... etc. etc. etc.

You see, I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't drink (heavily!) I don't have many of the "regular" addict vices, but MY addiction is the COLLECTING.

"Hello. My name is Tina Schiefer, and I'm addicted to collecting THINGS!"

I laugh at all the online hoarding memes. I'm NOT a hoarder. I don't collect garbage, per se, but I do collect THINGS that can be made into OTHER, NEW, FUN, and EXCITING things.

With all those THINGS, comes SPACE. CLOGGED space. NARROW walkways. Shelves piled with totes FULL of THINGS. Little THINGS. BIG things. THINGS. THINGS. THINGS.

The bad part of the collecting of THINGS, is the SORTING. You see, I set out to SORT. Then... well, I begin to plot and plan and head down memory lane of where I found said such-and-such... who I was with when I found said such-and-such.... who gave me said such-and-such.... what I was planning on doing with said such-and-such... (if you just read all those SUCH-AND-SUCH sentences, welcome to my world of the perpetual circle of see, read, repeat.)

That's what sorting is like. I collected these THINGS because I liked them. I had grand plans. Up to this point, I've had a hard time letting go of the THINGS, once I delve into sorting. I have A LOT of good STUFF!

BUT....it's TIME for a BIG, HUGE, CHANGE!

I don't expect this will be easy. 

But... I have to start somewhere!

I sold a BUNCH of items and things I LOVED at Barnstormers Vintage Fair last weekend. A few of those "let it go's" were tough to say goodbye to. Trust me, I know they are ONLY THINGS! But....
still....

On Sunday, I passed up the yard sales. Today, I passed up the freebie bookcase and adorable little wooden desk with the FREE sign on it....

"Hello. My name is TINA SCHIEFER, and I'm trying to overcome my ADDICTION!"

I will still adore Hector the Collector. He's on the back of all my new calling cards... but I will spend the next year - August 2016-August 2017 - focusing on other things.... my TWO little camper trailers, sorting and selling/re-gifting/donating things, and getting my totes, shelves, rooms, nooks, crannies, walkways EMPTY.

Breathe. I know my friends will be supportive. This time NEXT year, I'll be able to say,

"Hello. My name is TINA SCHIEFER, and I'm no longer an ADDICT! Check out my cute camp trailers... let's go have FUN! Oh, and the studio is all neat and tidy and organized. Let's have a creative party!"