My craft room is also ment to be my reading room which I wanted as I wanted to get back into reading after finishing uni and not wanting to read any more. So instead of keeping it clear i just move crap not literal crap in there. I have so so many half finished craft projects I cant get to because of the broken TV and that wire thing I found in the street I felt I needed and dragged home and the 5 million carrier bags I've not taken to the charity shop yet. I really need to make time to go in and gut the room yet again hehe Have fun
Pardon the pun but you rang lots of door bells in my head. Lots of sound advice. We have been in this house ten months and I have a room dedicated to me, my space, my arts and crafts.... I haven't used it once because I set up a pasting table in my bedroom which I work at. Said room needs organising. I unpacked boxes and filled the fitted wardrobe spaces, book shelves and a big chest of drawers. My beloved table is full of stuff. Recently I started some medication which I am hoping will work on sleep but more importantly give my head some space. My challenge will be to tackle this room at some point but even when basic housework is a challenge it is a struggle. i have made a couple of notes from your chat and will keep them pinned up. I haven't even opened the Fimo I bought before X'mas to cover my crochet hooks which was why I found your channel. Great video. Lots to think about and hoping to make some headway as spring approaches and the craft room warms up! Cheers!
I understand what you mean by tossing old clay. Personally, I would give a try to revitalizing it, but when it comes to being dispirited or feeling sad, it's better that it goes out of the house. I think I would give it to a thrift store, but I wonder if it would be sold as stuff to put in the bottom of flower vases or maybe paperweights! LOL.
I had a lot of yarn that I had reclaimed from second-hand sweaters. Every time I wanted to knit something, I looked at this yarn and worried that it wasn't the right weight or I hadn't enough for the project. I made several shawls, but really how many does a woman need? Finally, I found someone who knit and her mother crocheted and I gave it all to them. I told them if they looked at it and decided to throw it away that would be fine with me. I realized that I now wanted the experience that other people, more prosperous people, have. They choose a project, buy the proper yarn, and make the project. Well, I can't really afford to have that experience, but when I do it will be a pleasant one. No more staring at reclaimed yarn and walking away disappointed because it's not right for what I want to do.
This was my New Year resolution. I have so much craft clutter and impulse purchases. I wish we could hold a craft sale locally (if I left my purse at home 😏)
A big nope about throwing out old polymer clay. The clay is not dry just the chemicals have separated. They can be combined again. Better to donate it to a thrift store or give it to a group that does charity use.
I know, I hope it would be a last resort. It's just that sometimes nobody wants it and I have seen what charity shops are like... Pretty sure they would chuck it out as soon I turned my back. Using the clay is obviously the best choice, you're right.
I guess the thrift stores are different in the use. They just bag stuff up in bundles, charge a dollar, and sell it. That’s sad. What we do have are bins all are that say they are for abused children but the stuff ends up shredded and sold to a scrap yard and all the money goes to an Albanian family who are living in the most expensive neighborhood. They have been busted many times but a new family member takes over.
Very timely! Good insights and practical tips. I emptied my small claying room last week (thereby filling another room!) so that I could have shelves put up. The small room looks fantastic now, and there's loads more shelf space, so I'm in the throes of going through all the stuff that had been in it, and deciding what to keep, what to bin, and what to give away. There'll be a LOT in the last two categories. It's a wonderful feeling! 🙂 The room had become so cluttered that it had really dampened my enthusiasm. Now I can't wait to get back into it! Also, I hear you on buying stuff to launch into a new interest, and then - once the initial thrill wears off - not touching it again. I did that a few years back with encaustic painting (working with wax). Spent a good couple of hundred euros (or more) on all manner of equipment. Played with it for a couple of months, then finally realised it wasn't my thing (though it's a fascinating medium). Ended up selling all the gear to a professional artist for less than half what I'd paid for it. But she was thrilled, and I was relieved to have everything out from under my table. Now I just stick to acrylic paint pouring and making polymer clay jewellery (which I in fact sell, so that's a bonus. 😉). I've been doing both for about five years, and love it. I also got a big kick out of your comment on seeing potential. So true! 😄
If you CAN sell stuff it's cool, I have sold some in my time, but I feel sad when beginners pop up in FB groups, pressuring themselves to run before they can walk. Learn first! I can tell you are enjoying your progress and I really hope you have a great time in your fresh space. xx
Sorry to be critical, but I can't sit by without saying that actually throwing away uncured polymer clay is not a good idea. Why not gift it to another polymer clay crafter! Did you know that there is a new product from Donna Kato called Clay Conditioner to bring hard clay back to life, and also another product called Blackout to rescue scrap clay and make it into black clay, which is a staple color and can always be dressed up with mica powders, glass chips etc. Fimo Leather can be mixed 50/50 with Premo and make very flexible clay once cured. There is no waste with polymer clay, never throw it away (unless it is cured and you don't like what you've created, then OK ... bin it.) I agree that a creative space has to be a comfort to make crafting appealing, and a place of refuge, that should be the focus. Does your craft material spark JOY? as Marie Kondo says. Sure, overbuying is a wasteful endeavor, but what's more important is to use the materials we purchase and then give our creations away or sell them or put them on a shelf or wall to admire our accomplishment. I did have a laugh at your comment that we look at crafts like we look at men. Attractive and so much potential, but in the end doesn't amount to much! Thanks for your post and I hope you survive your Frugal Februrary challenge with more in your wallet, Valerie! Cheers 😊
Firstly, I am a huge Marie Kondo fan - I have a review of her book on my channel somewhere. I'm not advocating throwing out loads of clay but even with softening products it can sometimes be very dispiriting. As far as scrap clay goes, I do have a video on here somewhere about choosing/combining colours, so that beginners can practice without creating endless brown scrap. And Blackout sounds AWESOME! Thanks for the heads up, I have never heard of it! In summary, yeah I was being a bit naughty saying "throw it away" but I hope it came off as a last resort. I have been extremely careful to do my best with my clay (I recently gave loads of coloured scrap to a beginner friend) but I wanted to get some people past all the guilt that paralyses them. I'm a bad influence 😉. Is it less destructive to the environment baked btw? I have to admit, I feel like if somebody really cared about nature they would make Papier-mâché things (or something) which is how I first started.
@@UnrulyHousewife Thanks for your heartfelt reply! Your polymer clay videos are my favorites. But even with ugly scrap colors there is a way though! Yes, and look at Kato's Conditioning Bar as well. A little goes a LONG way. I think it would be less destructive to throw out cured clay, so that the plasticzer is more fixed than not. However if one were truly into recycling clay one could grind up cured clay and mix it with uncured and then use it for bead cores or something like that. It would not be easy on a blender to do that, but it is possible. BTW speaking of new polymer products...have you heard of CosClay? It's a flexible clay and really cool. You might like it. But you are not allowed to buy it for another 26 days!!! 😁
OMG, the timing of this video was perfect. So much stuff has created anxiety!!!I have decided to get rid of stuff that I am not using. By the way, your sense of humor cracks me up! Bless you and I hope your health is good.
I haven't tried it yet (as far as I can remember, at my age). Oh honey, I wouldn't buy it even if it wasn't Frugal February... I'd be asking them to send me free samples for a video review 😂. Well, it's always worth a go... 😁
Val as always a great video full of information. I am in the process of getting rid of my jewelry making supplies. I have problems with my hands and can't do the details anymore. I have gotten intouch with a girl scout troop and they are thrilled!. God bless you and your family and furbabies
Well Valerie, I started out giggling (as usual) to some of your comments but then you started to sound like my husband! Get a grip woman, don't you know that collecting crafting supplies is a hobby in itself? 🤣🤣🤣 Ok I am just off to see if I can actually get into my craft room 🙄
Hahaha! Oh no, I totally meant to include that collecting supplies was a hobby! I'm not guilt free believe me - I have everything you need to cut out, anneal, shape, solder, polish and etch copper, plus the chemical to give it a patina lol. Plus copper sheets obviously. And a jeweller's bench... You get the gist 😂
Oh Valerie, you know I am only joking! I am just terrible, I have sooo much stuff I coud start my own hobby store. Thing is, I never learn. I have started paint pouring and mosaicing in the last 18 months and I have nowhere to do either apart from my dining room table, both these things need time to dry after too so we end up eating on our laps for days on end! Lol x
