Friday, December 13, 2019

Convince me I don't need all the repurposed fabric....... Dostandning Swedish Death Cleaning

The last thing I remembered from the last blog post was the weather, it was spring and I needed to get gardening, where does the time go?  So a fitting topic, has anyone seen any of the Swedish Death Cleaning videos on youtube?  There's an entire classification of cleaning videos, but this one sounded... well ominous. Not like Kon Mari, that sparks joy, and there's a reason for this... (by the way Kon Mari also has her own channel now on youtube, it's been so long, I think she's learned English now).






Swedish Death Cleaning   or Dostandning.....

Dostadning, or the art of death cleaning, is a Swedish phenomenon by which the elderly and their families set their affairs in order. Whether it's sorting the family heirlooms from the junk, downsizing to a smaller place, or using a failsafe system to stop you losing essentials, death cleaning gives us the chance to make the later years of our lives as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Whatever your age, Swedish death cleaning can be used to help you de-clutter your life, and take stock of what's important. Radical and joyous, eighty-something Margareta Magnusson's guide is an invigorating, touching and surprising process that can help you or someone you love immeasurably, and offers the chance to celebrate and reflect on all the tiny joys that make up a long life along the way.


This definition is from Margareta Magnusson's book Dostandning:The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. (Who else thinks this title shows that Swedes have a sense of humor?)

Anyone else depressed?  You are going to die, and you need to get rid of your stuff.

None of the videos I have seen mentioned this.

The video's I've seen have the participants empty out a closet in a big pile.  Clean the area and reintroduce items that they will be keeping.  I think I'm ready to do this, and after living in the new house for a year, I really need to do this with my sewing room, which has become the area where leftover tools and construction / painting supplies have settled.  No joy, just confusion.  Many of the supplies and cardboard I have been hoarding to cover the floor for all of the touch up paint work... and there's been a lot of that, needs to go away.  I want it to be pretty.

Now onto a big category, that isn't even purchased fabric.... but fabric seeking another life.  I have sheets, table cloths, hankies, clothes... if it's a textile, I've kept it.  I'm thinking quilt!!  I also have 5 quilt kit project bins, organized .... but no sewing went on this year, except for a few alterations for myself and friends, and we won't go into the yardage that will be used as soon as I lose the 20 lbs.


I can't bring myself to get rid of the scraps, it's a problem.  To my credit, they are all organized in bins by fiber content.  Have you seen the price and quality of clothing lately?  Some of this is too good to get rid of..... but something needs to be done..... actually I just remembered, it's hiding all over the house, in a piece of luggage and some dresser drawers..... 

What do you do with your excellent scraps?