Tips for decreasing your stash in an eco-friendly way

  • Sell it. Yard sales, consignment stores, craigslist, eBay, and Etsy, are all avenues for making some cash from your stash.

  • Exchange goods for publicity. If you have a blog, hold a giveaway to pull in traffic. Ask readers to leave a comment and draw a winner after a set amount of time (usually within a week). Be sure to announce the giveaway not just on your blog, but on the blogs of your like-minded virtual friends (ask them first) or through emails. Offer two chances in the drawing for people who mention your giveaway on their blogs or e-newsletters.

  • Donate it. Schools, theaters, senior centers, community and spiritual groups, and other organizations often have a need for fabric and craft materials. However, don’t just show up with the stuff. Call first to find out what they need. Many larger groups, like the Salvation Army, will pick up materials from your home or studio. To connect with people who might want your stash, try freecycle.org.

  • Scrap it. SCRAP (Scroungers’ Center for Reusable Art Parts) in San Francisco is celebrating its 30th year of taking clean, reusable materials that might otherwise be thrown away and making it available to artists and schools for little or no money. Check out the links page at scrap-sf.org for similar organizations across the U.S.

  • Use it up! Commit to making art from the stuff you have and you’ll see the clutter diminish in no time.

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