Do I Have Enough?

I've read several posts on having enough art or craft supplies this week and it's got me to thinking...do I have enough supplies? Do I need more?

Does an artist or crafter ever have enough supplies? That would be the question, wouldn't it?

We are always changing our mind about what we need next, what our next project will be. I probably have enough supplies to make a lot of art for a very long time. I have drawing paper, watercolor paper, printing paper and colored paper. I even have a box of my own handmade paper. I have inks for drawing, inks for printing and ink pens in every color imaginable. I have paints of many varieties, too. Boxes of paints. I have tons of colored pencils and pastels, lots of drawing pencils, conte crayons and charcoal, too. I have glues and glue guns, all sorts of kids art supplies and a basement full  of ceramic supplies. I even have a box of canvas stretchers and two rolls of canvas as well as a box of painting panels. Oh, and another box of small pre-made canvases I had at my shop. I think I have some boxes and trays to paint on, too. And that reminds me of the boxes of glasses and bisque ceramic plates, light switch plates, etc. that I bought before closing my shop.

I also have boxes and boxes of sewing supplies. And other crafting supplies. Oh, and you don't even want to know how many notebooks, journals and sketchbooks I have. People give them to me and I also buy them.

So here's my thought.....what if I didn't buy another single supply? How long would it take me to use what I already have?

This winter I decided to use the food in my cupboard and in my freezer before buying new food. I still bought fresh fruits and veggies but used the chicken, veggie burgers, rice, pasta, etc. that I had before adding to my stocks. It was great! And definitely less wasteful than realizing I had left a chicken in the freezer way too long. We eat all our leftovers in soups, salads or recombines anyway but this took us to the next level.

I think I'm going to declare a moratorium on buying new supplies. Use what I have. Be inventive. I will allow myself to buy supplies necessary for a special order but otherwise, just use what I have. I have tubes of colors I rarely use so as my favorite colors start to wear thin I'll have to look at what other colors I have on hand. Eek! That amuses me, challenges me and even scares me a little. I don't know about you but I definitely have my favorite palette. Guess it's time to shake it up a bit.

What about you? How's your art supply addiction doing?

Comments

[Helen]

I have far too much of an addiction to supplies ... even those I'll never use.

[Spongetta]

I did this in December and January and felt it brought me to a whole new level creatively. I wish you well in this challenge. Please keep us updated on how it works out!

[thatissocute]

I wish you luck on this endeavor! I don't think I could stick with a resolution like this...I'd want to make something, realize I'm missing that perfect element and have to have it. Of course these days, I wait to pick it up until I can combine a trip with other errands.

[katiejane]

I'm glad to hear you say this. Sometimes I feel like I have ADD because I have so many projects in the works and so many more that I want to do. My big weakness is buying books on how to do these things. I have so many art book and garden books and not enough time to finish anything. So for me, it would be: no more books until you finish some of the projects you've started.

[Sarah]

i keep buying more and more without even having a place for it all.

fabric is the worst!

[Cathy]

Very cool. I have a lot of stuff too. I donated my pastels to the art class I teach and after two years we're still going strong and that's with ten people using them!!

[Allison]

I made myself go on a craft supplies embargo a while ago! I was quite successful in using up a lot of things. But careful - it's a slippery slope & as with most restrictions it's easy to go overboard when you finally return to the ol' craft store ;]