Reducing the Horde/Hoard
Apr. 5th, 2026 05:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowazaleaIt's kind of cool when a day takes shape and takes off on its own, like today. I started out watching the first couple of episodes of the reality show Hoarders from 2009, which I always have been curious to see, and it was very interesting and thought-provoking. Last night, I had a bit of an internal melt-down when I tried to navigate the exploded-looking computer room, which already looks bad, but now has a bunch of bathroom clutter from the newly-remodeled bathroom. I am resisting putting things in the bathroom because I don't want to put the old clutter in the new, beautiful space.
So, I took everything out of the under-stairs closet downstairs and separated everything that can go in the outdoor storage building, like the Christmas decorations, and ended up with a lot of storage in the under-stairs closet. I made room to put my sewing supplies, luggage, and doll bags and was able to get the computer room mostly cleaned up, till I took out all the bedding, and now it looks exploded again (but I have a plan for the bedding, so I'm not as panicked).
But I asked myself, if my dolls could go to someone who wanted them really, really badly, like a best-case scenario thing, would I want to give them up? And for most of them, the answer was a big "yes." And in some cases, even if they weren't going to a situation like that, ha ha. So I made a list that really surprised me. I'm going to sit with the list for a little bit and start preparing to sell some on Instagram. I have bought dolls on Instagram, so I don't think it's a big deal. eBay takes such a huge cut now, I'm trying to avoid them. If Instagram doesn't work for some stuff, I'll go to Poshmark or Mercari, if they don't take a big cut.
One thing was, I got my two heads back from Dollmore. I am absolutely thrilled with how they turned out. Lorien is everything I dreamed of and more. It is a dream come true to finally have a Volks SDC Kurenai, even though I've had her for seven years now, ha ha. Glynnis's face-up is lovely as well, but I faced the fact that I'm still not interested in Glynnis, even with her looking her best. That's okay. I'll finish up her cleaning, restring her, and sell her. I kind of thought that might happen. But what really surprised me is thinking about how bad some people want Dream of Doll dolls, and here I have three that I'm not interested in, even though I went through a lot to get the last two. They need new face-ups badly, but I don't feel like investing in them. It could make someone really happy to get a Dream of Doll, and I'd get a fair price for them. I wanted to have those first dolls "again," and it sparked the realization that yeah, that was then, this is now. I appreciate that I was able to get them and learn that.
I currently have 8 bjd's on my "keep" list, 1 16" fashion doll, 1 Barbie, and my American Girl Truly Me. That's a total of 11 dolls in the home. It's kind of amazing when I think about how free that makes me feel. It gives me breathing room to enjoy what I have, instead of feeling all that weight on me.
I think I've been quite a shopaholic every since college days, and there have been times I've accumulated, and times I've really gotten rid of a lot of things. It's definitely a cycle for me. It's hard to know how much I want to change in terms of being a collector. I guess the best answer I have right now is, I want to be mindful and open to letting things go when it's the right time. I do want to have dolls and other objects that I love, but I want to put the work in to make sure it doesn't get to be too much.
So, I took everything out of the under-stairs closet downstairs and separated everything that can go in the outdoor storage building, like the Christmas decorations, and ended up with a lot of storage in the under-stairs closet. I made room to put my sewing supplies, luggage, and doll bags and was able to get the computer room mostly cleaned up, till I took out all the bedding, and now it looks exploded again (but I have a plan for the bedding, so I'm not as panicked).
But I asked myself, if my dolls could go to someone who wanted them really, really badly, like a best-case scenario thing, would I want to give them up? And for most of them, the answer was a big "yes." And in some cases, even if they weren't going to a situation like that, ha ha. So I made a list that really surprised me. I'm going to sit with the list for a little bit and start preparing to sell some on Instagram. I have bought dolls on Instagram, so I don't think it's a big deal. eBay takes such a huge cut now, I'm trying to avoid them. If Instagram doesn't work for some stuff, I'll go to Poshmark or Mercari, if they don't take a big cut.
One thing was, I got my two heads back from Dollmore. I am absolutely thrilled with how they turned out. Lorien is everything I dreamed of and more. It is a dream come true to finally have a Volks SDC Kurenai, even though I've had her for seven years now, ha ha. Glynnis's face-up is lovely as well, but I faced the fact that I'm still not interested in Glynnis, even with her looking her best. That's okay. I'll finish up her cleaning, restring her, and sell her. I kind of thought that might happen. But what really surprised me is thinking about how bad some people want Dream of Doll dolls, and here I have three that I'm not interested in, even though I went through a lot to get the last two. They need new face-ups badly, but I don't feel like investing in them. It could make someone really happy to get a Dream of Doll, and I'd get a fair price for them. I wanted to have those first dolls "again," and it sparked the realization that yeah, that was then, this is now. I appreciate that I was able to get them and learn that.
I currently have 8 bjd's on my "keep" list, 1 16" fashion doll, 1 Barbie, and my American Girl Truly Me. That's a total of 11 dolls in the home. It's kind of amazing when I think about how free that makes me feel. It gives me breathing room to enjoy what I have, instead of feeling all that weight on me.
I think I've been quite a shopaholic every since college days, and there have been times I've accumulated, and times I've really gotten rid of a lot of things. It's definitely a cycle for me. It's hard to know how much I want to change in terms of being a collector. I guess the best answer I have right now is, I want to be mindful and open to letting things go when it's the right time. I do want to have dolls and other objects that I love, but I want to put the work in to make sure it doesn't get to be too much.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 03:55 am (UTC)I've been feeling the same way, though, overwhelmed by all the stuff in my apartment. Mostly, looking at it and wondering if I'm going to have to go through the process of tossing most of it to move overseas again. A lot of it is stuff I shouldn't get rid of until that decision has been made, if/when I'm already on my way out the door, tho - I'm going to need, e.g., kitchen towels in the meantime.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 10:56 am (UTC)Yes, a lot of my thought process is in wondering if one of these might be someone's grail.
I feel like my collection is huge. My BJD's alone are just under 20, and it's way too many for me.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 09:29 am (UTC)Also… Can you remind me what's your Instagram usernane? I think I follow but now I can't remember.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 09:30 am (UTC)Also… Can you remind me what's your Instagram usernane? I think I follow but now I can't remember.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 10:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 01:03 pm (UTC)I think you're wise to re-think which dolls you really love and want to keep, and what you want to rehome.
I'm down to my 3 absolute favorite dolls now, with 1 floating head that "alternates" with my last remaining Dollshe guy. And I have one doll up for sale now. Forcing myself to be patient with moving that one along.
On a different (but related) subject, it's very sad that Den of Angels is going to close as of August. Hoping the mods can located the missing owner and work with her to save the site.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 10:54 am (UTC)I did see that Den of Angels is closing! I actually posted about it. I loved Den of Angels in the beginning, but it changed a lot over the years, as some people left and others joined, and I grew to not care for it.