Addiction to Stuff

Hello chaps. Lately, because I am semi house-bound and have too much time on my hands to think, I have been pondering my need for 'stuff.' Now don't take this the wrong way, but it's not only me is it? I think lots of bloggers (and non bloggers for all I know) have this need.
Granted, on the whole we are getting our fixes in charity shops and bootsales, so it's not costing us what it could do, (note I am now lumping you in with me, thereby making myself feel better because it's not just me...) but how much of this gear do we really need?
I know I'm a sporadic blogger but sometimes the thought has crossed my mind that I only bought something because it would be something to show on my blog. And I wonder how many other bloggers are thinking in the same way.
Let me show you some examples of my 'stuff.'

I must admit to rather liking the packed solid look, but honestly, you can't even see most of this stuff it's so closely packed together. How many plates does a person need?
More examples...

The top of the dresser. This stuff can't breathe.

There is so much of everything I don't even remember what's there. And as for dusting... never gets done.
More...

This is all on one set of shelves. I call it French Corner, because I am a pretentious prat. Honestly I don't even notice this now, I could hardly tell you what's on these shelves because there is so much of it. And the boxes at the bottom are also full of china. Tea sets that I haven't got room to display but had to buy anyway.
This is the mantlepiece. Please excuse the most attractive yorkstone wall and be thankful that there is only a hint of the gorgeous Baxi Bermuda fire. This is my attempt at disguising the ugliness. And also somewhere to dump even more things I have bought.

Now let me tell you that all these photos were taken in the same room. Overload or what? I haven't even included a couple of bits of furniture also smothered in things because they seemed pretty conservative compared to these.
On top of all this I have boxes, yes, actual boxes full of china and glass in the garage. I also have another dresser, from my mum's, that I am going to paint, (when my arm is better) so I can stand it in my hallway and put all this boxed up stuff on. I've started to feel a little bit mental.
I've had a feeling for a while that I was buying things for the sake of it. I might like it very much and it might be a bargain (which is often a deciding factor) but I haven't given any thought to where it's going when I get it home. I have piles of tablecloths, fabric stuffed away in bags and boxes, (like I ever sew...) so many duvet sets I can't even fit them all in the cupboard, enough pyrex dishes to make casseroles all week and never have to wash up, wool coming out of my ears, a whole cupboard full of home magazines, just stuff, stuff, stuff.
On top of all this, my sister and I have cleared our parents' house and have crates of stuff marked 'Vintage.' Our idea was to do a vintage stall at a fair or something as we know that a lot of what my mum liked (60s and 70s) is now quite collectible. So I have crates in the garage waiting for us to get our act together and work our how we are going to sell it all.
From today, I have decided that nothing is coming in this house unless,
a) I need it.
b) I love it.
c) I haven't got one already.
d) I think I can sell it.
e) I actually will sell it and not just talk about selling it.

I'm not going to buy thing because I might be able to make something from it because I never do. I'm not going to buy another tea set just because I like the idea of one day have a tea shop. I'm not going to buy another plate because I like it so much I want to lick it. I'm not going to buy another posy because they are my new craze.
I'm going to be ultra selective.

My name is Missy and I'm a Stuff Addict.

Picture of my dog lying by the fire. It has no relation to this post but he looks quite sweet.

Crochet news

Hello chaps! Being as all I'm doing is sitting about all day, poncing about on the interweb.com, watching the box set of Friends and downloading books onto my Kindle that I don't end up reading, I thought it was time to get my arse in gear and do a blog post. Quick update on the neck...I still have the hurty arm of pain, but a little less hurty than it was a couple of weeks ago. I've gone past the stage of wanting it amputated anyway. The neurosurgeon said it is a prolapsed disc and will take about 8-12 weeks to get better. I was supposed to have a steroid injection for the pain last week, but the doctor wouldn't do it, (thankfully, I was bricking it) because where he had to put the needle was too near my spinal cord and a bit risky. So I am grinning and bearing it and most of the time I am off my tits on medication, which to be honest can be rather pleasant.
Today I am up, showered, hair washed and dried, smothered in body lotion and wearing clothes. Onwards and upwards.
Anyway, crocheting n ting.
The two completed blankets are blatant knock offs of blankets I kept salivating over on two different blogs. The grey and cream one I nicked from Mia Landliv and the stripey one from Little Woolie. My versions are vastly inferior, but I like them anyway. Not quite as much as I like theirs but I'll live with it.

Stripey blanket. I made this in Aran as I wanted it to grow fast and it did. I actually did this one before Christmas so it's old news to me and thus is being allowed to travel further and further away from my side. I even let The Teenage Daughters use it now and then.

I had to do the edging with the ruffle to hide the fact that it is as wavy as a very wavy thing because I am pants at knowing where to start on a new row. Held up straight it looks a bit odd and mental but hey ho, mostly I fold it and try to make it look a bit straight. Or it is over my knees being stroked and admired.

Foldy uppy picture.
Right... next.

The grey and cream one. I did this one over Christmas and I really enjoyed it because it was very easy and I like grey anyway. Every now and then I had a roll call of squares and it seemed to grow quite quickly. It's plain with a plain-ish edging but I really like it. And it's straight! No wavy edges.

I actually did the edging twice because after a month or so I realised it looked rotten and I could have done better so I attacked it with scissors and did it again and I'm more happy with it now.

More foldy uppiness.
Next we have the WIP. One of them anyway. I have been doing this on and off since about October. Losing interest then picking it up again and now I like it. I decided to put small squares round the edge, just to see if I could and because it was a picture in my head and I wanted to see how it would come out. I probably should have blocked the big squares before I joined them (I joined them in that join as you go way and felt like crying with relief that I never, ever have to sew squares together again if I don't want to,)but it's too late now and the crookedness adds to it. No really. It does.

The edging will be in this pale green, one more round of trebles I think then probably shells. Crocheting is still painful at the moment and I am doing about four inches a day then necking a few tablets to get over the exertion.

Major foldage.
I am dreading sewing the ends in. Take a look at this little blighter...

Before the neck I started these.

I love them. I don't know if you can slip a disc by treating crochet as if it's an extreme sport but if you can then I will blame these babies. I was knocking them out at a rate of knots. Loved making them and was all over excited about how gorgeous they were turning out. The wool is by King Cole and a massive bargain. Very soft and lovely to work with but perhaps a bit limited in colours. Obviously I bought shedloads of it and also started another thing in white, red, pale blue and something else that I can't remember. Due to having to step away from the crocheting for the time being, I have packed my stash away in a big bag and put it under my bed so I'm not tempted.

Please note how I artfully placed my other blanket near the bag so I could get it in the shot. (How do I have the cheek to call these amateurish snaps, shots? Who do I think I am, David Bailey?)
Another exciting thing is Crochet Club. A few girls from work, (I use the terms girls very loosely, but don't tell them,) were nagging me to teach them so we started Crochet Club. It's at my house on some Thursdays. We sit in my dining room and drink wine and tea and eat cake and chocolate and slag off anyone who isn't there. I have actually taught four people to do this now and I have surprised myself with my patience. It's rather exclusive because if everyone came we wouldn't have anyone to talk about. I like it though and being as I don't work Fridays I don't have to worry if it goes on late.
So, my mate is popping round for a cuppa in a bit, good job I'm dressed today and not sitting here festering in a dirty dressing gown, so I'm toddling off.
Laters...