another giveaway

I have decided not to buy any more art materials in 2010.

Despite my best intentions I find that I am often quite wasteful with some of the things I buy. Even though I have a relaxed approach to use-by dates, I certainly throw more food away than I would like through bad planning, laziness and unexpected time constraints.

Unfortunately this also extends to art materials which I frequently 'need' in a desperate hurry and then find myself stashing away in the cupboard after a brief experimental session. Since I am trying to streamline my accounts this spring to prepare myself for a change in my income - something I have known would come but is now here - I want to be a better housekeeper in lots of ways, and that includes using things from my art cupboard before I buy more.

This ought to be good news creatively as it means I should be doing some printing, lots of drawing and quite a bit of collage. I am hoping that as well as a much-needed frugality, a welcome abundance will emerge as I try not to hoard stuff but to use it... the loveliest cloth, the best paper, the nicest inks.

At this stage, what this means in practise is that I am getting rid of stuff that I probably won't use, and today this means three bundles of paper which I would like to go to a good home...bundle one is pictured above and bundles two and three below... if you fancy one, leave me a comment letting me know which one catches your eye and I will pick some winners at the weekend. They aren't massive stacks, but certainly enough to have a play with and maybe inspire something new.

Bundle One is mainly neutrals, beiges and blues... some handmade paper, some with bits in, Japanese origami paper, Laura Ashley samples and some Chinese paper with silver on.

Bundle Two is nearly all Chinese and Japanese papers in bright colours, lots of scraps and printed pieces.

Bundle Three is quite a big stack of handmade paper which I made a few years ago... whites, pinks, purples, lots of it with scraps of silk in... all about A5 size.

I'm happy to post them out to wherever you are... hopefully somebody will want them! Otherwise they will get recycled which isn't the end of the world but it would be nice to pass them on.

*Please note this giveaway has now finished*

35 comments:

Jen Walshaw said...

I think they are all loely and would be happy with any and would use them with the minimads. I personally like the top one though

Heloise said...

Kind of you. It is very satisfying to have a good sort out. If I should be lucky enough I have a preference for the third bundle.

Jill said...

I think all three bundles look just lovely and would inspire great creativity in our home. So thoughtful of you!

Doda said...

OOOh ! How gorgeous. I like 1 best, but then 3 and 2 are lovely also, so I would be totally delighted with any of those packs.
Thanks for clearing out!

Greedy Nan said...

The third lot is delightful but I'm always glad of any crumbs!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

It's very kind of you to offer these lovely papers. I am very partial to bundle number 3 but would be pleased with any of them. They are all lovely! Thank you. Carolyn

Diva Kreszl said...

oh my, they are all lovely and I would be most happy to have any one of them!

Reading Tea Leaves said...

All three bundles are lovely, however I particularly like bundle 1 and would be very happy to take it off your hands! So glad you decided to have a clear out Susan.

Jeanne x

Tracy x said...

please do not recycle!!!
if i saw them in a recycle bin by the side of the road i would be straight there :)
if bundle one is still looking for a home i would happily use every scrap
hope you are having a lovely week - i too am having a clear out and there is a giveaway for little girls on my blog - lots of shop stock to re home!!
feels good to clear out doesn't it..
t x

rossichka said...

What a nice idea to give these lovely sheets of paper to somebody instead of throwing them away, Sue! The winners could show you in future the result of their creative usage! I'm the winner (and already owner!) of Sue's recent giveaway and I know how lucky and special one could feel in this case. It's such a joy! Thank you, Sue! I wish good luck to those who are answering to this post! You can see the stationary one more time in my blog!:))

rossichka said...

Excuse me - the "stationEry"! :(((

la z'idiote said...

Your japanese papers are so beautiful... I love them all !

mary said...

Your recycling bin is infinitely superior to mine. I really like bundles 2 and 3. How kind of you to pass them on.

ginny said...

they are gorgeous papers, though please don't enter me as i have won a very generous giveaway from you before.(and it's still in progress)
it is good to make space for new creativity to flow in. i am not very good at letting materials go and now i am teaching i often keep fabrics i wouldn't use myself to use in workshops, but my space is full and i really would like to create some new work but all the 'stuff' often gets in the way.i would love my space to just have my most loved fabrics on display so i can find inspiration in them.
i hope this exercise proves to be inspiring for you too.
ginny x

Domestic Diva said...

Lovely! We could actually make use of any of them, but I think my favorites are 1, 2, then 3 (in that order).

Sue Morris said...

I think they are all gorgeous, but have a preference for the first bundle. Thanks for deciding to have a sort out

Frances said...

Well Sue, I do recognize what you are writing about. Think that I recently wrote to someone else about being able to refuse buying a new pair of shoes, but not being quite so sure about yarn. Or books. And having seen the paper you've shown, let me add paper to the rest.

Enough of the listing. I also get quite carried away in any art supply/yarn shop. Even some stationery shops make me take my foot off the budget breaks. I still want to investigate that circular cutter you've used to such great effect.

And. I also realize what it can be to test one's imagination against what is on hand. Such stretching exercizes really do take me to a new land.

Late tonight, so not being so brilliant in my thinking. Hoping you get my drifts. xo

Sue said...

Bundle 3 your handmade paper is gorgeous and just the colours I need at the moment for my lavender and rose business.

I would use them on my labels if I were lucky enough to be picked.

Sue xx

A time to dance said...

I love a good sort out and have been doing similar tasks, oxfam ebay, I never thought of a give away...so I think I will do that at the weekend...hope you dont mind if I pinch the idea....Having said that I love the handmade papers...is that being greedy?...love H

Things Hand Made said...

I am not putting myself in for the giveaway as I know exactly what you mean and I have too much already! Well done on sorting out and giving away. Its tough

Gina said...

This feels a bit cheeky when I don't often comment but would love a chance to win either stack one or two. I think they would be lovely for book making.

Chrissie said...

What a generous gesture to make to part with these lovely papers! I love all three, but if Dame Fortune smiled, bundle 2 would be given a very good home. :-)

Bea said...

They are all very beautiful, and I would be thrilled if I won any of them, but especially no 1 is gorgeous. I would be using it for my journal/scrapbook, stationary and bookbinding.
Thank you so much for being so generous! Good luck with your new projects.

Bea
captain (at) beatricebring.com

JP said...

You can't really want to get rid!! - you will want them back especially the handmade ones!!!

Claire said...

You are a brave woman to sort through and spring clean....Loving them all but if I had to choose, I say the 1st stack. Enjoy waht ever the outcome

ljw said...

The papers are fabulous, and I'd love to be considered for them, but I am also supposed to be clearing out stuff rather than accumulating for some building work and I have a feeling that there are people out there who could do better justice to such a gift than I. However this posting has inspired me to dig out what I do have and be creative.

Teasel said...

They are lovely. I think bundle 2 has caught my eye!

Unknown said...

What a lovely idea. If I am lucky I would love bundle 3. Thanks.

Kate Fernyhough said...

I'm terrible about buying art stuff and then not using them because I'm saving them for something special... that never comes. I promise I won't do this if I win bundle 2 :)

Jane said...

They are all lovely and I would love to have any of them.. I too am trying only to use what I have at present as we enter a period of some financial constraint-it's very satisfying and a bit frustrating at the same time. I think I've been suffering from an old tendency aquired in childhood to not use things in case I can't replace them, so I'm making a conscious effort, like you, to use the best and the nicest and get extra pleasure from them. This is a lovely, generous giveaway.

Lorenza said...

ahhhhhh *claps hands* ;) this is so exciting! I love paper ;) I tend to hoard too... but then it's much nicer to use it for a special letter, or craft project, or as a little extras in gifts ;)

I hope luck will be on my side ;) I like them all!!

L xxx

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Thank you ever so much Sue xoxo

Sue Leslie said...

Lovely bundles, how can you bear to part with them. I particularly like the first one. I think we could all do with a sort out.
Sue L

Clare Wassermann said...

they are all so lovely I couldn't decide...I like them equally. You are right about a year of frugality - it does us good...x

Yolanta said...

I like the #2 bundle best.
Thank you!