Seven Quick Takes

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I really need to start decluttering a little around here...but you know when you save stuff because it's beautiful or possibly useful in the future and yet you can't think how to use it right now?  Yeah, that's 80% of my stuff.  The list includes...

1.  A large number of beautiful postcards from friends around the world, including a book of 26 black and white architectural prints that I would love to frame.

2.  My entire stamp collection which, while it doesn't take up much space, still takes up space in a little house.

3.  Antique linens and silverware, all mismatched but surely you shouldn't get rid of sterling silver?  Or fine hand-embroidered cloth?  Even if it has been sitting in a drawer for years and you can't imagine what to use it for?

4.  Several large boxes and a steamer trunk FULL of baby clothes.  And he's only ten months old.  Do I need these?  Should I keep them?

5.  Half of my shelf of cookbooks are ones I have never used.  But I might.  I have looked through them and I imagine that some of the recipes would be great...

6.  Ditto for my children's book collection.  I'm valiantly trying to go through and weed out the stuff Samuel wouldn't read or I wouldn't let him read in the future...but how do you get rid of books?

7.  Yarn I have never used up, fabric left over from my wedding dress that I have never sewn with, buttons made of antler and hollowed out shells.  A bag of ribbons. 

What to do?