I am a hoarder. I admit it. I am also a buyer and an enthusiast and am interested in many things.

This combination of character traits means I usually end up spending more time reading, writing and talking about, as well as tidying away, buying stuff for and pondering, all the things I love to do, rather than actually getting on and doing them.

It also means I have a lot of stuff.

Today I am spurred on by my recent beadwork discoveries, and panic at hopefully starting a new course and the accumulation of new stuff that will ensue, so I've decided to tidy the 'bead room'. As I have said before this isn't actually a room I work in, more a storage and dumping room as well as the spare bedroom. It is also full of boxes of bead and jewellery making related items, all of which have got a bit muddled recently.

I began wanting to just tidy up the boxes containing all my geometric beadwork pieces, but of course this led to opening other beadwork boxes. This soon led to gathering reels and reels of thread which need somewhere to go. Then it was finding all my long-lost scissors, all those scraps of paper with essential notes on, a stash of pliers, one or two tubes of beads which were in the wrong place and before I knew it I was surrounded by mess.

I am slowly now getting it together and putting it away more neatly and usefully than it was before. I am also determined to chuck out all those non-essentials which have sat unopened in boxes for years, many of which I have no idea why I bought or what I ever thought I would use them for.

The photo shows just a small collection of tools I was once sure I NEEDED only to never even look at again. This casting aside was often after realising there was just no need for them and I could do just as well with my hands or a pair of pliers. Isn't that always the way?

One of the items is a 'Chain sta' designed to help you make charm bracelets and necklaces. I specifically remember the day and time I bought this and the exact mood I was in: fed up. I wanted cheering up and for some reason thought spending £10.75 on this would do the job. The fact I never make charm bracelets or necklaces didn't come into my thoughts. Not did the consideration that even if I did, this tool looks like it would be more of a hindrance than a help. So ever since it has sat unloved in a box.

Add to that a 'safety wire twister' which I bought this in 2006 at Bead and Button. I opened it once, was shocked at the complicatedness of it all and packed it away in horror never to look at it again.

Then there's the funny tool designed to hold pearls whilst you drill them. Well, I think that's what it's for. I do have some distant memory of once using it and it is covered in some sort of dust so once it proved to be of use. Back in about 2007 I bet. For all of an hour maybe.

So, what about the Tool Magic I thought I would put on my pliers and never did? And the funny material I bought to add handles to my files. I guess I may start using that just as soon as I start using files.

Add in the bead spinner, the ring holder, the various metal working tools, all the different bits for jigs and the many strange things that I simply have no idea about, and its's soon apparent that I just may have too many bits and pieces.

I am tempted to shut the door on the room, leave the mess as it is and get back to what I began my day doing. Eying up wax carving tools and saw blades I think I might just need one day soon...