Thursday 1 January 2009

Welcome 2009

New Year's Resolution
My NYR is to use all (ok, most of) my quilting fabric stash. I already had a lot of fabric before I even started quilting....and it's just kept growing. I have yards and yards of fabric I ordered online that looked perfect in the catalogue or on screen -but was out just a tone or two when it arrived, so it couldnt be used to plan....and then I have stashes from when I find stunning prints that I know I will need 'one day' ...and then I have fat quarters from shows and shops and markets that compliment already existing stashes...and of course I've been given a fair share of prints too.

But just recently, I went looking for some suitably inspiring fabric and I opened a stash box (I have them arranged in colours, prints, themes, etc) and the box was so jam packed (and looked so pretty) that I had second thoughts about rummaging through it. I had arranged it so well that it could have stayed like that undisturbed until one day I went out and bought exactly the same print and shade...forgetting I already had it.

Now this surely isnt impossible, because as I kept looking through my boxes I found fabric I didnt recognise, had forgotten was there and never even knew I had (a fat quarter wheel of chrismas prints comes to mind - perfect for a new December tablecloth that I need, and that I wasn't even thinking of, for instance)...

So, when is enough fabric, finally enough? On the one hand, nothing in my stash is inspiring me right now, its good for 'other ideas' but none that I'm currently entertaining. I have lots of plans for quilts I want to make and I don't want to be constrained my existing stash. Also, when you have an idea and you need a certain tone...its hard to match your colour theme from an existing batch, you usually have to go out and buy some more. Or, you buy a backing fabric and then by sheer coincidence you find a great 'zinger' for a quilt you're working on...and it has several prints in the range that you need to compliment the look. Then of course, there's always lovely new fabric coming out which is fresh and exciting and I have to stop myself buying it all up and just storing it for when I 'get around to it'....

On the other hand, my shelves are groaning. They are so tightly stuffed that it can take me 30 minutes to expertly remove a 'layer' without disturbing the fabric surrounding it. I have run out of boxes (which are a nuisance to wheel out and un-stack and then re-stack) everytime I want to start something. And then of course, I'm bored of looking at the same fabric all the time, knowing that something should be done with it, rather than have it just sitting there. I could easily buy fabric almost constantly, infact, everytime I go out I could probably pick up a few more fat quarters or metres of something really special....but when am I going to get around to sorting out all this fabric? There is always going to be something new and interesting coming out, but I've decided to devote more time to my numerous pending ideas....and commit myself to creating new projects, patterns and ideas that use up existing fabric only.

This year, I'm going to be stash busting.

23 comments:

  1. Well said...I totally agree...my New Years Resolution too! The search and purchase of stash has been a wonderful journey but it is time to start using it up. Happy New Year and thanks so much for all that you share!

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  2. It's the same thing for me. I'm waiting inspiration for use all these old (new) fabrics and I always say "I don't need any new fabric" but I buy fabric any more.A very happy new year to you and your family and thanks for your "Red Delicious" BOM I'll starting in January.
    My blog adress :
    http://patchworksetbroderiesdecaco.blogs.marieclaireidees.com

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  3. And Esther I will be joining you in that challenge.
    My last purchase was the week before Christmas from the Fat quarter shop and I am desparetly trying my hardest not to buy any more fabric except thread!
    Lets motivate each other to do this, ok.

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  4. Best wishes for your resolution! I basically stopped buying fabric 2 or 3 years ago (apart from fabric for dyeing) but the mountains of sorted fabrics remain!

    Happy New Year!

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  5. A little stash busting wouldn't go astray at my place either.
    I recently found your blog and had just read about your stenciled quilts in AP&Q. I'm so looking forward to seeing future projects.

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  6. You go! I'm thinking about a similar resolution... my stash is well and truly out of control at this point. It needs to get used. But you are right, it's tough... my brain is always moving forward to the next project, while my stash remains the same. So it is definitely going to be a challenge.

    Good luck! I look forward to seeing what kinds of stash-busting dents you make. :)

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  7. Ester, I think you must have magical powers.....you wrote my thoughts exactly. And to think I was the only person in the world with these "problems" :-)

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  8. Ester, you seem to have mystical powers - fancy writing exactly what I was thinking. And I thought I was the only person in the world with these "problems". BG.

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  9. Yes, you have a very large stash that you can work with. I think if you sort it all in piles by colors maybe some inspiration will come. Happy New Year.

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  10. That is a fabulous NYR! I don't know about you Esther, but I find excess fabric actually stifles my creativity.....I feel burdened by the responsibility of having so much and still buying more! I love stash busting! I love to say "this project was made totally from my stash"
    You go girl!

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  11. Stash busting sounds like an excellent New Year's Resolution. Even though it's our duty to spend to help the economy, we must think of the higher calling of quilting. Happy Quilty 2009!
    Cheers

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  12. Oh! Esther, I'm sure you heard all of that straight from my mouth. I am sure I have someone come in at night and put fabric in my stashes. I have lots I don't recognise or want to. LOL

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  13. As a sister fabriholic I understand. Working in a fabric store for almost 9yrs didn't help my addiction but after a while the need to adopt every new fabric dimished.

    Lately, while participating in group projects and mysteries I have been making myself use only fabric from my stash.

    Next week is the Winter Quilt Show here in Oklahoma City. Hoping my willpower stands up to the vendors.

    Good luck with your stash busting.

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  14. happy new year!!!
    and here's to you busting that stash!!!

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  15. Good for you Esther. I would love to have the same problem. Though I am sick of looking at the same fabric. Happy New Year to you and hope you have healthy and happy 2009. D. :=)

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  16. Good luck with your stash busting.

    Happy New Year!

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  17. You're exactly right, I totally agree..I was blaming myself for the difficulties to search goodies in my stash. I need a resolution, too.
    Wishing you the very best for 2008.
    Rengin, in Istanbul

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  18. Good luck with that resolution!! I would like to join you in that challenge, also my big challenge to myself this year is not to start anymore BOM. I have 6 collected in total and have not started any as yet!!
    Cathy

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  19. I agree that it is fun to buy fabric, and sometimes it is hard to use. I use my stash - I shop it first before going shopping. I am trying to avoid buying new fabric unless I am going to use it right away - because otherwise I know it will be hard to get a good use for it.

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  20. Wow what a New Years REsolution. Wish I had a stash even close to what you have. Being the only income in my household, buying extra stash fabric has been out for over 2 years now. I wish you lots of luck and if you ever what to get rid of anything, send it my way! Happy New Year. Rae

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  21. that was my resolution last yr & let me tell you, i did it! yes, sometimes the fabric wasn't "just right", but i gave myself permission anyway, it was good enough. it's such a great feeling to actually see the stuff come together & in the end, it looks good anyway. & the fabric in a project finished is so much better than fabric folded away in a plastic storage box.....now i have room to put new fabric in as well....

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  22. I know this so well!! I have a closet I could walk in, but I couldn't. Everything was filled with boxes (and without boxes)fabrics. I had to get something out of a box in the corner on the right in the back of the closet. I can set one foot in the closet and then the other.... yes, but then all the boxes were falling down and all over me. I couldn't move anymore and I had to laugh so very badly. My husband came running and thaught something terrible had happened. Can you imagine what he saw? Now I have ordened it and I found a lot of "new" fabrics, but I bought already new ones (don't tell my DH).
    And by the way, I love your red delicious. I can't wait for the next block. Thanks a lot for sharing.
    Marjolijn, living in the Netherlands

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  23. I LOVE pictures like this! It is just a confirmation I am not alone. This seems to make it OK to have so much stuff spilling out of closet. Thank you for sharing.

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