I don't know if it's because we're moving soon and I feel the need to purge or what, but I'm definitely in a state of disinterest with the majority of my projects, be it UFOs or WIPs. The positive spin on this is that I've been very productive in going through things and cleaning out my sewing room. I've had a monumental Aha moment in regards to my stash. I have a large stash. I know, we all do, but really. Mine is sinful. Gluttony, anyone? I've worked part-time in a quilt shop for the past eight years and acquiring fabric has become a habit of prolific proportions. If I quilted eight hours a day everyday until the day I die, I would never even make a dent.
The thing is, I don't love most of my stash. It's an eclectic mix of prints that I may or may not have even liked ten years ago when I bought them, anchored by an unfortunate collection of yardage that I've purchased along the way for no other reason than it was on sale. Really, how is it that a sale sign can make fabrics so much more appealing? There's a reason they're on sale. They're old remnants of lines that no one else wanted. Sale fabrics are the red-headed stepchildren of quilt shops. And I have a veritable orphanage of florals and novelty prints, brights and plaids that were once homeless and sought me out for comfort. I'm a sucker for orphans. So I felt compelled to give them a loving home. Thanks goodness they don't all have four paws and a tail. The problem here isn't so much that I bought these fabrics, but rather that I never use them. They take up valuable real estate in my sewing room and are wasting away. I have shelves lined up with stacks of fabrics and I still go out and buy new stuff when I start a project. Ok, let's be honest, even if I'm not starting a project, I go out and buy new stuff. But as I culled out piles and piles of these forlorn prints, I started a new way of thinking. I should love everything in my stash. Even if this means my stash will be significantly smaller in size. I'm cool with that. When I start a new project, I want to be able to open my cupboards and thumb through luscious piles of Fig Tree prints, glorious Minick and Simpson reds and blues, warm fall prints and piles and piles of cool batiks. I don't always want to take on the challenge of slipping ugly prints into my scrap quilts to ease the guilt of having them in the first place. I want ALL the prints in my scrap quilts to be fun and nostalgic of past quilts I've used them in. I don't want to "use up" my less-loved yardage on backers. I want to love my backers.
I want to LOVE MY STASH.
And then there's the UFOs. I've posted several times on my blog about the excessive amount of UFOs that I harbor in the dark and dank corners of my sewing room. It's embarrassing really. So much that this year, I took on the hideous challenge of working my way through The List and getting them finished up. But as I've been rifling through the piles of quilt blocks, and zip lock baggies of various quilt parts, I'm having the same feelings towards my UFOs as I am my stash. Many of them are old. And ugly. And bring up assorted thoughts of "What was I thinking?" and "Huh?" I've been so focused on plowing through the pile of half-finished quilts, coming up with great ideas of taking pieces apart to "update" them with more current fabrics and refreshing designs. When really, I just need to cut my losses and move on. Why spend time ripping apart old projects to make them salvageable, when I could be working on things I really want to do? Like the Shakespeare in the Park quilt I've been mentally salivating over for years, putting it off as a reward for when I pare down my UFOs. Where's the logic in that? I would love that quilt and I can't wait to start it. There are dozens of new quilts I can't wait to make. I have the blogging world to thank for that. It seems I am always falling back on my mantra of not starting new projects until my old ones are finished. Like the Toulousse quilt that I am DYING to make. Do you know what I went through to gather up enough Maison de Noel fabrics to actually make that? I searched for years, pawned from friends, and bid insanely high dollars on ebay to complete my now well-rounded stash of those coveted prints. That line is like gold in the quilting world. Good heavens, Moda could make a killing if they reprinted that. And yet it all sits in a box on the bottom shelf in my sewing room, awaiting it's day in the limelight. This is craziness. I am postponing all my quilting fun to ease up on my guilt for not finishing things years ago.
Well the buck stops here.
This is going away. Poof! Just like that, gone forever. Off to greener pastures, to hopefully find the life it deserves. Somewhere else.
In the past few weeks, I have listed over 630 yards of fabric on ebay. Yep, you read that right. Then I've got patterns, books, pre-cuts and kits. (Pardon the mess in the kitchen....I'm packing by day and mainlining Diet Pepsi by night and the place should be cordoned off as a disaster zone.)
A few weeks ago, I was looking through a box of my UFOs. There were a handful of projects I am still interested in finishing. The rest: Blah. My friend Maria liked one of them, so I forked it over and now she's the proud owner of her own UFO. And what's left over is all tidily collected in bags and I'm donating them to some service organization that would like to do something with them for charity. As soon as I find one. Any suggestions?
I am changing the way I think about my fabric collection. It's love it or leave it. And I'm happy with that.
I think you're actually being very wise - and I wish I was brave enough to do the same! (Some silly part of me still believes I can use up all those horrible fabrics, but I guess one day I'll get real!). I'm quite sure you will feel a great weight lifted off you when they are all gone and you have space and light and time to really get creative. I can't wait to see what you're going to create!! Well done!!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | 05/16/2011 at 04:48 AM
what you are doing is really very smart! By selling all the stash on ebay you are receiving money to buy the fabric that you will use and get rid of things taking up space for eternity. I have things on my shelves like that too. I keep thinking I will use up those boxes of scraps and really I do wonder if I ever will. I have a small stash but there is so much there really that I could make I haven't a clue how many quilts! But will I? I keep buying new lines that I like more.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Posted by: Karen | 05/16/2011 at 04:55 AM
You will be glad you purged. I plan to do the same thing in the next few weeks as I plan for my move. It is such a freeing feeling to lighten up!
Posted by: Nicole | 05/16/2011 at 05:36 AM
Last fall I had the exact conversation with myself. I was re-doing my sewing room and I had to get rid of a lot of stuff to be able to use the new closet my husband had built for me for storage. I gave away tons of fabric that I had no use for or hated. Then I had itty bitty scraps that realistically I knew I would never use so in the trash they went. It was liberating. You'll love it.
Posted by: Chris | 05/16/2011 at 10:39 AM
What is it about that "toulousse" pattern? I don't even own it and I still have fabric stashed away to make it. Your post today was very cathardic, almost like I was making the same decisions and doing the same cleansing. I feel better now, thanks.
Posted by: Robin Booth | 05/16/2011 at 11:18 AM
If financial considerations will allow, you might donate some of your gently unused stash to a local charity quilting group :D I quilt for such a group and we get the most interesting assortment of fabrics donated to us. One time we got several 5 yard lengths of some really nice Hoffman fabrics, and another time many yards of really odd stuff that looked like someone on LSD had designed it.
Posted by: Pat C in Washington | 05/16/2011 at 01:19 PM
Congratulations! I have the same problem with my stash--fabric I will never use and don't like. I never thought of selling it. You are a genius!
Posted by: Judith | 05/16/2011 at 01:26 PM
Good for you!!! I definitely need to work toward doing the same. When I began quilting I felt an overwhelming urge to collect STASH!!! But now, I am feeling simply overwhelmed! I have been steadily working at not buying new fabric just because it is on sale etc. I have to love it, pure & simple, or it doesn't go home with me. And I'm mixing it up - one new project and then a UFO. If I'm not able to work on new things, then I get very bored and dissatisfied - and that is NOT what I want my hobby to be about! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and giving me the encouragement I need to do the same!
Posted by: Teresa in Music City | 05/16/2011 at 02:18 PM
I do not have your same problems, but I feel relieved knowing you are purging and freeing yourself from the unwanteds!!
Are you prepared to say no to more orphans in the quilt shop?
Posted by: LoriD | 05/16/2011 at 03:09 PM
You go girl! I should take a page out of your book and do the same with my stash. I did take one tiny baby step last week and threw out all of the fabric and batting scraps that were being saved for stuffing pet beds for the Humane Society. It was quite liberating!
Posted by: Laura | 05/16/2011 at 03:40 PM
I think my stash is big but then I see what others have and mine is quite small. Nonetheless, I should love all my stash, too. And I should finish my UFOs...I actually like all my UFOs so they'll probably get finished someday. Though when I go through fabric, if my heart doesn't just HAVE to keep it, it goes in a pile for a friend who makes charity quilts. It's interesting to see what of my fabrics end up in the baby quilts my grandkids get.
Good for you to be so realistic about your stash and patterns and books.
Posted by: Christine Thomas | 05/16/2011 at 03:57 PM
I did the same thing in the past 2yrs. After quilting for 10yrs. my tastes have changed.
I only kept what I truly loved, and donated/gave away the rest.
It does feel odd, but is liberating.
You will be ao happy setting up the sewing space in your new house, free of unwanted items!
Gael
Posted by: Pink-a-Palooza | 05/16/2011 at 05:18 PM
I'm fairly new at quilting but I already have fabric that I bought for a good deal or liked at the time of purchase. it's like some women with shoes...an addiction... Anyway, If i no longer really care about a fabric I have been trying new patterns or techniques. That way I can get new fabric without the guilt :)
Posted by: Heidi McDaniel | 05/16/2011 at 05:46 PM
**Cough** Ahem, you went through your stash and did not tell a certain person? **Cough**
I see how it is, I am being alienated because I work the midnight shift. I thought we meant more to each other...no, no, I understand.
Posted by: Erin (your Skagway friend) | 05/17/2011 at 12:51 AM
Would you be willing to post an ebay link so we can check out what you have for sale?
Posted by: Valerie | 05/17/2011 at 06:18 AM
Yes, please post an ebay link. We've all missed out on so much already. :)
Posted by: Christine Thomas | 05/17/2011 at 06:56 AM
That is awesome - good for you! I hope you only move the things you love! And I can't wait to see what you by with the funds you've earned from de-stashing ;)
Posted by: Megan | 05/17/2011 at 09:42 AM
Bravo!! I cleaned out my quilting room this spring, too, and like you, decided to keep only what I LOVED. No more guilt. I gave the bigger pieces to a group that does charity quilts, and tossed the small stuff and UFO's I didn't like WITH NO GUILT WHATSOEVER. How freeing it is to be able to look at my stash and projects and see only what I love, and am eager to finish. I applaud you...it is a life-changing exprience, because it can carry over into other aspects of your life.
Posted by: Kathleen | 05/17/2011 at 10:12 PM
I met a missionary from Guatamala via the allpeoplequilt.com blog a couple years ago and my guild donated a lot of fabric to her. She could probably use more fabric by now. She and a lot of other ladies make baby quilts for the people at a Guatamalan church. If you want to donate to that cause, let me know.
Posted by: Ruth Janssen | 05/18/2011 at 05:15 AM
Do you have any Minick and Simpson fabric left? Would be interested in buying.
Posted by: Michele | 05/22/2011 at 03:58 PM
Sarah at http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/ would probably love to have your donated stash. She and a group of sewing ladies make quilts for their church quilt ministry.
Posted by: Diane W | 05/25/2011 at 06:02 AM
I am sure there a lot of organizations that would love an opportunity to get at some of that hidden treasure of yours. I enjoyed you Blog some beautiful stuff here.
Posted by: Florida Business Brokers | 05/31/2011 at 01:00 PM
Hi! I love your blog. How do I see what you have listed in eBay? Could be the very fabric I am looking for. :)
Take care of yourself, moving is exhausting-- physically and mentally. I remember it well !
Posted by: GarnetRuby | 06/01/2011 at 09:36 PM