Having decided to participate in the Sparkle Punch quilt a long over at Oh Fransson, I pulled out my stack of DS Quilts fabric from Joann's to start cutting. I thought, "Yes! This is really going to make a dent in all that fabric!". I probably even subconciously thought, "...and justify all those fabric purchases!". Halfway through the cutting I realized I was wrong. Really really wrong.
Seriously - the stack doesn't look any different.
Notes to self:
1) You do not have to have every print in every Denyse Schmidt or Anna Maria Horner Line.
2) Just because Fat Quarter bundles don't count as yardage on Hawthorne Threads doesn't mean you have to buy 1/2 yard sets.
3) Repeat after me: Fat Quarters are your friends.
4) It's only fabric.
5) Something you like more will eventually come along so use what you have NOW.
6) Don't buy more of something just because you are afraid of the Flea Market Fancy Effect*.
7) Remember how stupid and gluttonous you felt when consumed by the FMFE?
8) Remember how you had FMFE fabric remorse and sold/traded it all at a loss because you felt bad selling it a price as high as you paid for it?
9) Keep saving a hexie sized piece of your favorites; having a small piece helps you let go of the rest.
*The Flea Market Fancy Effect (FMFE) is when a fabric line becomes hard to find and desirable once it's out of print selling for ridiculous amounts of money.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this conflict of hoard vs. use. In every other aspect of my life I am quick to purge unused items. I'm ruthless with my scrapbook supplies, clothes, books, and household goods etc. Fabric is the one exception. Of course, not all fabrics fall in this category. For me, it's primarily Denyse Schmidt and Anna Maria Horner fabrics. All my other fabrics I use like normal person, with no strings attached.
In 2012 I'm making it a priority to sew more often with the hoarded fabric and practice conservatism on new purchases. With the upcoming Flea Market Fancy re-release and new DS Quilts lines hitting Joanns every 4 months or so I would be wise to heed my own advice.
10 comments:
I love your Notes to Self, definately something to keep in mind as all of these new collections keep coming out.
oh my word...this is me to a tee!! It's crazy how much I feel the NEED for more and more fabric because I am sure it will be out of print soon!
The FMFE...ha ha ha.
oooh, great post mary claire. i feel your pain. i need a reminding of this all the time...and i need to add to your list...dont buy fabric just cause its a good deal...i do that way too often!
I totally love this post and can definitely relate. I have been struggling with wanting to buy fabrics that are on sale - but I have to keep reminding myself that just because it's a good deal doesn't mean that my money is an unlimited resource and I have to remind myself that I will want something different later!
I'm with you! (although, I have to say that I tend to hoard things in everyday life as well. Ughh! I think I've turned a bit of a corner though and now I can't wait to either use it up or get it out of my house!)
Yes, only with fabric, right? What is it about this medium that we love SO much? Glad you're using yours!
Love it. Love the after effects of the purges too. (Even after I write that sentence I realize how awful it sounds, but I'm not deleting it. Shock value and all.) Thanks, Mary!
Lovely post. I have a tendency to hold onto fabric because I don't have a lot of time to sew. Yet I still buy more! I adore your idea of saving enough of your favorites for a hexie. I am going to start doing that! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
Well said, missy. I wish I could resolve to be this way, too. I over-buy, for sure. I love it so much and keep thinking that someday I'll use it all but my bet is that I won't. I just don't sew quickly enough. I haven't touched my scrapbooking in ages and I can't even bear to get rid of any of my supplies! I need you to come to my place and straighten me out! But then, chances are you'd go home with much of my stash and the cycel would start over! HA
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