People of a certain age will recall that young adults in the 1980’s were called the “Me Generation.” As in, “I want it, so I’m going to have it. I only care about me and my desires. Me, me, me…” I can remember a dear friend, a really sensible and compassionate clergyman even, who had a sign on his desk that said, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.” I thought it was witty and clever.
When I started quilting in 1993, I started seeing that slogan applied to fabric. A sign in a quilt shop said, “Whoever dies with the most fabric wins.” I thought that was funny, too.
Now that I’m older, I have changed. A lot. I am feeling over-burdened with the weight of too many possessions. And way too much fabric. I often wonder why I ever thought I needed to have that much fabric in my house. My brother, whose field of expertise is sales and marketing, once said to me, “you shouldn’t have all your money tied up in inventory.” I thought it was an odd comment and that he was criticizing me because he didn’t understand my “art.” Now I realise that he was really just trying to give me good advice. If you’re reading this, Bubba, I get it now.
So, in 2009, I really am going to change my ways. I am going on a non-buying, “shop from my stash” discipline, and I am going to finish as many UFOs as I can during the year, while still having fun with my sewing and not feeling any great pressures about finishing on a deadline. Slow and steady and — productive!
I plan on doing all these wonderful things with the help and support of fellow quilters who have found themselves in a similar predicament. I have signed the Stash Buster’s Pledge for 2009 at Judy Laquidara’s excellent site, Patchwork Times. I have joined the UFO Challenge at the Stashbuster group and will also be signing up for that group’s No Buy Challenge for fabrics. At the end of the year, I hope to have a fat savings account, lots more storage space in my sewing cupboard, and a big stack of lovely completed projects that my family can enjoy, or that I can give away as gifts to other loved ones or to charities.
And to my quilting sisters who love their large fabric stashes and have the space to keep them and the patience to manage them — please know that I am not judging you. This is all about finding the right balance in my life. I don’t want to change you — just me. Me, me, me…. 😉 Perhaps I have come around full circle. But this time, with another destination in mind.
Happy sewing!
Great post! I’m right there with you. I began quilting in 2005, so I’m sure I don’t have quite the stash problem, but I also wouldn’t want to multiply it by 5! One thing I really want to do (this year!) is make a beautiful, stash-busting scrap quilt. I’ve never done one. Yes, 2009 will be the year! 🙂
Thank you for the nice comment, Jessie! Wow, I can’t believe you only started quilting that recently. I was just admiring the blue and white table runner on your blog the other day. That quilting is so fine and intricate. I guess you are just a natural talent! 🙂 I hope you will post photos of your scrap quilt so we can follow your progress. Take care.
I share your overwhelmed state, Rosewillow. Can’t promise to take the pledge yet, but maybe if my car were impounded.
Your John Deere quilt with the different sized patches is way beyond pretty. Happy stash busting!
Hi, Spacecamper, thank you for the lovely compliment! You gave me a great big smile to start my morning! I also got a giggle thinking about our cars being impounded to stop us shopping. 😉 Of course, there’s always online shopping, or the bus, or …. ooops, I’m not supposed to be thinking that way, am I? Have a great day! 🙂
I became an adult in the 80’s and remember the first time I saw the saying “he who dies with the most toys wins”. I thought it was cute also. I remember telling my friend about it and his father who was our Pastor heard us talking about it. My Pastor just smiled at us and said “He who dies with the most toys is dead”. I must have forgotten that for a while because I also have a very large stash.
Hi Diane, thank you for sharing that great story about your Pastor. He was a very wise man! I’m very glad you visited me today. Take care.
I love this post and it is sooooo me! I too feel a bit over-whelmed with stuff and fabric. I feel like I am greedy to have what I do and still want me. I have been in the use it up mode for a year or so though. I have bought some fabric but not alot. I piece my backings now to use up those uglies and those what was I think fabrics. I want to have a more manageable stash and continue to make scrappy quilt that I love and reduce my UFO count. I am here rooting for you!
Hi Eileen, we are kindred spirits. It makes me feel good to know that I am not the only one who is starting to think this way. It’s probably not realistic for me to say that I will not buy any new fabric at all, but I am going to shop my stash first and only buy new fabric if I need it for a project and don’t have anything suitable at home. Take care.
Congrats on taking the plunge with us. Good luck!!!
Hi Amy, thank you. I’m looking forward to being part of your group. Take care.