Monday 13 January 2014

Third Drawer Down

I'm being so so so good!  No fabric at all!  I'm looking but not touching..actually I'm not really looking!  A GREAT day at GJs Fabric Store, in Brunswick yesterday, sewing with my MMQG peeps - a great group - positive, friendly, generous, funny, loyal - we have a great year ahead of us, I can feel it in my bones! - BUT I am digressing.....I spent 7 hours in very close proximity of a great quilting store with oodles and oodles of tempting fabric, but I did not even look!  Okay, I had a peek, but I was strong and stayed true to my FA Pledge sisters!!

I have taken some piccies of another part of my fabric collection - vintage linen tea towels!!  I read on a FB site somewhere, someone was amazed that some 20 year olds did not recognise a Tea Towel!!!  What the?  Who would not know what a tea towel was?  There was much spluttering as you could imagine!! hehe!

I love love love collecting vintage linen for the kitchen - the softer it is the better!

The first one is a super favourite - colour, graphic print and softness '8'
Designed by Harvey Lago for Fragonard in Ireland





This one I bought from Liberty, in London - probably cos I just wanted to buy something from the store!  I thought it was fun, using a vintage teatowel 'Australia', with fabric paint design ' rock on tea time, it's cake o'clock' over the top - colour bright, softness '6'



This is also a super favourite - Welsh Language
Colour bright, softness '9'

I have a soft spot for this one as my name is Welsh!



I love this one too - made in Ulster, Ireland (which often are the best!)
It reminded me of a quilt pattern - imagine the applique you could design from this!



Just a little glimpse into what is in my third drawer down - I love to fill it with freshly laundered, smoothly ironed, pieces of textile history - history that I may not know of, but lays there, ready for use all the same :)





Saturday 4 January 2014

F.A. Do you need to join?

2014 FABRICHOLICS ANONYMOUS

I have been inspired by the lovely Jess of The Elven Garden to take stock of my stash and make a pledge and this is it!

No Fabric Buying for 6 Months


breathe in, breathe out, breathe, breathe



I am showing my stash online to show you my friends (most) of what I have and WHY I don't need to buy anymore (at this time!)

Hey, lets be real here and state upfront that searching and researching fabric for colour, design, usability, and just all out gorgeousness is a major part of my sewing hobby. Along with that searching comes wanting and along with the wanting comes purchasing and along with the purchasing comes receiving.  Oh yes, that can possibly be the best part.

But maybe, just maybe that rush of buying and holding that fabric wears off all too quick and I need to go in for more.

I. Have. Enough


(for now)


My shelves behind my sewing chair 



My stacks beside my chair



Stacks under my sewing table

Just a couple of bags of clothing fabric - a new little habit I am forming.....eek


 Now the following paragraphs I have blatently 'stolen' from Jess's blog post - some I have modified for my own purposes - not doing the Quilts for Publication thing so doesn't apply etc.....

Read it and think hard about whether you can relate - can you do it?  YES  You Can!

GOALS:
- To use the Stash I already have!
- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.
- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.
- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.

FABRIC FAST RULES:
1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   
2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.
3) Create a UFO list and complete them!
4) Exceptions
  • Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
  • Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.

If you are like us and would like to commit to not buying fabric next year, we would love the moral support. Solidarity in numbers and all that. We have a button you can grab:


Favorite Fabric Swap




 I have been so so so good .....so far - I have bought fabric but only in 2013!!!  Got in at last minute and that will do me.....I have received packages on my doorstep which the family say 'really Mum?  You couldn't last 1 minute'.....hahaha bought last year I tell them!!!  big raspberry!

One little tiny teeny weeny hiccup last week when I bought this most amazing fabric Folkloric in Talavera Garden - goes absolutely positively perfect as a backing for my Granny Squares quilt top - so this little wonder was allowed!!!!!


I am resisting well I think - and I love that my friends are helping to keep me in check - LOVE that!

As part of the pledge - I need to work through my UFOs - this can be hard, as they are UFOs for a reason, are they not?  I do need to decide if some are just not worth any more energy and maybe donate unfinished to somewhere....

Meanwhile......strength will be a motto for me this year - strength physically and emotionally; especially strengthening bonds between those who want to build and leaving aside those who only tear down. I don't want to end this post on a downer, so.......


A Very Happy 2014 I wish for you all!