How has your week been? Here it has been a bit busy, especially at work. Some unexpected issues cropped up and it was a bit confrontational getting them resolved. I really don't like confrontation, but sometimes it is a part of life. When things get a bit crazy, I tend to get busy cleaning, or rearranging, to burn off that excess energy, anxiety, or whatever you want to call it. Unfortunately it usually leads to lack of mojo--creative block--analysis by paralysis-- not a good thing!
Want to see:
I tore apart my sewing room.....and my stash .....
I am definitely in need of shelves and bookcases, to get organized!
Which brought me to the question: Stash or Destash?
What do you do?
Do you have fabric you bought for a project that you never made?
Do you still like the fabric?
You paid $8.95/yd or got it at a great sale $$ and now fabric can be $10.95/yd.
Do you keep it for a scrap quilt or another project of do you destash and sell it?
If you sell it, where do you sell it? Etsy? Ebay?
I also have seen swaps on Flickr, not sure how successful they have been...
I know there seems to be alot of concern that the fabric will be calicos from 1990, and yes,
I have seen that too.
Let me know what you think....as I am pondering this question myself....
Other projects: Working on my upcoming August tutorial for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop. Let's just say I am ready to do the test block and it is has a Holiday theme ;)
Be sure and hop over to Plum and June's to see all the great blogging and tutorials going on each week this summer and fall.
Great Granny Blocks! Oh, Great Granny gave me my mojo back! This is the
QAL I talked about here.
I have been sewing away on these blocks this lovely weekend!
(80's with a wonderful 2.5 inches of rain this week!)
Such a nice change of pace--both weather wise and sewing wise.
This project is both fast and fun and comes together easily!
I will be doing a seperate post for Great Granny blocks soon but here is a sneak peak!
Have a great Sunday!
Ginny
some times the amount of "stuff" we own gets a bit overwhelming...which is where i found myself last fall...my cure was i made a list of all the sewing and knitting projects i had thought i would do and bought fabric and yarn for...i then made myself a promise that i would not buy or start anything new until those lists were done...yes yes yes for the most part they are finished...and do i feel better...yes yes yes...definitely was a soul freeing move for me..
ReplyDeleteSherry that is awesome! I can imagine how soul freeing it must be. I do tend to buy with a specific project/person in mind. Since there are obviously more than what I was able to accomplish they sit waiting. It also makes me feel bad when I go in and reorganize and there they are... I am going to give serious consideration to your method. Its not that I don't like what I bought....just a bit overwhelmed in how to get it all done. Thanks for sharing and stopping by!
DeleteI found a method called Scrap Therapy. You cut down your stash into squares of 2,3 1/2 or 5 inches. You use these squares for scrap projects. You declutter and thin out a lot of fabric. The hard part is cutting everything down but so much easier to manage. It's amazing how many tiny pieces I had that I would never be able to use.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion Rosemary! I do have some that I wouldn't mind cutting down and using that way. Edyta Sitar spoke at a quilters day I went too about how when she finishes a project and has left overs fabric she immediately cuts it into different sizes of triangles and logs as that is what she uses most. Then she swapped them and made a wonderful triangle friendship quilt! Anyway, you are right I bet I have many pieces that would be best cut up and available to use in a scrappy quilt vs. just sitting in my closet. Thanks for your comment and stopping by!
DeleteHaven't ever thought of selling any fabric, but I have participated in a couple of fabric swaps. They are a great way to refresh your stash without spending anything other than the postage.
ReplyDeleteThanks Fiona, I just noticed alot of "destashing" on Etsy and I have never done that. I love the Flickr fabric swaps I have been in, a chance to get rid of some and get some I wouldn't have bought much of.
DeleteI've swapped and donated 2 trash bags full and a roll of polyester batting to Project Linus.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to donat to Project Linus. I have participated in some swaps and that worked out too. Thanks Jamie!
DeleteLove your "Precious Quilt"! Not sure what story the fox is from but he is dressed very fine! :)
I read through your post a couple of times, and several things came up. You had a stressful week. You manage stress by organizing. You have a lot of fabric and you think you might have too much. The fabric is expensive. Now may not be a good time to give it away. At least not when you are so stressed. If your creative mojo went on a vacation, but your organizing urge is taking over, why not go with it? Invest in shelving and put together a sewing room you love to be in. You can sell some of your fabric to finance the trip to Ikea I guess, but I think you outgrew your original storage methods. You can thin out your fabric collection as you put it away again if necessary. But I would hold off on a mass purge until you feel back in control again.
ReplyDeleteAnn, you are so right, in the fact that I outgrew my original storage. I moved into this house with this room supposed to be my sewing room/office and it just hasn't worked out as I thought. So as I was organizing, and pulling stuff out of the closet, I freaked. Worried about my projects....the ones waiting in the wings... faster, faster, gotta do more...Ok you get the idea. And then I see people "destash" -ing??? Never have done that before, I have swapped but never sold. And I buy on sale, rarely full price. Simple solution, make the list, prioritize my projects, and get some shelves and reorganize! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI absolutely love your birch trees! They are awesome--and I think the touch of brown/gold really sets the beautifuly whites/greys off
I agree with some of the other posts - it does look like it's time to invest in some new shelving! I have a bookcase that is about 44" W x 76" tall. All of my fabric has to fit in that space - that's my personal rule. I have two plastic storage containers under my cutting table that have kits in them. I also have several scrapbook paper containers under my cutting table for the following "precut" sizes: 1.5", 2", 2.5", and 3.5" strips; 3.5", 5", and 10" squares. I cut up both new fabrics and leftovers from completed projects. One of my bee groups does block exchanges on a regular basis and my guild makes comforters for charity, so those are other ways I can use up my "precut" fabrics and my stash. Happy Organizing! It might be a bit of a jumble and mess right now as you sort thing out, but I'm sure you will be pleased with your results in the end.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie for stopping by and yes! I will be so happy when I have new shelves and I am on the lookout for a bookcase. Do you mind me asking-- how deep your shelves are? I have seen many sizes and just wonder what is good for fabric storage? And yes, I am going to start cutting up my leftovers/scraps so they will be ready to use, thanks for the all the different sizes
DeleteHi Ginny, stopping by to let you know that I've left something for you on my blog. Hope you'll visit, thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://handmadebyfarahlin.blogspot.com/2012/07/ive-been-lovely-blogged.html
Oh thank you Farah! I will be right over! :)
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