Quilts and/or fabric are CAT MAGNETS!
And while some folks are "Oh, the cat hair!" (And I get it - folks are allergic - true) I just grin and accept it as every other kind of dirty thing in our lives from dust to pollen to laundry to dishes to dirt being tracked up the stairs -
In some ways, I get what the cats feel and why they do what they do.
Is there anything better than petting the fabric? Than snuggling down into a newly completed quilt? or even a well washed, well worn to shreds older version?
So much for my photography attempt!
What's in this batting? Catnip?
She knows a good thing when she feels it!
It was a day of computer graphics and computer time in getting Catching Rainbows ready to release as a printable PDF pattern mid-April! It's coming up soon!
I have been waiting for all of the brown yucky scenery to change to green - to take some PRETTY photos somewhere.
But until those glamor shots happen, there is a lot of work that can be done just by having the quilt where I can see it,
Which means Lola can see it - just for her, all for her - and take over she does! Click to Play:
Lola, you win! I give up!
Until those pretty outdoor photos can happen, this is where Catching Rainbows will be as I work behind the scenes.
Most of yesterday was spent at my desk. But it wasn't bad - as temps reached 70 degrees I threw open a couple of windows and let the fresh air replace all of the stale old winter air that remained.
Dinner was served outside on the cabin porch for the first time of the season.
And by evening time:
More cat on quilt action -
This time IVY while I was attempting to bind the monster!
As usual - on top of my legs - near my feet.
And pretty soon it wasn't just IVY -
It's ZOEY under the quilt, IVY on top, both snoozing away.
It was about this time that i gave up - I needed to rotate the quilt to the next side, and I just couldn't do that to them!
Yes - so glad I chose the purple!
I am about 2/3 the way down the 3rd side. It's getting there, actually faster than I thought it would.
Today is HAIRCUT DAY!
And I am so glad. It's gotten baggy shaggy and unruly just over the past couple of weeks.
Like all of a sudden it is in my face, in my eyes and time to take care of it.
Some errands will happen, but I should be back to my desk by mid-afternoon.
How about your Tuesday ahead?
Are you out in your garden? Are you sewing on something fun?
Oh - I did want to share this - I thought it was so thought provoking.
This lovely thoughtful post was shared by Robyn to our Quiltville’s Open Studio group on Facebook.
I especially love the "Don't wait for a rainy day to use that yardage that you have been saving for a special occasion. Every day is a special occasion."
I have been feeling the same for what feels like many years now. So much accumulation - yet it makes me happy. Pressing fabric, cutting fabric, piecing the quilt tops, quilting the quilt, binding - it all makes me happy.
I also feel the tug of not wanting to leave my sons to deal with all of this stuff - so I've minimized what I bring home to my sewing space, trying to use all I have instead.
But that can sometimes be daunting, and so I bring home new pieces here and there to sew in right away.....
Oh, and my love of neutrals.....
Thanks for putting this all into words, Robyn! You are not alone!
Please feel free to share your own thoughts about this topic in the comments section below. Let's get a good discussion going.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
How often do we fail to notice the small simple pleasures while waiting for that big and momentous what-ever-it-is to come our way?
Today acknowledge the tiny joys that add up to a wonderful day!
Today acknowledge the tiny joys that add up to a wonderful day!
Robyn has hit the nail on the head. My mother and mother-in-law both saved many items for "good". They were still in cupboards and closets almost in mint condition when they moved to smaller homes. I cannot judge as I have only done marginally better.
ReplyDeleteYes I have been trying to use the fabric I have only add what I need the only thing good out of the stay at home year has I have been using my stash. doesn't look like I have depleted
ReplyDeleteyardage much but have made a dent in fat qtrs..
I have designated a couple of people from my guild to come and get and haul off whatever they want when the time comes. My family doesn't have to worry about getting rid of it. I know they will swoop in and take what they want or need and keep it going in the future. Unless there is a financial need it can go and be used by others without stress and worry!
ReplyDeleteLove your idea & will try to remember this, if I can, when I can no longer work at quilting.
DeleteAs an auctioneer for 20 years I have gone through thousands of homes and gotten their accumulations ready for auctions. Our children love the same kind of things I’ve collected so they will enjoy the treasure hunt in our home. Our.granddaughters love sewing so they will enjoy going through all my collectibles and fabrics. I am very content in all that I’ve collected and know at least 90% will go on through our family for generations to come and if not so be it, for I will have truly loved it.
ReplyDeleteWhen a new quilter asks me how much fabric to buy for stash building my new advice is to buy what you’re going to need for each project, and the scraps you accumulate will build themselves. Also once family and friends find out they quilt bags, totes, and boxes of fabric, books, notions, thread will be gifted to them by family members of quilters who have passed, or can no longer sew. I don’t want my kids to have to find homes for my stash so I’ve been giving away small totes, and bags of it for about 17 months now. My goal is to only have two Ikea cupboards of my favorites (I know that would be hard for most, as it was me too). I’ve also been piecing a top twice a week for charity quilts, using the good stuff!!
ReplyDeleteOh this speaks to me too. I need to sort thru my stash and start enjoying the kits and fabrics I put away for my "have some time" days. Coz those days are now. No need to wait.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to come pet fabric at Quilted Colors in Stuart. If you come down 58 from Hillsville to Stuart, you can catch rat. 8 to Winston. She has a shelf of neutrals at $9 a yard and a yummy Mexican restaurant next door.
ReplyDeleteI could so relate to Robyns post. At this point in my life I know I’ll never use all of my fabric, but it brings me joy as I look at it and touch it and yes, use it. I also love sharing with others when they need something. I love Miss Lola showing her love of your beautiful creations. Have a great day, Bonnie. ♥️♥️
ReplyDeleteat 68 I try to no longer buy a lot and try to use what I have - I don't want to be the quilter that has the largest stash and never have, I don't understand the reasoning for having a stash that has to have it's own room because it is so large - but I know I will still have plenty here when I leave this earth but know my daughters will take charge and figure out what to do with what is left.
ReplyDeleteA group us sew together on Saturday’s in a members moms garage. That member, M, passed away suddenly in January. We spent several weeks sorting through the bins and boxes her husband brought to the garage. First task was to tackle the UFOs and I think we’ve put or finished about 20 quilts so far for the family. Friends, keep the pattern with the project! We have done a lot of guesswork on , now what quilt was she making with these blocks?! All in all it has been very therapeutic and we are grateful to,have the space to still get together. Her family will celebrate her life soon, and share the quilts. We will keep plodding along and some charities will benefit as well. And in this crazy time, we can feel her spirit, and we can stay safe in the airy garage, masks on, and finish what she started.
ReplyDeleteChristy, what a beautiful story, and a beautiful tribute to your friend! Having worked with hundreds of families and friends in bereavement, I have to say that doing what you're doing is a wonderful way to work through your loss. Hugs all around.
DeleteI love this story! What a perfect way to honour a creative quilter!
DeleteI'm sure she was right there with you and delighted that her treasures brought you all together in this task!
This last year has been a year of loss for me as well. I lost my oldest friend in February, we were friends since 3rd grade. We are both 77. She was a sewer. In her younger years, mostly clothing and home dec stuff, so she really loved my quilts. She never got bittten by “the bug”.
DeleteI also lost my dearest sewing friend. We sewed together and quilted together. I made a trip to see her last summer and was blessed to have 4 of the best days she had before passing away 2 weeks later. God is good, all the time! She brought me into her sewing room and gave me carte blanche. This included her Bernina 930 Record, 4 unfinished quilts, 3 for me and one for another dear friend. I have completed 2, mine and her other friend’s. The next 2 are written on my UFO list and are in queue. The finishing has bared my soul at times and uplifted me on others. Though she lived 100 miles from me, I miss her everyday! I keep a few of her things around me and use them all the time. We learn to live without their physical presence in our lives. May God bless you and all her other friends in your endeavors on her behalf.
I was so glad to have my stash as mask-making progressed; I was able to use a lot of fabric that I wasn't very fond of, but someone else would enjoy. However, now this year I've been replacing....I think notifying your local guild is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the release of that rainbow beauty, Bonnie!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I totally agree with Robyn - USE the fabric and spread around the joy & happiness by giving away as many quilts as you can. It's been my 'mission' for over 45 years to do just that...I've kept nearly nothing myself. But I am now sewing more for me, and for those family members who might want a quilt in the future. Our kids have quilts and so do the grandkids, now I want to concentrate on the future generations who might possibly never know me & want something that I made. I don't get rid of the 'ugly' fabric, either - I use it, just in smaller pieces. As you say, Bonnie - if its ugly, just cut it smaller and USE it! : )
ReplyDeleteMy cats have all been expert quilt inspectors. I'm impressed that Lola only scratched her ear while on camera. They usually choose that time to do some "personal" cleaning!
ReplyDeleteMy mother didn't sew and my grandmother had downsized a lot but they passed away 6 months of each other so I still had a lot of other stuff to go through and donate. My grandmother more than my mother had things still in boxes that had been gifts to her but she was saving to wear for the right time I don't do that anymore I've learned that lesson I use it now when I am given it. I have a black haired kitty and trust me his hair gets up everything whether hes on the quilt and fabric or not is just life with a cat wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteOur guild just had a give away of really wonderful fabric but the owner moved to a smaller home. Several guild members made bundles; another had a drive way "give away". I recently went through this mental exercise when I had to decide on sashing. "should I not keep these three yards of dark blue for something else? Why should you? You bought them 15 years ago and they are just right for this project." I did use them. Will also use my precious KF for the next grandchild. Why not!
ReplyDeleteSew little time. 😉 I like to use my fabric up as much as possible. Happy hair day. We've been cutting our own and our dogs for over a year now. 🤪 I loved The Four Winds and the day they got to get their haircuts.
ReplyDeleteYES! I feel the same way. I used to go to our quilting guild at the senior center and it seemed like every week a family member would bring in boxes of their Mother's well loved stash and we would all take a bit of it home. It truly got me thinking about my stash and what I want to leave behind. I want to leave a big stack of finished quilts (or better yet, gift quilts while I'm still alive) I will continue to buy fabric (come on now, I know I will because it makes me happy), but I'm more intentional in my purchases.
ReplyDeleteAn old joke came to mind: What is your favourite colour? "Cat hair", it goes with everything!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I cannot express the size to which my "collection" has grown. My husband recently said that if I lived to be one thousand I would never be able to use all my fabric. There are so many of these fabrics that I thought were so pretty I just couldn't cut them up. I recently came to the conclusion that I should be putting them in me quilts, if even just little bit by bit. Bonnie has slowly but surely gotten through to me. Putting these treasured beauties into various quilt projects puts them where they can be enjoyed and not hidden away among the dust bunnies forgotten and forlorned. Cutting them and using them in multiple projects is a very joyous experience I have been missing out on all these years. Thank you ladies for all the inspiration. The joy will continue for many years!
ReplyDeleteMy husband said the same thing an tht was after we had sorted thru some 20 plastic bins in the garage and gifted the local Lutheran church quilting group, the local charity shop and quilting friends. The 40-50 bins plus closets full is untouched!
DeleteI moved my mom into an assisted living complex 2 years ago, it was a 2 bedroom unit so she took some of her sewing room with her. Still going through packing it up was a huge job. My grandson was helping me and I told my grandson he'd have to this for me one day. He responded "I better marry a quilter".
ReplyDeleteLove this!
DeleteRobyn is correct! Reminded of a similar by Irma Bombeck from years ago, USE the rose shaped candle before it melts to a blob waiting !!! LOVE Ivy & Lola appreciating the quilts, miss my Emily!! sigh... happily digging up old old old UFOs and hand-quilting, thanks for the inspiration always and looks like rather than books, PDFs for those that have the itch will be in the mix... whisper: no postage either! and HAIR? What happens, all of a sudden it doesn't fit, looks like it came off someone else? What's up with that? I'm suddenly a 'messy bun' girl, add the learning curve of water pik use and now THERE'S a challenge... Spring is just the right time for all this "use it up" challenge... LOL good news/bad news, while pulling out the half-done "Grandmother's Flower Garden" to hand-quilt i found bags of scraps from my 20s & 30s -- not fabric from the 20s, from MY 20s... when the kids were little and i sewed!!! and quilting was just on the far horizon... why did i keep these scraps??? that creative child must have known... our little quilting group has finished sorting a friend's gift of stash SHE sorted!!! It's in the air I tell all y'all... sort, gift, donate! Blessings to all, and gratitude is abundant as the fabric... Hugs from Cats in Carlsbad CA
ReplyDeleteI love grab bags at the second hand shops. You just never know what you will find in the bags. The stores are not doing that very much right now but I still look. Plus I sometimes find a vintage sewing machine that needs some love. I didn't like to do scrap quilt until I found your blog. But after doing a water color quilt I had a boat load of scraps and I put them in a quilt. That quilt was not for me, but it cause such a reaction to the person I showed it too, that I gave it to she. So when I die my family can let all me quilting friends come over and go through my stuff. Than they can donate it. There is someone out there that will use it in a quilt and that will make me happy.
ReplyDeleteI always joked that my fabric stash was insurance against a cotton crop failure, but I never knew it would keep me entertained for hours during a pandemic! I've finished around 50 projects, large and small, over 100 small doll quilts, and around 200 masks for myself and friends. Many of these things went to my guild's charity projects. The shelves of fabric are not depleting fast enough to use it all before I am gone. Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing all your ideas for using up scraps and small pieces as those seem to breed during the night to provide more entertainment.
ReplyDelete4 years ago we moved across the country. I donated a bunch of books, kits and unwanted fabric to the local PTA Thrift store. I wanted to keep only what I loved and would use. Now, I am getting ready to move again, and I am thinking if there is anything I need to get rid of before then. I don't think so, this time. My daughter will take care of all this leftover when I'm gone, but I am trying to only buy backing fabric when needed. I have plenty for quilt tops.
ReplyDeleteAt 73 I, too, am thinking I really don't need to add anything to my stash or buy it just because I "might" use it some day. I am trying to finish up started projects. But, oh, the pull to jump in with something that catches my eye is still there. What is up with that? Is it the need to be involved with a fresh idea? Anyway, for those of you to are still happily adding to your stash, "Go for it!" I have many, many fond memories of fabric hunting trips with friends (before Covid and before most of us moved to other states to be closer to family). There were so many times we would give each other permission to go ahead and buy that fabric that is speaking to us! Yes, it is wonderful & amazing and you may never see it anywhere again! I realized now we were investing in beauty and it nourished our soul. It is so fun to see Lola thoroughly enjoying each new quilt. I think she is telling you that you make the best quilts ever!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Susan, I agree with you totally! Have told my husband that if I pass before he does, to contact the Mennonite Church in Normal, IL. I have so much fabric and it could be used by the members for making quilts for the Mennonite Relief sale towards World Hunger.
DeleteWithout your stash, Bonnie, you wouldn't be making quilts and patterns that inspire not only yourself but so many of us. You put a lot of joy in the world with that stash and that's really what is important. When going through someone's things, the hard part is deciding what to do with the items, not getting rid of it, so maybe just tell your kids what to do with it.
ReplyDeleteA very dear friend is aging and she knows she will not use her stash--10 people couldn't use up her stash--it is overwhelming her now. It isn't fun to have anymore--she is worried that it is too much for a group to manage. I have decided that there is no shortage of fabric. I only buy what I need. I dug out some vintage table linen and have decided to make a tote bag--very few people and nobody in my family cares about vintage table linens. Same thing with the old feed sacks from the family farm. Get things out and use them--love them--use them up. PS--a bit of cat hair is called sharing the love--I miss my quilting kitty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a source of happiness our fur babies are! I'm still loving my stash and using it. I do have it organized so it will be easy to disperse, sell and/or donate.
ReplyDeleteYour cat hair comments made me smile. Paisley prints are some of my favorites, both in quilting and clothing. We've had a little rescued Rat Terrier for about 8 years now, and bc of some of her markings and the shape of her ears, I named her Paisley. The shedding is EPIC and it's on everything - so I joke that I wear Paisley every day. We've added an indoor Labrador and recently two indoor/outdoor cats to the mix, and my two daughters and I all have long hair. It's hopeless. It's endless. My poor husband.....
ReplyDeleteI appreciate all of the discussion about using your stash. Some wise folks among the Quiltville family, and lots of good perspectives to consider.
Of course, your kitty friends want to snuggle in your quilts. Every piece has your order on it, so they are snuggling with you.
ReplyDeleteI too had a binding helper last night and also had to stop when I couldn't move the quilt without disturbing our tuxedo boy, Mr. Grady. My quilts are definitely cat magnets!
ReplyDeletethere are always worthy recipients of quilty stuff left behind...behooves every quilter to make those arrangements ahead of time saving the angst and energy of others when the time comes...
ReplyDeleteI have had the honor of clearing out a few of my fellow quilting friends' quilting rooms after they died. For me it was truly an honor and also a cathartic way of spending a little more time with them. I have laughed out loud and wondered "what were you thinking when you bought this"?! I have also hugged some pieces that just spoke volumes about the person they were or those that they loved and quilted for. The families decided if they wanted to donate or sell or some of each. It was a great way for many of our guild members to have something to remember their friend by too. It was a lot of work but a true labor of love!
ReplyDeleteI sew understand the dilemma! I want to keep most of what I have, and I do use all of it. I only buy what I need to finish ongoing projects! I've recently started bundling fabrics and patterns, too many! .. and my goals are to finish them.. but I don't seem to have as much energy and/desire as I used to have. I have 2 king size to finish and a few twin size, after that it will be wall hangings or smaller. The quote I read the other day has me thinking..."The next ten years" ...
ReplyDeleteI’ve long said it’s not about having to use things, it’s about having them to use. If you can afford it, enjoy it and have room to store it, all is well. This applies to everything...garden tools, books, shoes...whatever your obsession may be. I plan to begin culling quilt books, as I need to clear about 2 feet of shelf space to accommodate new additions to my library. I’ll offer them to friends before sending to charity.
ReplyDeleteI too had a Mother who loved to Sew/Quilt/hand stitch/knit... etc. We had the daunting task of vacating her stashes. I have inherited them and bought my own modern fabric to enhance her supply. She had lots of UFO's and untouched beautiful fabric - use it, play with it, hang it to enjoy the sight of it but don't keep it out of sight because it does not do any good just lying there. There are lots of groups on FB where you can donate or sell the over abundance you have - lots of fabric hungry people out there. We have a system here that you can go to the recycle place and donate clothes/fabric and they then make them into rugs. Just another idea to help purge when needed. Happy Belate Easter :)
ReplyDeleteI just love your photos and your fun sense of life. Okay, I come here for the quilts, but there's so many other fun things happening. Have a great day, Bonnie! This season has definitely taught me to cherish the little moments.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter says she is going to open a store to sell my fabric when I'm gone *)*. I do have a sizeable stash and I love looking at the variety of colors and patterns; it is so inspiring. That said, I DO use it as fast as I can. It seems that there is always something I NEED to buy when making a quilt - something that makes it just right. I do my part to keep my local quilt shop in business. I make quilts for friends, charity, family, grands and great-grands, as well as having several around my home to enjoy. They make me smile and that's a good thing. My daughter loves my quilts, so she will get first dibs and distribute the rest responsibly. Other friends and relatives will choose what they want. I've also instructed my daughter as to the value of my vintage sewing machines, so as not to sell for $25 or put out at the curb for free.
ReplyDeleteI started quilting when a friend's mom died and my friend gave me her entire stash. I made 15 quilt tops the first year, so fun! Now I am learning various quilting methods, although quilting with a credit card is tempting on frustrating days.🙃
ReplyDeleteI gave away all baby fabrics to a charity quilter. I "found" a triptych of bargello I made and found have a finishing project for them. My Hunter's Star is on my bed. I am experiencing hand quilting on a curved log cabin. I am making pieced backing in beautiful designs, and the "back" on the curved log cabin is so original and beautiful that it became the front. Still figuring out how to quilt these beauties. I am about to use a simple blue and yellow stained glass block from last year on the back of a blue jean stained glass block from closet cleaning this year. I still feel blessed by that 8 bin stash. My son wants all "heirloom" quilts, but will likely gift fabrics to his quilting sister-in-law. Of course I buy a few fabrics too.
My sister who lived with Mother all of her live mailed me Mother's collection after she left us. It was interesting how to figure out what she was planning. All those cardboard templates. Finally figured out a plan for 2 quilts and so happy to be able to use her fabric and know she would be so happy!
ReplyDeleteHer comment was so right on. I only have Sons, so there's no telling where my stash and sewing stuff will go. DIL's have no interest. So my machines and all my loved sewing stuff will probably end up in a garage sale for pennies.
ReplyDeleteI am on a mission to make quilts for my family members, getting the many and projects done. This past weekend I put together a quilt sandwich for basting, walking away, and my kitty decided it was the best thing for rolling in! So I did some pressing, and started over. We all got a kick out of it, as soon as I would walk away, there he'd go, back on it. That is part of the joy of the whole process!
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with your productivity in cranking out the patterns. They are all so beautiful & to anyone reading theses comments - Bonnie’s patterns are extremely well written. I get quite frustrated when I spend money on patterns and have to do all of the brain work because they are not well written.
ReplyDeleteI know it is none of our’s business, but I hope financially the switch to all digital is working for you. It is fun to watch your progress through these quilts the last few months and being able to anticipate your pattern release. Way, way shorter than when you were producing them for your next book.
as I read today portion it get me thinking on that person that have to tru her mother in law quilting and sewing stuff. I have a 3 yards of a fabric called minky for about 7 years in the closet, it took me good 2 hrs to go tru the closet to find it. shame on me! I driving to my friend to give to her since she has been looking for a white fabric to fix a small chair for a few weeks it really feel good to share this with a friend and stop hoarding something while some one could put to good use lol!
ReplyDeleteI struggle to balance the excess I have with a desire to support local quilt shops. I have more than I can ever see up.
ReplyDeleteha, I actually wrote a whole blogpost about this - http://fiatluxury.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-winners-curse-elegy-for-unknown.html. In my relatively early days of quilting I won a bid on an estate sale and got FOURTEEN moving boxes of fabric from someone's mother who had passed....just a crazy amount of fabric. It came with a weird sense of obligation to carry on her work (I donated NINE of those boxes to the local quilt guild which made hospital quilts and such, but still have a ton of that fabric.) I think of it as my retirement plan, but.... what if there's no retirement? Will it all end up in another estate sale someday? Hmm... better get to sewing.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have done in my weekly sewing group is invite the group to the person’s house who is sick or has passed away. The family has already gone thru to see what they want to keep. The quilter friends take what they want, they help box up the rest and it gets donated. I’ve told my children that is the plan also and they know what friend to contact so it makes me content. Hugs,
ReplyDeleteI’m in a “no buy” zone for fabric this year. I not only have quilting fabric, but also apparel fabric. Not buying anything! If I don’t have the fabric I need, that project has to wait. And, if I come across something I don’t like, it goes! Pulled 2 cuts of apparel fabric earlier in the week to be donated. Also working on the cookbook collection. I never use them anymore...I pull recipes from the web. No need to keep the books, so to the library they go.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. we Save the Good stuff back. Sleepless nites are made for hours in the sewing room (not intentional) It dawned on me just this morning While rearranging and searching for a certain piece of fabric - how much STASH I actually have accumulated. I live & breathe SEWING - my girls don't sew. (never needed to) I Need to sew FAST and live LONG!
ReplyDeleteIve been feeling the need to downsize my life, and have no children to leave things to. My sewing room is full full full and I still had about a dozen tubs of fabric in a different room too. Last year I started taking a realistic look at what I have and started pulling what I could live without. I started selling online a few months ago! It feels good to find new homes for fabrics I know I will never get around to using, and it helps supplement my income while I look for a job!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of moving out of state and had to box up my fabric. I had 2 cupboards full and more in other rooms in the flat plastic boxes and a couple of the resin drawers. It's a bit overwhelming. I mailed my hsts out to one person and my niece is taking my scraps and strings. I've been staying out of quilt shops so I'll use what I have and it was working.
ReplyDeleteI agree with robyn. I recently went over my store of fabric and ufo's telling her and showing her what wmgoes to who etc. I am also cutting down on fabric buying.
ReplyDeleteReading this after I've just come home from a fabric acquisition road trip or FART. And adding more to my stash. I love my stash & love the fact that I can make anything I want from my stash, even at 2am. I'm planning to live well into my hundreds & be healthy & make lots more quilts. And if not, my quilt guild will benefit from what is left behind. Love all aspects of quilting & especially Bonnie's scrappy ones. I'll keep making them as long as you keep publishing those patterns, Bonnie. thank you for being you. Love that your kitty's & Zoey love your quilts too.
ReplyDeleteI have a sewing room, and "the warehouse" room with my fabric, needlework supplies, wool and yarns. Every few years I purge and find that parting with quilt fabric is the most difficult for me. It's wrapped on comic book boards and looks like a little fabric store and I love it. Still, I committed 3 years ago to sew from my stash and have been. Much more than I will ever use, but my guild sisters will take it when I'm gone. I hope.
ReplyDeleteOh Lola-girl makes me smile every time! Our fur babies know a good thing when they see/feel it!! Sometimes I barely get done with a project and Pepper is inspecting it! And the thought of the other two "helping" Momma just warms my heart! That was a beautiful quilt and hoping to see it in the outdoors soon.
ReplyDeleteAs for Robyn's post, I feel her pain. I hope that I can have at least my scrap bucket tamed down sometime soon. I have a portable storage cabinet just full of pretties waiting to use, but only when that scrap bucket is tamed down! I hope this summer yields quite a big dent in that project.
Thank you Robyn for the thoughtful words of advice. My granddaughter often comes into my sewing space and grabs fabrics from my stash and asks if she can make Barbie clothes or doll things with it. I always tell her to take what she likes and enjoy it. She's 7 years old. I have plenty and the memory of her finding joy with the fabric makes me very happy. I hope she cherishes the memory as I have.
ReplyDeleteLola sure scored when she found you! She could smell your fabric and came to your door! Her other people must not have been quilters!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what will happen too. I try to be really good about putting fabric and patterns together, and where I am with my UFOs. But. I have a lot. I had to go through a ladie’s (Sandy) stash, who I didn’t know, but a fri. end of mine knew the relative who was doing “the deed”. My friend texted me with a picture of a couple boxes, and I said sure, I would take them. There was a pick up truck and a full trailer (6x8’ ?) full of boxes. I went through it, about 1/2 was thrown, a lot given away, and I kept a lot, washing and ironing everything, as she was a smoker. But, she had many of the same fabrics I did! And I think I would have liked her. It took me a year. I try to keep very organized, so my stuff won’t get just tossed. Sandy didn’t have patterns with a lot of her stuff, so it got tossed. Also, I couldn’t wash those small pieces...it pays to be organized, even if they give it to Good Will. It will make someone happy!
Every time I begin to organize and clean my sewing space I think about this very thing. I imagine my children bagging up all the fabric and sewing tools and hauling them off to Goodwill. None of my kids are into sewing. The oldest daughter dabbled a bit in paper piecing, but it isn't a passion of hers like quilting is for me. Thanks to you Bonnie, I have not bought new yardage for a quilt in several years, But my stash doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. I still go to the quilt shop and I always end up with a yard of this or two yards of that to bring home. By the time I have pieced a top, Im not interested in piecing that backing so I usually buy wide yardage for that. And there are always strips left over to add to my stash. ; My quest to use up as much fabric as I can before I die, has resulted in lots of scrappy quilts. MY children have been gifted many, but they are now overstocked with quilts, and Im sure they are not scrappy lovers. That is a special design style, so most of the quilts I have gifted them are from new yardage. But there is a huge plastic pin in my basement that holds finished quilts and small projects that will be for my granddaughters to rummage through when I am gone. OH and now that I have said that I should make different arrangements for those quilts before the plastic and any moisture in the basement ruins them. And of course this doesn't take into account the quilts that are already on the beds in each of the bedrooms. OH so many quilts, so little time.
ReplyDeleteMy adult son helped me organize and re-home my father's fishing gear. He quipped, "I've never seen so much, and so many versions of the same thing." I said, "Just wait till you clean out my sewing room." In all seriousness, after settling my parents' estate and moving to a much smaller home and finding out the "stuff" you treasure isn't what people want these days, I recommend starting to "right-size" sooner than later. But, not necessarily your stash, LOL!
ReplyDeleteAs they say "Don't let your possessions possess you". Right now my possessions do possess me. They order me around and belittle me - messages of you're too slow, you're not organized, you don't deserve, etc. Constantly nagging at me. I'm working towards decluttering only to have my health slow me down. Stress is not good for anyone especially if you have an autoimmune disease like I do. We're still dealing with Covid and that's a stresser in itself, then top it off with the violence in the world, it's too much to handle. I have a dream of someday having an organized sewing room and quilting studio where I know where everything is and am on top of it instead of feeling overwhelmed. I can only hope to live long enough to achieve that so my family doesn't have to deal with the mess I've created.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few places to fabric shop in the Rio Grande Valley. I have been inviting my quilting friends who don't have a stash here, to shop in my fabric closet. I know the fabric is going to a good home! Also I co9ordinate a charity quilt group on South Padre Island in the winter and my fabric goes there as well.
ReplyDeleteI have made several wedding quilts for nieces. One was a crazy squares scrap quilt that I made with scraps from my grandmother's fabrics. I could not let them be thrown away when she died. Now my niece has something from her great grandmother to cherish for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI am in a similar situation with my mother's sewing room She is still living in a memory care home so my husband and I are attempting to clear things out of her house. I had a quilt shop for many years and she had a lot of fabric and notions that came from my shop. What I was surprised to find was two hand pieced nine patch quilt tops. What a treasure! I think I will be completing those for my 2 sons this year.
ReplyDeleteI understand what Robyn is going through. However, I have a different perspective. I am using up my stash now and buy very infrequently. There will be plenty of my stash left after I am gone. I have two daughters and two daughters-in-law who will have a great time going through my stash and remembering all the fun times we have had together laughing about all my fabric and trying to organize it. My sister and I went through the same thing. We found it very therapeutic to remember Mom sewing our clothes. Hope this will help some who aren't sure about that big stash of fabric. I know much of what I have will be donated but my loved ones will have fun going through it.
ReplyDeleteI’m an unabashed cat lover, even having been raised in a house with dachshunds and corgis (yes love them still), so I can’t get enough of Lola and Ivy, but Zoey has caught my heart too. I have 5 kitty rescues, 3 to 17 yr olds. Keep the family four legged members coming, and I can’t wait for the upcoming PDFs!
ReplyDeleteYou can tell an animal lover, or not, with the comment by the amount of pet hair on your clothes “I see you have a “cat” or “dog”. I never know how to respond.
ReplyDeleteWe moved last summer. I didn't pare anything down until I was settled. I went from three spaces down to one room and parts of the basement. I am working on a goal,of getting all of my sewing stuff on the main label by the end of 2021. Then by 2022 I am hopeful to have it all in my sewing room and all of my art supplies upstairs. The end goal is to bring water and a wet studio space into my basement so I can return to dyeing and painting fabric! My finishes are starting tomstack up finally so progress is being made. I too allow myself to buynsomething that either speaks to me or will just plain make a current quilt better. I tried not buying anything for a year one time. Tutns out that's the fastest way to kill your craativity!
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