Very slowly, as work, time and health allow, I’m working my way round the house, clearing out cupboards, recycling and getting rid of stuff we really don’t need. It feels great even if I can’t say the rest of the family are really on board….but when nobody is noticing the clearout fairies get to work…

Today I tackled the fabric stash. I’m quite strict about keeping all the fabric within the confines of an Ikea glass-fronted cupboard bought for the purpose, plus a big wicker box for smaller scraps. That rule is the only thing that keeps me from going completely mad buying new fabrics. It helps that there isn’t a whole lot of choice locally too, but the internet is still way too tempting.

Don’t imagine for a minute that I was aiming to get rid of any of the quilting fabric stash! My goal was actually to clear out some of the dressmaking fabrics, in particular  a whole lot of fleece in not very flattering colours that has been sitting there for years. On the grounds that I avoid looking like a teddy bear at all costs, there is no way that’s ever going to get used. Anything that makes me look fatter than I really am is a big no-no…. Making something for the girls from it doesn’t even bear thinking about…I can see the rolling eyes before me now!

So first I made a mountain and then I slowly put everything back in a semblance of a system, stroking and admiring it as I went. There were a few fabrics where I did wonder why on earth I ever paid good money for them, but I didn’t dump them. They just reinforced the feeling that it’s time to make another stashbusting quilt.

Here’s what I’m getting rid of. I can’t imagine where that all came from..

I had a crazy dream that I would create so much space that I’d be able to fit all my quilt patterns in and the threads. Hmm, that certainly isn’t going to happen. It does look better though. It isn’t all crammed in anymore the way it was before and I can pretty much see what I have. Just looking at it and writing about it is making my fingers itch….

There’s a fair bit of fabric in there – but I think it’s still at a manageable sort of level. Or at least at an ‘almost useable in my lifetime’ level. But I’ll need to keep at it.

Please don’t tell anyone that in a weak (sick and needing cheering up) moment last week I ordered a whole lot of new fabric.

I have no idea where it’s going to go…

Helen

This entry was posted on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 9:47 am and is filed under Quilting, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.