Thirty-seven Days and Hexie Love

Thirty-seven days - that’s how long I resisted buying fabric!  Kind of sad, isn’t it?  Oh, I have lots of excuses and, in fact, rationale for why this particular purchase shouldn’t count.  You see, the fabric for this year’s Hoffman Challenge is in one of the shops I visit.  I knew I would have to get some eventually, but I usually have to order it and wait for it to arrive in the mail.  But, here it was in person!  Plus, I’m weak!

I’ve been working on an idea for the Challenge, but it will need to simmer for a bit to fine tune the details.

In the meantime . . . .

I have been using some more of my stash.  Not as much as I’ve purchased, but it has the potential!

You see, I love hexies!  I can’t seem to help it.  So when I saw the Soupcon Hexagon Quilt Along at Faeries and Fibres, I had to join in.  After all, it started with hexies AND embroidery.  What more could you ask for?

So here it is after Step four – a center block and three borders.  I’m loving it so far!

I love so much, in fact, that I had to start another one!  I came across this border fabric (in my stash, of course) and I knew it would look great!  Actually, it looks pretty good from the back, too.

I may  need to make another one to capture that circle in the center.  But, I digress . . .

This is the fabric, and I’m thinking it will have to be one of the borders, too.

But first, I will be settling in for a little hand embroidery. 

Stash Revisited

Well, so far I’ve managed to resist buying any fabric . . . so far!  I haven’t used very much, but at least I haven’t added to it!  What I have done, though, is a little organizing.

To refresh your memories, this is before . . .

and here is after.  Every single piece was hauled out of the cupboard, sorted, and folded.  The folded pieces are 1/2 yards and more, while fat quarters and whole pieces less than 1/2 yard are rolled in boxes on the lower shelves.  I really enjoyed reviewing all my fabrics and finding pieces I had completely forgotten about.  A few mystery pieces, too – where did this come from?  What was I thinking!  What in the world can I do with this? – that sort of thing.

And it ONLY took two days!

Oh, yeah.  I should probably stipulate that the sorting was only of quilting cottons.  The bundles and bins on the top shelf have other types of fabric.  Yes, they need to be sorted, too, just not yet.

I still have a pile of usable pieces – not quite quarter yards but “too good” to toss.  So here is what that pile is turning into.

This ought to keep me busy for awhile, huh?  Good thing I have something to keep me occupied, because it’s SNOWING!  AGAIN!  Sigh. 

Nevermind, Spring will be here before we know it . . . just 41 days!

It’s All About the Stash

 

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my stash a lot.  I’m not the only one.  I’ve seen a lot of blogger’s take the Fabriholic’s Pledge.  As near as I can figure it, Jess started the FAA with her post here.

Jess posted a photo of her, ahem, stash as evidence that she needs to go on a fabric “diet.”  Oh boy, I would love to have my stash fit in one bookshelf!

In fact, I’d love to have my stash fit in one picture!!

And let’s not even get started on the laces, ribbons, and beads!

I was tempted to take the pledge to not purchase any new fabric this year, but then Reality raised it’s charming little head and, er, laughed at me!  We all know there’s no way I can NOT buy fabric for six months.  But, I do need to get a handle on this problem.

So, I’m thinking of doing an experiment.  Let’s see how long I can go without buying any fabric, and just shop my stash for whatever projects I do this year.  Of course, I’m thinking of excuses already . . . Block-of-the-Month kits shouldn’t count . . . I have to order the Hoffman Challenge fabric . . . and so on.  Maybe the experiment should also include how creative my excuses can be!

What do you think?  Is there any hope for me?  Maybe we can set up a pool and take bets!

 

 

P.S. Full Disclosure:  I had this post ready a couple days ago, but remembered I needed a backing for a quilt.  Soooo, this post got held until after I bought fabric!