Okay, I have figured something out that will be life altering. As a new quilter I have been watching blogs, joining bees, forming guilds all with the best of intentions.
There is one huge GLARING problem that I am willing to disclose to you. I cannot bring myself to cut into my fabric. I mean REALLY cut into it. Take my bee blocks. Here are the last six I made. I have two more to go as I was in 2 groups for a portion of this round.
They look nice but see how little i had to cut into my fabric? no big chunks.
I have so many ufo's it is ridiculous and I think this is the reason.
It was my birthday last week. This is a sampling of goods I received for my birthday.
My first obsession was Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks. I still own ALL of it. Some of it on bolts, the same with Garden Party, Chocolate Lollipop, Drawing Room and now Innocent Crush which I have been raging for since I knew about it. I love it. I love it so much that I have made a decision. I am cutting into it
now. Thanks to Mary Dugan. You can find her at www.mollyflanders.blogspot.com. She does beautiful work. I have been following her on flickr for a while now and her work is perfection. The hand quilting, the fabrics. I realized that she takes the time and effort and really USES her fabric to its full extent. So...this is my promise to myself. I will finish my bee blocks and my Cross Quilt (which i intend to handquilt.) I have chosen The Quilt that i will cut into my Innocent Crush for. It is in Material Obsession 2 and the name of it is Erika's Honesty. I begin cutting today. The fabric is pulled and ready to go.
I cannot believe it took me this long to figure this out and although it is a relief it will be hard on me. You see I have all of Jennifer Paganelli, alot of Amy Butler, Erin Michaels, etc. etc. I have the entire cabinet filled with Heather Ross, Munki Munki and all my Denyse Schmidt including my Flea Market Fancy. If I can conquer this fear and get through this quilt then I can move on and create some beautiful quilts. Yes, the fabric will be gone but there will always be beautiful fabric...right? Then there are the scrap boxes and jars brimming with remnants for all those lovely scrap quilts. Real scrap quilts...where a scrap is not 10 yards...
hugs,
leslie
YAY for you! im so anxious to watch your progress! i definitely need to start sewing with my hoarded fabric as well!
ReplyDeleteI can not wait to see what you make! You have some amazing collections. I tend to gather and then use it but I make sure I leave a few scraps for later when I really miss it. Scraps of one of my most favorite things in the world lol.
ReplyDeleteWow your stashed fabrics are wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing all the lovely quilts you make with them :-)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Cutting it is the hardest part--but I try to think of it this way--I still have my fabric, its just more spread out. :)
ReplyDeleteI am really needing the support here girls! I thank you for each and every comment. I will log and post as i go. I have to make myself accountable to someone!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, you are too kind! I completely understand not wanting to cut into favorite fabrics - but if it is something you love- think how much you will enjoy it in a quilt. It is difficult to enjoy when it is folded up and stashed in a drawer...right? Go for it, girl!!! Can't wait to see what you are working on - and your bee blocks are amazing!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, the first cut is the hardest. Just think,when its in a quilt, you'll be able to wrap all that beautiful fabric around you and enjoy it everyday rather than just gazing at it every so often.
ReplyDeleteHoly Birthday Haul! Wowza.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear i'm not the only one with difficulty cutting into fabric, but my reason is because I usually only buy half yards. I hem and haw over whether a certain project is worthy of me cutting into my small piece. But I recently have been going wild cutting into my HTF and rare fabrics and it feels GREAT!
I am in the exact same boat! I've been looking at material obsession 2 for awhile but I haven't bit the bullet to buy yet. You'll have to share your experiences using your new book!
ReplyDeleteI AM A FABRIC HOARDER!! I am so glad there is someone else like me. If I buy a fabric, I really love it. I don't want anyone to see how much I have!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. completely. I have been trying to follow a 'sew it dont stash' it.. Thinking that lovely handmade things will be bettee than a lovely pile of fabric. I am hoping to make more quilts with my fabric collections, that way I get good use and still get to enjoy all the pretty-ness!
ReplyDeleteAlso, i saw your comment on Providence Hanmdade's blog, and was wondering about chalk cloth at Joanns? I have been wanting to make mini quilts, with the center being chalk cloth and then hang them up on the walls, but didnt really want to have to buy in online. any info would be helpful as I couldn't find it on joann's website!
Too funny because I know just how you feel... but your blocks are amazing. The fabric looks even better in your blocks then it does alone so cut cut cut. I hope your projects are going well and your enjoying your amazing birthday loot.
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