A Month of No-Sewing and Challenge Violations

This appears to have been my month off from sewing projects. The Babylok is still in the shop. It may be a no-sew February too.

We finally had a semi-warm January day that was clear and dry. I did some of my annual clean out the garden beds tasks. Deer had been nibbling on the sturdy artichoke that survived our intense summer heat. I moved that plant and the rhubarb into the greenhouse. They both take up way too much room but I want them to survive. I want to climate control the greenhouse this upcoming season. We have to replace panels that were blown off during a storm. Next, we will wrap the exterior of the greenhouse in visqueen so we don't have them blow out again.

I violated my own challenge, not once but twice. But it did prevent me from buying unnecessary fabric.  

I knew I was missing yellow/gold fabric in my stash having reorganized it at year's end. I really struggled with this $2 purchase. First violation occurred on 1/12. 

The second violation occurred on 1/25. Not usually a fan of pink fabric, this pattern looked retro to me. I had to have it, AND included with that was a nice piece of blue/green upholstery fabric. I opted for the $1.50 bag of fabric, rather than the $8.49 bag that was in my cart. 

Sharing these images sure to make you grin.





I am kicking around the idea of selling more of my projects. 26 works in progress in various stages of completion. It is almost too much for me. I have entered craft project overload. I may be knocking off projects on my list by noting "sold." I just mailed out a batik kit to one of my buyers that I had recently unearthed in my tub of shame. 

A discouraging development in the quilting realm - I had found a longarmer who was establishing herself by offering affordable long arm quilting services but after building her clientele, her prices doubled. I am grateful I was able to send 6 quilts to her, all done in different quilting designs. I will really have to save up to get that specialty quilting. Back to cross-hatching and straight line stitching.

Just when you think all is lost

I had really lost hope in myself and my ability to organize when I found my tub of shame here. Turned out it was 2 tubs of shame that I ended up dumping into one big mountain. 

My mountain turned from frustration to inspiration. One blogger who inspires me is Wanda at exuberantcolor one who is quite experienced with the colorwash or watercolor technique of patchwork piecing. 

Luckily, I had done an original pull of fabric for a colorwash quilt and have the reference books for that project. In that grouping, I had also thrown unorganized remnant purchases, some surprises, other delights being such pretty patterns. I culled out the ugly fabric and organized others into feedsack, asian-inspired, batiks and holiday. 

Another bonus to craft of quilting is when you happen to be stalled in one area of creation, you can make progress in another area. Since my machine is in the shop, it is the perfect time for cutting fabric. 

I think I have settled on the border fabric for my retro quilt. This yardage made it into my stash being the last fabric I purchased in 2019. 

Have you ever lost hope looking at your fabric stash that you would never get things organized again?

2020 Buy No Fabric Challenge

It is here, the first day of the New Year, New Decade and I am posting the 2020 Buy No Fabric Challenge - that means, retail, secondhand, remnants and yardage, exceptions being quilt tops and quilt blocks (those I resell).

What prompted this challenge? I thought I was doing all good in getting my fabric organized and under control, then this happened. 

Tub of Shame and Tower of Good Intentions

It is an entire tub of fabric remnants. If I recall, I started organizing floral prints for a watercolor quilt and then said something like "screw it" and threw it all in a tub. I am truly embarrassed. Seems I make progress in one area, then have a flaming downfall in another. I have been regularly listing items for sale on Ebay, yet continue to buy fabric secondhand. The worst part is that image doesn't even include my project bags, tub of plaid, tub of Christmas, jelly roll tub, AND a dresser full of yardage and orphan blocks. *sighs*

THIS has got to happen - no more fabric and use up what I have! While other quilters/sewists post images of beautiful rooms with color coordinated bolts of fabric, I simply cannot go there. The only exception I will make is completed quilt blocks and tops. Those I can resell or sew together quickly for a new quilt. 

Honor system, no one is checking now. I have left the linkup open until the end of this month. I will check back with my linkeruppers at year's end to see if they made it to Month 1 or Month 12. I am going to take it a month at a time, staying away from the "fabric" searches for online auctions!

I have already made progress by listing the following fabric-related and kit items:

Blue grandmother's garden quilt kit
Green applique partially completed quilt kit
Embroidered linen pieces and 22 nine patch blocks
Honeybee hive partially quilted, still in sandwich
I Spy Easter pieced panel
1999 Counted cross stitch - Bag Ladies
1973 Creative Crewel - 1 mini pheasant and 1 mini quails lot
1995 Needlepoint Country Trio

I kept 3 needlepoint and 1 crewel embroidery kits for the future. This year a must for completion of my magnolia needlepoint.

My deep destashing continues after I organize the fabric remnants, culling out the uglies and color coordinating the keepers. The retro blocks are all squared up and once my machine is back from the shop, I can get back to business!

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