I see the endless need to buy-buy-buy the latest fabric from this designer or that designer, and buy in all the available color ways, not just one. Buy more, don't worry about ever using it, because you can also sell it at a reduced price on other Facebook and yahoo group sites that specialize in getting rid of your stash of fabrics, books, magazines, DVDs, patterns that you never used, jelly rolls, rulers, templates, kits, and of course those sewing machines that you bought in the pursuit of perfect stitches that you now keep stacked in the closet or the extra bedroom...
And those that take one workshop after another, signing up to learn every technique ever thought of. Now there are even workshops that let you bring all the samples you've created in other workshops and use them to make something!
My quilt guild had tickets for Quilters Take Manhattan last fall, just hop a train into the city and spend all weekend being bombarded by this quilting star or that quilting star, all of whom are introducing their latest fabric line, or pattern, or book, or color coordinated threads, or the perfect workshop or online class that will teach YOU how to make quilts just like theirs! No thanks.
Or what about the "famous" quilter who is advocating clearing out your stash, and adopting the slow stitch movement and being more mindful of your work. Sounds good until you realize he is creating more of the usual books, fabric, online subscriptions and merchandise you will absolutely need to buy in order to subscribe to his way of thinking...
My grandmother moved to an apartment in the mid-1980s and we cleaned out her house of 50+ years and found bags and bags of polyester fabrics stashed in her attic that she bought, I'm sure, with the best intentions. Now I look at what I've accumulated, and wonder what my daughter would do with it all if I died tomorrow. So I've been slowly and quietly finishing up my UFOs, quilting some tops that I've made over the past few years, and using only fabrics I have on hand for everything. I have only bought some new threads, since quilting those tops has used up a lot of what I already had on hand.
My goal for 2016 is a simple one, to be productive. I'm also not buy anything new, and will not be seduced by new fabric, books, gadgets, machines, etc. I don't want to be an accumulator, I want to be a maker.
Linking up with Off The Wall today!
I have my fingers crossed for you Laura, it is really hard to resist when you see some beautiful fabric at knock-down prices, my weakness is second hand silk sarees - they make great nuno felt but I have so many now, even if I use these for every piece of felt this year I can't hope to get through them all :/
ReplyDeleteTeri, I should have included all crafters in my rant, not just quilters! We have a TV show here called "Hoarders", which shows people who just keep buying everything even though every room in their house is already filled from floor to ceiling. Watching it really bothers me, and so many crafters seem to have the same problem.
DeleteLaura, I winced a lot reading your post. I am one of those "hoarders." of fabric, of possibilities. in the olden days, people "made do." now i have more than i can ever use in my lifetime - if i did it full time. and i'm not even doing it. this makes me very sad. it's hard to admit this, but you are right about what you said - acquiring the latest gadgetry et al is crazy, and i have been a follower of crazy.
DeleteJanuary 14, 2016 at 11:55 PM
Laura, I understand where you are coming from, although I have been guilty of all of the above. I have taken every class that came along, trying to learn every technique. As a newbie in this world I felt it necessary to find out what fits me. Some techniques didn't fit at all, but I don't feel the classes were a waste. Knowing what doesn't fit is just as important as knowing what does. And even though it may not seem like it at the time, some knowledge from those classes will prove useful in the future. And I am a process person, wanting to know the how and why.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I am finally ready to take all that knowledge and start putting it together and become the artist I am in my head.
As far as continually buying, I attribute a lot of that to coupon brain, where you have a coupon that is about to expire and you must buy something. Been guilty of this myself and didn't recognize it until I spent two months cleaning and purging my studio. Lot of items purchased just because I had a coupon. Now that I recognize it, hopefully I can avoid falling victim to it again.
Another contributor to this is information overload. Pinterest, magazines and others. I've decided to let my subscriptions expire and work on exploring my style using the knowledge I already have.
Sorry for such a long comment, this just hit close to home.
I totally understand " coupon brain", every day I get 55% or 60% off coupons in my email for Joann's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, and they're all about 30 minutes away. So easy to go get something so you have it just in case! I've been avoiding Pinterest, Facebook groups, and magazines because of the overload, I know exactly what you mean. Good luck on your artistic journey!
DeleteAh yes, seeing a technique on Pinterest or a blog and thinking, "I've got a try that" rush out to buy the magic tool/ ingredient and 6 months later fin it languishing in a cub oars an scratch my head thinking, "what was this for?"! I'm definitely guilty of that one too :/
DeleteI think we all are, Teri!
DeleteI totally agree with you but am guilty as charged. I am like an emotional eater only instead of food, I buy fabric.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably better for your waistline to buy fabric instead of food!
DeleteIt is not just quilters/crafters. As a society we encouraged to buy, buy, buy. Of course, I am guilty of doing that but agree with you nonetheless. It is my aim to be content with what I have and use the beautiful supplies that I have.
ReplyDeleteYes, Angela, you are so right that our whole society suffers from this sickness. It's particularity bad during the Christmas season, ugh. I wish we could all learn to be content with what we have.
DeleteOh, gurrrrl! I totally agree! Seems to be a competition to buy, buy, buy! Our temporary living situation, has forced me to minimize purchases. But that being said, I am taking much delight in being creative with what I have. Making stuff, bringing my modest stash to life.
ReplyDeleteWe had to clean out my MIL's home after she passed away. She was a child of the Depression, so it was hard-wired into her to save everything. Having gone through that experience, and then this move, has taught me so much. "They" (manufacturers of stuff) are not going to quit producing any time soon. If I miss out on a particular fabric this year, I can take solace that there will be something to replace it next year!
Now, to look at this in a different way, I believe a lot of people purchase "all the stuff" pertaining to a particular craft to make up for their lack of knowledge. I know many people who have multiple sewing machines, and do not know how to use them. But the next one that comes out is bigger, easier, etc.
Ah, it is an interesting subject. Me? I just wish I had more time to use the stuff I have!
Moving, and especially moving to a smaller place, have forced me to keep only the stuff I really need. And you are so right about people who buy sewing machines that cost a fortune and don't know how to use them, it's really sad. I hope you are settled into a permanent place soon!
DeleteI started later in life to acquire a stash.....so for a bit I bought quite a lot of fabric...but then I began to realize that if I continue at that rate, I could never use it all. These days I insist that most of the fabric for any project come from my stash. I think it helps my creativity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone's comments. It is a strange world that we live in.
Judy, I so agree that using what you have helps to spark creativity in a way that running out to buy something can't. And I think all of us might have difficulty using up what we already have,
DeleteI totally, totally agree with you! I really don't understand the obsession and pride many quilters & crafters seem to take in spend, spend, spend and buy, buy, buy! Having more than you'll ever use is, to me, hoarding and gluttony. And I TOTALLY agree with what you said about the "slow stitching" et al money grab! Ugh! It's definitely part of the consumerist society we live in. I love to sew and quilt and I buy the fabric and supplies I want and need for my hobby, but that's it for me. I don't have the time or money or space or interest for a big stash!
ReplyDeleteHoarding and gluttony bother me a lot, too, not just with quilting items, but with our society in general. It's such a pervasive sickness to buy, buy buy.
DeleteI am quilty! I agree with you. I have no place to store everything! I have enough fabric to sew many years. I will not buy fabric anymore ...... well, for the next half year at least.
ReplyDeleteI also have enough to last years, it got bad when I learned to dye my own fabric! It's so easy to get out the dyes and make more and try new color combinations or techniques!
DeleteMy shelves of fabric are so tight I can't squeeze in one more fat quarter. I have been very good the last couple of years, only buying fabric for backings and borders, when I need a bigger piece. I have also been donating some of the older fabrics, or fabric I know I'll never use, to the Guild ladies who are making charity baby quilts. Hopefully this will make up for my fabric acquisitions when I shop hopped this summer, collecting the "Row by Row" patterns.
ReplyDeleteI had some large pieces that I ended up dyeing in darker colors and using them as backings and borders since I knew I'd never use them otherwise. It feels good to get rid of extra stuff by actually using it!
DeleteGreat post, Laura! I think I am going to write 'Make, don't accumulate' out and pin it to my wall. It is so easy to get caught up in the cycle of new fabric lines, but after all that just happens to pull us into over-consuming.
ReplyDeleteSo very true. I also see so many quilters that write blogs that are really advertisements for the companies that sponsor them. Quilts made out of fabric from one line.... I know people need to earn a living but there is something sad about it. I have aleays loved the passing down and sharing of knowledge that comes with an age old craft. Now you have to always be on guard that someone is just trying to sell you something. Creativity isnt always the goal. Very sad.
ReplyDelete