"Making a commitment to conscientious, intentional personal money management means making some choices."
I'm making this my New Year's resolution.
Really, we are so blessed. There are so many blessings that we so often forget to count each one. I call my blog "pokeydot quilting" because that is the creative side I like to share. Because of that, I'm wanting to say specifically that while I love fabric, I do not really need to buy any with all I own.
So, I'm planning to make a main goal of my art to come from the already acquired stash that is in almost every room of our house!! I'm hoping to organize in 2013, and ~
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
I'm posting my goal to try to make do with what's already in my stash for 2013. I'm joining this plan with others, like Jan of Janice Elaine Sews who shared this:
or Amanda of the Cozy Pumpkin (who created this swee-et button).
Oh, I have to mention that one of my inspirations is the creative gal Belinda of Brown Dirt Cottage,
who on protest of high prices of cotton has been creating beautiful quilts without purchasing fabric--
-- for 2 years...wow!
So, this is my goal. I wanted to share before I let the week slip away. Hope you all are having a good start on your new year, too. Today I'm working on some much needed organizing, and hoping how soon I'll be sharing that Easy Street top ~
"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7
I love it! I'll join you....we've been living this way for a few months now. Husband lost his job just before Christmas, but we're all together and happy so what more can I ask for? Money grows on trees, but a handmade home is one in a million. I don't have a huge stash, but what I have is going to be stretched this year...."year of the stash" - Perfect!
ReplyDeleteI need to make that my goal for this year....thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteGood for you using up what you have! I don't have a very big stash, but I've been doing that for over a year now, and it's wonderful! :0)
ReplyDeletePokey - this is so inspirational for me. I really need to set the same goal. I hope you don't mind but I'm borrowing one of your images and putting on my sidebar as a constant reminder. I'm planing on blogging about the same thing and will link back to your wonderful post. Thank you!
ReplyDeletegreat post! I love Brown Dirt Cottage blog she is just so creative and I am amazed that she can make those quilts just from her stash.
ReplyDeleteI have made a very similar commitment this year but I haven't given up buying fabric 100% but will cut back tremendously and shop from the stash first.
will be following your progress thru the year and maybe next year I will join you!
Kathie
A commendable goal, for sure. Since I've donated all my I-don't-like-it-anymore fabrics, I'm sticking with sewing from my stash too. That is, of course, unless pieces are needed for a new started-from-stash project. Let's be realistic! Hope you're enjoying Easy Street. No regrets. No new UFO.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to do a lot of stash busting this past year. My last couple of quilts have been mostly from stash. My stash isn't big....I have shoe box size containers that hold each color. Some colors have 2 boxes and then there are boxes for wild fabrics or 30's fabrics. It really is fun to see what can be made from what we have. I usually have to buy the backing but even that could be made from scraps. I'm in too. This will be fun to see what beautiful quilts can be made from our stash. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Super goal! I'm so much more mindful of my stash too.
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you girl. I could probably sew and quilt for a couple of years on my stash. Great goal!!
ReplyDeleteI really do appreciate all the great thoughts and ideas in this post! My motivation is fired up to make do with what I already gotz. =)
ReplyDeletehugZ,
annie
I think this a terrific idea- I have so much fabric I will never use it all in this lifetime - Happy New Year to you and yours,
ReplyDeleteRegards from Western Canada,
Anna
A great idea.....
ReplyDeleteI've been using my stash much more since my favorite online shop closed. Not intentionally, really, but it is fun to find what I need right in my own basement (or living room, or dining room, or family room...). That doesn't mean I stopped adding to it, I travel a bit in the fall and always include a visit to my favorite shops in other states. Gotta make sure they are still there the next time I come to town!
ReplyDelete"Year of the Stash"... I love it! I'm planning on tackling projects that are in my stash and not shopping for stuff unless I absolutely need it to finish up one of these projects. I'm not sure I could go two years without buying fabric but it's a great goal to have! Woooo hoooo! Let the fun begin!!!
ReplyDeleteI love those sentiments .Thing is , how do you close your eyes to the fabric when you go to buy the batting
ReplyDeleteOh My!! What a compliment Pokey!! Thanks sooo much! (of course some would think these 2 quilts a bunch
ReplyDeleteof 'mess'!! ha!) YES, it can be done! It will be 2 yrs. tomorrow for me on my no fabric buying rebellion!!
It CAN be done!
Here's to your success in the 'use it up' goal!!!
Fantastic goal for the new year, Pokey! I'm excited to see all the beauty that will come out of your stash this year. And thank you for posting the link to Brown Dirt Cottage. I had somehow lost it, but as soon as you mentioned it, I recalled that she was making a gorgeous clam shell quilt from vintage fabrics, so I had to pop on over to see it and what else she's been up to!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great aim for the year. I must admit that I am in the same boat and really do need to focus on using what I have. I shall do my best to use as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteGreat goal Pokey. I'm in pretty much the same boat . There is so much fabric lurking in my sewing room that I could probably make quilt for at least a few years without buying a thing. One of my goals for this year is to see how much of that I can use up!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan! I do know it can be done. Most all my fabric has been hand me downs.Some of it is so old I wonder if it would be good to put in a quilt.I have donated some to a fellow quilter. You could exchange fabrics with some of your friends or sell some if you get the need to go shopping in 2013. Happy 2013
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one! I have so many things I've bought and not used so I plan on either using or selling or giving away! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteExcellent goals, Pokey! I hope your sewing room is finally in working order so that you can plunge into all that lovely stash and get to using it up and making it do :)
ReplyDeleteNow how did I miss this post?! Great plan, Pokey. Since I haven't been able to sew I haven't bought any fabrics for... well since September. Of course, that's sort of easy to understand but I think I'm with you as I heal and get back into the swing of things. I imagine I'll only but for what I need (yardage) when necessary. Gosh, if I save money in the fabric department I could get a quilt top or two taken to the longarmer's I'm thinkin'. Always nice to visit with you. :)
ReplyDeleteI have the same goal. I started about 4 months ago with this mindset. Wouldn't you know there are a ton of new lines I'd love....so far I've remained strong! I look forward to hearing how other get along with this goal.
ReplyDeleteYour goal is a good one for sure. I am of the same idea. I need to use up lots of my stash. I am intending to get all my fabric into one room. In order to do that I will need to sew, sew, sew and use up lots of fabric! Another goal for me is that this will be another "finishing" year. Good luck to us both.
ReplyDelete