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Wife, Mother, Mimi, lover of all things creative... sewing, embroidery, painting, collage... God and family are the most important things in my life.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Using What I Have on Hand




I confess I am a fabric hoarder. I buy fabric and if I really love it I hate to cut it. I have fabric I bought to make curtains for my daughter's nursery that has never been cut and she is 25! I have fabric that I have been given, fabric I have bought, thrifted, etc. Some of what I have isn't my favorite so I don't want to make anything out of it. So why don't I get rid of it? I decided this week to start using it up. So I took some small pieces that I do like but didn't have much of and made my daughter a tote, nothing fancy but it works for diapers and what not.

I then took a cool pattern, the church lady apron, my sister-in-law gave me and used up some fabric that I don't really like to make it. It gave me a chance to try out the pattern on something I didn't care if I messed up before I make one out of something I really do like.

Then believe it or not I actually put three pieces of fabric in a give away box! That's a big accomplishment for me! Maybe I'll get back to getting some sewing done again, and if I keep using up what I have I'll be able to straighten up my sewing room and try organizing things in there. It would be great to lay my hands on what I need when I need it instead of wasting time looking for things instead of actually sewing. One day...



3 comments:

  1. OH MY GOD!
    I too have bins + bins + bins + bins + bins + bins + bins + bins you get the idea, of fabric in my studio and I too have some that is over ten years old. mama. it's the sheen, feel, hand, print, texture and idea it conquers that makes me fall in love with it. When I look at fabric, a vision emerges that takes it from being fabric into a moment, an actual moment. Sometimes that moment is a relaxed time outside with sheer floor length shimmery silk that puddles on the hard wood floors and balloons like sails on a boat in the open sea from the wind. ah. the moment. i buy the fabric for that inspired moment - besides it would be perfect for the large glass sliding door that leads outside.right! Then i get home and the fabric sits in the box, not all the time but sometimes. that's because i've already created it, used it for what i intended. buying the piece of fabric acts as a hallmark to that mindscape moment. weird but true.

    I have the idea to put together a show with the fabric remnants hanging on the wall from a hook, the gallery card describes the vision the fabric holds bringing everything into fruition without having to cut into that precious moment. don't get me started about yarn cuz i can say the same for that too - thank you so much for the inspiration.

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  2. Stephey, What an awesome idea! You could lay out other cards for viewers to dream up their own creations with your fabric as well. Ultimate recycling!

    I love your descriptions! Of course now I want to go buy more fabric.

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