Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Fabriholics Anonymous

Fabriholics Anonymous Button

Hi, my name is Rebecca, and I am a Fabriholic.

The time has come where I am admitting that I need help - as in a serious intervention to curb my never-ending desire for new fabric!  I am making this a public declaration so that I have support from real and virtual friends alike as I embark on my challenge to stop the fabric buying madness!

For the last year I have had the greatest respect for Jodi of Tickle and Hide whose Fabric Fast over the last year has had me shaking my head in disbelief...the restraint that Jodi has exercised is amazing!  I happened to mention the idea of a fabric cleanse to Jess of The Elven Garden via Instagram of all places and from there the idea was cemented --- as soon as I made the admission that I knew I really needed to stop, well, once the words were out I couldn't take them back.  

GOALS:
- To use the Stash I already have!
- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.
- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.
- Save the $$ I spend on stashing.
- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.

FABRIC FAST RULES:
1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   
2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.
3) Create a UFO list and complete them!
4) Exceptions
  • Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
  • Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
  • Swap Mama Fabric: if hosting a swap you are permitted to by fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
  • Quilts for Publication: if you are making a quilt for a publication and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you?


So there you have it.
If you think you have got what it takes to join the challenge then by all means do so!  
Grab the button on the right.
I've started a linky in case you'd like to formally pledge to the cause.  Also, by joining the list we can all provide each other with extra support to see how we are all doing with our fabric fast commitment!  Linky will close on January 1, 2014.

I am starting to feel the panic set in!  AGH - FREAKING OUT!  Wish me luck!!!

My next Fabriholics Anonymous post will be the beginning of my Destash which you can preview via Flickr...so stay tuned...




- rebecca lynne



Fabriholics Anonymous Pledge ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linky Party 1: WIP LIST Share your WIP List for the duration of the fabric fast here:

30 comments:

Erin @ Once Upon a Donkey said...

Ha ha ha. Yeah, totally not. Lucky I'm not an addict, though. :P

Kristy @ Quiet Play said...

All I can say is Good luck! ;) I'm not that brave - especially as I already have my eye on a couple of new lines coming out...

K said...

OMG I've been thinking the same thing. I just bought that new 780 and all I want is more More MORE pretty fabric to slide under the 57d foot. But I'm almost bursting at the seams with unused fabric. I'm in. My wallet and my husband thanks you for the incentive.

K said...

PS besides backing, can we make exceptions for borders?

Live a Colorful Life said...

I'm SO going to do this!

Live a Colorful Life said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erin Quinn said...

I'm not as brave as you. I was discussing a fabric fast on Sunday, and I have to say - I just can't do it!! I know I buy too much fabric, but I love it!! And it's just getting set up! And it's about having what you need!! And I don't even know what I want to make in 6 months time, so how can I say no now....
Clearly, I should join, but I'm holding out. I'll buy all the fabric you leave behind :-)
E xx

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

I'm so glad we have each other to (virtually) hold as each of those beautiful new collections come out next year ;o)

Canadian Abroad said...

As someone who took delivery of a big box of my latest additions just yesterday this scares the pants off me. I would likely order a years worth of fabric on Dec 31st!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Well done guys! Want a pledge!

Jeneta said...

No - can't do it. Mostly because I live in Australia. And I'm coming to the US soon where you have beautiful fabric at extremely low prices!!! But when I return I think I'd like to revisit my position...

Donna said...

Beads of sweat are breaking out on my forehead since I'm already anticipating the upcoming Aneela line. But you have my support and admiration!

Leanne said...

As I told Jess, I will cheer you on from the sidelines and try to use up my fabric with you but that is the best I can do. Also I am sending you an email right now, about that destash.

Farm Quilter said...

Way to go, girl!!!!! I am also on a fabric diet and found that the yahoo group Stashbusters has been a great help! Join a few of the challenges...finishing UFOs, No-Buy...and it really helps. It will also help if you unsubscribe from all the shops that send you those tempting email ads with all that pretty new fabric to seduce you! STOP!!! Be faithful to your stash, use it, sell it, trade it, or gift it to someone who makes charity quilts (there is a lady in Stashbusters who takes yardage, orphan blocks, partially finished quilts and flimsies and makes them into charity quilts, hundreds a year!!!). If you can reduce your stash substantially, you can then start buying new fabric again for each project you want to make!! I don't remember the last time I purchased fabric...not even when I went on a trip with my quilting buddies to the International Quilt Show in Birmingham, England!!! You can do it too!!!!!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Something about going No-Buy makes me shop more (lol!) but I am coming up to the end of my Year of Finish and it feels fantastic to be many UFOs lighter! But I do try to buy purposefully...

Good luck!!

erin said...

sadly, I could never commit to this kind of endeavor. good luck to you, though! on another note, friend, while awaiting my copy of Libery Love to arrive, I have happened upon another medallion quilt along: midnight at the oasis...i'm thinking you probably already know about it because it involves your friend from elven garden?

and we totally didn't miss the boat on this one! it only started a few weeks ago. so now i'm thinking about doing this one instead. alghouth I am still very much drooling over the marcelle.

we'll see what happens!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I'm seriously thinking of joining up. I just have to make sure I can commit to this! I'm running out of room to store my fabric. I try using my stash but it never seems to ever decrease!!

Angie in SoCal said...

LOL, I've been fasting for three years and still haven't made a dent in my stash. I've only bought 9 yards this year for colors I no longer have and needed to finish a project. So 2014 is going to see a LOT OF fabric out the door so I can actually get my UFOs out of boxes and done! Much luck on your next year's endeavor.

Erin @ Billy Button Design said...

Seeing I have only finished 1quilt this year and I'm still buying fabric I think I need to join...

hydeeannsews said...

this is brilliant! and I'm so glad you decided to start January 1st, not NOW. still got December to shop. I'm an addict and I know it. I need to stop. but am I brave enough?! I have been doing pretty good at "dieting" lately, but an all-out fast is another matter. i'll think on it. and maybe join after I visit my LQS's big sale this week. lol.

a large majority of my stash was purchased in my initial crush on quilting, well before I really knew what I liked and would actually use in quilting. I just wanted pretty fabric! so I bought a lot. now, 3 years and about a dozen quilts in, I understand myself and my style a lot better. this is why I continue to shop, but shop much more smartly. or so I tell myself. for instance, lately I've realized I really like a mix of color with super-low volumes (basically white) for a contrast. I've got tons of color, but not so much low volume here. hence the "need" for more shopping. presently, I DO try to only shop for a current project rather than just stashing randomly. have I justified myself enough?

see you in January! thanks for being so honest and brave not only with yourself, but with the public. =)

heather said...

Is it bad that my first thought was to stock up in the next few weeks?

Beth said...

Seriously thinking about joining in. I really hadn't planned on buying anything prior to the end of the year but now??? Oh boy I have an issue!

Stacey Napier said...

Fantastic idea - I am totally in!! Will there be regular FA meetings??

Sarah G said...

Is it necessary to have a blog to join? I have a flickr account.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Crikey, look at all the brave people that are signed up! I'm not joining (mainly because I don't buy that much fabric in the first place and what I do buy is usually for a specific project...I have several I've not started!) but I'm going to cheer you on from the sidelines! Good luck to you all!

DeborahGun said...

Any chance you can add me to the linky? I just started a blog and wanted to officially sign up (and be accountable). Thanks!

Nadine said...

I am going to join in too even though your linky is closed now. I have just blogged about it and will do my very best. Argh. http://thiscreativebliss.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/hello-my-name-is-nadine-and-i-am.html
Nadine (nadinesaupe@googlemail.com)

Darcy said...

Thanks for starting this - it was an idea that was kind of floating around my brain but when I read your post it became crystal clear! Nervous and excited to begin :-)

Nilya said...

Oh no, I missed this and I really would have joined you. This is a really good idea!

Unknown said...

Oh I've missed it! And this would have SO been the challenge for me. I hope you'll do it again next year!