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Thursday, May 22, 2008

I am a fabricaholic!

I'm a fabricaholic...
I like nothing better than roaming through fabric internet sites, finding a great piece of fabric that will make an amazing garment or finding an awesome sale on a piece that I've been secretly coveting. I like coming home and finding a new package containing fabric hopes and dreams...something that continues to inspire me to create.

I like strolling through the stores in the garment district, touching pieces, looking at the vibrant colors and sometimes even digging in piles or standing on tip toes to reach that special piece that has caught my eye.

I am a fabricaholic..
And because of this condition, I have an enormous collection of fabric...so much that it has overflowed my walk-in closet and now resides in containers and boxes in my living room and bedroom...yet still I look at, look for and dream of wonderous fabrics...


I am a fabricaholic...
Tonight, I realized the extent of my condition as I went through one bin in my bedroom. I was looking for my latest linen purchases to pull together fabrics for my June Capsule Wardrobe. I pulled piece after wonderful piece from the bin...and as I matched one fabric with another, marveling at how they coordinated...luxurating in their touch...imagining the amazing garments that could be made from them, I realized...


I am a fabricaholic...
Now the fabric that was piled so effortlessly in twos and threes, shining so brightly in my bedroom's light made me realize that laying right there on my queen size bed was more than enough fabric for me to sew 3-4 months straight...but only if I was no longer employed! And I stumbled there...took a step back...and stopped to pause...because

I am a fabricaholic....
Now my condition does not adversely affect my household. My bills are paid. I contribute to my savings account monthly. My children do not want. And I even give to those in need...I also fully realize that my fabric buying in large part is due to stress buying...because in the back of my head I know that I will never be able to use the amazing fabric collection that I have amassed any time soon...if ever. Yet I continue to collect because...

I am a fabricaholic...

Okay so now that I've gotten that off my chest...I have two possibilities for my June Capsule Collection...and as soon as I've made up my mind which to use, I will post pics and pattern details...

And yeah, I'm a fabricaholic but hey...everyone has some condition...this is just mine! *LOL* ...and I promise answers to questions asked in the comments section over the weekend!

33 comments:

  1. LOL I love this post! I will think of you everytime I buy fabric now because I too am a fabricaholic lol. My mom has been sewing for YEARS, she told me a while back she loves to sew but loves to collect fabric even more. She has a hancock table in her sewing room and ummm, she can open a store with all the fabric she has! LOL

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  2. Girl, you know you are not alone in this. There are many, many more out there. ISN'T IT A WONDERFUL THING???

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  3. *grin* I'm overflowing my storage areas, yes, areas such as dining room, bedroom, and closets! But...it is great to have it on hand for any project, and really much better than drugs.

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  4. I'm with Chicago Sarah - it's better for you than alcohol and/or drugs. Hope you get some sewing time this long weekend. g

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  5. Sigh...as I walked into my home office to check my email (and the sewing blogs), I stumbled on the box of fabric goodies in my office that I have yet to unpack into my fabric storage closet; however, thanks to you wonderful blog I have seen your fabric closet and now the boxes beside your bed so I feel okay about it! :-) We have more fabric than time; when we have time, we want to be ready to sew. Now, how can you do that without your own in home fabric boutique?? Yes, I feel better; thank you!! Linda

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  6. I packed 2 large suitcases of fabric recently (not to give away, just to declutter the stuff that isn't going to get sewn in the next couple of months.) 2 suitcases. I think I have a years worth of sewing. Ouch! I hear you!

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  7. wow,, wow,,, wow
    no words
    I hope to see your capsule plans soon

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  8. Ha Ha you are not alone.I sew in my dining room and I had to get all my sewing things out of there,because I am having guest for the holiday.When I cleaning up I had to start laughing because I had about five bags of new fabric I had bought just in the last two weeks.I have bins and bins of fabric in my basement ,but I just can't stop buying fabric.Right now I am on a pattern diet for the summer.Don't tell anyone,I did buy one pattern so far, butthat good!!Ha ha!!

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  9. When I first started reading this post, I was scared. I read each line with trepidation - would she? She's not gonna do it, is she? Please, no. Say it isn't so...

    Then I made all the way through and you didn't...whew!

    Now,I respect you more than ever. You acknowledge your hording tendencies, but refuse to apologize. You are a woman after my own heart!!

    P.S. Did you see Fabric Mart is having a sale? I just added 33 yards to my overflowing stash.

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  10. I was with Shannon, I thought you were going to do something with your stash. Whew, you so enjoy it and that is such a good thing. Can't wait to see your capsules.

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  11. I prefer to think of it as 'stimulating the economy' ;-)

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  12. Ha! LOL, we switched places m'dear. Y'know how you kept telling me I had more than you - we've switched. I'm on the downside now, I can tell you. and, you're def on the upside. You win....but I'm still checkin' the mail everyday for 2 yds of that amazing linen I offered to take off your hands. ;)

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  13. So you have a box of fabric sitting in your living room. Just take the prettiest piece, put it on top and call it part of the furniture. I still have the box and bag of fabric that came from two different sources sitting in an overflowing box as you walk into my family room. I think it is going on over a week. It will go up stairs this weekend, but strangely no one has made a comment about it being here. Looks like I have finally trained my family to be used this kind of thing.

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  14. Well, I suppose you could quit your job that's causing the stress, that's causing the stress buying, but then you couldn't pay the bills etc. So you see how much better off the way you are?!!

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  15. what a great post!I too am a fabricholic and whats worse i can't put it away as i'm a very visual person ,i have each piece hanging on a wire hanger with the pattern i'm thinking of attached.The good thing is i've never paid over $4-5 canadian dollars a metre.
    I also go round feeling fabric,even ones i'm not attracted to visualy may get a second look if they feel great!
    These blogs are so inspiring,its nice to know i'm not alone in my addictions LOL.

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  16. Fabric is THE best medicine - along with thread, beads and trims. It will keep you sane and healthy!

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  17. Hmmm, love of fabric + proximity to garment district = new career as fabric seller rather than fabric hoarder?

    I sent you an email in response to a comment you left on my blog about getting together in the city: Let's!

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  18. So you'll be holding FA meetings now, and she who has the largest stash wins? Looks like you win! But they're so pretty! How could you not want them?

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  19. I didn't think that when I started sewing garments, I would find myself buying fabric faster than I could sew them and found myself looking for more spacing saving gadgets to house more fabric...lol.

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  20. Ms. Carolyn I'm trying REALLY hard not to become addicted. It's hard though! :)

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  21. You are a Fabriholic. I am a Fabriholic. I have this image of women all over the world, standing up and saying "I am a Fabriholic" (similar to that scene in Spartacus). Saying it with pride, with conviction with respect.

    There's a problem with this? As my 10 year old niece says: I don't think so! Ok, except maybe the small issue of storage.

    More Fabric!

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  22. Words cannot describe the size of my fabric and pattern stash. I fully relate to the Fabricoholic and am thankful I don't live in NYC. I went almost a year without buying fabric, but I've started again and need to stop...cold turkey. ;o) I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide on for the June Capsule.

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  23. lol! Just don't ever feel guilty, cos then the fun will be gone :))

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  24. What did you say Caorlyn? I didn't hear you???!!! Did you say you are a Fabricaholic??!!

    Good for you! I can tell you enjoy buying and receiving fabric, how many other vices are no threat to our health?!

    Looking forward to seeing your Capsule options :-)

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  25. Carolyn,
    As you well know, you have lots of company! Let's go further, I'm a patternaholic, sewing magazine aholic, sewing book aholic, sewing blog aholic,...you get the idea! Anyway, you put it best. Nobody suffers from our addiction. It's just nice to know that we are not alone. Yep, I get a lot of comfort from that knowledge.
    Marguerite

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  26. Yes, I have to admit that I'm a fabricaholic too! LOL Can't seem to stop! Can't wait to see your June Capsule!

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  27. Well, I'm addicted to fabric too (though I don't have a fraction of what you have) and I relate to your "condition", lol! Don't ever stop doing what you love to do, or else you'll feel empty and without your soul!

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  28. Hah! I got you beat. I am such a fabricaholic I started an online store! I had to take office space to get the fabric out of the house. My home looked like someone set off a bomb filled with fabric in it.

    Yes, I am a fabricaholic too. And I love it! That's one that I WON'T join a twelve-step program for.

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  29. My name is Nancy, and I am a Fabricholic...

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  30. I guess I qualify as a fabraholic too, though not as far along as you are. I've only started really 'collecting' in the last few years. But, really the more fabric I have the more I sew, even if the fabric in is still more than the fabric out. So, how can this be a bad thing? I am lucky to have room to store all of it. I did just graduate to starting in on the guest room. But only the closet. So far.

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  31. Oh oh, I see it's a slippery slope. I just started sewing again about 6 months ago, about the time I discovered sewing blogs and Internet Fabric sources !

    I just finished unpacking my latest Fabric Mart order and will have to seriously consider the storage options while it's all being prewashed :-).

    I see that I'm in good company and as you say, it's not hurting anyone. DH is VERY supportive.....so far (wait til I tell him we should think about switching the office and the sewing room, LOL)

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  32. I LOVE this post. I feel you totally. I join you in your addiction...at least we admit it and it ain't hurtin' nobody. I even bought fabric during the time I wasn't sewing. It's in my blood, I have fabric my grandmother left when she passed away so I've got it in my genes. HA! ENJOY IT, CELEBRATE IT!
    HA!

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