...and once broken I fell off that dayum wagon, rolled down the hill, through the bramble bushes before I arrived in the gully...and looked up to see how far I'd fallen.
Yeap, I bought fabric and not just a yard or two of fabric nahhhhh I went big with it and bought loads of fabric. You would think that I would know better. You would think that I would be stronger. You would think I would be more disciplined...you would be wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong!
I was a little frustrated during this sewcation and I can definitely say that the fabric buying was a result of that frustration. It started with a couple of pieces that I bought from Marcy Tilton.
2 yds of a lacy knit because I liked it...
This is a boiled wool with a black
cotton lace over it - had to have it!!!
I thought I would be fine with those two pieces. They were bought for a specific purpose and I don't own anything like them...but it was like uncorking the bottle!
Cause I got an email from Fabric Mart with suiting 50% off...why did I look? Seriously, I shouldn't have looked because I put about 10 fabrics in the cart...culled it down to 6 and then finally down to 4. Then I closed the site out...but the fabrics kept calling my name...so 24 hours later I bought them.
Rust/gold/gray houndstooth
Brown stretch herringbone
Gray paisley cotton jacquard
Aqua silk/cotton metallic suiting
(Honestly I've been drooling over this piece for weeks!)
Finally, I saw this on Emmaonesock. It's the only place I finally showed some restraint. I bought a yard and a half because I want to use this fabric for accents on a dress...
Way too much fabric arrived at my house...so this month two people's names will be pulled from the jar to compensate for my loss of control. It's so much easier to acquire than it is to sew it down. I made 6 garments during my sewcation. I only used 6 yards from the collection.
Since July 1st, not including the sewcation totals, I've used 9.5 yards of fabric from the collection. However, I've given away 25 pieces of fabric ~ impressive but not enough to make a dent in the collection because three bins still sit in the garage.
I'm trying not to feel like this is a futile exercise...I know that I still have three more months of giveaways and sewing. There's plenty of opportunity to sew up more fabric - hopefully - and there will be more given away. I've just got to get up, dust myself off, and keep on keeping on. I think it's time to stay away from the fabric sites though. *LOL*
Tomorrow is the drawing...so stay tuned to see who the next two lucky winners will be!
...as always more later!
Dear Carolyn, I'm actually relieved that you fell off the bandwagon - it helps us all feel normal to know that sometimes fabric just calls to us, and if you don't grab it when its there, it will sell out and years later you will remember it, and wish you'd gotten it at the time! Well, that has been my experience anyways. Looking forward to the next giveaway, and loved the pieces you made on the sewcation.
ReplyDeleteThat silk/cotton aqua suiting is gorgeous! I had been eyeing that one myself, though I restrained. And those first two fabrics are also drool-worthy. So, no shame. Some fabrics are worth breaking vows for.
ReplyDeleteOne of the lumps you rolled over was likely me, as I fell off the wagon this week, too. Sigh. But really, I DO need some basic mock turtlenecks in 1/4" stripe fabric that was 1/2 off at Marcy's site.
ReplyDeleteHow does the saying go? It's not that we stumble, but how we recover that defines us....? Something along those lines anyway. It's done. No point beating yourself up over it. Especially when the fabric is lovely, lol. Do you think you've bought less since making the decision to stop buying fabric for a while? Because if so, you've already changed your habits. Chin up :-)
ReplyDeleteI simply cannot stop buying fabric...I don't know if I'll ever have enough...every time I say I'm okay with the fabric I have a spot some more on sale that "I might as well get" because of the price...I just love when fabric comes to the house, its almost like my birthday all the time! LOL!...I look forward to what you whip up with the fabric in this post!...:)
ReplyDeleteYou have however got some gems love the aqua stripe one, and lace in wool how unusual is that. Sadly we seem to only stock net, polycotton and polar fleece in our local stores. So I dont have that much temptation. Now and again I take a shopping trip with a friend and stock up great fun.
ReplyDeleteThere is now way you could have passed up those lovelies, enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteIf you want to really not buy fabric you must NOT look!! It is all too gorgeous and we mere mortals cannot resist. That is why I don't look.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I saw a top today made with a laser cut pleather. Very current.
Why so much gray?
ReplyDeleteOh, I bought some fabric two weeks ago, and shouldn't have, but they were so nice, I couldn't pass them up. I understand!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you slipped up a little, the lace fabrics are especially pretty and the aqua suiting is to die for!! There are worse addictions to have than fabric shopping - i say this to myself as much as to you. I am trying to sew from stash but I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket this week so I went and purchased some lovely tweed wool coating and a satin lining to match. There was a piece of ponte that I resisted, but I want to go back for it next week!! (I even checked they had two bolts of it so I can be fairly sure it wont sell out!)
ReplyDeletelove love love the lace!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad about it. Sewing is your thing. And part of that thing is acquisition.
ReplyDeleteOh but you fell off the wagon in such style. Beautiful fabrics. Almost makes me wish I worked in an office again. Maybe you need to get your daughters to set up parental controls for fabric sites and not give you the password ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow i can see why you fell,each and every peice is gorgeous..The wool with lace overlay is something ive never seen before!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for a good hard laugh. My husband happened to be in my (home) office as I read your post this morning so I read it to him. He enjoyed it as much as I did. He laughingly said, "Frustration will do that to you."
ReplyDeleteWe're all human, and usually when you deliberately try to stop doing something you do the opposite - which is why I'll never vow to stop buying fabric!
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you. I am on a spending diet if its not necessary then I shouldn't buy. We all fall short but we keep calm n carry one. After all tomorrow is another day.
ReplyDeleteI put the blame on Mood for keeping you looking at fabric on the Web. It FORCES you to keep current, see what's out there, etc. It's like a bartender trying to go on the wagon.
ReplyDeleteIt took several years of being broke and far from fabric stores for me to sew down my stash. Nothing like no cash to keep a person from spending, but I don't really recommend it.
I adore reading your posts. The fabric you bought is beautiful. We just need new stuff!!
ReplyDeleteThese things happen! You know, you could just consider it retirement planning - for when you open your own fabric shop online. :-)
ReplyDeletehilarious!!!! that is one beautiful fabric filled gulley. i may join you there.
ReplyDeleteWell, the purchases were well thought out, so perhaps it's just a small fall off of the wagon. And, I have to say, nice choices!
ReplyDeleteLOL...you sound like me when it comes to my pattern habit....
ReplyDeleteYour fabrics are GOR GEE US!!
Cant wait to see what you create with the lace and boiled wool.
I understand 'fabric fever'. Fabric Mart got plenty of my money this year. I can't even allow myself to look--I'm such a sucker for fabric--reasoning with myself about the discounts and what I can make. Problem is, my sewing plans change daily so, the 'latest bargain' usually ends up on the shelf with their 'siblings'. C'est la vie!
ReplyDeleteSorry you fell off the wagon Carolyn but sometimes the call of the fabric is just too great. The pieces are stunning.
ReplyDeleteTwo months is pretty good! You got some lovely fabrics!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn dear, 62 days is a long stretch and you ought to give yourself credit! And. . . clearing out your stash is almost as difficult as not buying fabric, if you ask me. What it means in the long run is that you have more fabrics you love and know you will use soon, and fewer fabrics that you may have loved in the past that other people will love in the present. Sooner or later if you keep up your progress on your stash management, things will even out and you will have the most admired and envy-producing fabric collection ever!
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up about falling off the wagon. You got some beautiful fabrics and probably much less than you might have before. It seems like when we tell ourselves absolutely no, we binge all the more when we do give in - you were very restrained and got great buys. It's hard to pass up saving so much money! ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! Oh how i miss the days when fabric was easy to get, anyway enjoy.
ReplyDeleteUh Oh. We understand they were irresistable. We still got your back.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is a dangerous place for the fabric addicted. If it's any consolation you really did get some gorgeous things. I particularly like the 2 pieces from Marcy Tilton. I try not to even look when I am on a fabric fast. Ah well. You can always try again.
ReplyDeleteSo funny! I'm dying to buy some fabric as well, on a fast with the holidays and property taxes coming :-( but maybe Santa will gift me $ :-)
ReplyDeleteI prefer to look at it as my civic duty to almost single handidly holding down our national debt. Or at least keeping Girl Charlee and other on line retailers afloat.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is certainly easier - waaaaay easier - to add than sew it all down. Don't be too hard on yourself! Can you imagine having no fabric stash at all? That's actually quite the frightening thought, mostly because it would be so $$$ to stock it again!
ReplyDeleteAwesome fabrics! and that means that if you fell off the fabric wagon then I guess I can too. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI love. LOVE that last fabric. :)
ReplyDeleteI just love these fabrics, especially the lace knit and the houndstooth.
ReplyDeleteThat aqua silk was worth the fall off the wagon! Can't wait to see what you'll do with it.
ReplyDeleteYou have such good taste!
ReplyDeleteHad a really good laugh Caroline!
ReplyDeleteEven though I am not sewing that much the other day I was unable to resist to buy more material. Fortunately my stash is not that huge and I definitely will keep it that way.
Keep up the good work and enjoy!
Once you get your stash started, it is so hard not to purchased more! Everyday more and more beautiful fabrics are being made...how could anyone resist? I agree with Patricia, your breaking down makes us all feel normal!
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up - there are many, far worse vices in this world to have! And 6 garments in how long?? You're more productive than I am!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I know only too well how easy it is to fall into this trap :) Take pride in the fact you choose lovely fabrics and make them into some very beautiful garments.
ReplyDeleteShoot, 61 days is a great accomplishment. Just think how much fabric you could have hauled into your sewing cave in that time frame. Your new purchases are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe houndstooth is fabulous, I must check it out. Don't worry about buying fabric, at least you are sewing all the time.
ReplyDeleteLike Faye said, 61 days was a great accomplishment and love your fabric haul.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't feel too bad. All of your choices are beautiful. I'm not a big spender in general. There are two things I spend money fairly freely on: food and hobbies/recreation. If it makes me truly happy (and if I can't get it out of my head after a day or two), then I say go for it. Just keep working on using up your stash/giving away pieces you really don't love. You will get no guilt trip from me!
ReplyDeleteWell, think of it this way....when was the last time you went over 60 days without buying fabric? Maybe next time you'll go 70 days or 90 days!
ReplyDeleteSomeone once told me "Habit building requires you mess up, otherwise how will you learn to avoid the pitfalls." Much, much, much easier said than done.
The fabric/pattern emails do me in. I've started directing them to a different email than my normal one so I can still check them but I won't see them all the time. I'm amazed by how much less I buy now.
"It's so much easier to acquire than to sew it down"---> this is my life. :( I'm trying REALLY hard to sew through my stash, but I broke down and bought two extra pieces of fabric yesterday besides my MSN fabric... whoops.
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny!!
ReplyDeleteSo uplifting you are!!
Thanks for making my dull, sunless, rainy Sunday!!
Love your choices in fabric!
Again...to funny you are!!!
We fall off wagons and jump on bandwagons. Going into 2014, we need to stick with more reliable forms of transportation. =) Your fabrics are divine and will certainly be used to create wonderful clothes. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the nice comment on my FM contest entry dress. It means a lot coming from you! I think you deserved some new fabric....after all, it's our life!
ReplyDeleteFabric diet!!! What is that?! I've been on several, and admit that I too have failed. It's way too much fun to buy beautiful fabrics, and sew awesome clothing!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you jumped off the wagon for great fabric! I love that houndstooth, and that aqua suiting is really something special, though I wouldn't even know what to do with it besides take it out of my stash and pet it once in a while if I owned it :)
ReplyDeleteI understand totally. I'd have fallen off the wagon for that wool-and-lace affair too!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying very hard to not go off to my local fabric shop this afternoon. Maybe I can live vicariously through you for a moment or too? I really need to sew stuff I have, not add to my stash!
Your fabric selections are gorgeous, no wonder you couldn't control yourself. I've been off the sewing band wagon for too long. So, I've spent some time in my sewing room lately and really yearning to get back on the wagon. I even bought fabric the other day to try to find my lost mojo. Gazing at your lovely fabrics and finished projects is really making me miss it so, I hope I've found my mojo and hope to get some sewing done really soon. You are always so inspiring!! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteROFLMBO! Welcome to the club. I did the very same thing. Swore I wouldn't buy any more fabric until I cleared out some of my stash - and by that I mean MADE SOME CLOTHES! That didn't last any longer than an e-mail about a great sale on fall fabrics from Fashion Fabrics Club. Now I've got more fabric than space. I'm so busy right about now it'll be a little while before I am able to get to work on my 13-14 fall/winter wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteBTW - You have some beautiful fabric there, Lady. Can't wait to see what you do with it.