Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Stash

I've been reading several posts about stashes lately. Carolyn and Marji wrote posts about their stashes and I referenced mine in my last post. I do have a stash and I'm not apologizing about it. I didn't steal it, no one went hungry or did without because of it. Fabric, yarn, patterns, you name it. My stash is no where near the size of some. I rarely have guilty feelings about it. When I do it's because I'm not using it. It's sitting there gathering dust, taking up space. I'm not being productive. I enjoy sewing in all it's forms. Well, ok not mending, but dressmaking, quilting, embroidering you name it. I've crocheted since I was seven, knitted since I was 12. One of my earliest memories is being home with the measles "makng" a quilt. One Christmas I got a set that included all the fiber arts to include weaving (and I still wish I had that loom)and until this Christmas it was the best gift I ever received. I enjoy being able to come home in the afternoon and having something new to wear the next day. I enjoy saying, "I made it myself", when someone compliments me on something I'm wearing. I haven't reached SABLE (stash accumulated beyond life expectancy) yet, no where near it. But I'm afraid that if I don't get a lot of it sewn up soon, I'll retire and have no place to wear the clothes I love to sew. I used to sew a lot, but life intervened. I got remarried, I went back to school, I took a job that requires a near 4 hour commute. Then I gained weight, but that'a whole nother story. So no I don't feel guilty, but I stopped buying, because I wasn't using it. But I'm going to start. I'm concerned about some of the small shops I visit. I realize I can't keep them afloat, but I can do my part. I sew, knit and quilt because I enjoy it. The world and its pressures recede when I'm in my room. It puts me in a better mood. I enjoy it, I smile, time flies. Even when things go wrong. If I didn't enjoy it, it would be a job. And I've got one of those.

TTYL

1 comment:

Kyra said...

Melodye,

Just stumbled on your blog. I also have a stash. A couple years ago did some pruning. My favorite pieces are ones featuring African and African American images (e.g. Black Santa, Black angles, Nelson Mandela, and now Barack Obama fabric!).

Best, Kyra
www.BlackThreads.blogspot.com