mermaids

We have started using reusable shopping bags.  No, I did not make them.  Why would I when the grocery store sells them for $1 a piece?  Anyway, today I needed several plastic bags to separate some books.  Lo and behold, there were hardly any bags under the kitchen sink.  Those plastic bags come in handy once in a while.  Does it mean I’m not “green” if I occasionally “forget” my canvas bags just to replenish my supply of plastic bags?  Besides, what am I suppose to use to  line my wastebaskets? 

This green thing can be confusing at times.

What do I love more than as much as fabric?  Cute little containers to organize things….especially sewing things.  It has been a rough couple of weeks, but the organizing gods smiled down upon me.  A desperate run to Walmart was vastly improved when I stumbled across these little buckets in the Easter basket aisle.  It was pure kismet that I found them because I usually skip the Easter basket aisle.  They had these adorable little buckets in pink, blue, yellow, and green….nice shades, not your typically washed out Easter-y pastels.  At $1 a piece, I picked up 4 even though I only had an intended use for one.  I plan to pad the bottom of one and use it to hold my scissors.   This little find dramatically improved my mood.  I barely noticed all the screaming toddlers.  I always say, “A trip to Walmart isn’t complete without encountering at least one screaming toddler.” 

A few days later, the boys begged me to take them to IHOP for dinner.  The nearest IHOP is a long drive which was not particularly appealing after a very long day.  However, the thought of cooking dinner was even less appealing.  After we stuffed ourselves with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, the boys asked to stop by Target for some school supplies.  Not being one to ever stand between a child and his education, we go to Target despite my sincere desire to fall into a post-pancake coma.  Remembering my lucky find in Walmart, we strolled through the Easter basket aisles.  I literally squealed when I saw these little beauties.   They were with the little refillable eggs.  I am using them to store my sewing machine needles.  Each of my machines use a different type of needle.  (Hey, sewing machine manufacturers, could we have standardization among needles, please?!?!)  Next to each of my machines is a little Hello Kitty head filled with needle packets.  I thought they were very cute until C mentioned that it looks like someone decapitated a bunch of Hello Kitties and left the parts strewn around my sewing room.  Now I am fighting the urge to be creeped out by them. 

Last but not least, these quaint little tins are from my mad dash to DC.  Ikea is awesome for little treasures like this.  The little one holds binder clips.  The middle sized one hides my private stash of Sharpies.  The big one is currently empty, but I am sure it will soon find its purpose in life.  See how well the colors coordinate with Hello Kitty? 

Most people who are serious about sewing have a fabric stash. Buying fabric is fun. The colors are intoxicating. Each piece is so full of possibilities. However, that stash can be guilt inducing. It can represent unfulfilled dreams, plans that were derailed by life, even more things that did not get crossed off the “to do” list.

Like food diets, fabric diets are hard. Some people try to quit cold turkey, which usually results in a binge at some point. Some people think they can just nibble and it will be okay. No one can eat just one potato chip or buy just one yard. When faced with temptation, it is difficult to remember the promise “to be sensible.”  I searched for a fabric diet I could live with.

A recent article on Gretchen Rubin’s blog, The Happiness Project, made me think about fabric shopping. (Ok, truth be told, there isn’t much that doesn’t make me think about fabric shopping. Gretchen was referring to buying too many things for her daughter, but this idea can apply to fabric too. Here is a snippet that sums it up nicely:

“I remember that when the Big Girl was in nursery school, the school head told a story about a four-year-old who had a toy car he loved. He played with it constantly. Then when his grandmother came to visit, she bought him ten toys cars, and he stopped playing with the cars altogether.

“Why don’t you play with your cars?” she asked. “You loved your blue car so much.”

“But I can’t love lots of cars,” he answered.

It’s so easy to make the mistake of thinking that if you have something you love, or if there’s something you want, that you’ll be happier with more of it.“

Having too much stash can be overwhelming.  How do I decide which piece to use first?  It can be physically impossible to find a specific piece.  Having some stash can be helpful. I don’t live close enough to a fabric store to run out for fabric every time I want to start a new project. Having a stash has saved me more than once when someone needed a new article clothing in less than 24 hours. There is also the inspiration aspect - a fabric from three years ago might be perfect for a design from the latest Ottobre.  However, there can be too much of a good thing.

More fabric does not necessarily mean more happiness or better sewing. When the size of your stash causes you angst, it is a problem. My stash threatens to cause angst. I cannot go cold turkey and say “no more fabric.” Nibbling quickly turns to gobbling.  However, I can apply Gretchen’s story to fabric shopping.  During my trip to DC, I went to Ikea and GStreet. I promised myself that I would only buy fabric if it was truly exceptional.  There were some pretty things, but nothing better than what I already have.  I did not feel cheated, because I knew had lots of pretty fabrics waiting for me at home….my own version of the blue car….full of lovely fabrics.

Awake at 2 a.m.

Dozed for a bit, but awake again at 3 a.m.

Dozed a bit more, but even more wide awake at 4 a.m.

At 5:30 a.m., I decided, “As long as I am awake, I may as well go to Jo Ann’s.”  I usually don’t do the Black Friday sales….too much mania too early in the day.  Because I didn’t want them to think I simply ran away in the middle of the night, I left notes for Hubski & the boys.  I picked up some flannel because I honestly do not have but one piece of flannel in my stash.  Pillow forms at half price was my impetus to renovate the pillows in the family room.  Many years ago, I did several quilt squares in a stained glass design with the high hopes of turning them into a quilt.  The squares became pillows instead, which look fabulous….except where the corners are getting ratty.  For quite some time, I have wanted to replace the pillow forms and replace the border and backings.  The quilted part has held up beautifully.  So, I bought new border/backing fabric too.

By the time I returned, C was the only one awake.  J and Hubski were being serious slugs.  Had I returned about 15 minutes earlier, no one would have even noticed that I had left.  That struck me as a little unsettling.  Washing the new fabric without the boys noticing was quite easy.  Hmmm, more evidence that members of my household do not notice my whereabouts.  That’s probably because no one needed to find anything….then I would have been the most popular girl in town.

It is a little after 8 p.m. and I can barely hold my eyes open.  Please let me be so tired that I collapse into coma-like slumber.  I took an online quiz about sleep issues…..at 5 a.m. when I couldn’t sleep.  According to the profound wisdom of the website, there is absolutely no reason for my insomnia.  I follow all the golden sleep rules - consistent bedtime, exercise regularly, limit caffeine,  relaxing activity before bed, not too hot/cold, etc.  Grrrrr….  OTC and prescription sleep aids leave me groggy in the morning.  Hubski and I discussed seeing the doctor, but he will ask all the same questions as the websites do.  There is no logical explanation.  I know, I should probably go anyway.  I wonder the doctor has an opening at 3 a.m?

Clutter drives me crazy. I cannot think when there is too much visual stimulation. A room needs to have blank spaces so my eyes have a place rest which allows my mind to wander. Naturally, I am huge fan Unclutterer. The site has some great ideas for reducing and managing clutter. I am totally on board with the overall theme of the site – “less is more.” Unclutterer is not so extreme as to suggest we get rid of everything, but, instead, the articles encourage us to really evaluate which of our possessions are necessary and which are simply taking up space.

You can imagine my glee when I saw the title “Reader Question: How Should I Store my Fabric Stash?” The first line had me hooked:

I understand the stash and hopefully can provide you with some help on this matter. I, too, sew (as is evident in the workspace post) and have a fabric stash.

I agree with her mindset – “There is not a limited supply of fabric in the world.” She also admits that someone serious about sewing will have a stash and it is ludicrous to think otherwise. The size of the stash is where people get into trouble. The author suggest having no more than 6 months to a year worth of project stash. I might be persuaded that one year is somewhat realistic, but definitely not 6 months. She goes on to state that your stash should not more than you can carry in one load. What?!!? If the house were burning down, could you save it by carrying it out in one load? Clearly I need to start some serious weight training to so can hoist all those plastic storage bins onto my back as I dash through the flames. Go ahead, take a moment to get a mental image of strapping your entire stash to your back. Does she actually think one plastic storage bin is all the stash as serious seamstress needs? That’s like saying a woman only needs two pairs of shoes, black and brown.

As for fabric shopping, the author states “Don’t buy fabric unless you know the exact length, style, and type that you need for a project that you will make in the next six months or year.” So, if you happen to see a great fabric that would make a lovely dress, but you don’t have your patterns with you, are you suppose to just leave it in the store?!?! Do you buy only 2 eggs each time you want to bake a cake? No, you have a kitchen stocked with flour, eggs, and whatnot so you are prepared when you want to bake. I do try to realistic when buying fabric. If the fabric is appropriate for a top, I don’t buy 5 yards.

Upon returning home from the fabric store, the author suggested placing the fabric, notions, patterns, etc for the project in a labeled Ziploc bag. There is some merit to this idea, but many of my projects would not fit in a Ziploc bag. Unless you get the gigantic blanket storage size, you cannot fit more than a yard or two in a Ziploc bag. The author then stores all the project bags in a plastic storage bin. Notice that she says “a” storage bin, singular, one, uno, not plural.

The article closes with the suggestion of reviewing your stash annually. Fabric that is no longer appealing should be sold, donated, or tossed. The author also recommends getting rid of scraps too. Yes, I keep some scraps, but I limit myself to one basket and they are purged on a regular basis. On this point, we agree. Stash should be culled on a regular basis. Even if you don’t toss anything, you just might find a fabulous forgotten fabric.

I don’t mean to mock Unclutterer (too much) because I am a bit of an organizing freak. However, one has to be realistic. I have been trying to pare down my stash by using what I have and buying less. There have been countless times when having an ample fabric stash has provided a last minute gift or clothing for a child who needs “right now.” So how do you know if your stash is too big? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you might have a problem:

1.  My fabric purchases create financial problems for my family.

2.  Storing my fabric creates problems for my family.

3.  My fabric represents all the projects I have failed to complete.

4.  I feel guilty when I buy more fabric.

While on vacation, I spotted a new doll shop called Friends 2B Made. The makers of Build-A-Bear have expanded the concept to include dolls. The shop is all pink, purple, and sparkle. You select your doll, have it stuffed, add a heart, and name it, just like at BAB. There are little salon chairs if you wish to style your doll’s hair and add ribbons or bows. Of course, there are lots and lots outfits for the dolls. The Hello Kitty themed outfits did not escape my eye.

The dolls are very sweet and innocent. The hair is made from yarn, framing a cartoon like face. The clothing is trendy, but not trashy. The dolls come in two different sizes, either 14″ or 17″. The sales clerk said that American Girl doll clothing would fit the larger dolls. Apparently many people have asked the same question. Though I do not recall seeing them in the store, there are also boy dolls. The smaller dolls are $12 and larger, $16. The outfits are roughly $10 to $12. There are a wide variety of skin tones and hair colors from which to choose. Just like BAB, they will host a party for you.

The dolls and the shop are visually appealing. Hubski had to drag me out. I need to kidnap borrow someone’s little girl if a shop opens near me. Seriously, this would be a great gift for a young girl.

It is a good thing this wallpaper is so incredibly expensive because, despite my strong attraction, it is probably only pretty in my head. I love this wallpaper for two reasons. First, if you look carefully, the design is actually hammerhead sharks. Aquatic motifs always rate high in my book. Second, you can actually color this wallpaper yourself. Yes, I know….it would take forever and one can purchase wallpaper that is already colored in, but I *love* to color. What child has not looked upon a wall as a giant blank canvas? Well, I never quite got over that. In our old house, I did a huge “under the sea” mural in the boys bathroom. The original intention was to distract the eye from the ugly, old avocado green tile. It definitely was distracting. There were sea creatures everywhere….even a mermaid. In other areas, I did geometric and abstracts. Thus far, I have restrained myself in the new house. I am not sure how much longer I can hold out.

Amazon.com has a big secret.  They have developed a transporter, but are not sharing the technology.  How else could I receive my items 15 hours after placing my order?  Seriously.  I ordered two pairs of shoes for Hubski at 8 pm last night.  I did not request overnight shipping.  The door bell rang at 11 this morning.  It was the UPS guy holding a box from Amazon.  I looked around for the camera crew from “Candid Camera” or Ashton Kutcher’s “Punk’d.”  The only other explanation I can come up with is Santa works at Amazon in the off season.  15 hours.  Seriously.

I just went in for buttons, but came out with 74 yards and my morals still intact. “What is she babbling about now?” you might ask. I went to JoAnn’s to get buttons for Hubski’s Father’s Day shirt. I know, I know….it is unimaginable that there were not suitable buttons in my personal fabric store otherwise known as my sewing room. (Even J asked the question, “You honestly don’t have any buttons that would work?!?!”) My button supply is truly lacking for menswear.

JoAnn’s was having a big sale, just like they do every week. However, this week, they had items on sale that I needed, like buttons and interfacing. Found the buttons, looked at patterns, found the interfacing, and even found Hello Kitty flannel that the clerk marked down to 30 cents a yard because it was slightly damaged. (I am so hoping the discoloration comes out in the laundry. For 30 cents a yard, I am willing to take a chance.) There was also a pretty set of nesting baskets marked down from $50 to $14 and photo storage boxes for $1.50 each. I don’t actually print out photos, so the boxes will be used to store other things around the house. My shopping cart was overflowing.

Since the interfacing was 50% off and I like having an ample inventory in my personal fabric store, I picked up two bolts – a lightweight and a heavier weight for Hubski’s shirt collars and cuffs. Because the bolts were still wrapped in plastic, I saw no need to take them to the cutting counter. When the cashier rang up the first one, he scanned the barcode and 49 cents appeared on the receipt. For a brief second, I thought, “If I don’t say anything, he will let me walk out of here with 25 yards of interfacing for 49 cents.” Of course, I could not NOT say anything. Saying something came at a cost, more than just the added cost of the other 24 yards. The manager had to be called. The line of people behind me got longer and crankier. The manager and cashier were confused by the purchase of two entire bolts of interfacing. Error codes flashed and teeth gnashed. Several minutes later, everything was totaled. Then I began pulling out coupons, discount cards, and gift cards. There were audible groans from the masses. As I signed the credit card slip, I questioned the price the other people in line had paid for me to have a clear moral conscience. It would have been easier for all of them if I had just taken the whole bolt for 49 cents. As I reached for my keys, I found the stack of coupons I could not use in my purse. I passed them out to the people in line like consolation prizes.

I left with a clear conscience and a cheer from the crowd. I am not sure if they were cheering for the coupons or the fact that I finally finished my transaction.