Got to love them!

To the quilters that wondered about the video on hiding your stash-use the search and type in 100 ways to hide your stash. It should come up. You tube has it too.

Amen, sistah!

When I started this post, I didn't know that it would start such a big turmoil, so I will try to set you straight. I thought it was funny when he said that. He is retired, but consulting,so it's like working one job and being paid for two. Money isn't really the issue unless i overspend when he is NOT working anymore. Sometimes I do spend too much on fabric, but I really do have plans for most of it. (Hopefully I'll live a really long time) He really doesn't say a lot about my hobby and knows that he spends money on what he wants. Neither one of drinks or smokes or has any other bad habits. We have talked about a hobby budget so we're Ok there too. I make quilts for gifts and he got a great one for Christmas. We've been married 33 years and did have some lean times when our kids were small-I hardly sewed at all then. Plus he just bought me a Janome 11000 for Christmas and paid cash for it. I think It just never dawned on him how long I've been gathering my stash and if I didn't have it stacked on the table at the time, it wouldn't have looked like as much. I really only have maybe 2 tall bookshelves of fabric that is a yard or more and that includes the fabric that I have gathered for 7 quilts. I have all that I need for them except 2 backs. So I'm not worried that he's got underlying issues-he'd tell me for sure. And sometimes I do feel guilty when I over spend-but I drown it in Fabric. :)

My husband gives me a hard time too. He says he works so hard and I am retired as if a double standard is OK (he's just jealous that I am 4 years older so retired first).. I don't spend a tiny fraction of my retirement on fabric or sewing items. He spends several hundred dollars a month going out to lunch so I just ignore him and buy whatever I please.

Definitely cheaper than therapy.
Hide it beter.

Funny. Now that he knows you have an abundant stash I think the only way to sooth him is to produce a lot of quilts and hide any new purchases in a better place.

Sometimes I tell my BH that the fabric is not mine - that it belongs to my guild and that I will be repaid (sometimes the truth even) or that it belongs to a friend who hides her stash from her husband. Not sure if he believes me but it keeps him quiet.

Ditto for me. I have as many books as I have stash and that's quite a bit. I love both.

I too think he just needs some reassurance that you will be ok with less money coming into the household. If he is like my DH he is supportive of whatever you do and doesn't want you to have to do without. A big change in finances can be harder on men because they feel that it is their role in a marriage to bring in the money. We made an agreement as to how much our budget can afford for my sewing and My DH is comfortable with that and happy to take me shopping. Not so long ago he doubled the amount when he saw that our finances could support it. It is not a lot, but it is plenty for me and what I want to do. He hardly ever buys anything for himself and that is an issue for me. Maybe a chat about how he sees the future going now that he is retired will open him up to talking about any real concerns he may have, if any. Hope this doesn't sound preachy, it wasn't meant that way. :)

At least I don't drink too much or take drugs so this hobby is VERY GOOD.

SewMom, I so understand what happened. We aren't attacking your hubby or you, just venting some of our own happenings. Love the quilt, by the way. So you did make him one. I like to keep my upcoming projects separate from my stash. This way I can keep it separate so I don't use it on something else and then when I go to work on the project it is gone. Also sort of keeps me organized, sort of :lol: I hope once you got it all put away, he saw it and its beauty and understood your need to organize it for better use in the future. I need someone to come organize my stash, any volunteers??? Jan

DO NOT introduce him to this site! You'll be done for.

funny............ :lol:

Now this sounds like a great idea. Way to go. I didn't start quilting until 2002 the year after my husband died. I have a considerable sized stash now as does my girlfriend. (We started quilting together.) We share our stashes and sometimes the RIGHT fabric is nowhere in the quilt shops, but in one of our stashes. We don't regret buying fabrics that we like even though we may not have a specific project in mind at the time of purchase. We are able to sew from our stashes now, but always find new fabrics and projects to take on. We have both retired from teaching and probably will have to limit our acquisitions somewhat (!) in the future. But given the size of our stashes we will be able to quilt for a long time!

this is priceless. Stil LOL!

I'll bet he really likes that gorgeous quilt too. and he can't be too upset if he bought you that great machine.

We don't do either one or go to movies except really good ones., so we are allow ourselves to spend on our hobbies. I get my own social security check to spend any way I want, and I use it for going to the Sister's(Oregon) Quilters Affair and Outdoor Quilt Show, my quilt groups annual Beach Weekend ( 4 days over Columbus Day weekend) and any other sewing stuff I need. I still manage to save a great deal of it. So I am okay. I have a sizable stash, and I go to it first and go to the stores if I need something to fill in, usually backing fabric, or something with just the right shade or texture. :D Jan

keep the peace and spare him the anxiety. men don't appreciate our stashes.

I agree with it seems it is ok to spend $ if it is their idea. I am blessed in tha tmy Dh is an enabler and several years he discovered crafting and quilting makes for a happy woman at this house.

The comment I get is "...if I could see something come out of all of that!" Well if you leave me alone I could sew. I just purchased fabric boards to organize my stash and hopefully when it is all neatly arranged it won't look like so much. Hey, I'm looking for all the excuses I can find to explain the fabric. I also have many books and I love my books as much as my fabric. I can sure think of a lot of many more really bad things to spend money on than fabric and pattern books.

I put all the fabric back on the shelves and then got the bright(?) idea to make a list of all the fabric and yardage and if tI had the receipt make a list. Part of this was for insurance purposes and part for whatever. Well, I did do itbut I'm too afraid to add it all up! :) this is just the fabric that's 1 yd. or more. Fabrics for a certain quilt were stacked together and then tied with a selvege strip so I know they go together. WOW! There is a lot. I do have a sizable stash. I actually need another bokcase or need to sew a bunch of it up! He hasn't mentioned it again except when I got home from a sleepover with my DGS and found out he'd been to Sam's club and bought another camers. He made a comment about my fabric, but when he stops spending-I'll stop spending. :)