It sounds like you are not doing so well. I hope and pray that things will get better. You definitely do need people to help you get things together. You would be surprised at how kind and helpful people can be. Just be brave and ask for help. People will understand and help you, and it will get better. Cut up those credit cards asap. Just keep one that you can manage to pay off every single month. It is a good feeling to not be in debt from buying things we think we need. God bless and stay strong.

Gee, we all had one of those days...I decided enough and get in that rm and reorganize again...I recently got rid of my pile of quilts via a SIL to distribute amoung all her grandchildren and other family members...that felt good to get rid of piles...You know your running out of rm when you extend your sewing rm into the gst bthrm...yes bthrm...I did organize but asked my husband for help and not allow another Joann's Sale flyer into the hse...He should throw it away before I see it...And not let me purchase another piece of fabric until most of what I have is used up...
We all need help so ask, don't be afraid to get assistance...We can do it...I'm with you....

You can also donate some of the fabric you no longer like to a highschool...where the kids are learning to sew.

My scrap bin was overflowing so I cut up the small pieces into 3 inch squares and shipped them to DD. She never did anything with them and now that I've fallen on spare times, she let me have them back!

And I pieced and tied a bunch of charity quilts, 40 to be exact. And I sold on ebay. Now that there is not so much clutter, I've made a list of 10 quilts to piece, all classic patterns. Making progress with drafting, piecing, and organizing my small stash for each one.

Start your program by counting those blessings. Then bless someone else. Good luck.

Is Rehab covered under Medicare?????

There was a post not long ago about a group of retired disabled vets wanting to learn how to quilt. I have the name of one of the ladies. She said anything that we could send her would be put to good use. There are a lot of places that would take donations. I am sure that this would help you feel better. A win win thing. PM me if you are interested. Hugs. BrendaK

I myself made the decision to work on my UFOs this year. I'm not buying fabric. I perfectly understand your position. I'm more addicted to buy fabric than to sew fabric and that's the truth.

Well, my heart goes out to you. it was 6:30 in the morning and I was surfing fabric on line. That is insane. Here's what I did to channel some of my addiction. I am giving lessons to a little girl once a week and I may pick up a couple more b/c it is fun to see them excited. I let her borrow a sewing machine, mat, cutter, ruler to get her started until she can get her own. Her mom said she cried last week when I had to cancel. Glad to see the machine in use and not just collecting dust. Just a thought.

My little sister started quilting when her BIL died suddenly of a heart attack. Her MIL was very much not dealing with things so my sister got her started quilting - together, they made quilts for each of her MILs sisters and brothers. The family was so big, they bought a quilter. Then they made some quilts for our family (me included) Then they made baby quilts and donated them. It brought her out of her grief eventually. My sister has been raising her grandson - she found she had no real support. Now they give the quilts to people who are raising children who aren't their own - I asked how she finds them - she said they seem to find her. At one point they were making and donating a quilt every week. People give them material all the time. She said it is the batting and the backing she has trouble getting cheap enough to continue. Her MIL is aging and not as able to do so much these days.

I have never been given a homemade gift---hint hint. - - rightnow I am behind on my quilting because of a vacation _Isn't that a shame? Is that how it all starts?-Joan

I have never been given a homemade gift---hint hint. - - rightnow I am behind on my quilting because of a vacation _Isn't that a shame? Is that how it all starts?-Joan

I am so glad that I am not the only person, but I go a little bit beyond that I also knit and crochet and do cross stitch, embroidery, tat, so guess what!!! I hit all the stores and not only that I even hit garage and estate sales for fabric, yarn, embroidery floss, crochet cotton, plastic canvas and what ever else I can get my hands on and even more I do some wood working you think you have the bug well... HELLO!!! I have really lost it, I have plastic totes every where, just have a path through the whole house to walk through... I finally made up my mind to use up what I have its hard but working on it.. don't sell my items but should I guess, always gave them as gifts, sweater jackets, socks, quilts, afaghans, mittens, scarfs, etc, etc, etc.... LOL oh well at least I am happy crafting.. :)

i would take one at a time, and finish it.do not touch anything else , till u do that. then get another, finish it..good luck.

Heavens...... Quilters this addiction is spreading around the world I am in Australia and trust me it is here , I have an acute case " I will never sew all that fabric" , my kids just shake their heads and say "one day there is going to be one heck of a sale on Ebay...it will go into melt down " and I promise myself no more fabric ,patterns,notions,threads,..............Heavens it couldnt be me that is flying all the way across Australia to go to another quilt fair . Cathy

I do my binding on the sewing machine. I know it is not a popular method, but it gets the job done and I can move on to the next project. I figure I piece on the machine, quilt on the machine, so why not bind on the machine.

Hi, I just wanted to say I support you because I know that when a love becomes an addiction we begin to feed the addiction but not find the joy that was part of the initial love.
Its so overwhelming, isn't it? And realizing a change must happen is also overwhelming, I think.
A book that has helped me "rope things in, a little at a time" is Sink Reflections--I am sure you can find it at the library. I have never gotten through the whole house or been able to follow her "plan" but she has some little fixes you can do everyday (maybe 15 or 20 minutes)without making all the "big decisions". Slowly you will see the results you are looking for without the heartbreak. Good luck. Keep us in the loop.

Your post was a reality check for me. I haven't been quilting very long (a couple of years maybe) but I see myself going down a similar road. When I started quilting, I made myself a promise to finish any quilt I start before starting another. I have actually managed to keep to that, but I now seem to find reasons to go to fabric stores (both at home and online) when I don't really have a need for any new fabric. My husband invited me to go out with him today and said we could stop at a fabric store (he's learned I find it hard to say no to that), but after reading your post, I declined the offer. It's kind of pathetic to pat myself on the back for that, but it's a first step on the road to not being a fabric junkie! Thanks for the 'wake up'!

Mary,
Your sound overwhelmed and discouraged, which just drains energy away. Are you at the stage where you are able to to give things or do you still need it? If you feel like you can donate it, you might consider making "beginner quilter/sewer baskets which could be used in variety of places (battered women's shelter, etc). Definitely a pay if forward opportunity. I would also be more than willing to help you with the bindings. Your quilts need to be finished so they can go out into the world and comfort people. If you are interested in my helping you finish your quilts, send me a PM and we can figure it out. It is good you know when enough is enough...the time for action is now. Patt

I can relate to what you are saying. I USED to be just like you, but not anymore! MY minister tells us that anything that controls you is a sin. So, with the help of God, I went cold turkey. I now see that less is more. I have well over 40 huge plastic totes stuffed in a tiny space. Fabric is everywhere....my bookcases, dressers, armoires, desks, closets, you name it. Notions are just as bad. I have more than I will ever use. I am sorting it and donating a lot. I work in fabric most every day and I am not tempted. I think of all the "stuff" I have and how my children will have to deal with it when I am gone. It overwhelms me. I will pray for you Mary. There is hope....lol.

I like to bind quilts and I like AZ in the winter. Sooooo, Maybe I could come stay with you for the winter and bind many of your quilts, lol!
300-400 quilt projects!!! I think that means you really enjoy and are passionate about quilting.

Wow--I started this wonderful hobby 2 years ago and all I can think of is winning the lottery and enlarging my sewing room and just sew, sew, sew. My colledtion of fabric is not as big as yours, I would go crazy if I could play in it. I'm trying to make a Medallion Quilt by Edyta Sitar and not using the same two fabrics. If you could part of some shades of brown and beigt in a 4in square, I would gladly pay the postage. I saw one made at a retreat last year a lady made and I fell in love with in.

Jacquie in OK,

Every once in a while someone will pop onto this website who really enjoys quilting, crafting, etc. but due to circumstances cannot get the fabrics or other stuff to really fully enjoy the art. Maybe you or the author of this original post or any others might consider a kind donation to a fellow quilter who would love to continue to quilt but who cannot due to economic circumstances. Being in this situation is disheartening and when family members don't understand and secretly go thru your quilting things and chuck everything out you miss what is gone. Sometimes it is the kindness of others that counts and makes the most difference.

if you find the place for recovery - you will have to let us all know. I started tracking what I buy vs what I use and it's a little scary, since Jan 1 of this year I have purchased 447 yd of fabric and only used 272. could open my own fabric store with my stash - one of my downfalls was the local Hancock's unadvertised $1.00 yd sale, just happened to go in the store and walked out with 150 yds of fabric - all good quality quilting fabric that is discontinued. I was in stashaholic heaven. (i went back 3 times - they kept putting more out) HELP ME

Too bad you live so far away, I love to do binding. I could help with that then you could donate them to worthy causes.

Mary,
I do not have near that much but I had to put a halt to what I was buying about 8 months ago... other than buying backing/binding for a project & that usually came from my Walmart that still had fabric I hadn't been to a quilt shop since then & only ordered online once for curtain material...it has been hard but I am working out of my stash, finishing quilts (I hate to quilt them!!) and trying to work that way... it has been very hard not to fondle fabric at a store but it had to be done... you can do it.. you have gotten lots of helpful hints here so just take one area at a time, work that, then go to the next.. or if you have quilting friends maybe they can come in & help you with organizing & selling/donating items... hang tough girl you know that you can do it......I did break down yesterday and went to new Joanns, but I needed material to make my Mom's Christmas present so that was all I got but I did get to fondle the other material!!!!

welcome to my world..........mine isn't always because I want to buy fabric, someone wants me to make a purse or something...then there is the fabric that yells " Please take me home with you"
But I figure if it make me happy why not, I ask no one to clean behind me, or pick up the scraps......it mine so I go upstairs and close the door. And if you wonder into my basement,read the warning sign on door. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

AMEN to that!

Maybe keep the quilts that are special........start giving them away as Christmas gifts.Put the ones that you can part with up for sale,I have given friends fat quarters and fabric as gifts(those who quilt) Donate for Cancer raffles,Church raffles.Ask at your local quilt store if they know of anyone who sews or quilts who they know that might not be able to afford much fabric............what a surprise to find a basket of fabric on you front steps. Give baby quilts to your local hospital for low income mothers for their babies........Hope this helps
Huggs Judy

Send me your unbound quilts...............................

Hello. My name is Karen and I'm an addict. Hello, Karen....

I was really bad about buying fabric in the stores and then we got a computer and I found Ebay. I bought so much stuff I will never live long enough to finish half of it. I am almost 65. I have took a long hard look at what I have and I decided not to buy any more fabric. I am now making myself finish my UFOs. Once they are done I will work on my stash. Good luck. You can do it.

Well, I have more stash and gadgets than I ever expected to have - especially since I sew on an oversized card table in the guest room with the linen closet filled with all my "stuff"! What caught my eye was your not binding your quilts!! My sewing friend and I went to our LQS and got help finishing our quilts - just go in and ask for help! We do the binding from back to front and top stitch - they look great and it is easy! I don't think you can get Blue Ribbons that way though. Go have fun learning and feel good about finishing all your quilts!!

I have been cleaning my craft room and getting rid of things too. I have to remind myself to stay focused on what I want my area to look like. My vision is a less cluttered peaceful area to create. Its a process and it takes time. Stick with it there are rewards along the way. :D

Jacquie, when you get ready to get rid of some of that stuff, please let me and my daughter know. I wanna be first at your sale :)

Thanks Sheree for the Sink Reflections recommendation. I checked the website of the author. Flylady.net has a 30 day program of "baby steps" to take control of the chaos-clutter in our lives. I already signed in to her daily reflections newsletter.

All though my addiction is not at your level yet, I am addicted too. Only yesterday I got on line for fabric sale and added a bunch of fabrics to my cart and got to where I use my credit card when I realized what I was doing, then simply turned off the computer. Here at home I have boxes, dresser drawers and a walkin closet full and yet want more. I even make a few sets of pillow cases in order to get rid of some of the material. I have rulers galore and can not part with any of them because I might need one. Ready to join you in rehab.
IdahoSandy

Hi Mary,
I really hear you!! At first I was laughing, and we must laugh at ourselves but honestly last fall I had a melt-down of this nature. I had so much stuff I couldn't enjoy doing what I love to do!
So I totally cleaned out my sewing room and got honest with myself of what I really want and don't want. It's hard to do but with the help of this board I persevered. Many wonderful comments on organization, stash reduction, etc.
It took a long time and I had some setbacks- family events, stuff like that, but I finally finished it.
I now have a room that's inviting. I WANT to be in there instead of closing the door and giving up in frustration.
I was also mad at myself for accumulating so much but donated things and that alone gave me great satisfaction- knowing that someone could also enjoy this passion.
I haven't looked back on anything I got rid of.
I also cut my buying waaaaay down, now that I know what I actually have in that room. I kept what I love and intend to use it :)
I am finally more productive. Having too much stuff made me too overwhelmed. This may not work for everyone but it worked for me :)
You need a HUG! So I just gave you one :D
Sue

I love this approach! I'm adopting it. THANK YOU!!

There is a Room of Hidden Things on the second story of my home. It is filled with all the wonderful ideas and materials collected for projects planned for retirement. It used to be a guest room and before that a child's room. Now it has but one purpose: to store my latest acquisitions, safe from prying eyes.

Thanks to J.K.Rowling for the idea. :

How about a 2-cent psychological point of view?

Maybe at one time your life was out of control and you went and bought all this stuff because it was the one tangible thing you could control. Unfinished, probably because you didn't want the commitment; it was a way of being so pulled into the other life stuff not finishing these beauties was another means of control.

Now you want to cleanse. All that other life stuff is either not happening or is at a manageable stage. Now you need to see which of those beauties - including fabric, books, gadgets, batting - that you love and keep those. Donate the rest. Don't burden yourself by wondering how to sell them. Donate them to a nursing home's arts and crafts room.

A few years ago I was where you are but at a smaller scale with different items. Craft supplies, clays, beads, fabric, puzzles, supplies, you get it. I did what I said and today have everything under control. And it feels wonderful!

You have to figure out why it got so overwhelming before you can understand how to cut back and rebuild a stash you can live with.