Something you might want to try (I've been thinking about doing this as well). If you have some quilting magazines, find a pattern that you like and go into your stash for the fabrics. Pretend you have no fabric shops nearby and no computer to order on line. After you have completed the quilt you can treat yourself by buying new fabric!

DH wants to know when I'm going to open a fabric shop. Time to cut!!

I'm also a fabric collector, but lately I've been choosing two pieces at a time from my stash to make a block (right now I'm making churn dash blocks for a scrappy quilt). That way I have the fabric to look at and soon I'll also have a quilt. ...... taking baby steps .....

Of course I'm still buying some fabrics for specific projects but I'm making a start. I'm also making blocks and mug rugs from my scraps collection that is overflowing a box.

think i am just selfish about my stash. mostly i make quilts for others and just don't think they deserve the beautiful stuff in my stash. ha ha! rarely make anything for me but intend to. even bigger laugh. really, some day i will.

know i need to get busy as i don't foresee the need for all that fabric after i am gone.

I wish it was just fabric that my room is full of. It seems I like anything that pertains to sewing so much I buy or collect it. My patterns are overflowing past the large storage cabinet I got to keep them in. The bookshelf is overflowing too. My thread drawers are full to the brim and buttons .... Well that is another story. I know during the winter when I don't want to forge out, I appreciate my stash. But, I really don't need any more inspiration fabric.

I say, have a party playing with it. There is more at the store!

I'm the same way. I hate to use any of my fabric because what if I need it later? Same with my scrapbooking supplies.

I got over that habit years ago by hanging onto fabric "because I loved it and wanted to use it for something special" for so long that I finally outgrew it. Then I had to use it in something not so special after all because I was no longer enchanted with it!! Now, as said before, I use my stash so I can view it outside the drawer!

Jan in VA

My DH said this same thing to me this morning. :D

My feelings, too. Still, there are some pieces that I just can't part with.