My husband says that I am not a quilter, I am a "Collector"! I have so many projects started and waiting to be started that I am overwhelmed. Does anyone else feel that way? What have you done to feel better and get things done? Have you given things away just to get things to a manageable level?

We must be related! Same thing here, but I'm having the time of my life !

Blessings,
Ruth

That's funny! Must be a lot of us "collectors" out there! :lol:

I am the same way. Keep collecting patterns, and patterns. I had thought about putting up this sign: "My house was clean last week, sorry you missed it!" LOL

I say you're still a quilter, I think it's in the rule book that you have to collect fabric and related items to be a quilter. LOL

I am the same way only difference is I decided to give away the fabrics I won't be using for the price of shipping. I may do it again in another month. I decided if I am not using it then it needs to go to someone who will.

Every artist works in their own way. Many artists discard works in progress because they move on to a more exciting idea. I have a lot of unfinished canvases here but my daughter's finished paintings are wonderful. Maybe we need a swap to trade UFOs!! That could be fun!

Well said Dotty!

That's great!! lol.

Seems like I never have the right kind of material I need for my next quilt! Even scrappies, I never have the right kind of "scraps". How do you get an abundance?

I am a collector, too. Right now I have collected enough fabric to cover the state of Rhode Island.

I am pretty bored my scraps. Maybe I should trade the whole bin w someone else!

Well, gotta go to bed. Getting up early to go garage saling (spelled right?). Goodnight everyone! Sweet dreams.

I think we are quilters if we love fabric, colors and quilts!

I think that's the thing. I look at my material for so long and then get bored with it and it no longer looks good.
Well, goodnight.

I got an over flow totally by accident. I shop the thrift shops and went thru a phase several years ago where I bought every piece of quilty fabric I could get my hands on I couldn't beat the $.50 a yard price. Now I try to work from my stash. I did say try but sometimes there is that fabric that you have to have for a quilt. So it isn't working to well for me. I even give my scraps away for shipping costs. No use in keeping them either.

I think we're all related! If I never bought another inch of fabric, I would have to live to be at least 100 to use up my stash and fq's.

You need to start thinking like a vitner. Fabrics, like fine wine, need to age awhile to get better. So at least once a week you need to stroke them, admire them and talk to them lovingly telling them how wonderful they are going to look once you decide how they are going to play together.
You're not a collector - you're an artist who needs time to imagine your next piece of art. Give up the guilt and feel free to dream.

Exactly!!! The hard part is convincing my DH of this, and that I need more!!

As I can already see by the posts, there are a lot of us "collectors" around! I keep adding patterns to my collection, but not getting much done. :oops: I have decided, though, to limit my pattern collecting and quilting projects to mostly applique since I enjoy that more than piecing. We'll see what happens!!

The principal of a jr. high that I worked for, told me to always set my priorities. Which letter needed to be typed first, etc. It has been my motto ever since, and so, I finally came to terms with my quilting projects - finish ONE project and while you are finishing that ONE project, you can figure out which project you need to go to next, to finish. FINISH is the key word. I have made a lot of
progress that way. It makes you feel so 'good'!!!

I have always called myself a "quilting supply collector". I buy fabric and notions and tools but rarely produce anything with them!

I am a "one at a time" person (in fact one project had to be packed away whilst I work on another that has a deadline coming up), but that doesn't stop me picking up new future projects along the way.

Me too! Lol

I guess I am a rounder, I wonder around from quilt project to quilt project. I have two tops currently finished but batting and backing only attached to one, but not finished quilting it yet, have had a lot of trouble with it. I am doing it by machine quilting no long armer near. I am currently working on one I've put away off and on, hope to get all three of these finished before October Fall Fair. I also have three others partly finished and still just on my ufo list. I have four in mind with fab. and patterns for ones that I want to do as soon as possible. I eventually get them finished but I have had too many interuptions this summer. So I am a "quilt-a-rounder" I guess. But I am having fun all along the way, and that's what's important. This is my stress releaser.

I give myself a "time out" so to speak.Might go wks...or even a few mos without working on a project.Just reading about quilts,buying a couple
new patterns,some fabric etc helps me restart with fresh eyes.

Spending time here,saving tips/tutes/pics........sorting thru other saved
quilting info,tossing some etc.It works for me.

I'm interested in your fabric. ;)

Greetings - we are all related!

First I ran through all my hiding places, gathered up all my projects and put them in one place. Took a picture, made myself count what was there. Posted that here :)

Then I took the projects I could and ironed them and hung them in the closet. Decided there were four I did not want to do, so sold the panels (thank you to those that bought them). The remaining ones I am working through.

That is not to say I haven't created more, thanks to this great board, but they don't get hidden and they don't require any new material purhases - so I don't count them :)

So one by one - rather than two by two :) - I am getting through my collection of things that need to be done.

Dont worry I a "Overwelming collector" and I love it
cant say no if someone wants to give me fabric, sewing
stuff , but I am have the time of my life , and dont intend to stop.

Collector here...books, patterns, notions, fabric, fabric, and fabric. I love it all!!

PROVE HIM WRONG!!!! Start sewing and quilting projects.

Won't that give YOU great satisfaction TWICE...proving him wrong AND getting project completed.

Say NO to buying for a while...I know it will be difficult if not impossible...

GREAT IDEAS!!! Gather all together, take inventory, get rid of what you don't LOVE and get going on the rest... Thank you!

I'm a collector too, but do manage to finish some things along the way.

Hi,
I cleaned out my stash and gave bags to the Salvation Army so someone else could use all of them.After all the clutter was gone I could concentrate on what I could do with what I had left which was still a room full,I haven't regretted cleaning out everything.Jetta

Hi,
I cleaned out my stash and gave bags to the Salvation Army so someone else could use all of them.After all the clutter was gone I could concentrate on what I could do with what I had left which was still a room full,I haven't regretted cleaning out everything.Jetta

He just doesn't get it - ignore him and keep doing what you're doing.

A family member wanted to give me a bunch of fabric scraps and I said "YES!" Well, if you are not a quilter, you don't know quilting fabric. I had to throw most of it out because it just took up space. :cry:

My husband keeps wondering when I am ever going to use the fabric stash I have instead of buying new fabric for each project. He cannot understand this and as I have all my fabric stored in a large bookcase, there is no place for me to hide them. I just don't know how I can use those dark fabrics I bought when I started quilting and had no idea of what I was doing at the time. They are beautiful, but I am not good at matching them with anything else. Any ideas out there????

and with me being a beginner! got stacks of material, projects to do, and some I have started and not finished, and where has the day gone?

Aw, cant you be a quilting collector? You have to collect alot of fabric to make quilts, lol!
I justdont think men understand!

That gave me my real morning chuckle. Have to do a better job now so I can move my new chair around easily.