I have been on a major Fabric, etc. Diet for most of the spring and summer. The only way I have been successful is stay out of the shops! I have a girlfriend who comes over sometimes and we sew together. Lots of fun.
Good Luck! :-D

I'm always cheap when it comes to picture frames. I buy a picture with a frame the size I need and turn the picure around to use as backing for what ever I'm trying to frame.

Do you use a budget? I mean like an actual all of your money is managed with a budget? If not, that's a good idea. You can make a category for quilt related stuff. Then you know exactly what you have available to you each month and you don't have to feel guilty if you spend some money. Make it be a cash budget- keep the cash for each category in a separate envelope- and only take that cash with you when you shop.

Also, if you know you really shouldn't be buying anything, and if you're anything like 99% of us on here, you have more projects in the works than you have time to finish any time soon! Dig one of those out and make some progress. Or, if you absolutely *have* to start something new, make a scrappy! (Come on, you know you've got plenty of scraps! ;) )I've just finished the blocks for a scrappy quilt, getting ready to sew the top together, and it was a lot of fun. I did purchase fabric for the setting blocks and backing, but will be using a brand new package of Warm and Natural batting I bought at a yard sale for $2 (score!) and will bind it with fabric from my stash, so, all in all, this quilt will have a pretty reasonable cost. If I weren't using setting blocks, it could have been even cheaper!

Anyway, my point is that not going out and buying, buying, buying doesn't have to be a drag. You can still enjoy quilting for the pure joy of quilting! :)

wow!!!you are just like the rest of us!!!!!!!!!!!good luck!!

MY FRIEND AND I MADE A PACT........NO NEW PURCHASES...ONLY IF WE NEED SOMETHING TO FINISH A UFO.
IT WAS REALLY HARD BUT SURE KEPT MY BUYING DOWN TO PRACTICALLY NOTHING. EVEN IF YOU DO IT EVERY OTHER MONTH IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. GOOD LUCK!!

Budgets are not my strong suit... ugh. I am going to try tho. :) I think that if I was home all the time, I could sew sew sew away! However, I have lots of time at work to think about new fabrics and patterns... and then buy them! :) But... I am trying to turn over a new leaf. :) I did "look" online and filled the "basket" and then exited out of the site without buying. Worked pretty good! :)

I don't have much of a stash but I have decided not to buy anymore fabric or tools unless I need them for a specific project, and to do scrappy quilts. I have started deleting emails from quilting/crafting stores. I recently learned how to knit as a skein of yarn is a lot cheaper than a bunch of fabric for a project. If I find some fabric for 1.50 or 2.00 I will buy one or two yards and that is it!

I used to knit a few years ago... mostly scarves and I did do one afghan. I never got into it like I have with quilting... :) It was A LOT cheaper tho!! You are right about that! :)

Ahhh- what do they say about good intentions?? Something about paving the way to hell?? I had good intentions but then my LQS had a "Christmas in Summertime" celebration with 25% off everything in the store - unfortunately I had cash in my wallet so there it went!! But I did get a great idea for a cute Advent calender for my grandson using a pattern I already have and out of my stash so I'm happy. Now to try to get back to those "good intentions".

:roll: It is a difficult situation. Fabric talks to me and there have been times it has just flat jumped into my shopping cart. And you know perfectly well that you can't put it back for fear that someone will see you changing your mind and, well, you know what talk that can cause. ha No seriously, I know what you are talking about and I have the same problem. I bought some more fabric today which I plan on making up real soon. (Thats what I've said about the fabric I have in my stash for 35 qult tops.) And lets not discuss books. Mercy, I can't pass them up either. So you are not alone and if you figure out how to break the cycle, please let us all know. Love to you. Oh yes, cheaper than a therapist.