cats and more cats followed closely by elephants and other African motifs

So true! I did the same thing, and haven't really had time to sew much of anything for years now. (Too busy at work...)

Looking at the stash made me depressed; it had transformed from "colorful textile delights" to just so much "stuff". So I gave away everything except those few fabrics that I actually had plans to use within a year, to the local Project Linus groups.

And I felt better.

However, I *don't* feel good about the amount of money that I had tied up in all the fabric, and therefore "lost". So I try not to think about that part of it!

:|

you are really good. How do you do this. I need you to go shopping with me. I just like fabric, period.

I like the 30's, civil war and flannels. I try not to buy too much extra but my stash is growing but not like some of the ladies on this board. I may have 1-1/2 plastic container of stash. I also save my scraps and will buy muslin to make a quilt with the scraps.

Right now I'm collecting fabric with gold metallic threads. They are just gorgeous. So far, I've made an eye-spy quilt and I just love it. I also have a fan quilt in the works with just japanese gold metallic thread fabric--they're mostly flowers.

Well... when it turns out that you no longer have the time to DO the things you enjoy, after a while you just become un-enamored with the collecting of related things.

Actually, I think that I just got fed up with "stuff" in general.

How much of our lives do we spend just dealing with our "stuff"? Some days it feels like all I do is tidy up stuff, throw out stuff, dust stuff, wash stuff, and move stuff from place to place. What's the point? I'd rather read a book. From the library, so that I don't actually have to own it. 'Cause then I'd have to dust it! :?

My favorite fabric is batiks, I also buy fabrics that are very colorful/bright. Someday I hope to use all of the fabrics I have loved and bought!!

I buy good quality fabric, not fabric from Wal-mart or JoAnn's. I seem to like the blender fabrics. My first pick is 100% cotton, then I also like to use flannel depending on what I'm making. I really don't care for Batik's but I know a lot of people do. They just don't do anything for me.

You are so so right. I have lived in a 1500 sq ft house for 26 yrs now and all I try to do is stretch the wall out moving stuff around from room to room. I have alot of stuff, however, it is organized. I spend alot of time doing that. Suz

Thought I knew most of what you are saying BUT what is TOT?