OK: I notice the recent guilty parties have been strangely silent, I for one shocked myself into silence. I would like to propose a new rule. If you fall off the wagon you must disclose all the details in full, with pictures when possible. This rule would be in effect retroactively, so all you ladies that slipped by with a "no comment" must fess up. All in favor say, "AYE".

If I posted a picture of the red batik I bought for a birthday present to myself in March, then you'd all rush to Bear Creek Fabrics and buy yourself some so I'd be an enabler. :rolleyes:

What's the date? The 15th? May is half over and no purchases.The church youth group is having a sale this week to raise money for this summer's mission trip. I shall go to one of my sewing rooms and grab some fabric for them - I hate to see it sold for 50 cents a piece, but is it better for it to never be used? I don't think so.

I abstain!

I know it is only the 15th and the month is only 1/2 over; however, I have been a good girl so far. I have two quilts I need to buy backing fabric for; however, I am too busy at my main job to back them so figure why buy the fabric. Going quilting at my LQS tomorrow night and taking plenty of projects with me. Let's see if I can resist the temptation.

Aye, but I have been good. However, I have to go buy some FQs for the birthday swap on another forum. I swear I don't have the right colors in my stash. Really I don't. ....why is my nose growing?

Well, hey! I've been quiet, you know, but let's not get :hunf:. Now, I did buy fabric...enough for two sets of placemats. No, there wasn't anything in the stash that would have worked. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.) One set went to my brother and SIL for their new house gift and one set to my mom for Mother's Day, and one side of hers was from stash. I also bought the Bosall thingies to go inside the mats and they worked very well. Then I signed up for a sweatshirt into a jacket class, so had to buy the sweatshirt and fabric for that. It's done already. :thumbup: That was so much fun, I signed up for a purse class...now that's another story. Didn't get out of that one very cheaply. Could have bought a finished Vera Bradley bag for what I've got in the supplies...class starts next week. So I'm buying, but also getting things done. A quilt that's been lying about for a year is going to the LA quilter today! So, yep I fell off that ole wagon. If ya all let me back on, I'll be better. Maybe. LOL :D :D :D

Coopah: Wish I could say that everything I buy goes immediately into a finished project. Always wanted to try that sweatshirt conversion, love to see a picture of yours. Thanks for all the...., I mean now that you have listed all your transgressions welcome back on the wagon.

Ladies, as a newcomer to the board, I have to say that I'm not "on the wagon" officially.
However, I have to admit I laughed myself silly at some of the posts. I've been doing the "no fabric purchases" on my own for a couple of years now. In 2013, and 2012, I was very good. Of course, part of that had to do with the fact that we were moving, and I also started back to college (at 50+ years old!!) Now however, several people at work have learned of my quilting addiction and are buying quilts and/or ordering quilts. So, in those cases, I don't really count it as fabric purchases, because in reality, someone else is paying for it, right?
Another reason I've broken my own "no buy" rule this year is the fact that my daughter is expecting our first grandbaby. So OF COURSE this little fellow will need all NEW fabrics for his "special" quilts... then I'm still using stash to make a couple of "drag around all over the place" quilts for him. He's not even here yet, and he's already got two quilts.
BUT, I plan to join your "moratorium" next year.
Good job for those of you that have managed to stay "on the wagon"... and for those of you who've "fallen off"... well, keep trying each month.

coopah, IMO, you haven't fallen off the wagon as long as you didn't add to your stash. To me, fabric used within a reasonable time frame doesn't count - it's the pretty red batik that went into a drawer that makes me teeter on the edge. The same goes for the special baby fabrics. The last two baby quilts I made for a GGS and a GGD I was able to only purchase the feature fabric and find coordinates in my stash.:thumbup:

Report from the area-wide garage sales: I did really well. I bought one 3.5 yard piece of heavy twill, almost a canvas, to make some tote bags. $1. My sister shopped my stash & took about 3 yards, and we also cut out enough pieces to make 25 Beads of Courage Bags, which used up about 15 or so yards. Now just need to stitch these up, but they go really quickly. If you are interested in doing some charity sewing but don't have the time to make a quilt, this is a great option:
http://www.beadsofcourage.org/pages/quilters.htm

leta, expecting a new grandbaby gets a pass for sure. And kudos to you for tackling College. I did it in my 40s and am considering a Master's....but how much sewing time would I lose.....Still deciding.

Princess, those bags are cute. How does the beads part work - do you string your own, or buy necklaces, or what?

Well, thanks for letting me back on this wagon!:thumbup: Everything had to be finished quickly due to deadlines. Otherwise...well, let's not go there. I'll post a pic of the sweatshirt soon. After seeing the others at guild, it looks like I need to cut away more fabric. Hubby says it looks fine as is. These aren't hard to make, just time consuming with the cutting. Also, need to make the arms shorter and do those. Think there's enough fabric left...but I'll be at the LQS this Thursday for purse class, so can get more fabric for the sweatshirt. Think I've done myself in on the purse bit. Had no idea how much it would cost to make one. Whew! Thanks for being gracious. Irishrose, that red batik is calling out to you...I can here it from here! LOL:D :D :D

The kids get the beads at the hospital. They get a certain type bead for every procedure they have to undergo. Some kids string them, some just store them in the bags. Sadly some children accumulate hundreds. My cousin belongs to a bead guild and they were contacted by the charity to make special beads for particularly difficult procedures.
Since lots of folks have many hobbies, some of the people from her guild were also making the bags & she gave me some labels to get me started.

This is good reading. I smile a lot when I read your writings. I think it's the like mindedness or it could be that 'it sounds like me!' I do feel pretty good about my fabric purchases for May, so far it's 0. I'm not kidding and I'm completely surprised. This no fabric buying is just not possible, has been my inner thoughts. Guess I'm proving that one wrong. We'll see how far into May this girl can go with the 0 purchases. I think it's a record at this point.

Thanks for that clarification, Princess. Those poor kids - breaks my heart to think of all they have to go through.
I just found out that the pump on our well went out. Without water, there isn't much to do. Looks like I'll end up going to the quilt show in Woodland after all. When frustrated - she shops. Will let you know how bad I'm gonna be later.

Oh, and I did go by the LQS on Friday and bought FQs for the swap and some supplies for a class I'm signed up in. BUT I will pull fabric from my stash.

I survived the Stash Bash sew in at my LQS on Friday. I only bought 1/2 yard of fabric, but that was for a project I was working on that night and didn't like my original choice for the binding so had to go with a different color. I do not regret that decission....I thought about putting the project aside and working of another project I brought for the night and just pull from my stash at home but I really happy I didn't. I was trying to match a purple in one of the fabrics for a binding and never knew how many shades of purple there was till I tried matching the color in the focus fabric. Other than the 1/2 yard of fabric I purchased a spool of thread to match the fabric I just purchased and some new bobbins for my machine. All in all I walked out for the night under $20.

Oh no! I feel the pressure building, everyone is being so good and staying within the guidelines. Afraid to say anything further after my dismal performance last month. Congrats everyone.

I did go to the quilt show and I did buy something. Got a fat-quarter bundle of neutrals and a half yard of beige with gold. That is going to be used on one of my round robins since I have very little in the line of neutrals.

Coopah...I, too want to see pics of the sweatshirt/jacket, when you can. I received two sacks of scraps from a friend who does not want them so that gave me my fabric fix for this month. I can get several Lozenges blocks from them, hurray! Everyone is doing so good and I agree...if this moratorium just makes us think before we buy...that is a good thing!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]476793[/ATTACH]This is the fabric from last month, almost done with the quilting. It's the corner showing of the backing.

Now, this latest. Ordered a black batting. Had to buy some fabric to get free shipping. Here it is. It will eventually be part of a diamond log cabin.

Kris: Your quilt looks like the Southwest with all those beautiful dessert colors. Very nice blending. Love your color choices for the log cabin. Since the purchase was to get shipping is there dispensation for the purchase, after all who wants to pay for shipping?

I've been quite good : ) But, I'll be needing to buy backing for a queen size quilt that's almost done (Thimbleberries). It's nearly 'perfect' piecing and includes 138 flying geese around the main blocks. Amazing!
I plan to give it to my nephew and his wife but will first show it a few times. I've never had a quilt judged, but may do that to get some feedback before it's delivered (an unexpected gift).
I have one more border to add and the top will be done. It'll be custom LAQ'ed to complement the complex pattern. If I can ever get a photo to post, I'll do so when it's done. I've not been successful for quite some time.

I purchased some Pellon Shape Flex interfacing so I can make a tumbler bag according to the MSQC tutorial.

I also got 3 bags of knit at a garage sale. I was buying one bag and told the lady that I was donating it to a group that made baby items. So instead of $3 for one bag, she told me to take all of it for free. :) That's why I got three bags instead of one. She also took my name and number in case she decides to clear out more of her stash.

I will need to purchase some fleece in the near future to match the fleece remnants I was given yesterday. The purchase will allow me to make some fringed fleece blankets for a yearly donation to a group called For the Love of Peyton.

I also was given about 6 kitchen garbage bags full of material that will be divided up for several organizations. There are cottons, sweatshirt fleece, flannels, and knits in the bags. At least I didn't pay for any of it and I am trying to only keep the larger pieces of backing fabric, flannel, and some heavier fabric for tote bags. Then the rest will be dropped off at the different organizations.

Sooooo...I keep telling myself that I DO NOT NEED to go to any garage sales for fabric!!! I don't think that will happen although this thread really makes me evaluate how far I will travel to check out fabric at garage sales to add to my stash or donate.

Happy Memorial Day!

Connie

P.S. Time to get back to my sewing room to reorganize and then to topstitch and tie some baby quilts.

Connie: Wow, guilt free fabric acquisition. Going through those six bags must have been fun.

I will try. Not promising anything on this one. But I will use my scrap bucket to make a scrappy quilt, maybe a trip around the world or a nine patch to that that out of my way. I think I have 3 totes of scraps. So that should be an easy adventure, the tough part will be figuring out what to do.

My daughter says that garage sale fabric does not count. Not sure how she figures that but that is what she said.

Well, I just bought 9 yards of a gorgeous fabric for quilt backing. It was 50% off...and it's a nice fabric. It will help me get a batik braid quilt started and done. Meanwhile, my tote bag is almost finished and I'm binding a quilt with stash fabric. So I've spend my quilting allowance for this month (June). And what will we all do when the state shop hops start on July 1. Oh me, oh my!

I did it, I did it! No fabric was bought in May! Wow, I am amazed! This has never happened before in my life time of quilting and that's years. A whole month.....wonder if I can make that 2 months? Well June, so far so good.

I picked up 1 1/4 yds of fabric and 4 fat quarters on the 31st. I just had to buy the bionic gear bag pattern and wanted some sewing theme fabric for the bag. At least it has a purpose and I only bought what the pattern called for.

All in all this challenge has been a good one and has try stopped the impulse buying.

I went to the LQS for the Beatle Bag class and did not buy anything. I did see some fabric in the sale section that might work for a backing I need. Will take the top in to see if my instincts were right. See, in the past I would have just bought 5 yards in case it worked. So you are a good influence on me!

Congratulations Rhonda Lee! Baby steps--let's see I know I have Quilt Iowa fabric on order so don't think I will make June a fabric free month...But I was good in May, too.

I totally agree with your daughter. The other day I found 8 yards of JoAnn's quilt quality cotton in a swap meet, that was perfect for the backing of my king size top in progress, for $1. You bet I was not going to pass on it!

Well I bought two pieces of fabric but honest they were to go with fabric I already had in my stash. One is a blue cloud fabric that I want for a autumn leaf quilt that will use some of the many fall fabrics I already have. The other was a Kona teal called "glacier" that will go with a stack and wack set on point that is already started. So, can I squeak by with no demerits for May?

I've been out of quilting for a while, with a construction project going on, then BOTH my sewing machines decided to stop working... I only made one fabric purchase in May, but it bad. One of those 32 fat quarter bundles for $16 that was posted in the links section. I mean come on, 32 LQS FQ's for $16. I was a victim.

Going to the LQS after work. Not even planning to be strong. I am recovering from a nasty bug so a little fabric-retail-therapy may be what the doctor ordered.

Must be something in the air. I almost stopped at the closing LQS today. I would like to see if they any solid navy. I'm doing a batik stained glass quilt starting June 17 and I'm thinking navy leading would suit the recipient better than black. I have no idea what their prices are down to, but if they are too low, I'll be in trouble.

I think this has been such a good thing, this fabric moratorium. It has really made me stop and think before buying. I don't believe anything is wrong with picking up pieces of fabric that is needed in a current project or getting a great deal on fabrics. The cost is high in our hobby regardless of what we do. So any savings is worth it IMHO. I have spent some money on an order with Nancys Notions, patterns and one kit for a book for a grandson. Even that purchase made me pause and reflect if this was a need. Of course the answer was yes! But the impulse buying has been curbed. That I am truly grateful for, and once again, thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you who's encouraging words mean so much!

I went, I saw, I shopped. This nasty cold and and the meds I've been taking had me in a real funk, so what better medicine than a little fabric shopping. Yes, I went to the LQS yesterday to get some backing fabric for the top I had. Got it - even on the sale rack. Needed to get 4 FQs in colors I didn't have - got them. Found the same backing fabric in green and bought it too. Then I saw some Snoopy (Hero) fabric that I just had to have and of course some solids to go with the Snoopy for a DP9. Let's just say that the owner was very happy when she rang me up. Today I went to the shop for a class and thanks to the real meds, I forgot half my supplies at home. .....At least everything I bought today got used immediately. SIGH! Ask me if I feel bad about ANY of it....NOPE! lol

Martina: I've got to say when you fall off the wagon you do it with a great deal of style. Sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Get well soon. I am probably going to JoAnn's today. They are having a 50% sale on cutting mats and boy do I need to replace my 24' one. The lines in the places I use the most are disappearing and the surface is probably shortening the life of my rotary blades. Don't know if I will find some yardage that I can't live without. Like you said Rose, must be something in the air.

I agree with you, Rhonda! I'm thankful for this moratorium because I simply had lost self control on impulse shopping for beautiful fabrics. And, they still keep coming out every week in LQS's. I've been quite disciplined and only bought backings, borders, sashings, and quilt fabrics for baby quilts requested so far this year. Plus, some bird fabric that was paid (gifted) on our anniversary from my husband.
However, I'm going to my very first real quilt retreat, plus a quilt expo this coming week. Tell me if I'll buy a few fabrics! LOL! But, it's coming up on my birthday so perhaps this is a reasonable expectation to buy some 'gifts' for myself, right?
Overall, it feels really good to recognize what I need versus what I 'want' every time I enter a quilt shop.