What self control, Martina! Glad we are such a good influence.
Dashing off to check PP's pencil series....
coopah, Way to go and getting rid of fabric too:thumbup:
Emma, I, too have been thinking of counting fabric out/fabric in--hopefully a decrease in total amounts.

Some quilt buddies and I went to Quilt show this afternoon--I refrained from buying any fabrics from the vendors, yeah!! Nice show, but some quilts exhibit too much quilting IMHO. Each to their own.

Loved your Pencil series quilts PP. I have to admit that I received a gift card for JoAnn's. I chose some Halloween fabric but since I didn't have to pay out of my pocket....it doesn't count. Might be next October before I can use it but do plan to make some place mats with it. Now I am off to check out Sunbonnet Sue and her 'adventures'.

Purchased 2 yards of fabric, but this time I have a really good exc...er reason. I'm participating in Judy's Mystery Train Ride. We are now adding the fifth and last fabric choice. I had a piece of coral orange I though would work. Wrong, the light coral and the orange are right next to each other. So 2 yards later I think I found what will work. No stash was increased in this procedure.

Good for all of you. I have been on a buying moratrium this year. I have used pieces out of my stash and even gifted some to our local church quilting group. It is so nice to be able to find fabric now that the closet is not so full. I have a girlfriend who did two FARTS in the past 5 days with a friend. She just had to find the right fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt coming up. She ended up buying yardage of a new fabric collection that is out now. After all, who wants to do a quilt with old colors. That way her colors are all matched and coordinated. I looked at the collection on line and the pieces she brought are coordinated, but she didn't look at the value of her pieces. They are all the same value, no lights or darks. But maybe this is okay because you use blacks and neutrals. I just laugh and giggle to myself as I pull pieces from my stash. I will use my "old" colors and besides I may not like mystery. Certainly not enough for $200 FARTS. Bonnie uses what she has and may have even recycled some fabric from clothing.

I assure you that my mental health is right where it needs to be - a little off center. Sue is my therapy. I told my mom the other day that her shenanigans have really kicked my creativity in gear (happens when I get stressed). So I putter around with dear old SBS in my ever so wicked way. lol Sadly, I am on my last Sue block in this series. It is a little bitter-sweet to bring that project to an end. SIGH! What's sadder is that I have been able to pull EVERY combination of fabrics from my scrap bin and that darn bin is still over-flowing.

The home reno project had to be stalled because hubby threw his back out and is recovering. No need to aggravate it more. We have waited this long, a few more days won't make a difference. THEN Auntie Em is going to emerge from her shipping box.

Can you see me slinking in? We went back to the part of town where I had all the resolve last week. Well, I wavered and I fell. SIGH! Got some batik FQs and 5 yards of a neutral for the Edyta Sitar Dresden Blooms quilt I am planning to take to my retreat.

At least you have a plan for it, Martina. Now we want to see results.
I was in 2 towns with quilt shops on Th--did not darken their doors. I fear I would have been OTW had I stopped....I'm sorting in the sewing space now, that helps calm the fabric hunger pains as well.

Well, here it is. Halloween. The witching hour is upon us! At midnight tonight the spell is broken and the official 2014 moratorium ends. How did you do this year? I did OK. Not perfect, but OK. I did get rid of about 40 yards of fabric at our guild's 'garage' sale. The proceeds go to the guild. Didn't make a dent in my stash, but I did take the time to reacquaint myself with some of my treasures. You won't use it if you don't know you have it!
Although we are at the official end date, feel free to continue on resisting those sale flyers & posting here.
As far as 2015... do we want a new challenge thread? New guidelines? Combine it with a 'stash buster' quilt show? Let's discuss!
Now to start getting ready for those trick or treaters!

Say I have a friend, who received a ad from CT. They were having a sale on their Batiks, 50% off. That's 3.98 per yard. She found it easy to resist the $8 regular price, the sales price not so much. Say she placed an order that is not due to arrive until after Nov 1st. Did this poor soul fall off the wagon?
Princess: I definitely would like to see a 2015 Moratorium started. I think it would be great to include pictures of quilts made only from stash, or maybe a minimum % of stash say 75%. Also a running tally of yards added and used would be fun. I know during 2014 I used more than I purchased, which is encouraging to me.

Well, hypothetically speaking of course, I would say that your 'friend' would be safe since the package would not arrive until after the cut off.

I would like to see something like this continue in 2015. I may not have been real good on cutting back on my buying, but it made me more aware, I questioned if I really needed it, and shopped my stash more than in the past. Overall, I think I did better.

Well, I'm signing up for the next one. Was I a perfect model of control for this....not entirely, but it made me mindful, and therefore is a good thing. Now to put some energy into getting some quilts done. Have been stalling lately, wandering about my stash, flicking through my massive pile of patterns. Procrastination is the thief of time.

Glad it is over! Went online to order Christmas gifts for two friends and saw some light fabrics that will look great in our new home. My dark green placements just didn't right look right in the room. That was all I got to finish the two projects for the LR and DR. Now to plow through some serious yardage in 2015!!!!

Head hanging in shame--LQS was having anniversary celebration this weekend. I like my LQS and want her to stay around so bought 5 yards to get 5 yards free. Now to be sure I bought flannel backing and a brown dot for DGD Christmas quilt and the 5 freebie yards were a neutral to use as background in a scrap busting quilt. I look at it this way 10 less yards to count in the next moratorium.

Yes yes we must continue. Emma I like the keeping track of stash out/in, too. And photos of stash projects as well.

Paperprincess..."As far as 2015... do we want a new challenge thread? New guidelines? Combine it with a 'stash buster' quilt show? Let's discuss!"

I say...Yes we want a new challenge thread. This year's helped me a lot and I hope to do even better next year. Anything that helps me to use my stash. Of course I will still by batting and backing if I can't piece something plus thread so won't be totally ignoring my LQS. I just like to see pictures of finished projects made with stash. Too much trouble to keep track of yardage used. Just MHO.

Emma I do not think your 'friend' fell off the wagon at all. She just hopped off and then on again for another year-long ride.

I haven't been a part of the moratorium, but I have kept up with the thread and have been more mindful. Like Sandy above I like seeing pictures of quilts made from stash.

I have enjoyed the confessions & the victories. Since I am non-productive my stash remains, shame shame on me.......I am considering the Bonnie H. With the little 9 patches I saw that in her trunk show and a friend is making the blocks, very nice.......Mad I have seen the Bad SBS blocks she is naughty and so am I. You are doing cute blocks. I have to check out the pencil series. Later all, watching for developments.......calla/Sue

How about pictures of the stashes?

Ooooh! Pictures of stashes, love that idea. I can't think of many things more fun then peering at stashes with a side view into the sewing space.

Calla, I'm a member of that guild & I'm making that quilt. Everything is cut, 9 patches & HSTs sewn, and about half the blocks assembled. Didn't even make a dent in my scraps, which I consider a whole 'nuther category from my stash.
As far as pictures, not home right now, but might consider it when I get home!

I also want to see a new thread for next year. Pictures are always nice.

I am going to a retreat in Pismo Beach next Wednesday and there are a few LQS in town. So I am already reviewing the "touristy, souvenir, supporting the local economy, and playing nice in a group" caveats for jumping off the wagon. OH YES, it is planned. lol I will also have to make a stop along the way on the long drive and what better place to stop than a LQS?

BTW, I only have 5 Suenario blocks to quilt before I can start the QAYG. Leah Day has a great new youtube video of how to do QAYG and it is very detailed.

PP what is the name of that quilt pattern? Looked at the site. Can't find it...........

It's not on the site, which is why you had to buy the book for the workshop. it's called tumalo trail. There are lots of pic on pinterest and google images.

Okay..if everyone wants to see pictures of stashes, I will take one of mine. My sewing room is very 'cozy' but works for me. Will post tomorrow after I take picture in daylight. Martina, I did one QAYG but was not happy with the thick seams where pieces joined. I will check out Leah Day's video and see if there is something better.

Okay..as promised...here is my stash. I am not one of those quilters who has a tidy quilt room but I am just happy to have a stash. Still need to hone it down a bit though. I have to leave the cardboard box on the table because that is where my quilt inspector sleeps. It is getting quite cozy as it is becoming more lined with cat hair. As you can see...I have lots of boxes started of different projects and a great many scraps. I use the heavy string at top with clothes pins to hang up projects that are in the works. Now it is someone else's turn. :-)

Sandy: I am kind of waiting for someone that has a bigger stash then me, so I won't be embarrassed. It's amazing how quilters gravitate towards all sorts of plastic boxes. I have two exactly like yours and one the same but a different color.

OK, in the spirit of I'll show you mine if you show me yours, here a few photos. I cheated a bit. I'm in the midst of re organizing my fabric so it's not all in one place. The photos are a sample...
The bolts are 2 deep... and those small boxes on the right are my cut up shirt charm collection. I think I have a dozen of those boxes, several thousand charms... The bins, well, I have the 3 pictured, and in addition, I have a mostly red, mostly green, another neutral and 2 batiks so 8 all together. Oh, I also have one of scraps that are not organized at all. If anyone cares, I ruler fold the fabric and those are 12 gallon bins. The ruler folds fit perfectly in 2 rows.

Thanks for sharing your pics.

I promise to share my stash in a couple of days when all is put back in it's proper place. I've been shifting pieces of furniture around the house from the sewing space and everything is chaos. I'm trying to cut out a couple of quilts from scraps while I'm doing this because I don't want to handle some pieces twice.

Emma, please don't be embarrassed. I think we all love to see everyone's stashes, even if they have more than we do. We won't be jealous...at least I won't. I have a quilting friend who used to own a quilt shop and she has an entire room lined with shelves of fabric not to mention two shelves going down the middle which are also filled with fabric. I know that I will never get through all I have unless I get to sewing faster than I am now...but love seeing what others have. I feel the same way about houses. I love to see where other people live but like my own home best. Paperprincess...you are certainly organized. I was intrigued by your floor. Is it solid and just gives appearance of 'cracks'? I was thinking wow.. great way to get rid of snips of thread etc..but bad for losing pins and never getting them back. Ok...looking forward to seeing your pics.

Sandy, it was a 2 story 3 season room that I took over for my sewing area. We added heating/cooling, but the floor is a deck with spacing between the boards. When I sew I have to put something down, but, as you mentioned the lower level has about a million pins. There are huge windows on 2 walls, so I cover the bins & bolts with sun block drapery lining. That's what those orange clamps are for on the shelving unit.

Well, my picture(s)of stash would be mostly under the beds. And one closet. Really, really am trying to use up what I have. Never did I dream that fabric would approach $12-15 a yard!
edited for spelling

Sandy: I'm concerned about people thinking I'm one sick puppy!

Emma....NO ONE here is going to think that...and if someone else (not from here) does think that...Phooey on them. I say you are just keeping a stash against inflation. I bet if you figured what you paid for some of your fabric bought years ago and what it would cost now...you would be pleasantly surprised that you bought it then. You can share...we will love even a little peek. :-)

You know that we are all going to be jealous, then want to come and play at your house.

You hang out with a SBS killer. Of course you are a sick puppy, and that's why I like you. <ggggg>

Speaking of large stashes, I've used a lot of fabric and not made much of a dent.
My stash is serving me well for Christmas. So far 20 blankets (yes blankets, no batting used) made by putting two pieces of fabric together and wrapping the back to the front for binding. I'm using fleece, wool, any type of heavy or fake fur for one side and a softer flannel for the other. I'm just tacking them together by machine. So far so good. There's more to be made. I am clearing out pieces I thought I'd never use. They have turned out really cute and are lap size. It's really interesting how fun this has become and I'm so happy to have that stuff off the shelf!

I don't think I'm brave enough to show you my stash. And Emma, we are all in the same boat or 'wagon'. And believe me, no one here would ever think of you as a sick puppy. We would probably be envious of your stash!

Sandy I have my sewing area in the sun room or florida room and its always a mess but i know where everything is and i seem to sew better if i know just where everything is and i am not worried about what others think

Aww...come on..Rhonda and Emma..it doesn't have to be ALL your stash...just a little peek at some of it. Beezie2013.. mine isn't very tidy either but I mostly know where everything is.

Okay, I can rise to this challenge. Be gentle, remember I have been "collecting" for over 45 years.
In the interest of coming clean, I know many of you will be surprised to hear that it was me that placed the order to CT for 35 yards of beautiful fabric.

See, Emma, I was right! I am JEALOUS!!!!!! And I'm so surprised that you were the one that ordered the CT fabric! I really thought it was your friend....