Friday 10 January 2014

Retail Therapy

I bought FABRIC! And quite a bit of it actually. It's a little bit surprising how quickly it builds up. With the amount that I've restocked, it feels like I could do the fast again. But I won't. But I do think I'll need help living up to its values as a new lifestyle. Remind me, ok?


So, how did I go about my first shop in 12 months? I had a pretty significant amount saved up in my Paypal account from pattern and shop sales last year, which I had kept there just for this occassion (dipping into also for batting, etc). So I didn't have a strict budget. First, I went through my stash. I wrote what I needed (basics, binding fabric, backing/drawstring quilt bag fabric) and then had a bit of a look around online. I settled on Quilt Home and Hawthorne Threads because of their range, sales and lower postage. I also appreciate with both sites that it's easy to calculate how many yards you can ship for what price. In a year of no buying, USPS Shipping prices have doubled and the Australian dollar has dropped 15 cents! Basically that means instead of shipping being basically covered by the exchange rate, there was a massive (at least, I think so!) increase of $3/yd to my previous costs! Ouch!


Postman Pat (That's what we call our package lady) arrived a few days ago and Hurray! (I think she's the most loved lady in Newcastle!) I quickly set about washing, hanging, bringing in, folding. Tim did comment that I never show so much motivation when it comes our own laundry. I nearly said, well if he bought me clothes that were blog worthy...and then rethought it. I'd prefer to spend the money on quilting. ;) And really, we all know it's got way more to do with a finite chore with pretty colours and a wonderful reward once we're done (sewing!), compared with the cruel reality of a task that never ever gets crossed off the list and is repeated over and over. Tim, they are not even remotely the same thing!


I just can't wait to sew with these! It's a VERY different experience for me, buying for my stash rather than buying for pinafores and using the scraps for quilts. I still want to call on my scraps first but I'm going to enjoy the variety these bring. I would also habitually buy specifically for quilting projects and I avoided that too. I'm not sure either way is better, but for me, when I saw Nursery Versery on sale at Quilt Home, I was tempted to buy the whole line for a special quilt, even though I know that my favourite work (of my own) doesn't stick to one line and is much more vibrant in colour. And if there's anything I learned this past year, it's that my ideas and correlated spending outweighed my available time about three:one. So I held back, even though I think the prints are beautiful. We'll see how this works for me. 



I have now officially filled up my shelf space, so no more buying for me for a while. (Ok, Jodi?) In any case, my New Years, pre-baby goals include finishing off a whole pile of started projects. More on that next time...

14 comments:

  1. Was the OK Jodi directed at you or me? The colours are amazing. Can't wait to see them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You definitely made up for a year of no buying! I bet it felt good!! You got some real lovelies there, I look forward to seeing what you create.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful choices and so fun to see which colors you curated!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an amazing selection of fabrics - don't they look great all stacked together!
    I am with Fabriholics Anonymous for 6 months so I can only dream!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. O my word, just look at that fabric!!!!!!!!!!! Lucky, girl.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everything you got is so pretty and so usable. No crazy mice or happy frogs... :-( just kidding. I think you made really good choices and I know I'd be feeling pretty thrilled to have that pile of happiness arrive on my doorstep, and I haven't gone without! Congrats on finishing the fast. Looking forward to seeing how the lessons translate in the new year.
    E xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. You have chosen a marvellous range of prints and colours. How excited you mud have been. Hawthorne Threads is my usual fabric shop too. The international postage went up last year in January. I and been building up a flat rate envelope's worth of favourites and then the shipping jumped - thought it was a misprint at first, but all the US fabric shops had the increase.

    You'll have lots of fun creating with this batch - when you find the time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh wow - what a selection!! Love it all :-) And your fabric arrived so quickly. I am still waiting on packages sent at the start of December - it almost takes the fun out of the buying having to wait so long. But I am determined to do the fast this year - to stop my irrational spending and to enjoy what I have at the moment. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MMmmm! Gorgeous stack! Many beauties that I recognize. That must have been quite a shopping experience. :) And we're Postman Pat fans at my house too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh I love your stash just beautiful. Just out of curiosity when buying for your stash how much of each fabricator you generally buy?

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a fabulous pile of colourful goodness I hadn't heard of Quilt Home before - so thanks for a new place to look at. Cheaper shipping to NZ always good to know. What amount of fabric do you buy for your stash?

    ReplyDelete
  12. What an awesome post--and I am not even one bit jealous because you have really worked so hard for this day! I can't believe the amazing restraint that you have shown over the last year and hope that this fabric "hits the spot"! Thank you for sharing your journey--and the breaking of your fast.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yay, celebrate, enjoy, pet and preen! These are so pretty. Lots of good stuff here. I'm excited to see what you make this year!

    ReplyDelete

I so love your comments! I read all of them and reply when I can. If you don't hear back, I'm lost under a mound of scraps or outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Jodi. xx