Last night, I read two very important blog posts – both related to the cost of quilting but from very different perspectives. I want to share these with you and some of my thoughts about these subjects.
Gemma at Pretty Bobbins had some very wise words about valuing herself as both an artist and as a businesswoman. Learning to value my time and skills as a quilter has taken some time, and on the odd occasion when I have been approached to sew a custom baby quilt, I have charged what I am comfortable with. Definitely not the true value, but a compromise that I am happy with that is also accessible for the customer. It is definitely an interesting read to find out more about the cost of quilting from a longarmer’s perspective!
The second is from Diane at From Blank Pages and her story of fabric addiction. That impulsive need to buy pretty things is something I have struggled with recently. Earlier this year I went on a fabric fast, and sure, I stopped buying a lot of impulsive fabric purchases, but I found I started to replace the fabric with scrapbooking supplies. For me, it’s just bits and pieces here and there, but also making the most of shipping prices (ie. fill the envelope, reach that free shipping level).
My justification and “logic” is that 95% of the spending money comes from my PayPal account with the income I get from pattern sales, sponsors and the Japanese fabric bundles. But just because it’s not directly affecting the family budget, does not mean that this is a healthy or wise mindset to be in! Not to mention the fact that for a lot of it lately, it has been in an attempt to ‘retail therapy’ my way out of any discontent and unhappiness and issues in my life. Sounds dramatic, and let me say that my life is “ok”, but I was looking for my online purchases to make me happy. And they haven’t. At least not in that deep, true, peaceful sense of the word. So to read Diane’s post last night, after a couple of weeks of thinking about all this, was definitely ‘a sign’ that this really is something I need to address.
In some lighter reading, I am guest posting over at Make Modern today where you can get a sneak peek at one of my projects in Issue 1!
Joanna says
I’m unemployed at the moment so I’ve been struggling in seeing new fabrics and juggling buying it or not (when it shouldn’t even be an issue because the answer should always be NOT). The credit card my husband and I use is in my name, so he doesn’t see the statements which makes it easier for me to end up trying to sneak things in. A couple of weeks ago I ended up looking at my stashed larger cuts that I purchased for eventual backs and bindings and it started to stress me out! Just looking at them, and realistically thinking that I’m probably not going to use them because there are so many other fabrics coming out that I like that I want to use that don’t “match” which means I’d have to buy more fabric for a backing for a quilt with the new fabric… and if I wanted to use these stashed backings, I’ll then have to force myself to make a quilt to just use up that backing but then forcing myself to make things gets stressful and makes me hate what I’m doing.
So, I decided to destash 95% of them on instagram. I think I’ve sold at least 80% of what I had available so far, and now there’s money in my paypal which is tempting me to just go ahead and spend it all. But then what am I going to do when it’s all gone and I ‘need’ more?!
In theory I like the idea of stashing larger cuts, but for me, at least right now, it’s not working and I want to start concentrating on buying what i will need for a project rather than “just because”. I have been contemplating buy wadding in bulk to have on hand also, but then it hit me that stashing wadding is the same as stashing backings. It’s only going to be useful if I actually use it… and I don’t want to feel forced or stressed into using it because this hobby should be fun!
The last few months, I’ve actually taken to scouring coming soon pages for upcoming lines. I mostly shop at Fat Quarter Shop so I use their wishlist function and the email notifications. This way it gives me a bit more time to see what’s coming, and I *have* to wait months sometimes for the fabrics to be released rather than putting things in my cart on a whim (and then hating them a couple of weeks later when I receive the package…). I think this has been helping because a few times I’ve liked something as soon as I’ve seen it, and once it’s released weeks later, I look at it again and I’m not so blindly in love with it and decide to not buy any. I made a purchase a couple of days ago with some fabric I’ve been waiting for for a few months, and now the other upcoming lines I’m interested in are releasing between Sept-Nov so (fingers crossed) I can hold out until the big Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales to purchase those fabrics (because then I can buy bits of all of them at once, rather than filling my cart with one line now, another cart with the next etc etc with each individual release, and then after then is Christmas and my birthday so I can try and score the next lot of fabric releases as gifts…
DeborahGun says
Thanks for your honesty Alyce. I struggle with the same thing – retail fabric therapy online becomes a way of dealing with other issues, but in the end I know it doesn’t satisfy. I think living overseas has definitely made this harder for me, but the fabric fast has helped, as has the postage rates from the US – I just can’t justify $25!!
amira says
Hi Alyce. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Lovely to read all of these Sew Worth It series some has been posting. I have retail fabric therapy problem as well. No only that they kind of drain down the money I gain from selling patterns etc but also whatever that rather should be saved for other things I must say. When I went on a fabric fast early this year, I spent money buying other crafty things such as scrapbooks stuff and yarns! So the money did not build up either. Haks. I am trying to learn to resist online purchase these days. Really hope I slowly can. But really, with lots of media these days, it is ever so easy to just click buy…. isn’t???
Katie says
Such an honest post and issue so many of us are dealing with. Denying oneself, trying to fulfill needs while utilizing out creative spirits. I am sure this isn’t solely a quilting/sewing issue.
SueAnn W says
You all have described me to a t! I have FABRIC/KIT/THREAD/PATTERN addiction. There is so much stuff here that I could open a small quilt shop. Thank you for helping me to see my real self.
SarahZp says
My Mom thinks I am an over thinker when I have told her that fabric is just another lust if it isn’t balanced with the rest of life. I think when I first rediscovered fabric, specifically online fabric, it seemed “safe” enough …but I know better…the urgency of each new sale runs off like water now…there will be others. I love looking at the new collections, but not to be mesmerized by them! 🙂 Thanks for the post!