I am suffering

from a bad case of Stash Accumulitis to the Maximus!   This I have found is highly contagious by spending too much time with other crafting minds.  

I am putting the brakes on my stash enhancement.   No worries here that I am spending the grocery money on crafting supplies and we have been reduced to eating canned cat food. With Amazon, UPS and Fed Ex each stopping at my house at least once a week or me carrying in a purchase from every time I venture out, I just woke up and thought....enough is enough.    I'd like to vow that I will buy NO MORE unless it is needed to complete an active project.   The operative words being LIKE TO.

Look at my Jenga pile of shame….

and this does not include the class pieces from my recent Guild Anniversary.  Oy!

All the purging I did of fabrics, kits and supplies a few months back was not done to create empty spaces. Every box shipped off for eBay sales is not permission to buy to refill the space that was created ….nor does every box I take to be donated give me Carte Blanche to buy more things.  I had thought I was moving to a more realistic phase of my crafting life. 

Realization hit me right between the eyes after the second trip in 10 days to a fabric store spending $$$ and $$ respectively on those visits.  When I took the fabric upstairs to put it away I saw the other fabrics I had bought to yet put away. 

Shortly before my brick and mortar shopping trips, these lovelies arrived from a pre-order last summer.   It is a selection of fat 8ths from the Blackbird Collection that I ordered from The Kitten Stitcher.  These will be great for finishing.

Of course when Kitten Stitcher sent out the announcement the fabrics were in and shipping would follow, she was great at marketing by including the link to her site with the selection of ALL the fabrics that came in and I HAD to order these.  I'm thinking project bags?

And then there was the sale at Joann's on buttons.    75% off    The packages were assorted size and hombres of each color.   Yes, four different colors jumped into my card.   I mean, it was like buy one, get three free, right? 

However there is no project mind for these.

More fabric for project bags because apparently I have the need for more bags to hold all my projects.

Some pillowcase material for my grand daughter and other fabrics....just because.

In mid-May, my sister and I each ordered the same jelly rolls of Moda fabric from the Ladybird Collection and we created a challenge between us.   Using the same jelly roll pattern we are each making a quilt and then going to compare our finished projects to see our interpretations.  I absolutely needed the coordinating fabric for the binding and accents so back to the fabric store in Vineland for a third visit!   And how's this as a major side-bar.......My sister said she has fabric for 4 quilts already started and I just laughed and said I had 4 quilt tops started and at least four others kitted up.  

Let's factor in Jamboree in October 2022 that I have signed up for,  the Shaker Retreat in November 2022,  and two classes with my guild.  Now these are not necessarily stash enhancements BUT as we all know they create the buying opportunity. 

In about 6 weeks, I am well into four figures of purchases and expenses.   An honest assessment of projects and time tells me I can never ever ever ever EVER complete all the things I already had in my stash and I need to stop ACCUMMULATING!  Sew, I plan to not buy ANYTHING until I use up some of what I have!!!     

But wait,  I forgot to mention I HAD to have these smaller button forms to cover with tiny cross stitch motifs to create the Sampler in a Jar……and immediately ordered the larger size as well…..and yes, they still sit unopened.   The intention is there, it is just the execution I am lacking.  Woe is me.......I think I need a refresher in time management.

Not to be left out, there are the 24 skeins of WDW Chesapeake I bought.  I have the pattern for the French Alphabet Sampler which is monochromatic.   It is difficult to say but truth is, this is not even on my radar to start.  Heck the plane carrying this project to my WIP basket is still on the assembly line at the Boeing factory in Washington State.    And yet somehow I felt it necessary to get the floss.  What was a thinking?   Am I going off to Tibet on a year long voyage of solitude and self discovery and thought I needed supplies to keep take with me?   I pray I have not blown up the supply chain of available WDW Chesapeake with this need to have all the things.

I need to stop trying to be a one woman economic stimulus plan.   I don’t care how much my credit card company loves me and lets me keep charging each month I need to STOP not for monetary reasons (well maybe when I think about it...LOL)  but to save my house from exploding craft supplies all over the neighborhood.  Somehow my neighbors housing draped in ribbons, bolts of fabric and floss hither and yon does not conjure up a comical site in the least.

I need to work from my stash.  

    I need to work from my stash.

            I need to work from my stash.

I am sure I am not alone with this illness.    Knowing that I have no will power and I never stick to any fantastical plan I create has not yet deterred me from pledging to myself, and now to the world,  that no additional stash will be added to my accumulation of supplies for mass crafting  unless it is needed to complete a project in progress! Maybe there's a support group for us.   

Hello, my name is Robin and it has been one day since I last purchased 

crafting supplies not for immediate use.

Thanks for stopping by, thanks for letting me vent, stay safe, be kind and keep on stitching.

PS. Within an hour of posting, I was alerted of a support center in Tennessee.   Thanks Diane!

My Folly is Over...

Mr. W.  will be rolling in sometime tomorrow afternoon following eight weeks on the road......

So let's have a catch up on what I have been up to!   My daughter gave me this adorable squirrel sweater.   My family has this crazy obsession with squirrels.  It is what all the best dressed teddy bears will be wearing this season!

 I took a vacation day Friday and my sister and I went "junking".    It is always fun for sisters to get together and share and laugh.    I found this adorable miniature dress form.   I have no idea what I will do with it but it was one of those things that I knew if I didn't buy it, I would regret it.

 OMG!  Got this Christmas table runner for $4!!!   This is how it was folded on the table in the consignment store.   Being a stitcher, I knew without peaking what the other side would look like.

 Not only that, I am a sucker for needlework I find in consignment stores.....I know how much time and effort I put into my pieces so I know someone did the same here.

Overall it is 48 inches long.

Another $4 find!  This is about 11 x 18.    Couldn't find this when I was looking.   Back then, all I saw were tons of January and no July (birth month)

And a $1 find.   This chicken wire shoe.   The bow and flowers will come out and I am not sure what I am going to do with it but it was another too good of a bargain to pass up.

Today I managed to make my monthly guild meeting.....I have missed the last three months and even though it was just  stitch in it was so good to go and see everyone.   I've been doing a lot with my non-profit board so little stitching has been going on.  It's minimal but here's my progress on my class piece.

I am going to have to frog a teeny tiny bit.   I put in two too many stitches in the center of the heart below the flag.   Not a terrible amount of frogging.  I think I will survive.

After my guild meeting I picked up my BFF and we went to a local guild's quilting show.   Of course, I needed nothing but got this R-W-B fabric for a table runner pattern my sister gave me.  The show was not as nice as the bigger shows but I think it is important to support the local guilds.  Beside some of the bigger national shows can be overwhelming.

 I got this fabric last weekend in Lancaster PA with my daughter.    I am so drawn to 1930's retro fabrics.    I think I finally have more than enough to complete the string quilt I started.

I ended my jammed packed day with the afternoon and evening at the Havre de Grace Seafood Festival.   Yummo!  Seafood sampler platter, corn on the cob, crabs, cold beer, live bands, craft vendors.....it was a fun afternoon and evening for Deb and I.

I got some great shots of the lighthouse, the park and the water on my phone.

We strolled the promenade along the river.   I love exploring new towns and cities and finding their hidden gems.  Things the locals probably take for granted.

Check this out.   I bought this fab messenger bag.

 Close up of the button decoration.

Look when you flip up the front flap!!  Double wow.    It is made from real jeans.   The pockets will hold my favorite pen and cell phone and my keys are on the belt loop.   Inside it is super roomy.   There is room for my pocketbook, my lunch and a place for files but it will house a zipper mesh bag with a stitching project for me.  Perfect for work.

I am off to rearrange everything from my old tote bag to my new messenger bag.

It's Stitching Time

See those tell-tale stitch marks at the bottom.....
yep, frogging been happening

I have managed a few stray stitches here and there between things.   It still amazes me how we get the feeling something is missing when we  don't get our stitching time in.   Strange I know.   So here's my progress and status on my current WIP's.....

First - my SAL from my Delaware Stitching Guild.   We do three rows each month.   I am really struggling we Row 7 - the colonial knots.     It is 'knot' that I can't do them....I just can't do them in even rows as the chart and photo indicate.   I need to see how the others handled this at our next meeting.  I moved on and I stitched Rows 8 & 9 last night and ripped it out Row 9 with my morning cup of tea.

So hard to see the white on white even in person!

Row 9 - Insertion Stitch #1 - What the heck!  I finished it great but seems
I miscounted the first series and there was no way to correct without starting over.

The all too familiar evidence.  Guess I am having trouble counting to two.

Next, Victoria Sampler's Christmas Tree Farm.    This has been about 3 dozen stitches away from being finished for at least 6 weeks.   Oh the shame of that statement!    I've run amuck again and went off to start something new and left things nearly complete in a heap.  I need to put in the ole stitching key and get a move on.   I ordered the frame from Joanne's but I will stretch, mount and frame myself.

Really pleased with this project.    I was intimidated to start
this one for so long.   Glad I got past that roadblock.

Poor little featureless snowman.....I need to give him a face and arms
and put the bow on the wreath.

Third, fabulous new fabrics I just had to have.   Here is the link to the quilt I have in mind for these.     It is called "Aubrey".  I guess that would mean I should devote some time to the other five quilts in progress.   Oh to be burdened with Crafting ADD.  I certainly didn't need the fabric but I couldn't live without it at the same time.   Mr. W. is getting ready to hit the road again for 8 weeks so maybe I can spend some of those evenings working on the backlog. Wouldn't that be fabulous to have Monday be quilting night, Tuesday be yard night, Wednesday be stitching night and so on.  I have no stitching schedule.....just seem to pick up what I am in the mood for.

Fourth, a new venture......I have this darling all cut and ready to stitch.   I picked this out when I re-did my dinning room and wanted some black accents.   This should be a piece of cake to stitch up.....all blanket stitched.  Might be a good one to take to stitching night so I don't ended up frogging much of what I stitched while chatting.

And last but not least, my current main stitch is from Raise the Roof.    I started this April 26th and should have been finished by now but that is a whole other story that I have put to rest already.   I think I want to finish this as a wall hanging instead of framing it.   Hmmm, I see a list starting for the quilt show in September.  I have a bit more stitching to do before I have to decide.

There's a second tree and birdhouse to the right
to be added and of course, the basket to finish.   

So that's me and my stitching update.   For today, trip to Costco, more mulch moving, lamenting over a pool that is leaking and an evening of needle and thread time.  Happy stitching all.

Ahhhhh, return from Retreat

OMGoodness did I need a girls weekend and to make it better, a weekend of stitching to boot. It has been a long summer of overtime and civic duties and not much, if any, down time. So a quick recap - we left Thursday afternoon at 3 for the 2 1/2 drive to the beach.....dinner on the way......checked in....walked the boards......stitch, stitch, stitch and repeat for the next three days mixed with shopping, a cocktail party, a movie night, it was just great. It really made a tremendous difference leaving Thursday afternoon instead of Friday morning. I think it could be our new standard. Here's a sneak peak of the goodies I got at the quilt shop and the cross stitch shop......

Oh and I forgot, the fudge from the Wockenfuss candy store on the boardwalk.   Pumkin Pie fudge! Who'd of thought?  Yummy