SABLE. I think I first heard the term from Georgene, but I could be wrong. It stands for Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy. I definitely have reached SABLE critical mass. Heck, I reached it about 7 years ago. A lot of folks are trying to take part in "fabric moratoriums" (moritoria?). That's wonderful for those who can do it. But for me, where's the joy? Okay, I'm not just saying this because I own an on-line fabric store. Face it, part of the reason I own said online fabric store is because it allows me to stash more! I'm lucky, I have a husband who encourages me. When we added on to the house he actually suggested we build a sewing room! There's a reason we've been married 22 years and counting (knock wood!).
Yes, stashing is a good thing! It's not just about the accumulation of fabrics. It's also about the joy of being able to fish through your fabric on a bitterly cold winter day and come up with the perfect match for that pattern you've been thinking about. Or it's great for when you find out that someone you love is sad and needs a little pick-me-up, and you have a lovely fabric that will make a beautiful wrap for her! Or when you find out your niece has no nice dresses for Easter, and you just happen to have a gorgeous fabric in your stash that just doesn't quite work for you, but makes her the most lovely little outfit. That's where the joy is folks! That's why we stash!
One of my all time favorite movies is "Auntie Mame". In one scene, Mame grabs her assistant, Agnes Gooch, by the hand and says to her, "Oh Agnes, haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying? Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! Live!!!!" Stashing is one way that I "Live!!!!". Yes, SABLE is a wonderful thing in my book. My sons may not think so when I die, but then, maybe they'll have children who grab my fabric and say, "Ooooh, this is pretty!" And thus, trans-generational SABLE is born.
Happy stashing!
1 day ago
10 comments:
Ann, you are singing my song! I agree - fabric brings so much joy, why restrict it? Bring on more fabric, shoes, champagne, cappuccino's,...........
Amen, sister!
Well said! Face it, some of us are "gatherers" by nature. If not fabrics, then something else.
I have been trying to reduce my fabric intake - only because I want to make a rather large furniture purchase - but I just have not been that successful...maybe because the siren song of fabric and its possibilities is just too sweet to my ears! Plus as you lay dying do you really think your last thought is going to be...man I bought too much fabric during my life! *LOL*
I prefer not to use the word "stash". I prefer "queue" because it implies movement. Fabric can be in a stash for years. But, in a queue -- semantically speaking, it will get turned into a garment. Let's say we have a long queue rather than a huge stash.
My husband has always supported my fabric purchases from parking in the garment district and waiting for me, to going with me to fabric stores in more than one country. He has helped make and set up furniture for my sewing room and never complained about the amount of money I spend on fabric or sewing machines. Are we lucky women or what? We will be married 35 years this summer.
My husband found my stash once and said "why don't you sell this in a yard sale for a $1 a piece. I thought I was going to hyperventalate. Since then he hasn't said a word. I think he just looks the other way now
Cheryl
Well, do feel free to put some of it up for sale so those of us who are green with envy over your finds can buy it!
Just last night I was going through my many, many, swatches to pick out some new projects to work on. Normally I get anxious doing this because I have so much more fabric than I can sew, and I did begin to feel that way again. But I stopped myself and figured I was just shopping in my own, personal fabric store and that it's ok that I can't sew up all my fabric this season, next season, or in 20 seasons. My DH may make jokes about my many deliveries of fabrics to the house and how we have a cargo trailer full of it (we do have a cargo trailer, but there are other things in it besides my fabric), but he does encourage my hobbies. This morning he pointed out that a local sewing machine dealer was having a sale on machines.
I'm with ya, totally. Why do so many of us beat ourselves up for having lots of fabric? We're creative types, and fabric is, literally, the 'fabric' of our creation!
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