Over the years it's occured to me that my stash was as much a work of art in its' own way as my quilts are. I've worked on it for years, carefully acquiring prints, colors, and styles over the years so I have a great selection to choose from. It's easy for me when I get an idea to just go over to my stash and pull out what I need.
During the worst of the Covid lockdowns I spent months organizing, swatching and counting my fabric stash. I'm already in the thousands, and am afraid to finish the count to see how many different fabrics I actually own. It's terrifying, (and kinda wonderful!).
Visitors who see my stash often ask me how I decide what to buy. I realized as I was explaining my fabric buying and collecting strategy that it really is a "strategy". A great deal of thought has gone into it over the years. I watch what's out there and select colors and styles that I love and that will work for the kind of art I do. I buy colors that I know will only be available for a short while before the manufacturers change things up to follow new trends.
I love blending fabrics from 10 or 20 years ago with stuff I just bought. I believe it gives my work a distinctly different look. It's easy enough to head down to the quilt store and pick up enough fabric to make a quilt, and those quilts can be very beautiful. However, I don't like doing things the easy way. I'd prefer to spend 40+ years amassing a "collection" of fabrics I can turn to whenever the urge strikes.
So, I've decided to stop calling my selection of fabrics a stash. It sounds a bit like an old Cheech and Chong routine, about "having the stuff." Instead I will raise my nose in the air, extend my pinkie finger and refer to my overflowing fabric as a "collection." It's as dignified as any baseball card, beanie baby, or majolica ware collection and a lot more practical. What other "collection" can you use to create something that may end up in another "collection?" Sounds like a winner to me!
Happy Stitching (and Collecting!),
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