Last stash report of 2010...

December 24 - 31, 2010

This is stash report # 52.  The last one for this year.  When I look back on them, I'm definitely glad I kept track.  I know I would have purchased more fabric and probably have used less if I hadn't.  I can honestly say I'm surprised at how much I still ended up buying and am even more surprised at how much I really did use.  It was an eye opener.  I've been thinking about my goals for this new year, but before I share them, I want to finish this last report.

I hinted at it last week, but I really fell of the wagon this week.  Not only did I fall of the wagon, but it must have been backed up to a steep cliff and I tumbled over that one as well.  This must be the largest amount of fabric intake for me this whole year.  Fortunately almost all of it was a gift from one person or another.  Some in the form of gift certificates that I wasted no time in spending.  I was really trying to squeeze it all in this year so I can start fresh in 2011.  I ended up adding 63.5 yards to my stash this week!  Wow!  I would have expected it to look like a mountain of fabric, but it really doesn't.  Here's how it broke down...

The Fat Quarter Shop had the 12 Days of Christmas sales leading up to Christmas Day and Mr. Quilting Bug let me order those items I wanted as part of my Christmas present.  First off, I got 6 yards of this beautiful metallic batik at half price.

I don't have a purpose in mind for it yet, but there's enough here for borders on a large quilt or as a backing.  I also got 7 jelly rolls from them on Christmas Eve - 3 Maison de Garance, 3 Lumiere de Noel and 1 Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I would love to make a quilt for our King size bed using the Maison de Garance and the Lumiere de Noel jelly rolls.  I bought 3 of each because I figured that would be plenty for such large quilts.

I also got a gift certificate there from my brother and I used it to purchase 15 yards of Moda Bella Solids in Snow.  This is a great staple to have in my stash for all types of projects and I know I'll love having it on hand.

My sweet mother-in-law gave me a gift certificate to JoAnn's and I used it to supplement my stash with other basics.  I bought 7.75 yards each of Kona Cotton in White, Black and Bone.  I've already washed and pressed all of this fabric and have it sitting on bolts in my sewing room.

And that ladies and gentlemen is basically what 63.5 yards of fabric looks like - minus the picture of the Snow Bella Solid because that hasn't come in yet.

Now comes the part where I have to admit that I used no fabric this week.  I had hoped to have another quilt quilted by today, but it just didn't happen.

So my totals for 2010 are:
Purchased-this-week: 63.5 yards
Used-this-week: 0 yards
Purchased-to-date: 316.5 yards
Used-to-date: 434.75 yards
Net used: 118.25 yards

Boy, this week really killed my net used totals for the year.  But that's OK.  Tomorrow wipes the slate clean again.  I have some new goals for my stash in 2011.

1. Buy no more than 150 yards of fabric the whole year.  This equates to 12.5 yards each month and would be less than half the amount of fabric I bought in 2010.  
2. Concentrate almost exclusively on my UFO's, starting out with those that are already kitted.  If I do that, then my first goal should be pretty easy because the quilt kits contain all the fabric to make the quilt except for the backing.  
3. Get these quilts quilted!  I have far too many quilt tops waiting to be turned into finished quilts.  
4. Whenever the need arises, drop everything and make a prayer quilt.  It's important to have priorities and God's calling is the highest.
5. I'd also like to make several quilts for charity whether for woman's shelters, orphanages or soldiers.  Wherever there's a need.   But I plan to use the fabric in my stash for the bulk of these.

I have some more specific goals on some of these things, but figure this is enough detail for here.  I'm not setting a goal for how much fabric I want to use, because that number's not really that important to me.  It'll sure be interesting to see how this next year turns out.

Until later...

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" 

2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)