Week #1: 2016 - Getting off my stash

Hosting the 52 this week has given me some time to think about my quilt-goals for the year in terms of what I want to make and what skills I want to develop. I did a tidy of my craft cupboard over the first weekend of the year, and that also made me confront some of the stash skeletons in my closet, including this stash of David Gray's Curious Nature collection that I've been sitting on for a few years now.

Time for a little stash confessional - I've been sitting on a stash of #curiousnature by #DavidButler for years now, I started with the blocks on the right, but was never satisfied with the result. 2016 will be the year I 'get off my stash' - and finally make something with this collection. What stash secrets have you been hiding and what will you make with it? #getoffyourstash

A photo posted by 52 Quilters (@52quilters) on Jan 6, 2016 at 3:06pm PST

I really don't have a very big hoard. Last year on the blog, I shared my limited stash-space, and although I've moved to a new flat where I have a bit more room for fabric storage, I really don't want to let my stash grow too much.

I'm going to stick to my stash rule(s):

1. Only buy for specific projects*

*exceptions:
a) Reasonable purchases for future I-Spy projects (fat quarters where possible or 1/2 meter for fabrics with variable patterns/multiple I-spy objects)
b) Low volumes: I find it so hard to find interesting patterns that read as whites, lights, beiges, etc. so whenever I see these I allow myself to buy them.
c) Occasional treat buys for limited edition fabrics or special occasions

But I WILL give myself a little bit of room for indulgence. Revisiting my collection of Curious Nature, has made me rethink the idea of procrastination. I've always felt like I was putting off making something with these fabrics, but in the context of my stash rules I think I was just savouring my time with them.  The purchase of these prints was an indulgence to my normal stash rules: they weren't tied to a specific idea of project, for a few years I've kept them on the back burner while enjoying all the possibilities they've presented me with.

I've decided that for 2016 I'm going to 'get off my stash' and make something with my Curious Nature prints... but I will save the space they took up in my stash, and replace them with another indulgence purchase that I can let simmer on the back burner.

I'm going to be tidying up my old blog and working on my new project I'm calling Curious Fractal, so stayed tuned for me from me as the year progresses.

Post by Chris: Chris is the founder and organiser of 52Quilters. He is a crafty guy who has been making his whole life. Although his crafty roots are in Canada, he has been working and crafting in the UK for over 10 years. For more of Chris' work visit http://lazycrafternoons.blogspot.com