I Finally Found a Support Group for Fabric Junkies
November 11th, 2007 . by adminI don’t really know how this addiction began. My mother taught me how to sew at a tender age. Lots of us learned to sew, but not all are fabric junkies. Oh, Lord, why me?!
To be a fabric junkie you have to love to feel, the smell, the look, the POTENTIAL of fabric! A large bolt of something textured and nubby could potentially be a tufted chaise lounge or fabulous club chair and then, and then….we will have enough left to cover that vanity stool, oh and possibly a pillow or two for the bed.
Or that fish and seaweed print I bought in the seventies, if I can find it, it would make the cutest backdrop for your project!
Or, remember that Indian print bedspread that I had when I was in college, those have come back in style and, you will believe this, I still have it!
When I was a young mother, I could purchase a remnant for 50 cents or so and in one afternoon, make my toddler son 2 pair of elastic waist shorts. That seemed so economical and sensible, that it made those purchases of dozens of remnants almost plausible. Right now in my shed I have carefully folded pieces of fabric, treasures really, with which I plan to do something, someday! A trunkful here, larges unmarked boxes there.
Back to the subject.
A support group for those of us who are Material Girls, of another type. There is a site, Etsy.com, where folks who make wonderful handmade items, sell there unique wares. These talented people can actually use, and do purchase what I have always gathered. Fabric, scraps of grand antique lace, barkcloth, fabulous Chenille bedspreads, vintage patterns. On Etsy.com one may only sell handmade or vintage. And just having this wonderful place available to me, well, if I were to sell my hoard, I could do so there. AS IF……But, you know, I can see a case where I might need to go and round up new fabric and trim, because I really am planning on selling some. Yup, I can see where this is just a great plan! Etsy.com here I come!
Hi Joanne! This is another fabric freak adding to your blog. I always enjoy reading about others who literally love textiles. Im also a collector. I have what I call my “fabric room”. Its a spare bedroom full of nothing but fabrics. Fabric hanging in every available space in the closet, along with being in tubs on the closet floor. In every dresser drawer, in storage tubs from the floor to the ceiling. Theres nothing about fabric which I dont appreciate. Living where I am, in such a rural area, we have our lil country estate auctions pretty regularly. Im fortunate enough to now and then come across someones 1940’s dress they lovingly made, or hand embroidered tablecloths with matching napkins, old sheets in the most gorgeous vintage prints, lovely swiss dot and flocked voile curtains…I cant get enough of these beautiful textiles.
My husband, fully aware of my passion for fabrics, is a real treasure. Often when I cant go with him to an auction, he’ll return with a boxfull of goodies for me. I sit on the floor, oohing and aahing over these gorgeous pieces from the past. One day he came home and told me that he had something for me, I went out to the back of his truck and there were 9 boxes full of the most lovely pieces of fabric. I thought Id died and gone to heaven. ; )
I know that I’ll never have the time to put to use all of these beauties….so like you, I tuck them away. Now and then I come across someone that I want to give this or that to, knowing they’ll appreciate it as much as I do…possibly even more?! : )
My granddaughters, who are almost 4 and almost 6, have also developed a passion for textiles. When they come to visit, the oldest one especially loves going to the “fabric room” to see if theres anything new. When she was just a baby, along with her usual toys, I put together a “textile” box for her. It had remnants of this type of fabric and that. She often had a piece in her hand. Like a true fabric lover, she got satisfaction from the textures. I even found that when she was teething, the long piece of velcro was something she often put into her mouth and would bite down so hard on! She had no use for her teething toys…bring on that velcro! ; )
Thanks for letting me share…Ive enjoyed this! I also get pleasure from hearing about others with this (what I refer to as) “treasured textile passion”.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Cheri
I came across this and thought you might appreciate it. : )
“I love you more than all the flannelete and calico, candlewick, dimity, crash and merio, lussore, cretonne, crepon, muslin poplin, ticking and twill in the whole Cloth Hall of the world. I have come to take you away to my emporium on the hill, where the change hums on wires. Throw away your little bedsocks and your Welsh wool knitted jacket, I will warm the sheets like an electric toaster, I will lie by your side like the Sunday roast.”
Dylan Thomas