I love fabric, but I don’t love all fabric, and in fact there is fabric that I once loved that I don’t really care for anymore. Like many I hold onto old fabric for various reasons none of which make enough sense to fill a tiny teacup most of the time. In fact most of them are rooted in guilt. Guilt over spending money, or making bad choices or not getting done what I planned when I planned. The energy this brings with it is negative and not inspirational in the least for me.
Of course there are others who collect fabric enough to fill rooms and each piece brings them joy. For them they feel a sense of peace from having such an amazing collection. I am not one of them which some would find ironic since I own a fabric store with hundreds of bolts of amazing fabric
The truth is that in the last 2 years I have brought no more than 5 total yards home for myself/ stash and a few of the yards I even took back due to a customer wanting them and I had not yet used them so why not make someone else happy when for me it just feels like weight. Both emotional and physical.
The Plan
I am getting ready to once again go through my fabrics looking for that~ Spark Joy~ and the rest will be finding their way into scrap bundles and new homes. Some of the fabrics in my stash date back 20+ years… and it is time to let them go.
The phrase ~ Spark Joy~ comes from the writing on Marie Kondo of the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up . Her little book is very popular right now and while some hate it and find it filled with control issues I have found inspiration in the idea of only keeping what I really love. I am applying this idea to my fabrics and further to my whole home. (Read more about the author and idea here)
This is a different way to look at belongings that speaks to our connection to things and asks the question “What really excites us and brings us happiness”.
The Process
The process is pretty simple – I pick up a piece of fabric and I ask myself – Do I feel joyful/inspired looking at or holding this fabric. It is crazy how often my first feeling is sadness at the project I thought I was going to make and never did ( hello 8 yards of expensive fabric for nursery room curtains for the “baby” who’s now 14), or some other feeling of angst or guilt- these fabrics need to leave. But if my heart skips a beat, and I feel that happy buzz – those stay.
The fabrics that are going to stay get some extra love. Perhaps a refolding, or a quick note about an inspiration to do something with it soon.
The Challenge
I did this process with my clothes and it was crazy amazing so I am actually looking forward to doing it with my fabric and crafting supplies and I welcome you to join me in this experiment in finding more room both physically and psychologically in your life if it is something that interests you.
What do you think… does your stash need some room to breathe or are you happy just like it is right now?
