SABLE. I think I first heard the term from Georgene, but I could be wrong. It stands for Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy. I definitely have reached SABLE critical mass. Heck, I reached it about 7 years ago. A lot of folks are trying to take part in “fabric moratoriums” (moritoria?). That’s wonderful for those who can do it. But for me, where’s the joy? Okay, I’m not just saying this because I own an on-line fabric store. Face it, part of the reason I own said online fabric store is because it allows me to stash more! I’m lucky, I have a husband who encourages me. When we added on to the house he actually suggested we build a sewing room! There’s a reason we’ve been married 22 years and counting (knock wood!).
Yes, stashing is a good thing! It’s not just about the accumulation of fabrics. It’s also about the joy of being able to fish through your fabric on a bitterly cold winter day and come up with the perfect match for that pattern you’ve been thinking about. Or it’s great for when you find out that someone you love is sad and needs a little pick-me-up, and you have a lovely fabric that will make a beautiful wrap for her! Or when you find out your niece has no nice dresses for Easter, and you just happen to have a gorgeous fabric in your stash that just doesn’t quite work for you, but makes her the most lovely little outfit. That’s where the joy is folks! That’s why we stash!
One of my all time favorite movies is “Auntie Mame”. In one scene, Mame grabs her assistant, Agnes Gooch, by the hand and says to her, “Oh Agnes, haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve been saying? Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! Live!!!!” Stashing is one way that I “Live!!!!”. Yes, SABLE is a wonderful thing in my book. My sons may not think so when I die, but then, maybe they’ll have children who grab my fabric and say, “Ooooh, this is pretty!” And thus, trans-generational SABLE is born.
Happy stashing!
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I think I’m getting there. I have fabrics that I can look back at and remember where we lived when I bought it (we’re military and move around a good bit). I’m pretty sure it’s genetic, my mother had tons of fabric as well. Her favorite saying (and one that I have around my sewing room) is “She who dies with the most fabric, wins!” I think I’ve finally hit a point where I’ve realized enough is enough when I was at a Jo-Ann’s that’s going out of business and my fabric-shopping frenzy put my total to over $150, and that’s after the discounts! I had to put the fabrics back and just get notions. Now I’m just sewing from my stash.
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