Friday, October 29, 2010

Dr Phil can you help ?

I live in a country town and we don't have a fabric store .
I shop at Spotlight, an hours drive away,
 about 3 times a year .
The internet and blogs are my stores and I spend way
too much time and money in them .
This the part where you feel really sorry for me .
I have never seen designer fabric on a bolt ,
how sad is that !

When I do receive fabric in the mail
I like to gaze at it lovingly .
It is spread out and then refolded .
It is placed beside other new fabric to
see what goes together .
I gaze at it some more .
It is eventually put into the stash
and then I am hesitant
to ever , ever cut into it .

My question for Dr Phil is ...

How much fondling is acceptable before
it just becomes creepy ?

41 comments:

Jan Quigley said...

ROFLOL!!!! I know exactly what you mean. I saved 30's prints for years before I finally cut into them to make my Dear Jane quilt which will probably stretch over 20 years. Next it was the Kaffe Fassetts, oh how I fondled them, & gazed at them, then 1 day I cut them & the absolute joy of hand sewing those incredible fabrics together is actually better than fondling them. So pick a pattern, get cutting & sew, sew, sew!!!!
hugs, Jan

Chookyblue...... said...

hey 1 hour is better then an 1.5...........LOL......get into some projects......but I know it is hard when they look so perfect sitting in a pile....lol

Kristy said...

I can't recommened Addicted to Fabric in Philip in Canberra highly enough for you then. There are plenty of bolts of designer fabric to see there. Just leave the money in the car or you might not have any left...

RG said...

bah ha ha ha... hey Clare this just makes you a quilter girl :-)
Funny question *grin*

Karen's Korner said...

I am not sure as I have asked myself this question many times. It appears that many of us suffer from this "habit".

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

No fabric store here either, but Dubbo is just up the road...when you get the answer from Doctor Phil, could you let me know to please Clare, I would hate to think that I might have a problem....LOL....

Crowing Moon said...

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I live 40 minutes from the nearest town and have to head in every week to shop so I get to go to Spotlight regularly and I still spend too much time on line spending money on fabrics. Maybe I need to see Dr Phil too although I really don't think I want to over come my addiction too badly ;)

Shay said...

It's only a problem Clare if someone walks in on you while you're fondling ...

Sometimes I just gaze longingly at my fabric piles. For hours. I dont think that's a problem.

Is it?

RobynLouise said...

I have a lack of storage space so I have to keep reorganising my stash in my storage boxes so I know what I have. I do have enough space in the bedroom for a slim cupboard to store it in but then what excuse would I use??
As long as it's not harming anyone else I don't think fabric fondling is a problem :D.

Selfsewn said...

Its fine by me.
I'm awaiting a fabric order right now!
Treat them as presents, bought by a very special friend, even if that means you!

I spend hours pondering fabrics too, just wish they were available in store and werent so expensive!!

Clare

Kate said...

Lol. I've got fat quarters Ive bought over a year ago, unfolded, refolded then put away. No idea what I'm doing with them, I just thought they were pretty. Fondling fabric is half the pleasure of buying it.

Elderberry-Rob said...

grr I just tried to comment and blogger didn't want me to ... trying again I just wanted to say you poor sad little thing, what you need is swatches - pieces of either your own fabric or samples and you put them on something like a keyring and then fondle your fabrics whenever you want, the pieces for your projects are then safely put in your stash and can even be cut into and made into things without any withdrawal symptoms. The best thing about swatches is that nice kind companies who want you to buy their fabrics send them to you free, yes free. Happy?

Anonymous said...

Lol. I received yesterday some fabrics, I understand completely. It makes me smile to know I'm not alone!

NessaKnits said...

Next year I am moving to the country, about an hour from Canberra with my family and I have been stashing like crazy! Fondle all you like!

Jodie said...

I believe nudity is the answer. If you are fully clothed then fondle away until your hearts content, but if yu start removing clothing....call for help.

Unknown said...

Lol! xx

Joyce said...

There is no upper limit on the fondling process...

Gra said...

I just hope this "disorder" doesn´t get included in a psychiatric manual under anxiety disorders, obssesions or something like that that will require medication. It is taking place all over the planet Earth, believe me. But on the other hand it could be interesting. What if doctors say we should all be put away together (fabric, cutters and needles would be allowed because we don´t seem to be harmful). I would not mind then being considered absolutely insane!! LOL!!!!

Marg said...

I love folding and refolding my fabric and gazing at it longingly, so if you have a problem, then I have a problem. Just don't tell anyone who doesn't quilt.

Maria said...

Our closest store is 64kms away but it is just the best quilting store and there is also Spotlight.
I think loveingly looking at fabric and folding and unfolding it is perfectly normal for a quilter.LOL
I have a Layered Cake I bought over a year ago and I just look at it all the time. Even replaced the wrapper when the original perished.

Allie said...

Clare - it's NEVER creepy. Just a wee bit odd. LOL! I have vintage-style panels that I know I'll never use, I keep them strictly for the fondle and drool factor. Every now and then I'll hang one on my design wall just to look at. Dr. Phil wouldn't understand, but all the rest of us do!

Indigo Blue said...

This post had me laughing! I think what is really creepy is that there is actually another person on the planet who has the same approach to a new batch of fabric as I do!!
Who is Dr Phil and does he like crafting too?
xx

marina said...

I don't see that you have a problem at all, Don't even bother calling Dr Phil!
Denial is the best therapy!!

Cardygirl said...

Fondle away! But if you start to drool you are becoming creepy! LOL!

Dana Gaffney said...

I do the same thing, no quilt store so online for me. I don't even put the new stuff in the stash, I have it all piled up and then when I dig through it, it's like new again.

quilary said...

Problem? What problem? Fabric has medicinal properties and there is nothing creepy about taking your regular dose of medicine.

Daffycat said...

You are SO funny!

Honey, you don't have a problem until you are tucking them in for naps, taking them on outings to the park and throwing them surprise birthday parties. You fondle all you want...

Julia said...

Oh Clare..that is so funny..gosh then we must all have a problem..but that's what quilters do!
just between you and I...Do you talk to the fabric Clare?...lol!
Julia ♥

Sarah Craig said...

If you think you fondling the fabric is fun, just think how much more fun it would be if your fabric cuddled you! Get that fabric made up in to quilts!! It wants to cuddle!!

Sue said...

I'm sure fabric fondling is healthy, it's the twitchy, eye jerking and hand trembling that happens between the fondling sessions that hurts.

Kelly Casanova said...

Lets leave Dr Phil out of it and just fondle to your hearts content! (Ensure no family members are present)

Lucky-1 said...

You know, Dr. Phil can fix anything but between the hours of midday to 1 pm...... so this could become a real yo-yo issue for you Clare.

You don't want to get onto the yo-yo treadmill do you???? I'd go for a interview with Oprah later this year in Sydney......LOL. I'm sure she'd love to talk to a woman who fondles fabric....hehehehe

Hugs
Lucky.

Faeryfay said...

Hahahahahahaha! Love it! I can so relate! Only, my fettish is with fabric and wool -for knitting. One can never have too many balls, of wool that is!:-)

Shirlwin said...

Is fondling a problem??? Oh dear, I had no idea.
I live 80 odd kms from fabric shops and there is nothing better than buying pretty fabrics and drooling about them [not over them; that can be messy.]

Donna said...

Hi Clare, I know how you feel, I live 1/2 hour from you, in Tumut!! I try to get to spotlight often but.....Just received some Amy Butler fabric from the US...I'm so in love folding and refolding ha ha!!!

Jo in TAS said...

EEeeew you fondle fabric! ROFL, what a crack up! Just kidding, I regularly fondle fabric, i even have bundles of it tied in it's original twill not wanting to disturb the beauty of it. I'm sure there's a support group out there for us somewhere:-)

Pauline said...

bring out the couch....you need help girl..!!!! you dag!! thanks for the cackle..

Norma's Place said...

I'd love to know the answer. The problem I have is that when I get to Spotlight, there is awful overpriced fabric, so its back home (150kms away) and onto the internet!
Isn't it lovely when you get the fresh fabric to your door though.
It can't be cut until the perfect project comes along.

seabreezequilts said...

Sound normal quilter behaviour to me. Nothing more scrumptious than a pile of lovely fabric.

Huahin Villas said...

The fabrics are too gorgeous and are ideally suited for your home. The designs depict the natural shapes and the color used are quite close to nature. So this is the ideal shop for you to shop.

Robert Thayer said...

My sister loves quilts to the max but I rather stay warm in Thailand.