JoAnn Fabrics is nearly completely dead. (That’s a kind of backwards Princess Bride reference, by the way. “He’s only mostly dead!” ) One of my dear friends shopped yesterday and messaged me about some quilt batting that was marked down from $60 to $11. I told her no, I don’t need any more batting. She bought it anyway. So now I’ll add another batting to the 6 I have in the closet.
She spent 1/2 hour this morning trying to convince me that I need to get to the store before it closes, the end of this week. I gave up talking to her after about 10 minutes. She’s been sewing for about 5 years – she got started during Covid, making those utterly useless masks. (Disclaimer, I made them too and then I made more for people who wanted them because who am I to tell them they were idiots?) (I’m a bit judgy today, by the way)
I finally told her, “look, I’m about 40 years ahead in this game, I don’t need to get more, I need to use what I have.” I told her I have no room for more yarn, more fabric, I need to use up what I have stashed in so many places that I’ve forgotten some of them! She insisted I could find more space. She’s right, I probably could. But I’m not going to – I have boxes of fabric, two dressers and two closets full of yarn, and I won’t live long enough to use it all if I live to 150 and never buy another thing. I don’t need more sewing or knitting tools, I have all I can ever need – and some I’m not sure how to use!
The point of this is not to brag about my stash, impressive as it might be. The point is that in 1/2 hour, I could not convince this person that no, I do not need more stuff. I frequently see posts about how you should downsize because you don’t want your grandchildren to have to deal with all your stuff when you die, and they invariably piss me off. I don’t have grandchildren, for one thing. I like my stuff, for another. And finally, I’ll be dead, I won’t care. In the meantime, I’m going to live with my stuff because it makes me happy and pffffffffffttttttttttttt to anyone who doesn’ t like it.
So it’s not that I’m against acquiring stuff. I’m against being told, when I’ve clearly said no, that I do indeed need more stuff. Why is there such a push in our society to have more and more and more of stuff we’ll never use and don’t need? I’m as guilty as anyone – I just bought two books that I’ll probably read in a few years – but I guess i’m finally recognizing that I like to buy before I think. Are we so competitive that we need to have the most of everything? Are we so insecure that we need to surround ourselves with more and more stuff? I don’t know the answer but I do know that I’m in the process of using up fabric and yarn, and not buying more unless it’s a really really good deal – and then I’ll find a place for it!
But it will be my decision, not because someone talked me into it.
On a side note, today is the primary. Fingers crossed
Also, Maverick is having an epilus removed tomorrow. I know it’s minor surgery but he’s my baby. I am just a wee tad stressed! Prayers are appreciated
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
I’ll pray Maverick is OK afterward, and that you don’t twist yourself too tightly while he’s out of your sight. ❤
I’ve gone to JoAnn’s a couple of time lately… they don’t have shit, you’re not missing a thing. To the untrained eye, it looks like they are great deals and great stuff, but it’s not. I’m telling you not to go… I know how you get when someone bosses you around 😉
I have a thought on the pushy friend… perhaps she feels guilty for buying too much? You know, misery loves company and all?? She maybe wants you not to have any willpower because she doesn’t? Or, she’s just excited and you’ve already been the newbie to sewing. Or, she’s just annoying.
I grant you permission to make your own choices, you don’t even need any imput if you don’t want it LOL
Let us know how Maverick is tomorrow afterward ❤
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I think she’s just excited because she’s fairly new to this so she’ll message me pictures of tools and be like “omg I need this!” and I respond with “trust me, you’ll never use it.”
Between the school board and Maverick’s surgery, I’m seriously in need of a few adult beverages!
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You’re an adult… beverages are for adults… It’s a match made in Heaven!
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This is why you’re one of my favorites!
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If you don’t wan it, you don’t want it. End of discussion. Period
Our Joanns closed a few weeks ago. I didn’t see any deals it just made me depressed. Ain’t nobody got time for dat!
Yes, prayers for you and Maverick and a few adult beverages are needed. Let us know how he is and the election results. Fingers crossed.
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I’ll be sure to update. Right now I’m a big fat mess of stress!
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I have a little bit of fabric and yarn, but my SABLE stuff is my spinning fiber, LOL, closets full of tubs of spinning fiber. I try not to buy new stuff, but sometimes I see something so beautiful I just have to have it, and then I promptly put it in one of my fiber tubs LOL.
I hope Maverick heals quickly from his surgery. I understand the nervousness, I had ferrets that needed surgery for various things and I always worried. Our fur babies are part of our hearts.
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I feel like sometimes it’s just the buying that’s the need / once I have it, I forget about it. So it’s kind of exciting to go through the stash!
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I think you are right, every time I go through my stash I have the same happy feeling that I did when I bought it, and then again when I spin it LOL.
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Can’t wait to hear the election results. I expect good news!
Murphy and I will keep paws crossed that the surgery is uneventful, and he is back to being his impulsive self in no time.
Ooh, wait till you see some of the posts I have planned about decluttering! 😂. (Seriously, if it makes you happy, keep it. It’s your stuff and your life. Enjoy!)
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Maverick is at the vet now and I’m stressing but he’ll be fine. I’m going to write a post about the election later. PA allows cross filing so it’s very confusing!
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❤️ + 🙄
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Is he home yet?
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About an hour ago – he’s sound asleep beside me on the floor.
I expect he’ll be asleep most of the evening
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All those times you wished he would just go to sleep and give you a break….yet today you wish he would wake up and get into trouble!
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Your friend could have just bought you fabric or batting or whatever and given it to you as a Holiday gift. She shouldn’t be pushing you to spend money on stuff you don’t want to.
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She did get it for me. I seriously don’t need more fabric! 😂
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I know. My point was making it a gift for a reason verses just because. Who knows? You might have needed or could use more by than.
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