Your Supply Stash: A Poll

[Left Brain]

Poll question: Your Supply Stash: A Poll

Heh, this is the first thread I've started at DU, and I decided to make it a poll.

Whether it's yarn, beads, ribbon, scrapbooking supplies, embroidery thread, cloth and sewing materials, or jute and what-have-you, what's the state of your stash of leftovers, scraps, "couldn't resists," and crafting materials?

[Left Brain]

1. I have to admit

I have enough yarn to keep 10 people busy for the next 25 years or so. Okay, well, maybe not THAT much, but my husband shivers in fear and gets THAT look (you know the look, right?) whenever I say, "Ummmmm... I think I'll stop by the craft store on my way home."

You?

[Longhorn]

2. I'm building a stash, partly through leftover and partly through finding good deals

for which I don't have a particular project in mind. For me, it's all yarn. If I buy fabric, it's to make something in particular. I tend to be very linear that way. :)

Great poll!

[Left Brain]

6. Glad you enjoyed!

[eleny]

3. I have way too much stuff

The thing is I like to try different things. Maybe that's how "mixed media" evolved. So many of us have so much flotsam and jetsam and then it started meshing.

For grins - the definition of jetsam:
"1 : the part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is cast overboard to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore"

[Left Brain]

7. Heh, I love that term.

Always reminds me of the movie, "Batteries Not Included" with Hume Cronyn and Jess Tandy.

[eridani]

4. I'm getting in a little over my head

I'm into jewelry, but I've gotten so many ideas I haven't had the time to pursue that there's quite a buildup of the less expensive ingredients. I have a stash of findings, and also wood, bone, metal, wire of various gauges and colors, glass, seashells, bleached sand dollars, polymer clay, leather, twine of several types, paper, paint and glazes, resin, glitter, faux dichro materials, ribbons, microscope slides, horsehair and feathers.

I'm pretty frugal when it comes to gold-filled and sterling beads and wire, Swarovski crystal and semi-precious stones, though--I get just enough for a project.

[Left Brain]

5. I'm getting really terrible with beads.

I used to have two nice, little clear-view containers of beads. I think I have, like, 8 now. The thing with beads is that I like HAVING them almost as much as I like working with them. There's something blissful about sinking your fingers into a bin full of beads.

[Katherine Brengle]

17. Thank you!

When it comes to jewelry making, sometimes just sitting there gazing at a box full of pretty ingredients is as satisfying as making something lol.

I am very guilty of this.

[Morgana LaFey]

29. That's the way I am with knitting books and magazines --

I often say I'd rather look at the books than actually knit something.

I am a little bit hoardish about the freshwater pearls I've bought for jewelry making. There are some I just won't use, period. And I'm stingy with ALL of them.

[AllegroRondo]

12. you can never have too many beads

I have quite a collection of plastic boxes, tubes, and baggies all stored in a plastic mini-dresser drawer system (Bed Bath and Beyond, $19.95).

You just end up with so many leftover beads from projects, and if theres a sale you just HAVE to stock up on wire, cords, and findings. I dont know how many times my wife has found some interesting beads and bought them because "im sure you can make something nice with these!"

But the good part is that when the new magazines come in, I usually have enough stuff laying around to try the new ideas.

[peacefreak]

8. I have a theory about true wealth.

If you can go to your craft spot & pull out everything you need at midnight, you are a wealthy woman. Of course, there's always one skein I'm missing of DMC, or I can't find the right size jump ring... So much for that!

[KarenS]

9. ohhhh my stash,,,,,

at this point, if times get tough for us, I think I could open a fabric, rubber stamp and patterned paper store :)

I'm considering it an investment.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. I answered the second one.

My macrame stuff is so organized it's sickening. Now, don't ask me why because my home office is exactly the opposite. If anyone ever saw this place I'd die of embarrassment.

[AllegroRondo]

11. I have a nice collection of tackle boxes

and plastic drawer systems. My wife gets pretty nasty if I just leave things out.

[photogirl12]

13. I have gotten into quite a few things over the past few years...

I have a collection of yarn, embroidery floss, cross stitch material, rubberstamps, scrapbooking supplies, soapmaking, candlemaking, and beading. There is barely enough room in the house for the dog and boyfriend!!

[knitter4democracy]

14. I have the office's closet, shelves, and the area by my chair.

Oh, and the bags under the coffee table and the ones in the guest bedroom, and then there are the ones under the table in the dining room and my emergency bag in the car and the knitting in my purse . . .

It's not entirely out of control, but it's close.

[robinlynne]

25. sounds like me.

[Morgana LaFey]

30. Hah! Reminds me of a favorite saying of mine -- well, actually two

1) If everything is under control, you are going too slow. -- Mario Andretti

2) The best way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. -- ae West or someone similar :evilgrin:

[joneschick]

15. does anyone expect a stamp collector to use up their collection?

yeah, I didn't think so! I have a sewing room with significant piles elsewhere in the house. I've thought about working my way through it---not gonna happen! :hi:

[sinkingfeeling]

16. I voted with the majority although there is no husband/BF/SO to worry about.

But I do have two rooms full of my supplies!

[Left Brain]

18. It's kind of telling

that not one person voted, "I never overbuy."
I guess it's safe to say, generally speaking, that crafters are stashers :)

[Katherine Brengle]

21. So true --

that's why they always have those 40 and 50% off coupons at craft stores every single week -- because there is always going to be something we "need" lol.

I just got a shipment of this beautiful light green wool yarn in the mail and it made me want to go shopping for needles lol.

Doesn't matter a bit that I have a vase full of them already, need more. Doesn't matter a bit that I have a basket full of yarn and four little projects on needles -- I just bid on a 10 skein lot of sari silk on evilBay. AND I'm going to a crop at the scrapbook store tonight, so more paper buying I'm sure.

It's a curse :D.

[shanti]

19. my yarn stash...

when others complain, you KNOW you have a problem! yikes! i spend much of my time either buying yarn/supplies and knitting. i should stop buying tho, before it gets WAY out of hand, but i see beautiful yarn and i must buy!

[Morgana LaFey]

31. Yeah, but --

(responding to your "I should stop buying" comment) --

I spent about 45 minutes reorganizing a couple of my bins and it was SOOOOO much fun, so rewarding, so creatively inspiring. I love "playing with the yarn," so to speak. Getting it out, looking at it, reorganizing it. Those colors, those fibers, those textures -- ooh la la! As a result, now I'm diving into my stack of "possible next projects" to shuffle those around, think about what yarns, etc.

[lies and propaganda]

20. I have so much fun stuff ..

that i just opened a second store on Etsy for supplies.

i have beads coming out of my yinyang ;)

[eleny]

22. You need a bigger yinyang!

:rofl:

[lies and propaganda]

23. Thats what She said!

*summons Michael from The Office!

:rofl:

[eleny]

24. Hee!

[Arkansas Granny]

26. I have stuff stashed all over the house in boxes, organizers, baskets,

you name it. I keep saying that one of these days I will really go through it and sort everything out nice and neat. But then I also say "I'm not going to buy another thing until I use some of this stuff up", but I know I'm lying to myself when I say it.

[MaineDem]

27. Does sock yarn count?

Those beautiful skeins are so little and don't take up all that much space. Well, unless one has bags of them stuffed in the closet...or piled next to her chair... or...

I have a huge stash, I must admit.

[eleny]

28. Yes it does!

:hi:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

32. I have TONS of sewing stuff.

Mom sewed and was an incurable packrat. I have tons of still usable fabric. I threw out all the thread cuz it was rotten. Got three all steel Singers, lots of old patterns, zippers, attachments, buttonholers, blah de blah de blah.........need to sell most of it.

I'm not into quilting or needlepoint. I know how to knit and crochet, but in Texas you really don't need a lot of sweaters. I do know how to sew.

[kcass1954]

33. Do you have a Singer Featherweight?

If so, I might be persuaded to take it off your hands (for the right price, of course) or find a buyer.

Also, is any of the fabric all-cotton?