tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post7092497230901928563..comments2023-10-19T09:00:00.872-07:00Comments on MY CURRENT OBSESSIONS: A dilemma . . .Pattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07125491177774966237noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-46761532759304056332006-09-21T07:25:00.000-07:002006-09-21T07:25:00.000-07:00GO! Practice your restraint. I am going and I pla...GO! Practice your restraint. I am going and I plan, remember I said plan, not to buy anything other than a stencil I am looking for and maybe a couple pantographs. Hoping to stick to this but I am going to see the quilts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-55461452703319326502006-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:002006-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:00When I first started reading your post I thought "...When I first started reading your post I thought "go have fun and don't worry about it" but then I read what your DH said and I know how badly you want to retire so maybe it wouldn't hurt to skip it this year. I've been in similar situations and fretted about whether or not to go and found when I didn't go, it was OK. In fact I felt a little relief knowing that I didn't spend any money. You know in your heart what you want to do - if you decide to go then go with a happy heart but if you decide to skip it then enjoy what you're doing instead with the same happy heart!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-80792958690411192472006-09-21T08:03:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:03:00.000-07:00I had to miss my state show this summer and I regr...I had to miss my state show this summer and I regret it - not that I had a choice. I'd go and bring cash - enough that you feel you're allowed to look and buy, but not too much! Bringing nothing obviously won't work, so it's all about practicing restraint. If you go, take pictures for all of us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-29598705987067233072006-09-21T08:05:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:05:00.000-07:00I would go but leave the checkbook and credit card...I would go but leave the checkbook and credit card home--leave yourself only the cash that you need for lunch. <br><br>If you have to say to yourself over and over, "retirement, retirement, retirement" then you might leave that book behind and if you absolutely must have it later, get it from your LQS or better yet, buy it used, if you still want it and save some money.<br><br>I think it is the impulse buying that gets us into trouble. Quilt show vendors are probably banking on that. They will make more fabric!<br><br>BUT if you don't think you can handle it, then maybe you should stay home and sew or fire up the long arm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-34869390332404768812006-09-21T08:08:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:08:00.000-07:00I had to stay home... (TWICE)I am still here livin...I had to stay home... (TWICE)<br>I am still here living & breathing to talk about it.<br><br>My friends brough back some photos & yours will too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-40738072575376852442006-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:00I would go! Don't hesitate. You deserve to socia...I would go! Don't hesitate. You deserve to socialize with other quilters. If you take friends with you, you will have someone to blame when you can't control your own spending.....they made me do it! *LOL* Enjoy the show!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-53212989623289981112006-09-21T08:50:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:50:00.000-07:00When in doubt DON'T.....Stay at home and move seve...When in doubt DON'T.....<br><br>Stay at home and move several steps closer to the day when you can enjoy being at home stitching.<br><br>I could be retired now if I had restrained myself sooner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-50284795163311090552006-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:00Since I don't know what you spending spree limits ...Since I don't know what you spending spree limits usually are, i'd say go and take a certain amount of money ONLY. I go to our local show and I usually take $500 with me. That's ALL I get to spend. CASH no CC's. So I have gotten very selective about what I buy because once it's gone, it's gone. The first year it was gone in an hour it seemed. Last year I actually had $20 left over. I was very selective and only got things I knew I couldn't find other places. No large fabric purchases that I could order online.<br><br>Can you go and stick to $200 spending? If you can't go and NOT use the cc's or spend huge amounts then I would say STAY AWAY. It's a good compromise to go with just a limit of cash. It will make what you get that much better. Otherwise don't torture yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-24778331349826534382006-09-21T08:57:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:57:00.000-07:00I'd go, and if you do go, you must go through the ...I'd go, and if you do go, you must go through the vendors. I get as much inspiration from the vendors as the show. Just set limits...and don't go over it. Call it souveniers of your trip.<br>MelanieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-10534091839774479002006-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:002006-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00I think the idea of going but only taking the amou...I think the idea of going but only taking the amount of cash you want to spend is a good idea. THat way you get to see the quilts and not spend too much. You could also stay away from the vendor area. (Impossible, I know.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-73789612647853099732006-09-21T09:48:00.000-07:002006-09-21T09:48:00.000-07:00I ask myself this question every year when the Int...I ask myself this question every year when the International Quilt Festival comes to Chicago. When I first get to the festival I look at the quilts first then I go to the vendor section. When I see something "I had to have", I write down the booth number, get a business card. I don't buy anything. Then I go home and sleep on it. The next day with a spending limit in mind, I go back to the booths and only buy what I can't order from the vendor online. As the weeks pass after the show if "I still need it" I order it online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-86657126041506949232006-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:002006-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00I say you should go but only take enough money for...I say you should go but only take enough money for your food and allow yourself say, maybe $100, in cash. Leave your checkbook, credit card, etc. at home. Put a little note in with your cash from your husband reminding you about retirement. Only allow yourself the cash you brought, after that, you're done shopping. You can buy several nice things with that much money. <br><br>But I kow what you mean, I have a hard time too when it comes to quilting or knitting stuff. I went out last weekend to a new shop and only spent $20. You know, it felt really good! It made the few little things I bought feel more special. <br><br>Beth<br>http://bethknits.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-54095834054627098652006-09-21T10:04:00.000-07:002006-09-21T10:04:00.000-07:00Reading through the comments I have to agree with ...Reading through the comments I have to agree with Amy. I have missed several big shows. At the time I felt sorry for myself. And guess what, I still have way too much fabric. <br>Save for Retirement!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-41344265740402883152006-09-21T11:05:00.000-07:002006-09-21T11:05:00.000-07:00Since you are feeling ambivilent about going, I vo...Since you are feeling ambivilent about going, I vote for staying home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-83540770295802192442006-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:002006-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00I am going to agree with Amy and Bonnie. Don't go ...I am going to agree with Amy and Bonnie. Don't go if you can't trust <i>yourself</i>. It's funny you should mention a show right now. The Colorado Quilt Council show (Quilt-a-Fair) is this Friday and Saturday. When I first started going to this I spent and spent and spent. But I have noticed that over the years as my stash has grown, I have spent less. It seems that the last couple of years I have gone for the visuals and the company instead of the shopping. Good luck and let us know your solution. /paulaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-40708655413279018832006-09-21T13:44:00.000-07:002006-09-21T13:44:00.000-07:00I would definately stay home. I don't think I wou...I would definately stay home. I don't think I would have as much fun if I didn't go through the vendors. I may have to go to that show next year. My birth mother lives in Portland and I could go and visit her and see this show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-87132139480676561012006-09-21T13:45:00.000-07:002006-09-21T13:45:00.000-07:00Um, I know the right answer and my answer. I'm go...Um, I know the right answer and my answer. I'm going to a huge local quilt fair tomorrow, so, maybe I'm not the best one to offer advice!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-31254997536338404342006-09-21T14:11:00.000-07:002006-09-21T14:11:00.000-07:00Yeah, same issues going on over here in Camas. I'...Yeah, same issues going on over here in Camas. I'm staying home this year. My plan is to spend a chunk of the weekend starting a new project and to complete it entirely from stash -- no problems there! Actually, there'd be bigger problems trying to find somewhere to put more stuff. I know myself too well, if I go, I'll buy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-3501415390967940252006-09-21T14:13:00.000-07:002006-09-21T14:13:00.000-07:00Boy, have you asked the wrong gal!self-restraint? ...Boy, have you asked the wrong gal!self-restraint? what's that?? Will you really miss not going in the long run? Are you really looking forward to retiring sooner rather than later? Its all a trade off, which means more? (of course, this all presupposes that you won't go on an online spree as consolation for missing the show!LOL)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-36304076994076430322006-09-21T15:13:00.000-07:002006-09-21T15:13:00.000-07:00Go to the Bank. Take only cash with you, and spend...Go to the Bank. Take only cash with you, and spend nothing more than you have. You can do it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-41494531228856065822006-09-21T18:43:00.000-07:002006-09-21T18:43:00.000-07:00I wouldn't miss the show - especially if there are...I wouldn't miss the show - especially if there aren't a lot of shows around you. I only go to Road to CA each year, and only once or twice the little Glendale show. This past year I brought cash and actually didn't spend it all. <br><br>One thing that helped though was making a list of things I wanted to look for that I hadn't been able to find anywhere else. That gave me a little bit of joy in searching the booths. I was on a mission, on a hunt - and we all know Southerners love a good hunt! LOL!<br><br>I vote for you to go. Take your time at each quilt hanging -- look for inspiration! And have fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-26227793117144654262006-09-21T19:11:00.000-07:002006-09-21T19:11:00.000-07:00Last year I was in a huff about the scandalous cos...Last year I was in a huff about the scandalous cost of fabric in Australia, so I didn't go to the quilt show. I rewarded myself instead with an online order from the US - it worked out that I bought something quilty, but didn't spend money on impulse buys. Don't go, but buy something nice for yourself instead, like a book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-25140761349313974872006-09-21T19:32:00.000-07:002006-09-21T19:32:00.000-07:00Why not go. Your a quilter, you love fabric. Go fi...Why not go. Your a quilter, you love fabric. Go fill you eyes with the beautiful quilts. Then go to the venders and get inspired. Try to figure out how to make what you see with what you have in your stash. Maybe take samples of that last mail order (loved it) you got. Keep them in your pocket when your tempted to buy, take them out and admire them then ask your self how long its going to take to pay off that order thats on your credit card. Enjoy the thrill of quilting not the thrill of buying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-82607629056291311732006-09-21T20:12:00.000-07:002006-09-21T20:12:00.000-07:00I say go - I'm all for controlling spending and us...I say go - I'm all for controlling spending and using stash but I make exceptions for shows and that includes shopping vendors. Besides you don't HAVE to buy - you can just look and if you see something you need then go ahead and take it home with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109774646057111207.post-37852320389315709022006-09-22T03:27:00.000-07:002006-09-22T03:27:00.000-07:00DOn't go. Re-read your old quilting books instead ...DOn't go. Re-read your old quilting books instead :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com