you know you are a garbaholic when...

[isabelladangelo]

You have an entire room of fabric just waiting for inspiration.
Actually, it's more of an oversized closet....three of 'em...and the storage unit.

You pass a "sale" at the local fabric store on the way to work, and sweat all day that by the time you get there all the "good stuff" will be gone.
Nope, cause I work at night...hehehe

Spotting a "Fabric Sale" sign causes you to become a traffic hazard as you U-turn to the nearest ATM before pillaging the store.
I live right next to DC...everything and one is a traffic hazard. But yes, I've done the cut across four lanes of traffic to get into the turn lane to go to the fabric/craft store...

You tape "historical" movies (even the really BAD ones) so you can watch them in slow-motion and make garb sketches.
...only if they are 16th c are earlier...maybe 18th c...

When you move, the first boxes in the truck (and there are quite a few of them) are the ones with your fabric and garb. (**and this is quite true... I just did exactly that )
::thinking:: well...that's because it was already in boxes...

You always carry a baggie (or something bigger) with swatches and samples of trim, lists of supplies on hand, and yardage requirements.
na, just my sewing kit that is historically correct for the late 15th c.

You drive your friends nuts by constantly sketching garb.
No, just by talking about it...oh and I saw this gorgeous early period coat the other day that I've just got to make with red brocade...

You have way more garb than you'll ever wear, even if you go to an event every week.
...not quiet yet. I need at least ten more gowns...

You take your own drool towel when you visit the shop that has those gorgeous silk brocades....
I'm not that bad. I don't drool, just oggle.

Fabric store clerks either welcome you with open arms or cringe every time you come in the door.
Actually, I will admitt to only going to Joann's or Hancocks maybe once every other month. I normally buy from fabric.com or ebay....and the sellers know me well enough to tell me when they get silk in.

People always get your answering machine, even when you're home, because you're in your sewing room, "communing" with the soul of that piece of silk brocade that's just screaming "Italian" at you.
No, that's normally 'cause I'm sleeping. The phone is easy to get to even when i'm sewing 25 yards into a tent.

Budgeting your paycheck means taking out your fabric spending allowance first.
Budget? What budget?

The local fabric (or craft, or yarn) store has a parking space reserved just for you.
Nope.

The clerk in the store now knows exactly what you mean when you say you're making a houpelande.
I had to teach them what a "chemise" is whenever I buy muslin...

You "drift" in your period because even if your persona is 15th century Italian, there's this wonderful 13th c. Celtic gown you have to make, or you really want a full Elizabethan, or you have this great idea on how to trim an 11th c. whatever... etc. etc.
Doesn't everyone?

You lay in the grass after an auto accident thinking, "hmmmm.... three weeks in bed... I can finish that beading and maybe get that couched trim done too..."
Hasn't happened....yet

You greet your garbaholic friends with, ""ooo.... nice .. how did you do that? Where did you get this? etc etc....." while ignoring the neck brace and the black eye.
It's not nice to point out that someone else looks like they've been run over with a steamroller...

There's a spectacular sale on linen, and you debate whether to tell your friends or wait until you've had a chance to go back and buy more yourself.
Never. Go first. Buy up the good stuff, then tell everyone else.

You go in the fabric store for bias tape and come out with $100 of "bargain fabric".
...$269 actually... Although I was good today. I only bought a remnant of jacquard that was on sale (90% off) and it's a yard and half long besides the trim, needles, and satin I needed.

The really neat outfit that was the first thing you ever made now looks really shoddy compared with what you want.
Well, once I take the zipper out it will look a lot better.

You raise sheep and/or flax so you have the "total period experience".
Nope, just reeds. :-)

You actually think twice about postponing paying the phone bill until next week so you can buy that velvet at only $8 a yard.
If it were $6 a yard, heck yeah! Well...back when I was a college kid. :-) Now it's transfer it from savings.

Your children, husband, and cats all know better than to speak to you when you're sewing. Unless the house is on fire. And they'd better grab the garb and the fabric first.
Ginsie and Shiloh have learned not to step on the fabric. They will be yelled at and scoulded. In fact, I managed to leave out the back piece of a bodice with trim layed out unpinned for 24 hours in the middle of the living room floor...and no one touched it.

You critique the costuming on PBS (or A&E, Or the History Channel, etc.)
well, why else would I watch it? It's not like the history channel has ever gotten their history right in the pre-20th c. And even then, it's shakey.

You wish Halloween was at least six times a year so you'd have an excuse to wear your garb to work. Again.
Mardi Gras.

You'll be in debt for the next three years but you have to have the silk velvet at only $33 a yard....
Is it 100% silk velvet?

You are no longer content to have just spiffy clothes- you have to have all - repeat all - the accessories to go with it.
....guilty.

And the biggie: After months of work, you wear your new garb to an event, and finally get to be the "droolee" instead of one of the droolers.
::giggles::

Comments

[mistressfetch.livejournal.com]

"You tape "historical" movies (even the really BAD ones) so you can watch them in slow-motion and make garb sketches.
...only if they are 16th c are earlier...maybe 18th c..."

Okay, I'm so guilty of this :-) The Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton..............'nough said :-) hehehhe

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

I love a couple of the dresses from that movie. I probably will end up re-creating one...

[elanurel.livejournal.com]

I couldn't work my way through the list because I fear that I, too, am a garbaholic!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

You are. It's okay. There is a 12 step program. The first step is to will all the fabric to another garbaholic...

[elanurel.livejournal.com]

Not going to happen. I have plans for all that fabric! ;-P

[bluedoran.livejournal.com]

This was killingly funny. Although, I am absolutely going to take my sewing machine to school with me this year, because I want to start a hobby. I'll make a decent quilt first, then see if I can make a gown. Always wanted to, even before you started your stuff. It'll turn out dreadful. But ya gotta get past that first project...