There hasn't been much sewing happening here in the past few weeks. Usually I don't find making binding all that exciting, but it felt so nice doing just that.
I should really focus on sewing the red binding onto the quilt I picked up yesterday from Rose at Pandora Quilting but what I really want to do is have a play with these new fabrics.
That is, if time permits.......
Last weekend I pulled out fabrics for the small quilt we'll be sewing tomorrow. The fabrics sat on the table all week and I couldn't resist rearranging them whenever I walked past. By yesterday I was over them and had a total rethink!
The rose print at the back is a favourite piece. Bought so long ago I can't remember if it was for a specific project or because I simply had to have it. It's the piece I pull out and then put back because I'm saving it for that special project.
There's no changing my mind now, the fabrics are cut and ready for sewing.
I don't often have everything precut even for small quilts. I like to make a couple of blocks, see how they look, decide on another fabric....
I refuse to take 'spare' fabrics with me so here's hoping they work.
Look what came in the post today.
The Threadbear Fabric Club! They are sitting on the table, tempting me to play with them, but you know how it is - there are other things I must do first.
These little quilts were made for birthday gifts. This year I decided to make the same quilt, but in different fabrics.
Super easy once you get the maths worked out. I'm tempted to make another one using the fabrics that arrived today.
For a number of years I belonged to Patchwork on Stonleigh's fabric club. Every three months I received 10 Fat 1/16's of antique reproduction fabrics. I would never have purchased many of the pieces given the choice, but it's those pieces that add interest to the little quilts I so love to make. You must have variety and some have to be 'uglies'.
I made up my mind to join Threadbear's fabric club and did so at the AQC in April. Today there was a very pleasant surprise waiting for me at the Post Office. On first glance I would buy the shirtings but the others are borderline or not all. Looking at them again there are at least two I can use in the birthday quilt I've started and the fabric on top will be perfect in a little quilt. The wonderful thing about a fabric club is it opens you up to a wider range of colours and prints than you may normally consider.
There were many tempting fabrics, felt and trims that could easily have found their way home with me from Stephs, but I managed to restrict it these buys.
The fabric and felt were made for each. They are perfect together and have already been combined in a simple project for Christmas.
And I couldn't go past these ribbons. I asked myself how much do you need and decided metres!
After the trunkshow, last Thursday, Barb and I headed to Milton for a little retail therapy, coffee and cake.
I'd already decided I would buy myself a little something. Nothing to do with sewing,something pretty perhaps, maybe white........
Spools! Definitely not what I had in mind, but once I saw them I couldn't put them down. And then the dilemma began, how many to buy. One looked sad, two looked odd, so three it was.
Something I like to do every so often is remake a sample. It's fun and can be challenging using entirely different fabrics. The goal this weekend is to remake the Vintage Stitches Sampler. This is just one of the projects I'll be teaching at Steph's, in March.
Of course I could have looked through the stash for the right fabrics but where's the fun in that! I bought these, largely influenced by the journal cover made last weekend. I have doubled up on a couple of the pieces, but didn't want to suffer the frustration of not being able to find them at home. Plus it's nice to leave the shop with the inspiration clutched in your hand.
As you can see I've made a start, after ditching the green and choosing two greens with a bit more lift from the stash. The choices don't stop here, now to choose the embroidery stitches and thread colour.
Enjoy your weekend.
I must confess, I did go on a shopping expedition and to my delight found a backing fabric even more perfect than the one I had in mind.
The fabric is Lovebirds, Leanika by Dana for Free Spirit available from Patchwork on Stonleigh. It is so sweet and the best thing is I will have some left over for another project. I already have plans.....
I also have plans for this.
My initial purchase was very restrained - a Fat 1/8, but it only took about 5 minutes for me to decide I needed meterage! I didn't even make it home before I was heading back to Avonleigh for more. It's Aunt Grace Scrap Bag, Judie Rothermel if you need to know! I've been buying greys and blacks ever since; not too many pinks and reds as I already have one or two of them (no suprises there).
I'm sure you'll understand completely; it's impossible not to keep adding to the fabric stash. For every piece I use, two or more are added. Here are a few of the additions made over the last month - well the ones I can remember!
Reds are so essential that I no longer even consider them part of the stash. I found these at Li'l Blokes, Bendigo.
One day I'll make the book bag from these fabrics.
And a strippy quilt from these. Well that's the plan today, please don't hold me to it. These fabrics are from Jennifer Meek Giftware, Nhill.
More red, naturally. Soon to be turned into the 4th Red Club project.
Not fabric, but how yummy are these buttons. I was too busy drooling over them and deciding how many to buy, to pay full attention to what Sharon was saying, but I did hear something about them being made from coconut and no two are identical. This is an impulse buy; no idea what I will do them but had to have them.
Sharon and Kay (Avonleigh) tempted me with new fabric arrivals. Too gorgeous to resist. I'd love to start sewing with them right away but I've told myself I need to finish a couple of other projects first.....but I'm weakening....
Essential tools- lead pencil and sharpener. So much prettier than the everday ones that manage to get lost on the table, desk, bench..... I'd hate to think how much time I waste looking for them some days. Sometimes, totally frustrated, I resort to asking Azz (the dog) if he's seen them. No, he hasn't; a silly question really but it makes me laugh which is important at that point.There is no way I will be able to lose these bright ones - is there?
I've been stitching hexagons. Red ones.... now to finish them so I can make a start on the new fabric.
As you can see I'm not going to be over my red phase any time soon. I'm very fortunate to have not one but three lovely patchwork shops in my area. Avonleigh Country Quilting (where I teach), Patchwork on Stonleigh and Carolyns Quilting Room.
And yes I do have plans for these fabrics and not in the distant future, within the next 12 months. Can you pick a favourite?
