Potholder Progress

For the past two days I've been cutting, stitching and trimming the tops of these flag potholders.  I made four of each border, for I total of twelve.  They were a tad time consuming because I mitered the corners, but I think it was worth it.  Tomorrow, I hope to get some of the quilting done; I'll see how it goes.

Enchanted by Michelle Engel Bencsko for Cloud9

In other "news", I haven't been purchasing much fabric.  I started on a "fabric diet", last November and have been using my stash since then.  The only exception, was buying fabric for a commission, which I don't think really counts.  I really don't need any fabric, but when these two lines became available last week, I ordered half yard cuts of each line, from Hawthorne Threads.  I just know I'll find a use for every inch of fabric in these two photos.

Textura by Susy Pilgrim Waters for P & B Textiles

May your bobbins always be full,

Fabric Diet Report

On December 1, 2012, I decided it was time for a fabric diet.  For the next 6 months, I did really great; I only bought two yards of fabric.  This month I've purchased a bit more, well more that a bit.  Do you know Kathy from Pink Chalk Fabric?  In addition to her online fabric shop,  she has a blog and a fun newsletter.  When I saw the World Tour line from David Butler/Parson Gray and the matching solids that Kathy and her team had paired them with, I was sunk.

I ordered a FQ bundle of each, 24 FQ's in all.  Aren't they beautiful?  When we were in San Diego, yesterday, we swung by Ikea and I ran in and bought several yards of this script fabric.  It was the end of the bolt, so I took it all.  I'm going to use it as part of the backing for the two patchy/scrappy quilts I've just finished.  

Did you know that when you purchase fabric from Ikea, you cut your own and fill out the tag to take to the register.  Since this was my first time buying fabric from them, I was amazed.  (I guess they figure it would cost more to have a dedicated employee to cut fabric, than they would lose to cheaters.)  I was a retail manager for years, and I can tell you there's lots of cheaters out there.  While working at B&N, we even had people steal bibles!

This month I purchased a total of 15 yards of fabric. Six yards of FQs and 9 yards from Ikea.

May your bobbins always be full,

The Autumn Leaf Quilt Top is assembled!

The Autumn Leaf Quilt Top is assembled!  I needed to add a small border, but since I started with Fat Eights, I didn't have enough of any of the fabrics I used.  Since the quilt is large, 87" square before adding a border, I wanted the border to be small and I didn't want to use my background fabric.  I decided on this fabric:

I thought it'd be perfect, fairly neutral and it goes well with my leaf theme.  The fabric is called "Day at the Zoo - Cream Bark from Camelot Cottons".  I had a yard, which would have been just enough, but this fabric is directional, so I wanted more to have all the borders heading in the same direction.  I went back to the shop I'd gotten the original yard from, JAQSFabrics, on Etsy.  She had two yards left, so I ordered them both, yesterday, and she's already shipped them.  The two yards will allow me to cut long strips for the side borders.  This is the first fabric I've purchased since December 1,2012.  I think my "Fabric Diet" is working very well, 82 days of no fabric purchasing.  Now, I'm back on the wagon, and I'll shoot for more than 82 days, this time!

Here's some photos, to show you what I mean.

Me, trying to hold up the quilt top.

Using my "design grass".

Here's a close up of one of the 3" borders.  I think it'll be great, when it's finished.  Now, I'll piece the quilt back, while I'm waiting for the rest of the border fabric to show up.

May your bobbins always be full,

Fabric Diet

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I'm starting today on a fabric diet.  I did this in January 2011 and lasted for 6 months.  My trip to NYC and a visit to City Quilter did me in!  I love that store.  This year I'm going to NYC in May, and I'm sure I'll visit and leave some cash at City Quilter, but I've resolved not to use it as an excuse to "fall of the wagon".    Ann Marie of 16 Muddy Feet says she's joining in, too, on January 1st..  

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Do you want to go on a Fabric Diet, too?  It's easy, just do a blog post, making a commitment.  That's it!  No reports, no math.  I'm hoping to make it for a full year!.  I'll report when or if I break my resolve, and you will, too! 

There are always exceptions, like City Quilter  or needing a solid, but you get the jest, make a commitment  if you're thinking your stash is large enough.

Easy peasy, we can do this.

May your bobbins always be full,

I think I need to go on a fabric diet, again.

My LQS, that was about 5 miles from my house, closed last month.  It was convenient  if I needed something, fast.  They specialized in Civil War prints, but the rest of the inventory was quite modern.  Now, the quilting fabric store that I really liked, it was about 40 miles away, is also closing.  I got their email on Thursday, stating all fabric would be $4.50 a yard.  Like most quilters, I really don't "need" any more fabric, but I talked myself into going.  I'm serious, I almost didn't go, but I really love this shop and it's similar to what my own fabric store would look like if I was an entrepreneur.

Here are my "finds".

This group, I bought more than the one yard minimum.  Top to bottom, Washi by Rashida Coleman-Hale, French General Stone Texture, and a bolt of Black Magic by RJR.

Pieces of Hope by Riley Blake, On the Road by Wild Apple, Stitches by Lynette Anderson and Pure by Sweetwater.

For All Seasons - Winter by Kim Schaefer, Old Glory by Sara Morgan, Grow with Me by Moda and Adoring by Sandy Gervais.

Little Apples by Aneela Hoey, Quilts for Kids by Amy Schimler, Urban Zoologie by Ann Kelle, Ric Rac Rabbits by Marisa and Creative Thursday and Need'l Love by Renee Nanneman.

I hope I'm not being boring, but I like to list the fabric names, in case anyone else wants to get some.  I also got some goodies in the mail.

This is called Havana by Monaluna.  I got it from etsy seller LiMaSews.etsy.com

And I got a wonderful "bunch" of fabric from Fabricworm.com.

Commute by Jay-Cyn for Birch fabrics, top two, Circa*52 for Birch fabrics, Bungle Jungle Crossword, the next three are Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille.

These three panels are by Jay-Cyn for Birch Fabrics

The last is this great geometric by Robin Zingone.

Spoonflower also offered free shipping one day this week and I placed an order, including this fun fabric.

"linen look cocktail napkins fabric by glindabunny on Spoonflower - custom fabric"

 I think I need to go on a fabric diet, again.  Anyone else need to go on a fabric diet?

May your bobbins always be full,