Fabric Stash

With the help of some great buys on EBay my fabric stash is growing.



I have decided to make a pieced quilt for each child to fit their bed. The quilts (art) that I had first selected for each are more for wall hangings and after looking at them realistically I don't think I can add enough borders to make the fit their beds and still look nice. Also since several are the fusible machine applique I'm not sure how they would stand up to the constant use on a bed. SOOOO they will get two quilts hopefully. I have started to collect fabric and know I have enough for the oldest son's quilt, maybe enough for the oldest daughter. So now will when my bank account recovers from these last purchases, start the shopping, looking process for the right fabrics for youngest son and daughter.



I think with the stash I now have there is sufficient fabric for the Bonnet Girls quilt, and for the quilts I've selected for grandchildren that I haven't been able to find in BOM kits. I also have enough (I think) fabrics to make the From out of the Darkness in the black, grey, black on white fabrics, and enough red for the butterfly. I chose to make this out of cotton quilting fabrics, as they hopefully will be more durable. This pattern I'm adapting for a quilt for another granddaughter that loves horses. I have some fabric with small horse print that I think I can cut out and fuse similar to the butterflies on the smaller blocks. I have a larger horse print fabric that I think I can cut out a head and applique to the center block and maybe but a wreath of flower around the neck - this block is still in planning. I just bid on autumn fabrics for this quilt and hopefully will get the auctions for them on Ebay.



Now with all the enlarged stash, growing collection of BOM kits, I just need to get moved into my place so I can have the time and space to get these finished. About 40 more days till move day.



I started a ring bearer's CQ pillow top this past week. Have some of the patches attached and am doing this a bit different that other CQ blocks I've made. Instead of sewing down all the patches then adding the lace to the seams, I'm adding them as I go. Once I've sewn two patches together I cover that seam with the lace. This allows that the ends of the lace is under the next patch and sewn into that seam. I'm hoping it will make a neater look than having to turn under the ends, or open a seam to tuck in the end. I selected the thread for the embroidery, now to decide what stitches and flowers I'll embroidery in the patches. They will be Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery flowers using the EdMar threads. A new to me type of embroidery I discovered about 6 years ago and thoroughly enjoy both the stitching and the end result. To me it is one of the prettiest embroideries I've seen, and next I enjoy Crewel embroidery. I'm sure there are other types just as pretty, but these are two I've found I truely enjoy.

My Current Project

I found this pattern online and here is one version - not sure who stitched it, but really like the simplicity of the pattern, and yet it makes a stricking statement on the bed.

This is a pattern I've decided to make the 4 sane pieced quilts for my children from. At present I have selected 3 of them to be of 3 colors and the fourth each large square to be of a different fabric (print or tone on tone) in the same color family. In each the Ohio stars forming the corner squares will be of same fabric as will all the sashing.

I have decided to concentrate on and finish a Ring Bearer's pillow I promised to make for my grandson's bride for their wedding in Oct. They are to marry on an island at an adult resort so won't have a ring bearer, but thought she might like to have the pillow for a keepsake.

Her colors are pink and orange - colors of the sunset. I have a variety of silk and satin in white/off whites and will make a crazy quilt patch top embellishing with white bits of laces and trims and embroider with Brazilain Dimension Embroidery in her colors. I have pink, orange and white - with hints of gold braid trim for the edge of the pillow.

My second Weaver Fever quilt kit arrived from a shop in Canada yesterday. The two kits are of the same fabric and will go to two great granddaughters, I now have all the fabric or kits for my 6 great grandchildren's quilts. Once I get moved in my own place and get my sewing room set up will be able to get them cut out and start sewing them together. I think this will be a nice break from the hand applique needle-turn and/or the fusible machine applique process. I also think having a place to leave projects where I stop and return to them and just pick back up will allow me to finish much more. At the moment I take them out (getting them ready to sew on - takes some time), then when I stop sewing I need to put away (putting them away takes some time). When having my sewing room I can use that preparation and putting away time for sewing or something else, as it is now I consider it wasted time.

I have almost all the kits for the art quilts for my children and grandchildren I can find to purchase in BOM kit form. There are several I'll probably have to use my fabric stash and add to it to make them. I have the three peacemaker's calendar quilts of churchs, lighthouses and trains and think those won't be to hard to assemble from my stash. The "From out of the Darkness" new calendar quilt is mostly blacks, whites, greys and some red, and I have assembled a lot of fat quarters in those colors. I am going to try and make a similar quilt using autumn colors and appliqued small horses or horse heads for another granddaughter.

I have other patterns from Peacemaker's calendar quilts that are on the back burner to make for me someday, if I should be lucky and live long enough to finish what I have laid out for myself to do.

I finally have the border fabric in my possession to finish my Vintage Valentine quilt - now to finish the applique on the blocks. I have half of the smaller blocks appliqued, then there is the large center block. I was so extremely disappointed when I thought I couldn't get the same border fabric as the sample. To me that fabric framed the quilt top and made it special, more so then other's I'd seen done. There is another stripe in the fabric that I have another use for already - so it will not go to waste. But then no fabric ever goes to waste in a quilter's house, does it ?

Quilts for my Family

Today I should receive a couple more shipments for the quilts I'm making for my family. I have a kit for a pieced "Weaver Fever" quilt in blues, yellow, green and white coming for a great grandchild, the twin will be shipped next month for his sister. I've also been able to find some great buys on EBay of Fat Quarters for the quilts I didn't find BOM kits for.

I have 4 children (will get two quilts each, a art quilt appliqued and a pieced one), 11 grandchildren, all will get appliqued art quilts, 6 great granchildren each to receive a pieced quilt.

I've added photos of the quilts I'm making for those I've selected so far. Also have several in various stages of compeletion. Some of the ones waiting to be made are fusible applique. This is a process I haven't done yet. I've watched it done on TV shows about quilting and have all the supplies needed. Hope to get started soon. I have several blocks traced to the fusible, just need to get on the fabric and get going with it.

One of the designers of the quilt patterns I'm making reverses her patterns for you which makes it very easy to transfer to the fusible. I have a feeling a several will end up being a combination of hand needle-turn applique and fusible machine for the tiny pieces that are difficult to do as needle turn