Fabric Buying Lesson Part 2

When you go to a new Quilt Shop...
and tell your three year old, princess obsessed, daughter that she can choose any fabric in the Sale Section...Hide the Disney Princess Fabric! It is awful (both to look at and to sew with).

Her brother (almost 2) was much easier to influence and chose a lovely Hoffman truck print. Here's his pillow on his bed (now made into a daybed because the little turkey decided he could climb out of his crib).Pillows made with Ashley's tutorial from Film in the Fridge.

Fabric Buying Lesson...

I've been following Elizabeth's Paintbox Quilt Along over on Flickr. I'm dying to join in, but I'm on a self-imposed fabric diet until I can get some of my UFO's finished. I adore Elizabeth's quilts - she is a true artist.One discussion thread really caught my attention. Elizabeth gave some ideas for fabric lines that work well for the Paintbox Quilt. Interestingly, I have so many fabrics from these lines - Amy Butler, Sandi Henderson, Heather Bailey, etc. Unfortunately, I tend to buy the flashy, big scale prints. But then I don't know what to do with them because they don't lend themselves to small sized piecing.

It really struck me that I was buying the wrong fabric, when I read from Elizabeth:

"My preference in fabric for quilting tends toward monchromatic or otherwise simple prints anyway, so I tend to approach a new collection looking for those prints, rather than at the flashy bigger multicolored prints. For instance, Amy Butler's new Love collection has lots of big multicolored florals, but it also has several colors of a print called "Sunspot" that would be perfect for this kind of project." -Elizabeth, Oh, Fransson

- A successful purchase this summer - 7 out of 10 are monochromatic!

So, when my fabric diet is over, I plan to buy more monochromatic fabrics instead of the flashier prints. And I'm going to buy a Kona Roll-Up so I can make one of these beautiful Paintbox Quilts. Even though I need a new project like a I need a hole in my head!

So, what type of fabric are you buying these days?

Doll Quilt Swap 8

I signed up for my third round of the Doll Quilt Swap. It is my favourite swap. Last year I participated in DQS6 and DQS7. The quilts are amazing! And I love guessing which one is just for me. I thought I'd just do a quick review of the quilts I made last year. Sorry for the repetition for anyone who's seen them before.
In the spring, I sent these little butterflies all the way to Australia for DQS6. My partner asked for something for her daughter's room.
And this is the gorgeous quilt I received. It now lives right above my ironing board so I get to enjoy it while I'm quilting. (And let me tell you, it is the only ironing I do!)
During the the summer, I made this little bluebird quilt. It went to live in Australia too.And I got this sweet blue and aqua quilt from Susi. It is beautifully hand quilted.
And now for DQS8! I think I've got some ideas about what to make my partner. It involves curves, lots of white, and some gorgeous blues and greens.

I can't wait to see what I will get this time.

New Bee

Okay, so I joined another one. Another VQB that is. But how could I resist? This one is 100% Canadian. I am thrilled to work with other Canadian Quilters. And I'm also thrilled that I don't have to fill out customs slips every time I mail a block back.

So January is our first month, and I'm up. I'm a little slow getting things rolling (I was waiting for some yummy Munki Munki to arrive but it still isn't here). But I'm now pretty happy with my fabrics. (Sorry for the terrible photo - have you ever tried to layout fabric to mail out with 2 toddlers running around. Trust me, it is chaos! So I had to snap this picture at night).

I sent out a selection of blue/aqua and orange with a few of my favourite Heather Ross fabrics thrown in. I'm looking for wonky log cabins/improv blocks. Here is some inspiration.

I'm going to make these blocks into a twin sized quilt for my son. I can't believe he's almost ready for a big boy bed.

Favourite Fabrics of 2009

True-Up is having a great fabric celebration/give-away. I had to join the party...so here are my favourites of 2009!

1. Favourite Quilting Weight Cotton Collection: Deer Valley by Joel Dewberry. But I still haven't bought any yet. But I will. When I get some of these darn UFO's finished. In the green and yellow. I figure if I finish 5 UFO's I can reward myself with some yummy Deer Valley.

2. Favourite Home Decor Fabric: You mean there is fabric other than Quilting Cotton? You're joking, right? Oh wait, doesn't Amy Butler's Love come in Home Decor???

3. Favourite Trend (Motifs): I'm going to have to go with the whole Gnome thing.

4. Favourite Trend (Colors): I'm loving the aqua & tangerine movement.

Biggest Fabric World Story/News: Heather Ross had a Studio Sale. And I got some lovely little mushrooms and gnomes!

5. Favourite Overall Designer: A toss up between Heather Ross and Denyse Schmidt

6. Favourite Floral Print: Those gorgeous Columbines from Deer Valley. I have columbines outside my house and the fabric just reminds me of home! (Photo from FreeSpirit).

7. Favourite Collection from Japan: Far, Far Away by Heather Ross for Kokka of Japan. I even splurged and bought some. But I haven't cut into it yet. But I will. I think. Maybe. Oh, it really is so beautiful!

8. Favourite Fabric Shop: Pink Panda Fabrics How can I resist Free Shipping in Canada? Really...Free shipping?!

9.Favourite New Fabric You Worked With in 2009: Wonderland by MoMo for Moda. I used this in my yet to be finished (yes one of my many UFOs) Double Wedding Ring. It is gorgeous. I love the reds. I'm a red girl. Oh, and I may have some FQs and a Charm pack destined to become a bag.

10. Fabric Collections I won't be able to resist in 2010 (aka Wildcard): Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson, Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey, and of course, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt.

Beautiful fabrics! Can't wait to see what will come in 2010.

Happy New Year!

Thought I'd make a quick mosaic to celebrate all of my finishes for 2009! I have been so inspired by quilting and crafting blogs and flickr in 2009. I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring.

So Happy New Year! And all the best for 2010.

Barb