A few changes

Tuesday I did a little in the studio: straightened up the fabric so I could put away three containers of fabrics that I separated out some time ago. Generally one container of solids goes into the camper when we are traveling--you just never know when you need something that can coordinate with the rest of the quilt. A big container with a variety of solids can really help out in a pinch. 

A second container holds stripes and plaids that I first pulled out to create a kit of, yes, stripes and plaids. Since I was working on that over the weekend, I decided to haul the container along. And it's good that I did because I needed another row to make the quilt a bigger size, which I decided as I was sewing the pieces together. Right now it's 72 by 80, but that could change.

The final container holds word fabric that I've been collecting since word fabric came out. Just a piece here and there, occasionally a few fat quarters, maybe a yard. Now, there's enough word fabric to make several word quilts. I made one top while at retreat. It takes much longer to piece a top improvisationally than to mindlessly sew 8" squares. 

Of course, no matter whether you're working in improv or working with easy one-patch blocks, you have to stop talking and sew. Yeah, there's a reason I didn't get as many tops completed as last year when I was a newbie. Maybe I was a little uncomfortable and possibly less opinionated. But that was not the case this year. In fact, I may have had a little too much fun. What do you think? Are you a little more introverted when you're around people you don't know?

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Buttons (again)

One of my most popular posts is this one on buttons. Interestingly, just yesterday (which was Sunday, I'm a day late posting) I found a place to exhibit the quilt mentioned in that post. Anyway I thought it serendipitous enough to pull another SQI from the idea. So, first a few buttons from this board....

And, of course, some button inspired quilts....

Pin It Weekly #296

EDIT 11/14/2019: I am oh, so sorry that I did not post this photo and link to Preeti's bird quilt. How could I? I'm sorry Preeti. Truly. It hangs out in the studio where Milly can kiss it when she comes in. She loves them. 

Welcome back to the birds! Sunday's Quilt Inspiration was so very popular that I decided to go with it, one more time. The reason for only one time is that tomorrow I go to Houston to Quilt Festival. 

I'll have photos to share later so I'll just show you a few more bird pins in the meantime. Check out the cuteness in these fabric, paper, sculptural and mixed media birds.

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: B U T T O N S

Here's a repost of a 2013 Sunday Quilt Inspiration.

I'm working on a quilt inspired by a few of my grandmother's buttons.  My mom gave them to me many years ago and I've kept them all this time.  I can't bring myself to use them because they may be lost, so they serve more as a memento of her than as buttons normally do.  A few days ago I saw a quilt on Pinterest that I decided I wanted to replicate.  

Well, I can't replicate anything.  The moment I begin working, I start making changes.  Before I realized it, the only thing that my quilt had in common with the Pinterest quilt was that I was still sewing fabric buttons.  In no time I was thinking of that plastic bag of my grandmother's old buttons.  I pulled it out and looked for unusual specimens.  They are pretty much basic 1960's button salvaged from all manner of clothing, but I was inspired by the colors, shapes and designs.   

I thought that you might be inspired by a few buttons also.  You don't have to make a quilt exactly like the one I started with.  People have used buttons to make many different projects, so I thought I'd show you a few.  Maybe one these projects will inspire you.  Just be warned: for some of these, you'll need boxes of buttons!

Not just any pillow: a ring bearer's pillow!

Love these earrings.

So, now a few button quilts, because why not?

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Crazy at Walmart

Our local Walmart is making some changes. Well, apparently lots of changes. One of the many is that they are closing down the fabric department. Bad news, good news. 

The bad news is long-term: some of the elderly who sew won't have easy access to fabric. The closest is about a hour away and few drive through Alexandria to get there.

The good news is short-term: fabric is on clearance. For $1 a yard. Yes indeed, you read that right. $1. Per. Yard.

Now I'd heard that there was a big clearance. But I wasn't impressed when the sale was only a dollar off the regular price. 

But when Mrs. Flora called and told me that the store had gotten in additional fabric to clear out, I had to find out what kind of fabric. Let's just say I came away with a few pieces. For a total of about 40 yards. Oops. So much for the fabric diet. Haha. 

Some of it I have specific plans for. I cut out a skirt the same day. 

Other pieces are already folded and in the stash. 

Other pieces are sitting on the worktable waiting. I'm not sure what they are waiting for but that's okay. They are bound to start niggling at me. Does fabric sitting out do that with you? Quibble with you about just what it needs? 
(or maybe a quibble)