Sew Preeti Fabrics and Questions

A few days ago I was reading Preeti's blog (which I love) and discovered that I'd won a pretty fat quarter bundle. 

Okay, so you can't see the print but trust me, I won. On Monday the box arrived! Oh my! These are pretty and modern and luscious! I was working pretty long hours so I didn't have time to take pictures or play. 


I did, though, set the fabrics on the kitchen counters so that I could pet them anytime I walked by.

Today I managed a few minutes to find some coordinating fabrics. I really love the lime and the blue. The gray stripe is the shade, but I'm not sure about the stripe. 

I took a photo in grayscale to help me see the value ranges. I'm pretty satisfied, but I may add another dark fabric depending on whether I will use the gray stripe. I'll let it simmer in my brain a while before deciding.

In the meantime, I've put the Quilty 365 top on the long-arm and started quilting it. After about 30 minutes, I am still undecided about the thread. I could really use some help with this one.

The problem is that the background blocks are so many different colors. No one thread will blend with them all. I started with a deep granite and love it. Except (There's always a negative, isn't there?) every single mistake shows up. The thread is dark on the light fabrics and very light on the darker fabrics. 

I really like the idea of quilting in the circles, occasionally throwing in a different quilting motif that is still circular. I just don't know what to do with the depth of the thread, especially since I tend to have lots of bobbles and jerks. 

 What do you think? Would you stick with this thread or try a lighter one? I won't change threads as many times as I would need to, so my decision is 1.) continue with this thread, 2.) rip it out and start over, or 3.) baste it on the long-arm and hand quilt it (using a sashiko-like stitch).  

What are your thoughts? Be honest, this is a safe place. And before I close, another huge thank you to Preeti for the fat quarters.

Happy quilting everyone!

Part 2 ~~ the SALE!

Yesterday I told you about last Saturday's Krotz Springs Quilt Show and how much fun Pam and I had.  Somehow I'd even managed to get some decent photos.  But the show was only part of my Saturday....we also decided to go to Aunt Nell's Quilt Shop for their anniversary sale.  

Since I drove south to Krotz Springs, Pam drove north to Tioga. And we chatted and laughed and had a great time.  Pam is lucky to have family members who quilt and knit.  Me...not so much.  But I have friends who do and a loving family who supports my "habit."  

Aunt Nell's has been open for several years, but it changed owners three years ago--a great reason for a sale!  Allison and Trenton are very nice, helpful owners and are always appreciative of their customers.  

Ahh, fat quarters...come to mamma!  I chose from the huge collection--rows and rows and rows of 18 x 22 fiber trappings folded prettily and stacked expertly on the shelves.

   
Who could resist when there are grand-girls wanting summer bloomers?  One little face lights up when I say "LSU"; imagine what will happen when I present a skirt in this chevron. 

The other two? They will be thrilled with either so they'll each get a pair of shorts: one a chevron (I bought a full yard) and the other a tiger stripe.  I'm planning to let them battle it out to determine who gets which Tiger trousers.

Since chevrons are all the rage, there's another piece of chic, this one in pretty girl colors.  Not a fat quarter, though, I chose to get enough for everyone.

All of these other fabrics are fat quarters--just enough to make one pair of shorts or one skirt.  I plan to add some knit for shorts when I make a skort, skirt with shorts built in.

These last two pieces are for the stash.  I quickly fell for the neutral, then noticed the stripe that has a Frozen-like motif and thought that I could use it for inspiration should I be asked to sew up another Frozen costume.  I like to be prepared, you know.

Black Friday Finds

I'm not much of a shopper, but I do enjoy getting out for a while on the biggest shopping day of the year.  Jenny and I went to Rayne to meet Meggan and her mom, and together we hit a few stores, had lunch, then ran errands before heading home.

It’s probably good that we didn't attempt any marathon shopping because after about three hours, I needed a nap to drive home!

 I hadn't purchased many items, so Jenny and Meggan suggested I go to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.  (Now that I think about it, I may have abandoned my crew a little too quickly.  Sorry girls.) 

They had a few other places to go, so I got dropped off with instructions to call when I'd be done.  Ha!  Are you kidding?  They called me twice.  On the third call they were waiting in the parking lot.  I understood and came running out with three bags of queen-size batting, which, by the way, gives the mistaken appearance of loads of stuff.

Two pillow forms in one really large bag sort of adds to that misconstrued image of one lone shopper purchasing a quilt shop.

I did buy a few other things: a ruler to replace the one I broke, a seam ripper to leave near the long arm machine (with the hope that I won't need it), and suction cup handles for rulers and templates.

 And because they were on sale ($1 each) and I've been a very good girl lately, I picked up solid fat quarters in every color of the rainbow to add to the stash.

What fun!  The girls' timing was perfect: any more and I may have started picking up things I may not need. 

What Black Friday finds did you bring home today?

This post is my 198th.  Since Fleur de Lis Quilts blog is about to see it's 200th post, I think there's cause for a celebration.  What do you think?  What should I consider in the way of prizes?  

Some of my ideas for prizes: 

• die cut fabric blocks
• fleur de lis applique
• gift certificate from my Etsy shop
• fat quarters

I'll use rafflecopter.com again because it's a fabulous way to hold a giveaway.  It just makes so much sense to go the easy route!

Leave a comment letting me know what you think!  If you have an idea for something different, please make the recommendation.....I'll consider it!

Happy Quilting,

Mary