Sunday Stash

I miss living near quilting shops! I was so lucky back in Brooklyn. I had a store with a wide range of fabrics (especially solids) within walking distance of my apartment. And if I didn't like what they had, I had multiple stores in Manhattan just a short subway ride away. Alas, now I don't even have good quality fabric within reasonable driving distance! It makes finishing a quilt take that much longer, though maybe it helps me find the 'perfect' backing, rather than the 'that's fine for now' backing . . . there's always a silver lining!

Now that I've been practicing my FMQ I want to try it on a quilt (gasp)! I got all ready to go, looked through my stash, and realized I had used up all my large cuts of fabric! So, to the internet I went. I was sidetracked looking for a good deal on Carolyn Friedlander's Carkai, and ended up at Jones & Vandermeer, which had the fat quarter bundle for $75, with free US shipping on purchases over $60. Sold!

Love their simple packaging! Plus, blurry background animals. 

I got the FQ bundle and some backing fabrics. For a quilt top I finished last year I got some Carolyn Friedlander Doe 'Weave' in Yarrow and some Lotta Jansdower Lucky 'Kamala' in True Green. I am in love with the Kamala print! It's so vibrant!

Taking pictures at night doesn't do the fabric justice...

I also bought some fabrics to round out the backing on a quilt top I recently finished. They are all from Arcadia by Sarah Watson. I got Mushroom March in Aqua, Dewey Garden, and Wheely Daisy in Aqua.

Mushroom Magic, Wheely Daisy, Dewey Garden. 

They're all going to be paired with that Liberty print in the background. Can't wait to get to this one!

I also want to point out that though Jones & Vandermeer don't have a physical store you can visit, they are based out of New York City! So, it's like I'm visiting my old hunting grounds. Also, this is the first time I've shopped with them, and I just want to add that their prices are some of the best I've found, and they had a great selection. I wasted took a lot of time browsing around. In case it sounds like I'm being sponsored, I'm not. I've got no affiliation with them, besides my current obsession with them. 

Linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash. 

Sunday Stash for the New Year

I'm not normally one for the Sunday Stash - usually I just immediately cut into or hide my fabric, waiting for the perfect project to use it. I've realized that I tend to use fabrics I buy now more recently, and the fabric in my stash just languishes. I think it's because now, even if I buy without a project in mind, I know I can use the fabric, but previously I was swayed by irresistible fabric that unfortunately just doesn't vibe with my quilting aesthetic.

Anyway, I took advantage of Pink Castle Fabric's 12 days of Christmas sale. One day they offered all Japanese fabrics at 30% off. I couldn't resist!

Monochrome Points in Silver by Ellen Luckett Baker for Kokka

I bought 3 yards of this gorgeous double gauze to back my Stash Bee quilt. That is one of my goals for this year - piece and finish it off!

I am also obsessed with Kumiko Fujita, so I knew I had to see if any of her fabrics were in stock. Luckily there was some of her First of Infinity collection available (and there still is, if you want to get your hands on it!).

Scaled Alphabet in Grey and Mint 

Alphabet and Flowers in Pink, Faded Pink, and Blue

Alphabet and Flowers in Pink, Faded Pink, and Blue

My plan for these is to use them along with some other fabrics as one of the scores from Sherri Lynn Wood's book, Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters. 

Also, since it's the start of a new year, I thought I'd share some of my goals. I didn't want to do a whole post dedicated to them, like I did last year (it sure is depressing seeing what I didn't accomplish!), but I do have some plans to guide my year. On a basic level, I have 3 quilts that I know I want to finish, two of which are completed tops, and one which is all blocks. I've got 2 long term projects that I don't think I'll finish this year, but that I hope to continue working on. I also want to improve my Free Motion Quilting skills. The whole reason I got the Juki was so I could push myself to learn how to FMQ. I recently purchased a Craftsy class on the subject, and have discovered it's really hard for me. That shouldn't be a surprise, but matching hand speed to foot speed is especially tricky. My stitches look like they've been sewn by a chicken. I'll be sharing about this in a later post. I'm trying to stay positive and think about how much practice plays a role in mastery, and that I won't always be good at things the first time I try them. 

Other goals are more related to personal and mental health. I need to make more time for me and find a better work/life balance. I've really enjoyed sewing over my Christmas break, and I want to be able to make time for it over the regular week. I'm really excited to work on more improv quilting and really push myself compositionally, but that won't happen if I don't make time for it. I'm also changing my diet, trying to eat more veggies, and drink less beer. I already exercise regularly, but am trying to focus on strength training more and less on the scale (which never seems to move!) We'll see what the new year holds, but I want to reduce the number of literal goals, and try and move towards a healthier mindset in general, so I can look back on this post positively, rather than checking off everything I failed to do. 

Happy New Year! and Happy Birthday to my Mom! Linking up to Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles!

Long Term Project {Feathered Stars}

I want to try and share more process shots. Often times when I just complete one block I feel like that's not enough to share, and then suddenly I haven't blogged for a month. While blogging is not really something I want to force myself to do, I enjoy the process of reviewing what I've made and sharing it with other people who enjoy the craft. So, with that in mind I'd like to share my new long-term project.

One of my favorite designers is Carolyn Friedlander. I love all her collections, and not only do I love them, but I also use them! Some fabrics/designers I love and might even buy up, but then they languish in my stash. I love that I can both be inspired by her collections and actually use them!

Another thing to note: I am kind of stingy. So, I don't usually buy up whole collections, even when I love all the fabrics. I'm trying to work through what I've got - a real 'waste not, want not' kind of attitude. But with the release of Doe I couldn't resist. And then I also tracked down some Botanics. Welcome to the stash guys!

Doe FQ bundle and Botanics Jelly Roll. 

I love how these collections work so well together. 

Most of the prints from Architextures are kind of hard to find these days. I never had a full bundle, but I've got some scraps that I'll be able to incorporate. Incorporate into what? Well, my mom got me the book 'A Flock of Feathered Stars', a while back, so I'm going to make a feathered star sampler. 

One half of the inspiration.
Very traditional colorways.

I'm going to use the paper pieced patterns from the book to make each of the stars, and then try to have fun with the settings. We'll see how it goes, but I'm looking forward to this long and slow process. I'm not going to set a timeline. I may make a block a week, maybe one a month. I'm anticipating this will take at least a year to finish, and that's fine with me. Sometimes slow sewing is the way to go. 

Feathered star for my RTQ center piece. 

Here's one I made for a different project. I enjoyed the process, but put the book down. Now I'm looking forward to exploring the stars and see how they and the fabric speak to me.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash!