Too many fabrics

Yesterday, I pulled lots of fabrics from my stash, to go with the inspiration fabric I have been fretting over, and I started to make some blocks. I had decided to make a square in a square, so I could feature more of the fabric, since it is a fairly large print. I stopped at 2 blocks, because it is not feeling "right" to me. I like TONS of different fabrics in quilts, and I looked at my cutting table, where I had stacked all the stuff I pulled for this quilt, and there were about 30 fabrics laying there, just waiting to be used. Then I got to thinking, I have to haul these 30 fabrics to retreat, and decided I can not eat enough spinach for strength between now and then....so, I started tracing the appliques for my next project, and will try to get the tracings done before retreat, and work on that quilt at retreat. I find it hard to take fabrics on retreat, because I will always remember one I have at home that would look soooooo much better than the one I have, and I just can't continue until I get that one fabric into the quilt....Sheesh!!! No one would ever know, except me.... I took a picture of the inspiration fabric, and it is a color I have used only one time before, in a miniature log cabin quilt, PURPLE!!!! So NOT me!!!!!

Inspiration!!!

Today, I gave in to inspiration. I have a piece of fabric here, from a purse I made, and I have wanted to make a quilt from that fabric, but I did not have enough, so, I drove the 45 minutes, one way, to my "local" quilt shop, and bought more fabric. While there, I ran into a "new/old" friend, and we had a great chat, and I am very glad to renew the acquaintance.

Now, I know what I will be taking to retreat next week, and of course, since I don't think any quilt should be made with less than 20 different fabrics, (although I have done it) I had to buy a few more fabrics to match or blend with the inspiration fabric.

I was reading postings about little tiny 9-patch blocks, and the picture is of a quilt I made recently, where the 9-patches are just 3 inches big. If it wasn't for strip piecing, I would never had done this, because that is way too small for my mumble fingers to handle. I think I will have to take all these quilts outside to photograph, the colors aren't turning out too well in the house, that red in that quilt, is not that reddy/pinky color, it is barn red!!!

Stopped at the border

I seem to have become stumped when it comes to putting borders on a couple quilt tops. The bottom picture is a top of a star quilt, that we learned from Alice Berg of Little Quilts. I decided to make the quilt bigger, but, it has sat on my pile of stuff waiting for more blocks, and I just need to get it done. I think this is one that will go to retreat, so I will get the border on then.

My next border stop is a kaleidoscope I started at LAST YEARS' retreat. Normally, I get tops done and quilted, and I use as many different fabrics as possible. But, this top has made me "chill out". I have never had so many bias edges stretch, every which way, in my life. I am very persnickity about every seam and point matching, but this quilt has made me say "UNCLE". So, I just started laying pieces together, and sewing. There are so many mismatched seams, I cringe. I also wanted to have compete rounds, so I made even more blocks, cut them in half, and will add them to the edges, then a sparkle border, and a wider borer.... Borders, borders, borders.... I hope no one looks close at the piecing on this one, ever....but it looks good from far away....

I am still learning how to post pictures, but I seem to be getting the pictures out of order. I need to study more about this, but, for now, I think everyone can understand which quilt is which.... I am really just happy my computer doesn't have a laughing fit when I get close to it, and say, "you again"...

Debbie

Decisions Decisions

This is post number 2, and for some reason, I can always find something to talk about, but sitting down here and writing it, well, I edit myself, wondering what everyone will enjoy reading...... I will get used to this soon.

My latest project was one of the quilts Bonnie Hunter posted, the Chunky Churn Dash, and I have not finished with the borders. I added triangles to the edges, which makes it look cattywhompus, (yep, I wrote that), and now, I have to add the border. I have MS, and it is hard to maneuver a quilt when it gets big, and I made this one big, as I had bigger strips than Bonnie's pattern called for, then the added triangles...so, I may have Bonnie quilt this for me...

The last quilt I finished, was an autumn colored one, and it is my very first ever completed applique' quilt, ever. We have a quilt show at our county museum every year, so this is the one I entered, and it won first place in category, Best Use of Color, and Viewer's Choice, for the show. Pretty cool for my first applique".

I hope this first picture posting was successful, and there will be more to come. Now, I have to decide what projects to take on retreat next weekend, more decisions.....

My first ever blog

I have no idea what I am doing, but, reading Siobahn's postings, and being friends with Bonnie Hunter, has prompted me to start blogging.

More to come, when I figure out what I am doing...