I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Quilt Show and Farmers Market



Hi! It's Wednesday! Already. I hustled out today to the first Wednesday farmers market, all excited on a sunny day, my head filled with visions of fresh-cut lilacs, bright green scallions, itty bitty fiery hot baby red radishes. You know, springtime. Maybe a couple pots of herbs? Now this year I was very happy to read that the market has returned to [almost] its original hours, being open from 10 to 4. I'm not a person who wants to contemplate cooking dinner before noon! So today I headed to the market, was there by 1 PM or so.
What!? Just a solitary pretzel guy's cart and a few hungry seagulls lingered in the empty town square.


Huh. More investigation is needed. I was pretty sad.
..
Last Saturday went better, I'm happy to report. The quilters' guild show has returned to the hockey rink over the bridge on the mainland, in a sweet little seaside-y town. The big draw for me to get to the show is to visit the fabric vendors. I never get to shop for good quilt fabric in person, it's quite a thrill to choose from something besides a screen monitor.




Not many vendors. Long Island is not a hotbed of the sewing arts. But even the half dozen or so sellers had great selections.







I found so many pretty things!


These fat quarters...I think I am inspired by Val's palette in my swap doll quilts. I chose soft pinks and browns with touches of blue.





Love the thimbles! They can mix w/ the pink/ brown Civil War repros or be used alone somehow.


 I always admire this local basket maker's work, though I can't afford to buy a basket from her. Really beautifully made and so functional.



And I picked up some fun things for Humble Quilt's new sewalong , Jan Patek's Front Porch Quilt, herein now referred to as Porch 2 or P2 until I decide on a cuter name. [we made another Front Porch quilt a few years ago, you may recall.]


I'll write more about the new project in another post, but here's the picture so you know what I',m talking about.


I picked up a few additional fabrics for P2 at the show. I know it's a bit trite and I have other ''watermelon'' fabrics but how can I pass up actual watermelon print!?


And all porches that serve lemonade and cookies, as mine does, might have a few ants,lol. I have NO ants though! Thank goodness.


The pattern has these large lollipop flowers in pots.



I pictured one large flamboyant print for all the circles [4 1/2'' - 5" wide? Teacup saucer size, anyway.] and was happy to see this Kaffe Fassett print in person for the flowers.




When I got home there was a package from Hancock's of Paducah waiting. It had all the off white background fabrics I need for Porch 2 [P2?] and other applique ideas.


I'd like to think I can use only my stash but P2 needs large blocks of fabric, and I just don't have the yardage on hand. I already pieced my house and am not thrilled. But okay, because those shirtings are from my friend BJ, who is making the Farmer's Wife quilt, top of page here].


Now back to the lollipop flowers: in my mind I kept picturing a vintage fabric I knew I had somewhere. Instead of the KF print? It's the most beautiful shade of orange-y red and lovely printing job, lightly chintzed finish.


I found it in a basket on a high shelf, with a whole bunch of other great red and blue fabrics. These are vintage calicoes [1970s?] from a friend of my parents, who passed away years ago, and from my friend and mentor Olga B. I kept them together because they're pairs of red and blue prints, and quite generous yardage too mostly.




I haven't looked in that basket in 15 years, I don't think.
It's early days of course but I am thinking the lollipop blocks' flower choice may need to be done when the whole quilt top is completed. Only then will I know which floral print is best.





love

lizzy

gone to the beach...


PS Mo in pink ''snow''......







4 comments:

  1. Oh, look at all the pretty fabrics! That quilt show would have been packed here on a Saturday (okay, maybe not this time of year as it's GRADUATIONS every weekend) but still would have been busy.

    I LOVE the thimble prints! They are so cute! I can't decide if I like the big flower print for the lolipop flowers or not but the colors are nice. And love the watermelon print, too!

    I'm glad you found your stashed fabrics in the basket, they're very nice colors and prints. I'll be looking forward to seeing your blocks come together in your own way.

    Mo looks nice against those pink petals. Too bad he wouldn't look up at the camera!

    Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful fabrics and colors. Isn't it exciting to find fabrics stashed away for so long? The thimble prints are sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How fun to have a chance for real life fabric shopping!! Your P2 is going to be a fun summery quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  4. How fabulous to have all of those options on display at one time!

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I'm allowing comments from everyone, even anonymous for awhile, to see what happens. With comments moderation. Hopefully the awful porn spammer has gone elsewhere. Or you can always email me! I love to hear from everyone.