Hello hello! It's time for one of the very best moments in quilt making. No, sorry, your incentive check is NOT a gift card for fabric, hahaha---Instead it's time to make the final decision on quilt backings and then choose quilting designs. And the best moment, off they'll go to the professional quilter. In my case, I hope they'll go to Lori C at Quilters Imagination.
I've shared Blue Pineapples and its backing candidates over the past month or so. Let's revisit. I pretty much know which I will choose but love any kind input you wish to add.
BluePs as we'll call this project...
I had my heart set on this faux tie dye ''shibori'' dot. I waited two months for it, finally arrived the very last days of April.
I opened it and couldn't believe my eyes. Ghastly, hospital gown print.
So disappointed. I was probably originally inspired by these two thrifted shirts in brisk white with blue dots.
But Nooooo. The Windham ''shibori'' is yucky splotchy medium blue with darker circle dots. I hate light blue fabric, btw. Maybe not the online catalog's fault as even I had trouble getting a picture that looks blue not white.
This is the closest to reality. So sad.
So then, because I love dots, am especially susceptible to Dots for spring into summer, I ordered a classic polka dot from a new resource. Less than $6.oo a yard. I knew I could always use it.
And I like it.
It's cute, right?
Last, here is our front runner and winning contender so far.
The wild and crazy Kaffe Fassett tropical with the goofy Peter Max clouds.
I think the front is sooooo bland and white that the backing can be little wild. Though I'm imagining eye rolls from my peanut gallery here.
Your input?
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Of course while I waited for backings I had to treat myself to just a few cuts of fabrics. Some people eat to cope with stress--I order fabric {and eat too.].
These are all from my new source:
It's called Thousands of Bolts HERE. interesting selection, great low prices, and fast service.
This will be a doll quilt backing, maybe. I actually bought it for my ironing board, a new cover, but too cute for that.
The next two are antique/ 1800s repros, even the strangely compelling eyelash one.
Love seaweeds!
And this one just makes me laugh, those Civil War era ladies liked some very odd patterns.
Imagine wearing a hoop skirt dress in this one. Eeeek. It would also be a great backing though not for a bed quilt, too creepy. Daddy Long Leggers!
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I have not been able to sew outdoors yet but I did get my table up and I'm hopeful. It is both too cold and too windy. And then it rains. Still I plan ahead:
I prepped this badly pieced but charming quilt remnant for a tiny quilt. I will hand quilt it as-is, it would be hopeless to even try to fix. Just a perfect doll quilt made, in my imagination, by a seven year old child who really preferred playing outside, or even milking cows and gathering eggs from her pet chickens. [I think the blocks were meant to be 9 Patches, lol.]
I used this swapped Tiny Star, in a cocoa brown for backing. How I wish I had more of this one. I'm very drawn to mini prints.
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Almost forgot! Here is BluePs tryout block, repurposed as a throw pillow cover. I machine quilted the front and washed/ dried it. I like getting a preview of a big quilt. It looks fun for summer on my white sofas, but may be too matchy matchy with the quilt used there too. In which case it can maybe go in my etsy shop?
As I was working on the pillow I set my stack of TQC postcards down on top of the Pineapple block, tidying for the next day's work. And did a sort of double take. Wouldn't a Log Cabin Pineapple in deep rich colors--fall table runner? ---be really great?
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QB has a gorgeous quilt on her blog today, darling Baskets. And then she says she won't bore us with lots of tedious closeups! I had to laugh----I like the close ups! And here you get them all, like it or not. Her quilt : RUBY
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Baby Mo is having a sleepover with friends. I miss him so much, keep reaching my hand down from my computer chair to pet his soft fur and smile into his big brown eyes.
love
lizzy
gone to the beach...
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