Color Stories ~ Choosing Fabrics

Good morning! The sun is out and it's a beach day, so I am typing fast. Yesterday was cold and rainy,

...and I spent an enjoyable hour or so choosing fabrics for the Fall sewalong on Humble Quilts. This year Lori is inspired by a shop in France called Sajou here and her fabrics have a French theme too, from French General https://www.frenchgeneral.com/.

I look forward to this sewalong every year, have only missed one or two since I began following Lori's blog. It's always a mystery [we do not see the design until the end], not my fave, I like to know what the heck I am making; but the results are always great.

I have NO French General fabric. Well, one a small piece of monogram print in taupe. I am not a FG fan. I love the designs but find the quality of the fabric, with its odd pearlescent sheen and surface printing off putting. But. Love the look, so I went though Fat Quarter's offering. here Yes, lovely, but probably out of my budget, so back to the  quilt room to see what I could find.

I love imagining my tiny quilt and finding pretty fabric to make my version. This is a big part of my motivation to quilt. We need a central ''medallion'' fabric, a focus fabric. [Will we be featuring this or appliqueing on this? Do not know, it's a mystery.]

I found probably enough reds for a Christmas red quilt. One medallion choice is a Santa toile, the other is  a Birds toile.

Coordinates, light/ medium/ dark. Stripe. Dot. Sprig.

As I studied Lori's post I realized I have a blue Jacobean toile that might make a blue version--or how about this large scale seashell print?

 How about a Pug?

Here are a few coordinates. I have other blue projects going and didn't want to disturb the blues unless I make my little quilt in blue. You get the idea though, I think. The blue lower left doesn't work, etc.

When I pulled out the seashell print, I saw this great black and white, very large scale print with vintage vegetables, how fun.

I keep modern and large prints on that shelf and immediately threw together a cool and different black and white story. I love it. But  not for this quilt.

So there I have it, three ideas and the start of the sewalong. Maybe.
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People in blog-land often muse about why they blog. I blog because I like to take photos and write; I like the diary aspect, as Blogger keeps one's posts forever unlike FB , gone tomorrow; I like having a record of my life, my projects, my little beach world; I write in memory of my mom and our weekly letters and shared journals.
But a blog is also a great tool for a quilter. I took photos of each color grouping and as I post them here I will get a better sense of what works, what doesn't and what I love in each colorway. For example, the blue above, or below, you can see the bright roses print does not work, but depending on the mystery design, I'll keep it in for a possible pop of needed clash.

I also belong to groups on FB. Why? To share interests---quilts, antiques, pugs. I try to participate if I bother to belong. And maybe I am sometimes too enthusiastic.
I posted pics on FB of my three color groupings. I thought the idea of choices found in one's stash would be interesting to other members. I have noted that members mention they have problems choosing fabrics, a ''chore'' that I dearly love and probably the main reason I  quilt since I don't like to sew and my kids despise quilts.  I meant well. I wanted to share.

I immediately got a rude and snippy comment that reduced me to tears on a cold rainy Friday, home alone [sob!]. The person  said,"Get a grip, it's only a 20" project."  Well that shot me down bigtime. Burst my bubble,indeed.

Mommy?

Funny how just the wrong words can spoil your fun.

I took my post down immediately. I felt so stupid and I hate feeling stupid.[as do most of us.] And the truth is, I could expend as much effort on choosing and sewing a patch on my daughter's jeans : boro? linen turned? slapped on top? Match the denim or use a pretty print? How about velvet?
I don't want to get a grip, what's the fun in that?
I sadly spent an hour putting the fabrics back on their shelves, in their bins. I'll see how it goes, but right now, I am off to the beach with Bitty and my admittedly horrible hand quilting. Talk to you Monday.

Many thanks to everyone who ordered hearts from my etsy shop! You're the best! Here they are in their pretty packages.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

June Roses and a Winner

June!
Hello, hello, let's welcome June.
Today was a glorious day, everything a June day is supposed to be. My friend and I went shoe shopping, always lots of fun, then linen pants shopping---yawn. Afterward we stopped off at Trader Joe's to pick up a few groceries, somehow my cupboard was very bare.

This TJs had lovely flowers. Peonies or roses? Oh it's June, must have roses. These were 4.99 for nine stems.

 

They are ''white'' roses but as you can see they are like seashells, hints and tints of palest ivory, pink, peach, lemon yellow. [no, Mel, they have no scent.]

Even my neighborhood has roses. This is an especially pretty small pink rose. I like the almost-black leaves it has.

Mo is enjoying spring, lots to see and sniff and pee upon. The long light evenings are a delight.

Winner of the doll quilt giveaway is Cathy Lynch. Cathy, I don't have an email for you, pls get in touch so I can mail you your little Flying Geese doll quilt. email me at lizzzz.d@gmail.com. Thanks.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS the beach roses have also burst suddenly into bloom. Oh that scent, salt air, roses, and honeysuckle.

A Tiny Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends! May your day be special.

I love Valentines and Valentine's Day! Often I am blessed with cards or flowers from my kids or friends. But this year---Just*In*Case, I treated myself to a tiny Valentine quilt project/ kit from Temecula Quilt Company. The little quilt is called Box of Chocolates and is a free pattern on their website, or it can be purchased as a kit for not much more than a store bought card!

Oh I was thrilled.

I love the fabrics they used, none of which I've ever seen to buy. What a treat! Each calico would be perfect for a dress for my china doll! How would I chose even? [I don't think they do yardage online.]

The picture to the far right is their version, with ''frosting" on the heart. I chose to make mine emphasizing the hearts and was pleased they included plenty of fabric to make that change.

My quilting friends won't be impressed, but look how tiny the pieces are.. 3/4" finished, I think.

The pattern was so easy and well written! What a change from some of our recent prim projects lately, much as we love them. Look how perfectly they went together.

Really fun mini quilt! It took me about 4 hours to complete. I think it's adorable.  Approximately 6" x 9".

Love the inclusion of the plaid, too.

My only regret is that there was not enough border fabric to fussy cut the side borders so the sweet calico motif was centered.

This year I didn't do lots of Valentine decorating. I put my Valentine inspired strawberries in my old Sandwich Glass candy jar [instead of chocolates, too bad.].

Some were sold so I switched back to to my heart shaped tin cheese and candy molds and cooky cutters that usually reside in this jar. . I enjoy my red transferware for Valentine's Day too.

Speaking of tiny Valentines...

This is media star Doug the Pug, not my Mo.

[Poor Doug, always looks exhausted! ]
Mo is ensconced in the bin of plaids and refuses to dress up.

Inspired by Lori tidying up her homespuns, I had emptied this bin out, washed and refolded all the plaid shirting bits and pieces. Mo was NOT pleased! He spent a good ten minutes making everything messy and comfy again. sigh...

Later I might make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for my kids' Valentines.
( Mo later in his bow tie!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach...

Box of Chocolates tiny quilt pattern, Temecula Quilt Company : HERE