2009 Fall Fabric Frenzy --Quilt Shops SHOP HOP!

The results of my first four stops on the SHOP HOP! The start of the Lizzie B quilt..."making fabric" for the hills. I think this is my favorite part of the process!

OK quilting peeps...as promised...here are some peeks at my loot from the first four shops of the 2009 Shop Hop. There are 10 shops....I did two on Friday night after work, two yesterday afternoon. Plan to leave the house at 10:30 to do FIVE MORE TODAY....the sixth one if I can make it (otherwise it will have to be a mad dash tomorrow!)

SO....first stop was The Quilt Block, which is within walking distance of my work - (in the old Hawley House for those of you who know the area.) They had a BUNCH of the Lizzie B samples displayed (two rugs, the bean bag chair, a few large quilts and some of the smaller applique quilt pieces.) Love the PEACE themes lately....so these were capturing my attention. I bought the Peace Throughout the Land pattern and a few fat quarters and scraps to get me started. (Also scored a piece of black wool felt to add to my STASH. YUM. They carry lots of beautiful wools - but no brights for the type of things I want to make.) Their version of the Shop Hop Quilt was done in deep blue, maroon red and shades of green. It was beautifully done as is all of their work(sorry no pics!) I always love their displays in this shop.

No CLUE why these next photos are rotating! grrrr...

Next stop was Chester County Quilting....they have my FAVORITE scrap basket because it is completely RANDOM (sizes, cuts, fabrics). I scored some big pieces of coordinating fabrics, as well as some novelty prints (Eagles, Penn State) which will work for some items I am making for the Craft Fair this week....go me! Also bought two half yard cuts of a pink/cream and black on black damask prints - yum---(very Heidi Swapp, no?) No clue what they will become...but had!to!have!them! Their version of the shop hop quilt is pictured here - also beautifully done-very traditional. Wish I had more time to spend in this shop ... they are jam-packed with goodies. TONS of charm packs.

Yes...these were in the scrap basket! (you pay by the pound). Can you believe my LUCK? I KNOW!

Camera still a problem...trust me these are much more fabulous in real life!

Yesterday was Steve's Sewing, Vacuum & Quilting....they didn't have anything new since I had been there last, so I settled for a few "tan" cuts that I need for the Lizzie B quilt. They did their Shop Hop Quilt in blues, white, and sunshine yellows. (I think Rob said is was his favorite so far. Hee. So fun when he notices and makes a pick!) Sirryha liked the dog bank that was at the counter for collecting funds for the SPCA, and the quilted cat piece on display (baby Dr. Doolittle!)

Must be the beautiful fall weather this weekend...but I am in love with these two! YUM

Then we made our way to the Fabrics on the Hill . Their Shop Hop Quilt was done with (wait for it! insert sigh and swoon!) Amy Butler fabrics (Daisy Chain) - gorgeous pinks, greens and teal blues. (Sorry...no photo here again. How did I FORGET MY CAMERA AND PHONE? I will get back there for a pic, Cath! Promise!) They are carrying ALL OF THE NEW AMY BUTLER PATTERNS - but The Liverpool was SOLD OUT, Cath. I think she said she will be carrying the LOVE line....will definitely make it back for that!

They also carry a huge selection of really cool buttons. Could have spent hours playing among them...settled on one fab GREEN ONE (of course)....and some PEACE fabric (Robert Kaufmann, Flower Child) in the Earth colorway. Also bought a few fat quarters (Amy Butler, Midwest Modern2, hello, gorgeous!)

Stay tuned for the update on the next five shops! Heading out soon...(weee!)

I want ...

...to be able to make cool art journal pages like Teesha Moore. CHECK OUT HER YOUTUBE VIDEOS!

Trying not to covet the PAN PASTELS and COPIC MARKERS but ohhh...Santa, if you are reading along? They'd fit nicely in a stocking, no?

ho ho ho

Thanks, Charissa!

...look how beautifully it bloomed : ) xo

Why I need to learn to KNIT....

...I need some throw rugs and I really want a scrappy one....

and I TOTALLY WANT THIS!! STELLLAAA!! HELP!! how hard is this?? http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/01/scrap-rug.html

Come on....GOOGLE FRIEND ME ALREADY!

I can't have ZERO FRIENDS over there on the ole sidebar!

Pretty Please? anyone?

Just carved the CINDERELLA PUMPKIN my sister grew (thanks, Lisey!) and now I am surfing for good pumpkin seed toasting recipes...I must have 4 CUPS of plump juicy seeds!

Happy Halloween : )

CraftCycle

I think that is the right word? Creating something new and useful from something that would otherwise be tossed? (or is it "UpCycle?" I like both.)

So you may recall the ORB quiltalong from a few months ago. And a bunch of my gals agreed to swap our scraps afterwards....and I have to tell you...I think I like the SCRAP BAGS better than my STASH lately (still so hard to CUT INTO THESE FABRICS sometimes! But give me a ziplock baggie of "scraps" and I can play and create for hours on end.)

And one of my favorite bags from the quiltalong swap was from Jilliene - who made her quilt using Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks fabrics (yum yum and yum). Her scraps were SKINNY...but lookie how SKINNY FABULOUS they look as bookmarks?

(thanks for being so patient, Jilliene! I owe you a scrap stash baggie!)

HOW-TO: Start with a substrate (these are Shout Color Catcher sheets folded in half lengthwise.) Lay your scraps of fabric down along one side, right side up. Stitch in place. Add another scrap of fabric next to it. Stitch. Continue til you have the look you like. Turn over and do the same with the other side. If you don't like the raw edges - fold a few scraps over the edges and stitch in place. You get the idea....

(I just noticed these look like psychedelic bacon strips the way they are laying on that highchair tray! Sorry...too tired to reshoot! hee)

Oh, Fer Cute!

Saw a tutorial on doll bedding yesterday and HAD.TO.MAKE.THESE.FOR.SIRRYHA! Lisey--recognize the fabrics? How perfect are these PILLOWS? weee! I have been wanting to get a proper doll bed for Sirryha .... but she hasn't really shown much interest in her baby dolls (would rather tend to her doggies.) : ) Lately, though, she is all about "naptime" so these are just right.

(and who says doggies can't sleep in a bed with pillows and a cover?)

Now off to bed for me....Monday morning will be arriving all too soon...

Philly2Phoenix 9Patch Girls!

Oooh.....still a few patches to go (no pressure, Danielle, honest!), but I couldn't resist starting to lay these out to see what it will look like all together! I am thinking of white sashing ala this example: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/9-patch-round-2.html (oh how I love everything this lady makes!)....and definitely the border with the extra rows of the strips from the patches.

Hmmm....I started to lay mine out as 8 blocks wide by 9 blocks long....but I am going to switch to 7 x 10 like Amanda Jean's. I don't like SQUAREish quilts...not sure why?

It's raining again...it's been gray all day...perfect day to stay inside and play and then have a nap! Sirryha Hope, age 2. Recharging! xo

Seriously--is that the prettiest little princess ever?