Hexagon Intrigue

I have sewn my whole life. I have sewn for a living for most of my adult life and I've owned my own embroidery business for the past 13 years. What I haven't done a lot of, though, is quilting. But...I think the bug has bitten. I am so in love with the fresh, new designer cottons -- especially the ones that give a nostalgic little nod to days gone by. I especially go for the ones in candy-sweet colors and if there's a polka dot or a gingham check, I'm head-over-heels in love.

I love traditional quilts themselves, but not sure I have the patience to make one, so I'm really drawn to the other types of quilty goodness I've seen. Purses, pouches and pillows, clothing all look good to me. I now know what a mug rug is and think I can probably handle one.

I've started with hexagons. They're small, portable and fairly easy to make. I've got a very big project in the works right now, so these little cuties are perfect for when I need a break or find myself with a few spare minutes. I'm not sure what I will make with them yet, but I know something will come to me. And in the meantime, I'll keep adding to my stash -- that's a given.

Fabric Obsessions

Yes...I have many. Internet browsing makes it SO easy to know what I don't yet have in my stash. There is a line of fabrics that I absolutely love -- Flower Sugar -- by Lecien Corporation. It puts a sweet, contemporary spin on vintage-y, candy-colored florals. They have released many versions, but because they drop them from their website as time goes by, I have to resort to searching online quilt shops to A: determine the depth and breadth of the entire line, and B: determine which individual fabrics MUST be added to my stash. I have learned, through my research, that some fabrics are difficult to acquire -- especially the ones from the earliest releases.

I picked up a few pieces that were relatively easy to find. Then, of course, I find myself most attracted to the most elusive of prints. Like this one:

I was lucky enough to find 1 2/3 yards at The Quilting Garden. It shipped yesterday -- can't wait to get it! Did I mention that I love to get mail?

Next up is this one: 

This is from Lecien's "Antique Flowers" collection. These are the colors that are in my "dream studio" that's dancing around in my head. I can feel an order being placed right now.

I hope I'm ahead of the game in admitting my obsessions: great cotton prints and vintage sewing books. And chocolate. Can't forget that one.

What Inspires You?

For me, one of the things at the top of that list is fabric. The way I see it, there are very few things that a good fabric stash can't cure. Boredom, the blues...all gone when you're in the presence of a good stash. Just to look at it is to be inspired. It's hard to pinpoint what attributes inspire me most -- I think it's a combination. Color, texture, pattern, feel and even smell all speak to me of the inherent potential in a pile of cloth. Although I am not really a quilter, quilting cottons are what I use most in my embroidery and sewing projects, so quilt fabric shops are my favorites. A well-stocked quilt shop is like a candy store to me. I'll have a little of this one and a little of that one... In no time, my stash can be filled out so well that projects can be started at any given moment.

I am lucky enough to have a little place in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and had to make my stash "portable". Since most of my projects are pretty small, I cut a fat quarter from many of my fabrics and have them in two plastic totes that I can pop in the back of my car when heading north. That way, I'm ready to go when inspiration strikes. I am lucky, too, that one of the biggest and most popular quilt shops is the USA -- Keepsake Quilting -- is on my route to the mountains. It has become a regular stop coming and going.

I've also made it my mission to find all the independent fabric retailers within driving distance of my house and my little place up north. I found a great shop in Salem New Hampshire -- Pine Tree Quilt Shop -- that has already been added to my "must visit again" list. I'll keep you posted on what else I find.

Happy stitching!!

I Am Embarrassed To Admit...

...that although I have been an avid and eager (read: addicted) collector (hoarder?) of printed cotton fabrics for many years, I somehow missed two wonderful fabric shops within easy driving distance of where I live. The first is about a 6 minute drive. How could I not know they were there??

Quilters Common, at 364 Main Street in Wakefield, MA, offers a HUGE selection of gorgeous, colorful fabrics: designer, traditional, batiks, kids, etc., lots of tools and supplies, as well as patterns and books. The owners Collette Emelian and Antoinette Evans, who are sisters, are friendly and fun, and if you want to take your coat off and poke around, they are happy to let you. Pull around back -- the entrance is near the parking lot. Visit today and prepare to be inspired!

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The other great shop I found is Quilter's Way, at 75 Commonwealth Ave. in Concord, MA. Owner Jane Barnett offers colorful, designer fabrics, notions, patterns, pre-cuts and more. Their innovative, online "Kit Designer" allows quilters to pair patterns with their own fabric choices for creative, one-of-a-kind projects. Classes and studio time are available so you can hang out with other like-minded souls who understand the appeal of great fabric. :) Visit them in person or online -- you won't be disappointed! 

How I missed these two gems is beyond me. I guess I'll have to chalk it up to my head being filled with "so many projects and so little time".

Some Fabric Favorites

Fabric is the medium I work in. To say I'm like a kid in a candy store when I'm fabric shopping is an understatement. Shopping in person is best -- the sight, smell and feel of fabric are heady and intoxicating. But shopping online has its place, too. I live in New England and when the weather isn't cooperating, browsing on my laptop is a worthy alternative.

What are appealing to me right now are rose-y, spring-y prints. Some of these may have been out for a while, but they deserve a mention for their happy, cheerful demeanor.



Pam Kitty Morning by Lake House Dry Goods

 

Flower Sugar by Lecien

 

Rose Parade by Moda

  

Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit

 

Sweet Shoppe by Michelle D"Amore for Benartex

I love sweet florals like these and had fun using Sweet Shoppe (above) to create this little "Button Basket".

Fabric Stash Management

I don't get to do much quilting, but in my embroidery, I do a lot of applique. Quilting-weight cotton prints are my fabric of choice, so I'm always adding to my stash. Because I don't have a huge studio and no open shelving, most of my fabrics are in plastic bins and drawers so I sometimes forgot what I have. I had a "Big Board" ironing board that wasn't getting much use so I turned it on end and started pinning small swatches of every fabric in my stash to it. Any time a new fabric comes in, a swatch goes up. If I run out of something, the swatch goes into an envelope in case I need to reference it for re-stocking. It's eye candy to me. :)