1930s Reproduction Fabrics

If you have checked my Instagram accolike You already know of my love affair with 1930’s Reproductions.

I have become Obsessed with Designers like Darlene Zimmerman and Judie Rothermel. And Companies like Maywood Studios and Marcus Textiles. ​

Prints can be whimscal or basic. Have bright or faded colors and there are lots of repeats with a slight change or completely original designs. Penny Rose under Riley Blake is great for Originals. ​

Everytime I add a new print from an OOP fabric line my heart skips a beat. So I will give you a small preview of my fabric Stash (Horde)​

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That’s all for this post…of course there will be more to come…​

So little time…

I find I spend no time updating this Blog. So sad that it never took off for me. I tried for awhile but then Instagram took all my attention. It was quick and easy. But every once and awhile I feel the need to blog. I am going to try and put down my work on my current Small Bowtie quilt.

I am using Animal Quackers Jelly Roll from Maywood Studios. I picked it up at a wonderful LQS in my area called Second Chance Fabrics (www.secondchancefabrics.com) ​

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I have unpacked the Jelly Roll and started to cut it up…

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More to come as I work on this New Project.

Instagram for the backwords

Ok let’s start out with a little background.  I am a Capricorn and year of the Tiger.  So that puts me in a very unique place. I don’t like change and dig my claws in when faced with it. It took me forever to start an Etsy store. Which I ran ok and then gave up on the venture when all my work was being favorited but I saw no sales, except for fabric. Then I finally decided to start a blog, but I have read that blogs are dead. So I decided to try Instagram.

It seems promising so far. I can see work from Japan that inspires me. I can showcase my work and I might actually go somewhere. Of course I am backwords so it might just be the moment. And then I’ll be on to the next old veture.

By the way I tryed Instagram back when it first released but didn’t take a lot of pictures back then. I am not all that into social media. I guess that’s the introvert in me.

Drunkard’s Path with Marti Mitchell Template

Let me start out by saying this isn’t the Best template for my needs. What I can gleam from the internet is that this template was created before pre-cuts where invented. And so this template takes to much calculation and thought. So the easy button was broken.

I had to figure out how to cut it from 5″ squares. You were supposed to cut the inner circle from strips and the Outer piece from a square in the size chosen. What, what, what? I wanted to use scraps. I should have called it a day right there and then.

But after some trial and ERROR. I thought I figured it out. I used a 5″ square.  I first cut the inner, then I cut the remainder square to a 4″. Easy right? Well it seemed like ai hade it down until I sewed the pieced together and ended up being short by about a 1/8″.

I squared the up and thought I was good to go but in the end my lines were off.

I did get to try a pattern I have wanted to try for a while. And as a side note, I was reading a blog post the other day and her Drunkard’s Path was off just as much as mine. And she pinned and everything.

Now the big plus was the pattern layouts inside. They were worth the entire purchase…

Until next time, Live long and prosper.

Thrift store shopping and some remnants from Joanns

If you are like me you shop everywhere. My local thrift/secondhand shops can be a great resource for fabric. I never know what I’ll find. Sometimes it is next to nothing and other times it’s like winning the lottery.  Today was a lottery day. At the first store I found a piece of Thirties repo fabric for $.95. That in my book is an automatic win. But ad to that  2yds of double wide quilt back for $2.95 and a nice Xmas fabric for $.95. Win win win.

Of couse as a compulsive shopaholic I can’t just call it a day and move on. I have to drive to my other favorite thrift store. And there they have a truckload.

On my first pass I found a western, southwest, African, 2 Northwoods (one by Debbie Mumm, 2 keepsakes. But of course it was my lucky day because I wondered the store and on my second pass a girl was stocking more fabric. And I got (grabbed greedily) 2 yd of a Cat in the hat fabric from Springs Creative. Up to this point I never knew the had that license at one time let alone printed fabric. WIN WIN WIN.

I had also acquired some remnants from my local Joanns and to auctions from Ebay had arrived. One being a Skull Print from Alexander Henry I have been looking for and a pattern/template from Marti Michell. I will post later on the template and if it works well for Drunkard’s path. Anyone have any ideas on how I should use these fabrics?

Gotta start A Star Wars Force Unleashed Lap quilt

I have a wonderful friend who gave me a tin with aBoba Fett shirt, Force Unleashed Hoodie, Darth Vader Bowtie and a Wookie reusable bag. All I could ever want for my Birthday/Xmas. So how do you reward such a generous spirit. Well by making her a Lap Quilt. I pulled out all my Force Unleashed fabrics and am in the planning stages. I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.

New Kimono Bolts in from Japan

Well my new shipment of Kimono Bolts just arrived from Japan. I just love them.

I think this is a woven rayon, I won’t know unless I do a burn test. It was the most expensive but I really liked the modern pattern so I splurged.

Dragon flies in Chirimon crepe, who could resist? Chirimen crepe fabric is one of Japanese traditional fabric for making Kimono. The fabric has its unique features, it drapes beautifully and hardly creases.

This woven with resist pattern has a few moth holes, but I’m a scrap quilter so I can always cut around. It was a steal even with the holes.

And last but not least another Yukata bolt to add to the others. I needed more Indigo on white, really I did.

Japan has such a beautiful fabric tradition and it is an honor to aquire some of it. Now what to make?

New from Japan

I absolutely love all things Japanese. So over the years I have acquired a few Kimono bolts. Today I received another bolt used for Juban Kimono. It has a beautiful bias pattern of little storks.

If you have no idea what a Juban is, it is the lightweight under Kimono. Kimono bolts are 14″ by 14′. Much smaller than western yardage. A Man’s Juban is typically deep rich earthy colors and woman’s are usually pinks and bright reds. They come in small prints, and I adore the Maple leaves and Sakura blossoms. I use them for a myriad of things, but I plan to use some for quilting. Let’s see where this adventure takes me.

New Fabric finds and notions

As every quilter, I am always adding to my Stash. I also can’t turn down a deal. So I was overjoyed to win two 6 yd pieces of Vintage Shirtings and dress prints by Barbara J. Eikmeier.

I was looking for for 120-11141

But am more than happy to add the other two to the stash.
As a side note she has come up with a wondeful BOM and when completed it finishes this..

The BOM is also the reason I can’t find the fabric I was looking for, but I can understand.

As for my other stash adds. I got a new set of blades, so needed. I was cutting my mat more than the fabric.Next I finally got pieces on the 2001 Harry Potter prints. There was no way I was going to pay $25-$50 for a FQ on Ebay. So like all things patience is a virtue. And eventually I found a reasonable seller.

And Lastly I got my daily dose of Remants…

All Ruler folded and ready to be put away. Till next time, Have fun Stormin’ tge Castle.

The Force (Star Wars) Quilt

I decided I needed a small Star Wars quilt. I had all the Fabric but needed a pattern.  Where was inspiration going to come from. Then like a bolt of lightning I was struck by a book at Quilter’s Paradise. 

It was Quilt Dad’s Beyond Neutral. I buy very few books, as the internet/pinterest has so many ideas. But I had to have this. It is now one of my favorites. Such simple patterns that look complicated when finished. For this project I used the Half moon bay pattern.

This pattern is so versatile.  I have thought of many other projects yet to be started with this. But it was perfect to showcase my Star Wars Fabrics.

I Fussy cut a few squares and let the others land where they may. The sashing and tips were a blue crosshatch. Then I straight line quilted it.

The binding I used both an orange tonal and white Kona and stitched the Kona in straight lines so that both gave the feel of the Rebel Uniform. The backing was a blue tonal with Gold. And I fussy cut another Star Wars for the label.