~Beautiful Fall Colors Found in Fabrics~

If I could decorate my house in Fall colors and with Fall decorations all year long, I would.  I've always been drawn to the warm and earthy colors of brick reds, rusts, eggplant purples, goldish yellows, bark-colored browns, burnt oranges ...you get the idea.  No bright, primary colors for me...no sirree.


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Several months ago, I purchased a pack of 5" square fabrics from Moda called Harvest Moon.  I was in love!  I knew that I could AND would do something with it sometime in the Fall.  Now that Fall is here, the creative light bulb finally came on and I have several things in mind that I want to make. But this little pack of fabric just wasn't going to go very far so it was time to start the hunt.  Then I hit the mother lode!! Oh my....the collection I had was designed by Kansas Troubles Quilters and, come to find out, they had designed more lovely fabrics that coordinated beautifully with what I had and was looking for.

 

 This is, by no means, the entire selection of Kansas Troubles fabrics, but I've got a pretty good start on my collection.

You may be thinking I've lost my mind when I say that this makes my heart go pitter-patter.  You're thinking that, right? 

 

Beautiful tans with touches of green, red, brown, blue....

 

Deep emerald greens and bark-colored browns....

 

Dark brick-colored reds....

 

Rich blues....

 

and some other fabrics that I already had on hand....in various shades of browns, golds, oranges and rust..

 

All shades that coincide with the rich, deep, warm, earthy and comfortable colors of Fall!!  I'm not finished collecting but I think this is a good start, don't you?  And, with the projects I have in mind, it won't take long to use them up. :/

 

I'm so smitten with these fabrics that I've been thinking....the home I currently live in is already decorated with some warm, earthy type colors but on a lighter scale.  I'm drawn to the idea of decorating our new home (all year 'round) with the same color scheme found in these fabrics.  I think that with the right balance of neutrals, I can pull it off.  What do you think?

 

I'm getting way ahead of myself here!  I've got to get back to work on the projects that are on my sewing table...a few tablerunners, wall hangings and pot holders that I've got to get done and in my Etsy store before the Fall season totally gets away from me.  It's never too late to start or to continue decorating for Fall, is it?  I hope to be sharing those with you by the end of next week.

 

Until next time.......

p.s.  By the way, Moda Fabrics and Kansas Troubles Quilters do not know me from Adam.  I am not being compensated in any way for sharing this fabric collection with you.
 

~Like A Bee In A Flower Garden~

Have you ever wondered what a bumblebee is thinking whenever it comes across a beautiful flower garden?

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Can you imagine what it (he..she...) is thinking with all those beautiful colors and scents?  "Oooh...look at that beautiful yellow!   Oooh....oh, I like the smell of this pink one over here.   Ooooh...that red one is calling my name!" That's why they flit from here to there constantly not knowing where to land first and how long to stay there!!

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Well, that's the way I'm feeling these days.  Like a bumblebee in a flower garden.  Well, not with flowers but much more important things!  I spent a gosh awful amount of time cleaning and packing and purging over the last year, which ended up being really good exercise in disguise.  My energy level has picked up somewhat and the desire to move onto bigger and better things has kicked in.  So guess what??  My creative mojo is coming back!  Well, I've made things for the grandbabies but that doesn't really count.  I'm finally getting back in the mood to start sewing and being creative for myself.  It's been awhile.  But the problem is.....

where to start!  Well, actually, where to land and stay awhile.  :/  I've already started on a  few of these projects.  Yeah, did you catch that?  "Started on a few of these projects".  Like this one.  I love to crochet but hadn't done it in awhile until I came across these patterns earlier in the summer.  I bought alot of soft, pima cotton yarn (mostly from the UK) and I love how it feels.  The one on the far left is called African Flower...coasters and placemats maybe?  The one in the middle is a heart...wouldn't this make an adorable banner?  And then the medallions are from an 1893 pattern....more coasters!

 

I've been coveting some sling bag purses that Dawn from The Feathered Nest has made and decided to make one for myself.  There couldn't be a more beautiful combination....canvas muslin, ticking fabric, vintage laces and trims.  Well, I had so much fun making it that I decided to make some more to put in my Etsy store.  They're almost done!

 

And then there's this.  I am over the moon in love with this Pam Kitty Morning fabric!!  While watching TV in the evenings, I am working on some cute little things that are going in my Etsy store soon.  But more about those later. ;)

 

I love the colors of Fall and have some fabric pieces that I want to use.  Maybe a table runner?  I've got this book that I've been getting some ideas from but not quite sure yet on what to make.

 

With all the hand sewing I do from my comfy recliner, I wanted a small, portable storage box for thread, needles, scissors, etc.  So I need to cover this little gift box in some fabric and pretty trims.  Can't decide exactly how to finish it though but, once it's completed, I'll show you.  What should be at the top of my sewing "to-do" list are these projects....

 

I started this quilt project way back when my youngest daughter was about 18 years of age.  That was over...ahem...ten years ago!!  With moving out here several years back, health issues and such, well, I had forgotten aobut it.  Until I came across it in the top of my closet last winter.  Yeah, pathetic huh?  The squares are a bit tricky (for me anyway) to put together and I've been dragging my feet about getting it done but I promised her I would have it finished this winter.

And last, but not least by any means, is this felt stocking kit for Little Bubba.  I started a tradition of making each of my grandchildren a Christmas stocking, which stay at my house for little goodies that Santa brings for them.  Yeah, Santa still comes to my house.  Next year, I have to make one for Peaches.  She's too little right now to know any better so I've got some time to get one purchased and made for her.  I'm so glad that I started this as the children anticipate them being hung on the stair railing and love looking at the intricate details on their special stockings.

 

See?  I feel like a bee in a flower garden!  Sigh...I am so thankful that God blessed me with the ability and desire to be creative but sometimes it can be a curse.  LOL  So many things I want to make!!  I haven't even shown you what I made Monkey for her birthday and I've got one more thing to get finsihed and in the mail.  Busy, busy, busy!!

 

Until next time.....

 

p.s.  I told you that several of these projects will end up in my Etsy store so if there's anything you would be interested in purchasing, let me know.  I'll give you more details and put it at the top of my list! After all, Christmas is just around the corner.  Can you believe it?

~Yes, I Am a Fabriholic~

I am changing directions a bit for the types of fabrics and types of projects that I plan to sell in my Etsy store.  I have a bad case of the 'just in case' syndrome and, for the last couple of months, have been buying new fabric.  To make matters worse, I've been buying fabric in new places and I am so in love with what I've been finding.  Be still my heart!! Do you know the feeling when you get downright giddy about fabric that you love?  So, you know the feeling, right?  If not, bear with me, okay?  I want to show you my new fabrics.  Maybe you'll get downright giddy once I start sharing the new items I make with them.  But right now, it's time for show 'n' tell.

If you remember, the JoAnn fabric store in the big city was having a moving sale.  For the last several weeks, most everything was 75% off.  If buying fabric, you had to buy everything left on the bolt.  Pickin's were slim but I managed to find these three bolts.

This fabric is so cute.  I think there's less than two yards on this one so I'm going to save it for some craft projects.

 I love the colors on this one but not quite sure what to do with it.  Apron?  Pillows?  Hmm...

This looks pink but it's more of a peachy color.  I'm going to make a shirt with one of the new patterns that I bought recently.

Recently, I came across an online fabric store, Canton Village Quilt Works.  Jackie doesn't carry a gazillion different fabrics but what she has are very, very reasonably priced.

 Look at these fabrics!!  Aren't they just adorable?  These come from a collection called Strawberry Picnic,  I had the hardest time limiting myself to buying just a few.

You gotta love the bright and cheery colors. If so,  I've already got a few projects in mind for these fabrics.  Pillows...pot holders.... and a couple of surprises but I don't want to tell just yet. :)

With these fabrics, the combinations are endless!  I think I'm going to order some more as soon as I get some moolah in my pocket.

 I live out in the country and the closest fabric store is a good 35 minutes away.  A woman in the area opened a quilting fabric store out on the state highway about 15 minutes from my house.  You have no idea how ecstatic all us country folks are for such a store near us!

 I love the vintage and subtle  look of these fabrics.  They are part of a line of Civil War reproductions.  The blue, on the far left, is actually from the Centennial collection.

 The one in the middle here is my favorite.  I only got a yard the first time around.  I debated about getting more and thought I would come back and get more later.  I should have known better because when I went back, she was all out and wasn't going to be getting more.  Darn!!

I'm going back to the store in the next day or so and am keeping my fingers crossed that she still has some of the little blue scalloped fabric on the right.

Do you like the more subtle, old fashioned type colors I've got here?  I'm rather old fashioned and these are right up my alley.

 One of my absolute favorite online fabric stores is Shabby Fabrics.  I could go bankrupt with her collection of fabrics!

I am so in love with the shabby fabrics now and have lots of projects in mind.  If I live that long!  I don't normally buy fat quarters, but I couldn't make up my mind and the price was really good.

These fabrics come from the Mary Rose Garden collection.  Aren't they so feminine looking?  Goodness, be still my heart!

 I bought several yards of these two.  The picture doesn't do them justice at all.  The top one is a pale, sage green and the bottom one is a silvery blue.  The colors are more true in the photo below.  I thought they would make lovely aprons with some vintage crochet lace.

Shabby, romantic, feminine....goodness!

Vintage, bright and cheery, feminine and romantic...quite a variety, huh?  I love them all and can't wait to start my new projects.  But first I have to get my sewing/craft room more organized.  You should see that place!  Well, maybe not...at least not right now anyway.

Tomorrow I'll show you the jackpot I hit on eBay a couple of months ago.  It's a collection of vintage and crochet lace.  Again, satisfying my 'just in case' syndrome.

Now I'm off to run errands.  Have a wonderful day ~