This fabric fast just isn’t working for me. It’s a lot like when you are on a diet so you decide to give up dessert. Your mind becomes consumed with dessert. Pictures of brownies, ice cream, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate fill your brain. Selective attention, it’s all you think about. So, that is me and fabric. Friday on Instagram I saw a post in my feed about an anniversary celebration giveaway at Doe Street Fabrics. I don’t enter these very often but for some reason, I went for it. I reposted the picture and threw my name in the hat. Saturday afternoon I was looking at Instagram and saw that I won a $25 gift certificate. Yay for free fabric!!
I went over to Doe Street Fabrics (an Etsy shop) to browse her inventory. The shop is owned and operated by Angie Metessa of Plain City, Ohio. I think Angie was as excited as I was when I won her giveaway. She has so many cute pieces to choose from. She also has fabric listed on Instagram as well as her Facebook page. Choices, choices, choices. It was hard to make up my mind especially since her prices are really reasonable. My mind went right into rationalization mode. Well, said my mind, you could really pick several items. Since you have a $25 certificate, this will be such a deal!! Oh, yes… you know the routine. We’ve all gone there.
First I selected this fat quarter bundle from Joel Dewberry’s Nottinghill line. The colors are wonderful.
Then I grabbed a set of 1/2 yard cuts from Riley Blake’s Floriography Line.
Willpower? Nah. Self-control? Nope. Gorgeous fabric coming my way from Ohio? You bet! Can’t wait.
I did try something new today! Kitty Wilkin of NightQuilter.com released a cute pattern for a paper pieced heart. She posted a tutorial for it on her site on Friday. I have always felt intimidated by paper piecing but this pattern looked really simple so I gave it a try. It was really fun. I watched this tutorial by Connecting Threads on basic paper piecing so I had some idea of how to do it before I got started. I didn’t have the quarter inch ruler she was using and tried using a quilting ruler but it was cumbersome. Her ruler with the 1/4″ lip looked pretty handy. Love learning something new!
The process is simpler than I thought (though this pattern was mainly just straight lines.) This block was like piecing a log cabin block and then cutting a heart shape. One piece of fabric (the red and cream stripe on the left) was a little bit too narrow so that side of the heart is less than perfect. I think I will make another one for practice. It is a cute little block. I appliqued it to a 9 1/2 inch square. Not sure what I will do with the blocks but I’ll figure something out.
Linking to Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash.
Great new fabrics! And cute little Valentine block. The add-a-quarter ruler is a must for paper piecing, I’d say! I think I’m gonna make some of these paper-pieced hearts (free pattern on craftsy): http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/crazee-patch-paper-pieced-heart-block/101269
I picked up the 1/4″ ruler so I have that waiting for the next try. I love the pattern you linked up. I saw the pic ON IG that you tagged me on. Thank you. Maybe I will do four block, with two of each. That could be a cute little Valentine mini.
Hey Bernie, I see a darling paddle board design from the Nottinghill collection for So Cal Cathy !
The nottinghill fabric is so lovely, those colors are so cheerful! I love my add-a-quarter ruler for paper piecing, I couldn’t find it the last time I was paper piecing and tried using my regular ruler and you’re right, cumbersome is the right word for it. I was so happy when I found my add-a-quarter ruler a couple days later!
I just picked up a 1/4″ ruler so it will be nice to try the block again using that. I am sure it will be helpful. Thanks for stopping over!
B.
Love Joel Dewberry! I’ve been working on a Bungalow Swoon for a very long time…enjoy your winnings!
I love the swoon blocks. Also love the oversized swoon block, using only one block for the entire quilt. Really fun. So many ideas, so little time! Thanks for stopping by.
B.
The thing I do is try to stay fabric neutral. Then I can buy whatever I want, as long as I’m also being proactive in making stuff too. There’s no need in buying fabric if it just sits in your stash for the next twenty years. That being said, I love Notting Hill and I have the whole range and haven’t used it nearly enough! I think you just inspired me to remedy that! Thanks!
Fabric neutral… that is a good thing to strive for! There is only so much time to create something, quilts are time consuming. However, shopping only takes a short time!! A few clicks and the next piece is on it’s way. That being said, I am so looking forward to the Notting Hill pieces. Thanks for your comment. I love your work and your blog. Very inspiring art and the humor in your writing is great. Also love the post you wrote a while back, I think it was called something like “We Are Sew Worth It”. Makes so much sense and was helpful to me when I was deciding whether to try to sell quilts on Etsy. I listed three at the price I thought was reasonable and have only sold one. But that’s ok. They take time, effort and skill so I can’t see undercutting the price. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to sketch that out for all of us out here.
Take care,
Bernie
These are some gorgeous fabrics indeed! 🙂
Thanks Deb. Quite fun to win a giveaway. I actually won another one back in October but haven’t spent it yet. Saving it for a rainy day which, considering the state of drought in CA, may never happen. 😉