Monday, April 14, 2008

There's no such thing as too much fabric

Here are a couple of recent finds for all you quilters and seamstresses:

The Fabric Attic - lots of reproduction fabrics from both the 1800's and 1900's; also a lot of western, southwest and animal prints; quilt and pillow panels, fat quarters, a few quilt patterns. I love the old-fashioned minimalist website too. Not so long ago when I would come across a site like this I would be just a little bit put off; I would think, "Couldn't they go to the trouble to dress it up just a little?" But now I see so many sites that have extremely complicated layouts, impossible navigation and dozens of things that flash and blink and compete for my attention that when I come across a site that's pure content I almost want to stand up and cheer.

The Fabric Fairy - this one (a lovely site that's dressed up just right) specializes in "children's prints" but they're definitely not just for kids. They have the expected cars and spaceships and zoo animals and such but there are also many colorful florals, paisleys, geometric and other miscellaneous prints that would be suitable for any age. It's mostly clothing fabric - knits, corduroy, etc - but they do have some great quilting prints and panels too.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Projects, Projects, Projects

I've always been a one-project-at-a-time type of person, at least when it comes to sewing, but I'm about to have several projects going at once. I'm just getting ready to start a super secret project with a "deadline" in just a few weeks. The person I'm making it for isn't reading this but I'm going to keep it secret anyway. You never know when someone who doesn't have Internet access will talk to a friend who does or even get Internet access themselves. But I am excited about this one and I'll tell you all about it and post a picture when it's finished.

I'm still working on the quilt I mentioned in the last paragraph of this post. It's coming along nicely. I'm not sure if I'll show it off or not. It's sort of crazy, not literally a "Crazy Quilt" in the usual sense but sort of made up as I went along out of mostly random size pieces and I'm not sure whether I'm proud of it or ashamed of it. I'm really only making it to justify having kept all those scraps for all those years. I'm going to put this one aside for a while to work on the Super Secret Project. That's pretty easy to do since I don't have a proper quilting frame. I've been using a needlepoint hoop, which is actually working out pretty well.

I need to work on some regular sewing projects too. I have a small stash of fabric that's mostly from the dollar table at Wal-mart and it's been a long time since I made anything so yesterday I cut out a shirt. It's an aqua, pink and purple plaid flannel. It's the wrong time of year to be starting something made of flannel but I don't care. They are spring colors and we often have a big freeze in late April. I might get to wear it.

Finally, I have in mind what should be a long term project. I've always thought it would be cool to make a postage stamp quilt but the thought of all those tiny pieces of fabric is a bit overwhelming. But now I'm thinking I should just start a top and plan on taking years to finish it - just sew together a few pieces now and then. (Here is an idea and a couple more)

Anyway those are the main crafty things I have in mind so if I start slacking off on this blogging thing you'll know why.