Tomorrow is the closing on our first house and we couldn't be more excited. This said, I most likely will not be posting until next week. We are moving things all week with the grand finale next Saturday. I just can't wait to get set up in the new house.
The sewing machine is getting the gold treatment riding in the back of the SUV with my kids. It won't be packed at all.
Just popping in to show my two latest pincushions. I usually use felt for these, but thought I'd try fabric this time. I used the sewing machine which I don't usually do with felt. The one thing I learned - I cannot sew a perfect square. I'll have to work on that.
This was my best week yet. Look at this gorgeous fabric - each square is about 12" and there are 12 different blocks. 5.5 yards for $6.50!! Its thick almost like canvas.
This was the situation last Saturday.
I walk into a thrift store, the third thrift of the morning, after finding very little at the others. I walk into the disgustingly dirty "old linens" room where fitted sheets, old bath mats, and afghans make their not so temporary homes. I look through the entire room including on the shelving above the hanging racks and find an old calender towel that is way too used, but cute.
I turn to leave and my heart stops. Under one of the of the racks, peeking slightly out of a plastic grocery bag, I find folded yardage (I get so excited to find something I'm actually looking for)! I pounced on the bag as if ten other women were after the same thing, rummaged clumsily inside and found this fabulous acrobat fabric (picture above). I couldn't believe my eyes. As an aside, I also found some wonderful ticking in the same bag. My cost for this marvelous 5+ yard hall - $2.00!
I NEVER find funky but oh-so-fun craft supplies when I go thrifting. I end up passing over some of the ugliest fabric in town - and not the good 70's kind of ugly either. I always find 80's ugly or cute 70's in polyester, neither of which interests me. I can't understand the country look and polyester doesn't feel right in my hands.
So it was my first really successful thrift! I am now addicted. I love the hunt and the thrill of never knowing just what you will find. And then the pure joy when you find something perfectly funky/adorable/usable for 50 cents - you can't beat it. I don't even feel guilty for bringing home the so-so, has-to-grow-on-me fabrics because its so cheap. I do, however, have to work on space to keep all of my new found loot.
Albeit only 12"x16", this is my first quilt. My sister asked me to make a security blanket, or a "wee" as my son calls it, for a friend who had just had a baby. I was very honored and still hope it looks nice enough for her to gift it. Of course she said she loved it, but she loves everything I've made so far.
There isn't much I don't like about a good fabric "lot". The idea of a pile of fabric showing up on my doorstep is completely exciting and not knowing what will come out of that bag makes it totally irresistable. At my house the pile is lovingly trimmed and washed, pressed, folded, and then ogled. I stare at it and wonder what glorious goods will come out of the lot.
I recently discovered Dewitt Co.'s vintage fabric lots - up to 24 different pieces of vintage goodness. Who could resist when you might get these?
A great fabric grab bag can also be found a Reprodepot.com. I was completely happy with the wacky selection from them. In addition to the grab bag, they sent little 2"x2" squares of other fabrics as samples. I love that!
Ebay is, of course, my favorite place to find a good fabric lot. This is truly a "one person's trash is another's treasure" kind of place where you never know just what you'll get.
With a good fabric lot, the hunt for treasure is as thrilling as the fabric itself.
Ages ago when I first started my studies in landscape architecture, translating 2-dimensional plans into the eventual 3-dimensional spaces challanged and frustrated me. In my grading classes I designed hills that were actually holes. It took a while for me to develop the "eye", to look at a plan and picture in my mind what it would really looks like.
The same thing has been happening to me with my 3-dimensional softies. The way 3 or 4 pieces of fabric come together to make the curves and contours of something 3-d fascinates me. I've been practicing with little succuss. My first attempt was a pitiful little dog that turned out looking like a fat sausage (legs coming out of the sides and not the bottom where I had intended) with a disproportionately small head.
This week I finally did it!I actually made a skunk out of 4 pieces of fabric - And it looks kind of like a skunk! It actually looks as I intended it to look. I am starting to get the hang of it, just like I was back in school.
