Stash Sunday On Tuesday or the ties that bind

So I know it's Tuesday but I didn't post on Sunday a picture of my stash so here's Stash.
My FIL sent me a box of ties, silk ties, cotton ties, designer ties, homemade ties. There is even a Liberty of London silk tie! How great is that? My BIL finally got married ... been with his partner 31 years! I know FIL wants me to make a quilt but I seriously don't think I am a good enough quilter. His family makes crazy quilts but I am hoping to make a string quilt or 3...
A couple of years ago he sent me a box of shirts, like wild 70's cotton shirts. Also, destined for quilts... at some point I will totally make some "family clothes" quilts. I think my step-kids will be happy about it. I hope so anyway.

The red with polka dots and that blue floral are totally homemade. What a guy making his own ties! gotta love him.
In other news, I am totally waiting for my bias tape maker and electric strip cutter. I'll keep you posted.
A new load is in the works for Etsy, and I have a couple of tutorials in the works.
Quilters Rock!

Sunday Stash

In the past I would be drawn to greens, aqua, blues when I went shopping... I just wanted to add that to my stash.
Now: it's grey.. I am loving the grey.
Last week I went shopping at Fabric Depot, a supermarket sized fabric store and one of the great perks of living in the Portland area. I got these fabrics.. maybe half yards of the patterns and the Kona grey is yards- maybe 3.

So ... last Sunday I hurt my back trying to get the garden going... Completely out of commission.
Bed ridden week of boredom hell followed...
Today I finally got out to the garden and planted my lettuce and onions. My mom came over and helped me, she did good but she really hates getting her hands dirty and was done the minute it sun got low.

Sunday Stash

I know Right?? I love it. In the old downtown of my little town is an antique store. It's one step above a thrift store. It's mostly clothes and textiles... she has 2 racks of fabric hung in the back ...
I think this cost me 3 dollars. Its 36 inches wide and I have about 3 yards. Someday I might use some. Until then, every once in while I get it out and pet it. mmm Pretty.
I have been busy.. Right now I am working on stuff for a client. Then I have a couple jobs waiting and am making good use of my lists to the side of my blog ... those really help.

I quilted/finished a bunch of stuff for etsy. Uggh! My Etsy... man is it sad or what?
First last year I thought I would go into fabric and notions.... But, really I don't want to do that.. so I kinda let it sit. Then.... I got work doing samples, quilting, teaching. That's what I like to do, and want to spend my time working on. So... I'm planning a relaunch of my store and already added a quilting slot.

Marching Forward!

Well, the new craft table moves forward at a snails pace. My room is a disaster. Nor am I getting a lot done... Train Wreck!
I watched a lot of TV yesterday . I taped the Cspan coverage and sped thru it to the good parts . Thanks TiVo. It was great!
Sam Adams has pissed me off. Politicians, mo or not, need to keep it zipped around teenagers.
ProJect Improv:
I have finally decided what I am doing. *choir sings "hallelujah" in the backgound*
Okay, so the .pdf said "This piece has no restrictions except that it is to be improvised, not
made from a pattern" that part is easy for me as I rarely use patterns. I like to do re-inventions of old patterns. I thought at first I would do a Improv of my Kite top I just finished but knew that it was too soon and kind of a cop out.
then I decided to think on it a while. ....
I asked myself "what is it I don't do?"
I don't generally work with solids. ( I have been lately, but I have been pushing myself)
I don't work with too many colors at once. Usually, when I am working with solids, I do a blue/green or a pink /orange color way. If there are a lot of colors, it's a fabric line bundle I am using.
And I never work on heirlooms or "big idea" quilts. Obviously, it's because I am a lazy cur.
I like to make easy quilts with a simple idea behind them and no complicated work required to get it together.

So,... what I am doing is what I don't usually do! I am going to use a solid, I knew this and just went to Fabric Depot and bought a beautiful brown a couple weeks ago.
I am going to use lots of different fabric mostly from my stash.
*Drum Roll*
I am making a "Big Idea" quilt! I want it to be modern and interesting. I have known about this quilt called Ringtoss by FunQuilts for some time. And I love Angela Adams Rugs this one in particular.
I decided to do a Presidential Quilt of 44 rings. I am going to make each individual ring a reflection of that president. It's a traditional idea but hopefully I will have a fresh interpetation.
I just did a bunch of experiments to see if I can do this. I figured out how to do them using machine applique, but not raw edge. I am not going to set them in, the way it's done over at FunQuilts.
Here is a ring:

It's one of my tests. Its not sewn down yet.
I am thinking of doing George Washington in this cherry:

I know he didn't chop down a cherry tree but still.
I still haven't figured out exactly how I'm gonna handle "death in office" or mutiple terms. I had thought I would try to do a fabric a year or a term but I don't think so. We'll see.
I guess that's where the Improv comes in.
What I am going to do is google "first POTUS" read about him, then make a ring, attach it to block of background, then google "2nd POTUS" and repeat steps . I think there is some Improv built into that process.
Have I told you lately that "Quilters Rock!"?

Sunday Stash

Friday I went to Fabric Depot with a girlfriend. It was my first outing since I caught that bug from my DH.
I went in search of solids for my "project improvisation". The 2 browns on the end are kinda "non-colors" or "shadows" meant to help "show off " prints. I was really looking for grey. They had about 3 but they were all wrong. Amy Butler Solids were on full display, but at 11$ yard minus 35%, I'm sticking to Kona and RJR, which is 5.99 yd minus 35%.
If you live in the Portland Metro Area and don't go to Fabric Depot- go now! If you don't live local you can visit them online. It's like a costco sized store and it's all on sale.

Sunday Stash

Hope your Holidays were great! I seem to be taking a bit of a break.
I just finished a top and am pulling fabrics to start another. On the back wall you can see my block tests for size and skill. As in .... "do I have the skill to do this project?" "Is bigger easier?" I always make tests first.
See you in the new year!

SUNDAY STASH

Canvas by Kokka
I haven't decided what to do with it yet but I love it. I bought it at BOLT, a store in Portland, Oregon.