So I have to admit that I'm a bit of a fabric hoarder. When I really like a line, I buy all of it and just stare at it. I'd love to make pretty things out of it, but I either have too many good ideas and can't settle on just one, or I have some okay ideas, and can't bear to cut into the fabric unless it's for the perfect project.
Example: I have fat quarter stacks of both the Flea Market Fancy reprints and Comma. They've found homes where I can look at them while I sew, but that's it.
And the same was true of my stack of DS Quilts fabric from Joann's. It was girly and flowery, but not over the top. And it had the perfect mix of flowers and geometric prints. I managed to find them all in the clearance section. I'd search through those giant shelves and do a happy dance when I'd find it marked down to $6/yd.
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| Swirls and pebbles! |
Then, one day, I decided that I wanted to do something traditional with them, but not boring, and I found the Solstice Stars Quilt Series at Fresh Lemons. Trying out a bunch of different star patterns would be fun, and using only these fabrics would keep it from looking too crazy!
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| One of my favorite stars is the first of the row of four. So many little pieces though! And the wave quilting on the far left is one of my favorite patterns to do. |
I made a few of the Solstice Stars, but didn't have the courage to try the paper pieced ones. Then I searched through the Gen X Quilters Block Library for a few more to get some diversity.
I was trying to figure out the layout, and was considering making the whole top out of stars, but my friend Jess suggested the big chunks of fabric. Genius! It looks modern, and you get to really see how awesome that fabric is.
The quilting was really fun too. I did a bunch of different patterns within the stars, and then all the different fabrics have their own pattern. The quilting doesn't really show up well on the chunks, but it adds a lot of great texture.
I'm still deciding whether to sell this one in my Etsy shop. I like it, but it's so different from anything in my house. I'll probably just hang it on my wall for a while and see how I feel about it.
Linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday, I Have To Say for Show and Tell Tuesday, and Funky Polka Dot Giraffe for Too Cute Tuesday!
I love the layout of this quilt. It makes the stars seem so modern. It's just beautiful!
ReplyDelete:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Thanks, it's all Jess. She came over while I was staring at them and figured out the whole top. She even helped cut the pieces while I sewed them. Best Quilty Friend ever!
DeleteLove this quilt! So pretty:)
ReplyDeletefantastic quilt! And I identify so much with your post, it makes me want to squeal 'me too, me too!' :) I have the same problem with hoarding the fabrics I love the most, and actually there is a stack of these same DS fabrics in my closet that has been sitting around unused for far too long. Like you said, I love that they are girly without being over the top. I love the unusual layout you chose for your quilt :)
ReplyDeleteI love star quilts and yours is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of "Mary's quilts" I think of this one! Funny! I think this quilt is so striking. Maybe you and I ought to have a FMF Reprint-off. I am also looking at my FMF stack and wondering what I could do with it that is near good enough. (I have cut a couple of the pieces BUT like a crazy person re-ordered yardage immediately to replace the complete set. Heh.)
ReplyDeleteMaybe if I ordered more and could do a whole quilt in FMF Reprint it would be easier to figure out a project.
DeleteOOOOO, now I really want to make a king size for my bed and send it off to Angela Walters to be quilted. But I still have no idea what sort of pattern to do.
This quilt is so pretty. And I just love the fabrics you chose! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I love it when all the fabrics in a line are really awesome. Makes pulling fabrics for quilts so much easier.
DeleteI love this SO much. I have a pile of blue & yellow star blocks I got as part of a bee and am stumped about how to lay them out. You've inspired me to think outside a traditional layout.
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