loose threads fabric store

Time to Confess

| Cindy Anderson

I’m always looking for unique items to add to my arsenal of art supplies. I say “art” because I consider quilting, no matter what method you use, to be an art. On several recent occasions I had the opportunity to add an item or two. I know I’ve made a commitment to down-size through consumption but sometimes I just can’t help myself!

In June, while attending a class at the QSDS (Quilt Surface Design Symposium), I fell head-over-heels into the snare of a pop-up vendor called Fiber on a Whim. This vendor knew exactly what she was doing when she stocked her tiny space. Being in the creative mindset, brought on by the school’s atmosphere, probably didn’t help my cause. In spite of the mantra, “I will not buy supplies,” circulating through my head, I fell victim.

Purchased from this vendor were many of these items.

QSDS Purchases.jpg

I say many because some of them I won while participating, on the last night of the school, in the door prize event. I don’t have a specific plan mapped out for each item. Some may simply remain untouched, acting as decorations for my studio. Who knows!

Lets unpack the basket. Inside are the following:

Threads
Threads to be used in my art quilt beading purchased from Fiber on a Whim
Embellishments
Hand-Dyed Sari Silk, Ric Rac, and Lace purchased from Fiber on a Whim
Fiber on a Whim Fabrics
Hand-Dyed Cheesecloth, Hand-Dyed Linen, Hand-Dyed Crinkle Silk, Hand-Dyed Silk, and Hand-Dyed Cotton purchased from Fiber on a Whim
Silk Carrier Rods
Hand-Dyed Carrier Rods purchased from Fiber on a Whim
Silk Play Pack
Silk Play Pack: Silk Hankie, Silk Cocoons, Silk Carrier Rods, Ribbon, Throwsters Waste purchased from Fiber on a Whim
A Roll of Wire and Flowers
Small Flowers for Embellishment purchased from Fiber on a Whim and a Roll of Wire purchased from Vintage Bliss

Also purchased from Fiber on a Whim, but not included in the basket, was these two stacks of Hand-dyed burlap and the small roll of wool. The gingham burlap, sitting behind the wool, was purchased from Vintage Bliss.

Burlap and Wool
Hand-Dyed Burlap and Wool from QSDS/Fiber on a Whim and Gingham Burlap from Vintage Bliss

One of my favorite places to snatch-up vintage items, among other goodies, is Vintage Bliss. Purchased from their store were these two items

Burlap and Crochet
Crocheted Table Runner and a Roll of Burlap Purchased from Vintage Bliss

The crocheted table runner and the burlap will be cut into sections and incorporated into my art pieces.

I made a trip to a local fabric store looking for solids and came home with these two packages of charm squares.

Charm Packs
Charm Squares Purchased from Loose Threads for my Art Quilts

Last but not least was this stack of Kona solids, four fat-quarters a cheery button and a small pile of colorful zipper pulls acquired from the Electric Needle.

Solids, Fat Quarters & Zipper Pulls
Kona Solids, Four Fat-Quarters, A Sunny Button and a small pile of Zipper Pulls all purchased from the Electric Needle

You can obviously figure out how I might use the solids as well as the fat-quarters. The button was just for fun. I will add it to my fabric name tag.

Name Tag
Quilt Guild Name Tag

As I browsed the Electric Needle I spied a small container holding a stash of pastel colored zipper pulls. I couldn’t help smiling when I saw them. Who but me would have a light-bulb moment. I’m always on a quest to find unusual items suitable for attaching to art quilts. Once I saw these zipper pulls I just knew I had to add them to my bead and button box.

Bead Box
Beads galore from various vendors

They will someday make a wonderful addition to an art quilt.

Well that’s the end of my confession. I bet you thought it was never going to end. Me either! That’s what I get for waiting so long. At least I have a clear conscience now. 🙂 LOL!

Time to make something with all these goodies!

Cindy Anderson

 

To-Do-List

| Cindy Anderson

As mentioned in my post of January 3, 2013 one of my goals for this year was to establish and maintain a list of finished and unfinished projects.  Putting together such a list took quite a bit of research.  After rummaging through my stash of patterns, books and kits my scribbled notes were entered into an Excel Spreadsheet.  From that spreadsheet I put together this document.

Periodically throughout 2013 and beyond I hope to update this document.  I will use this resource to hold myself accountable.  My intention is to finish as many items on this list during 2013 as possible.  Hopefully the 2013 finished projects will far outweigh the volume of items I might add during the year.  So without saying anything more here’s the result of my research:

*Quilt Tops Ready for Quilting*

Bear’s Paw Quilt by Eleanor Burns from the TRIO of Treasured Quilts Quilt in a Day Series

Simple Times quilt by American Crib Quilts

*Fabric and Quilt Patterns Purchased For*

Autumn Quilt by Heart To Hand (added 2012)

Christmas Fun by Life’s A Stitch (added 12/2012)

First Year Log Cabin by Acorn Quilts (added 2012)

Heart & Home by Heart To Hand (added 2012)

Snowy Days by Heart To Hand (added 2012)

The Bundling Board by Primitive Pieces (added 2012)

The Log House by Washboard Quilts by Pat at Life’s A Stitch (added 9/2012)

*Quilt Pattern Purchased For*

Cathedral by Villa Rosa Designs (added 2012)

Civil War Battle Series # 2 by Clothesline Quilts

Courthouse Square # 169 by Country Threads

Family * Home * Friends by Cottage Creek Quilts

Full House by Schnibbles at Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.  Purchased at Life’s A Stitch.  (added 2012)

In My Folk Art Garden by The Cinnamon Patch.  Purchased in Colorado Springs.  (added October 2012)

Joyful Welcome by Threads That Bind

Martin’s Pennies by Civil War Legacies

Snow Drifts by Hanging by a Thread

Sundance by Villa Rosa Designs (added 7/31/2012)

Tall * Small by Waltzing with Bears (added 2012)

*Fabric and/or Craft Pattern Purchased For*

Chelsea Tote by Lazy Girl

Elf Mittens by Button Stitch Designs.  Purchased from Life’s A Stitch.  (added 2012)

Encore Purse Insert by Studio Kat  3/19/13 Update:  Fabric purchased

Just Swell by Camille Roskelley for Thimble Blossoms.  Sewing Machine Cover (added October 2012)

Little Cupcake Tote by Penny Sturges for Quilts Illustrated.  Purchased from Nanas Quilt Cottage in Colorado Springs.  (added October 2012)

Margo Handbag by Lazy Girl.  Purchased from Life’s A Stitch.  (added 2012)

Patchwork Ironing Board Covers by Cotton Way.  Pattern purchased from Mill House Quilts (added 2012)

Penny Mats thru the Year, January, April and November by Buttermilk Basin.  Purchased from Life’s a Stitch.  (added 2012)

Sunflower Pillow by The Cottage at Cardiff Farms (added 7/31/2012)

Sunny Days Table Runner by Buttons for Hillcreek Designs.  Purchased from Backyard Quilts. (added 2012)

The Sammi Grace Bag by Fishsticks Designs

Tweety Birds by Creative Fiber Expressions (added 7/31/2012)

I also have fabric purchased to make three children’s quilts.  These quilts do not require a pattern.  (Two of these quilts are now finished.  One remains to be quilted.)

*Finished Items*

My Colorado daughter’s king sized quilt (Finished September 2012)

Garden Party Table Runner by Mary Cain.  Pattern purchased from Mill House Quilts.  (Finished 2012)

Hold Anything Bag by Dancing Crane Designs Pattern purchased from Mill House Quilts, fabric purchased from Backyard Quilts (Finished November, 2012)

Sandy Quilt # 1 (Finished January 2013)

Sandy Quilt # 2 (Finished 1/28/2013)

Sandy Quilt # 3 (Finished 2/25/2013)

Sandy Quilt # 4 (Finished 3/17/2013)

Tag Along by This & That.  Purchased from Life’s A Stitch. (added 2012) 3/19/13 Update:  Fabric ordered from Fabricworm.  Finished

May Night from the Pineapple Passion Collection by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan published by That Patchwork Place.  Finished 4/25/2013

Miranda Day Bag by Lazy Girl  3/19/2013 Update:  Fabric purchased 5/6/2013 Update:  Project started  Update:  Project completed 5/28/2013

A Quilt for a Special Little Girl

| Cindy Anderson

I am very fortunate to have three wonderful grandchildren.  The oldest is Mr. J, then comes Miss L and last but not least Miss M.  All three of them belong to my oldest daughter and her husband.  Mr. J is seven, home schooled and thrilled with everything Lego.  Miss L is my ballerina.  She adores all things remotely related to dancing, dolls and above all PINK.  Miss M is only two.  Her two most favorite things in this world are her Mommy and Elmo.  Spending time with these three is always an adventure, never boring and always, always exciting.

Since starting my own long arm quilting business it has been my desire to create a very special quilt for each of my grandchildren.  No specific plans have been made as to patterns, fabrics or whom will be first to receive their hand-made hug from Nana.

Recently I traveled to Rockford, Illinois to visit Acorn Quilts.  While there I came across this luscious fabric, in a sale bin.

My mind began racing with ideas as my eyes lit up at the colors.  Immediately my oldest granddaughter, Miss L, popped into my mind.  She adores pink.  Being the fun-loving sweetheart that she is I just knew this fabric would send giggles through her tummy. I grabbed for the carefully rolled bundle of joy and added it to my purchase.  This was going to be my inspiration.  Also added to my selections were the pink and white polka dot fabric for a border and backing and an adorable aqua piece for binding.

This was going to be a simple quilt.  No special pattern was needed because I just knew Miss L would love anything that I would make her.  Besides the floral print was wonderful all by itself.  Anything that I might try to do to it, aside from quilting, would detract from its beauty.

Strips were cut from the pink and white polka dot material and sewn to all four edges of the pink floral fabric.  The leftover polka dot fabric was not quite large enough for a backing.  Quilts loaded onto long arm quilt machines need extra inches added to the backing to accommodate the pinning process.  Unfortunately this was not taken into consideration when the yardage was calculated at the store.  Rather than purchasing a whole new piece of fabric I decided to add inches via a Sophie charm pack by Chez Moi for Moda purchased from Loose Threads of Milton, Wisconsin.  The charm pack not only included squares of fabric made from the identical print as my pink floral it also included fabrics that very nicely complimented it as well.  All except three charm squares were combined to increase the measurements of the backing.  Pictured here is a sampling of the added squares.

I loaded the quilt sandwich onto my Tin Lizzie Ansley 26 long arm quilt machine and began the process of quilting Miss L’s surprise.  Her quilt, with borders, measures 39 x 48 1/2.  Since it is not very large the quilting process took very little time.

It was kind of sad that the quilting went so quickly.  I really had fun adding flowers and hearts to an over-all loop-d-loop design.  If you look closely you can see one of the flowers.

Miss L’s quilt has since been removed from my machine.  All that is currently left to do is the hand stitching on the adorable aqua binding.  As soon as I have the binding finished I will share the completed project.

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Thank you for sharing in my enthusiasm.  I’m linking up with Freshly Pieced.  Be sure to stop by her blog and check things out.

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BTW my list of WIP can be found here