Where did they come from?
I think the richly-colored abstract vases & the odd magenta & turquoise pots were purchased in the late 1980s, in the early days of my new-found love of quilting. I probably got them from either So-Fro or Cloth World -- do any of you remember those stores? In those days it wasn't easy to find anything but dusty-pastel calico prints, so whenever I found something bright & bold, I got it. The big bands of flower vases & fruit came from France. I remember my difficulty in trying to convey how much I wanted -- lots of finger pointing. It's home dec weight, but I think I had plans to make a skirt from it. Hmmmm? The wicker baskets are a half yard cut -- kind of a rarity from the early days, I tended to buy big -- & I got them just because they're cute. And talk about cute, the teacups & Mary Engelbreit teapots are that; they are probably contemporaries of each other from the early 90s.
So now what?
The vases could save a failed project I began with a roll of deep Kona solids. I'm thinking an Orange Peel block.
The magenta & turquoise is weird & oddly appealing. The large print might be interesting cut up into narrow strips so the pots are not so recognizable. For some reason -- there is no green in the print -- I like it with a celery solid. Do you remember the antique quilt I saw at last year's Quilt Festival?
I've obsessed about it ever since; then recently a Blue Underground pattern showed up in American Patchwork & Quilting, very like my obsession, but with an interesting twist. I'm going there!
The baskets I had already lined up to make a re-usable shopping bag. The pattern I use is great for conversation prints & it doesn't take much fabric. I have made dozens of these bags -- great to have on hand for gifts, great to keep in the car to use. But my bit of baskets was too small for a whole bag. Not to worry though, I of course had a wicker-looking print to go with it!
I think the obvious way to go with the giant flower vases is a medallion quilt! I've been wanting to make one for a long time, especially after I got Gwen Marston's book, Liberated Medallion Quilts. Now all it needs is lots of borders.
The teacups & teapots? I have no plans for them right now. Do you have any suggestions?
6 comments:
Wow! SO much inspiration here. I love what you're doing with the vases in the orange peel shapes. That zigzag of yours makes a really fun puzzle. Your bag is great too. AND your medallion! Ooh la la!
I just love how you embrace your stash - I'd say a mug rug would be a no brainer use for the teacup teapot but won't make much of a dent unless you mass produced them for gifts maybe.
I'm really enjoying your creative approach to stash management. All of your ideas for these fun fabrics are so clever, witty and beautiful! I also love seeing your fabrics from the deep because they're different and fun.
love the orange peel! also, i really like the way the quick tote looks with the basket fabric and the brown with it!
All great ideas; I particularly like the orange peel. Love those deep saturated colors. I have some similar coffee cup prints that I used in coasters and hot pads for the kitchen.
I am with Rachel...very creative with your stash management..glad you are chilling out in your sewing room.
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