Of course I did a bit of shopping while on the trip to Illinois! I will be starting up some new projects over the next few months, some in conjunction with Thelma and Lisa. We ended up buying the same kits!
I am so excited about my new fabrics. I seem to have focused on the Civil War reproductions that we don't see a lot of in our shops here in California. When I got home, I was inspired to reorganize my stash closet in my sewing room, in order to place the newly acquired things front and center. Before I did that though, I forced myself out into the garage where I keep my bins of excess fabric stored. Glory be, if I didn't have an entire tub marked Civil War Fabrics. I tell you, I felt like I had discovered buried treasure. Shop at home Friends. You just never know what you might already have on hand.
Look at all these rusts, golds, greens and browns! I think they are left overs from my Birdseye quilt.
And Holy Moly, check out the pinks and greens. I know I had a project in mind for these once upon a time, but I guess I will have to go back to the drawing board.
I spent two entire days ironing, folding and organizing these fabrics.
Now for the new stuff! Just an aside regarding the fabric we bought. You know we all worship anything by Moda, but I think it is very important to keep in mind that there are scads of fabulous fabrics coming out by designers who work for other companies. Marcus Brothers, Andover, Windham, Free Spirit, and Henry Glass, just to name a few. So, don't have such a narrow focus that all these other lovely lines pass under your radar.
Lisa, Thelma and I all bought the fabrics on the left. Be on the lookout for a blue, cream and brown quilt from each of us in the not so distant future! I must have felt that blues and browns were under represented in my stash, because the stack on the right found its way home with me. See the pattern on the left? That is my plan for those fabrics. The pattern on the right is just one I had on hand that seems to fit right in with all these great fabrics.
Thelma and I flipped over these Renee Nannemann fabrics from the Home to Roost collection for Andover. We got to see the quilt in person too! The greens show up better in the picture below. Just the right amount of applique to keep things interesting, don't you think? The book is a companion to the fabric collection and is called Home to Roost by Renee Nannemann.
Thelma and I agreed that it just isn't possible to have too many reds on hand. We found ourselves picking out fabulous reds and then searching for fabrics to go with them.
I will be at home sewing for the foreseeable future.
Whoopeeeeeeeee! What glorious fabrics you found at home and far afield in the Midwest! You chose well and I need to go find my bib again!
When I buy fabrics for a project from book, magazine, or my imagination, I write myself a note about what pattern, book, and page it's on or a sketch if it's from my imagination. If it's a packaged pattern, that pattern gets tucked in with the fabrics. I don't always follow my initial plan when I get to the fabrics and don't always use the fabrics together, but I know what my initial plan was without the frustration of wondering what I had in mind! I highly recommend this method.
One of my peculiar quirks is that I never buy more than 3 of any fabric line for a quilt. I mix in fabrics from my healthy stash so I end up with a unique quilt.
I have serious stash closet envy. Sigh....
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | October 07, 2010 at 05:59 AM
Great stuff! I love the pinnk-and-green collection. And I LOVE! the log cabin quilt with the flowers.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | October 07, 2010 at 07:02 AM
I love the log cabin! Which book is the pattern in? I would love to buy it! Please share!!!
Posted by: Amy | October 07, 2010 at 07:11 AM
Oh Nicole your fabric choices are amazing. They are all yummy but love the greens and pinks but also the red in the last photo with the co-ordinates. What fun you all had shopping!!
Posted by: Penny | October 07, 2010 at 07:37 AM
OMGosh!! LOVE IT ALL!! LUCKY YOU!!
Paulette
Posted by: paulette doyle | October 07, 2010 at 07:44 AM
When Lisa posted a picture of Nottingham Star a few days ago I was starring at it with a "I must make this quilt" look. But she had not posted any info on it and I resisted from asking because my TBM (To Be Made) list is just waaaaayyy to long. Then this morning Thelma posted the pattern and the link.. UGH. I had to buy it. I just pulled out my CC and clicked on the link. It was like 6 am and I was in my pjs. I am sooo bad. I kept thinking, "At least I didn't buy the KIT!" LOL!
I recently went on a Stash enhancement trip over to Sew Unique Creations online shop. They specialize in repros at great prices. Your new additions are drool worthy. Is that red print (2nd to last pic) from the Annandale line by Jo Morton? Red ALWAYS does it for me. It adds just that splash of interest that flips a quilt from beautiful to Wow. Sometimes it's just the binding that does it for me. Anyway... Thanks for the share!
Posted by: Sandy (Strlady) | October 07, 2010 at 07:48 AM
Man, oh man! What a great collection of goodies you have. And to think you had some of that in your almost-forgotten stash! Those patterns and fabrics are really great. Since I'm a relative newbie (just a year now) at quilting I don't have much of a stash, but I'm looking forward to it as the years progress. (Shh, Honey, don't worry....)
Posted by: sillysally | October 07, 2010 at 08:02 AM
Fabulous buys! I see lots of beautiful quilts in your future. :-)
Posted by: Darlene | October 07, 2010 at 08:13 AM
Wow, Nicole! Love the stash and the pinks are fabulous! I have a few of those in my stash and good pinks are hard to find. I am always on the lookout for some. The quilt patterns that you chose are beautiful and can't wait to see some done!
Love to read your blog!
Posted by: Monique | October 07, 2010 at 08:17 AM
Love your choice of fabrics! Would love to make the "Shadow Box Roses" quilt - what book or pattern is that from? Looking forward to show and tell using your new purchases!
Posted by: Valerie Z | October 07, 2010 at 08:23 AM
Hi Nicole - thanks for letting us peek in and see what you are planning and the fabric that you bought. I, like a couple of the others, would love to know what book or magazine the shadow box roses quilt pattern came from. Love it!! Thanks.
Posted by: Wendy T. | October 07, 2010 at 08:30 AM
It must have been so fun to go with friends that have the same tasts and shop for fabrics. These quilts are going to be amazing.
Posted by: Jean | October 07, 2010 at 09:03 AM
Where did you find "fabulous reds?" This past weekend was the Kansas Shop Hop. I drove down from Nebraska, stopping at a few shops on the way and then did the shop hop with my sister. I put 675.8 miles on my car, shopped at fourteen different quilt stores and could not find one red in the shades I was looking for. They were either burgundy, pinky, or orange. So disappointed. Question for discussion...is anyone else wondering when the price of fabric is going to quit going up? eek..
Oh, thanks for sharing your stash with us. I brought home thread, needles, bobbins, batting, and muslin....didn't think I needed to take any pictures...ha. My sister and I think maybe Missouri has some great shops we need to check out.....
Posted by: Carol | October 07, 2010 at 09:12 AM
Very nice purchases. I see some familiar fabrics as we have an amazing shop that specialized in civil war and jo morton fabrics close by. While living in British Columbia, I had never even heard of civil war fabrics, now I love them.
Posted by: Sharon | October 07, 2010 at 09:39 AM
Ugh!! That log cabin quilt with the flower applique is to die for! Just ordered the book and fabric. Thanks for posting your "haul". I am excited to begin sewing!
Posted by: Jeanie | October 07, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Inspiring for sure! I love Moda but agree there are lost of other companies out there that have top quality fabric and designers as well. Never enough reds or greens in my stash for me! I really like all the patterns you chose. Very pretty quilts are in your future (but that is always true of you Nicole!)
Posted by: AnnieO | October 07, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Love the fabric in the first picture especially the 'poisin' green and oranges. Also the Shadow Box Roses quilt - think I need to go on a hunt for that one. Thanks for sharing - a peek into your stash definitely made me green with envy.
Posted by: Patty Nordahl | October 07, 2010 at 10:46 AM
GORGEOUS fabrics! I have a question..as a new quilter, what's the best way of organizing a stash, color wise? Individual piles of color or groups? (i.e. "pinks & greens", "reds & blues", etc). With some fabrics, I can't decide WHICH group they should go in! Thank you for inspiration!!
Carol
Posted by: Carolw7673 | October 07, 2010 at 10:50 AM
What a bunch of delicious treats! You will have a wonderful time sewing all those.
Posted by: Diane | October 07, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Nice fabric and pattern selections. You have a good eye for color combinations.
When you finish your quilts you will always remmeber the trip you made.
Posted by: Sandy E. | October 07, 2010 at 12:29 PM
MMMmmmm I wish I had some of those fabrics in my stash, no scrap that... I wish I had all of those fabrics in my stash!!! I really need to go through my stash now and do a little inventory maybe I might find some new inspiration there too!
Posted by: Michelle | October 07, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Wowser! What a fantastic load of beautiful fabric and how fun to "find" the jackpot in your garage!!
Posted by: LoriD | October 07, 2010 at 01:14 PM
Fabulous loot - I'm drooling over the pinks and greens.
Posted by: Cathy | October 07, 2010 at 03:18 PM
You have an amazing talent of putting colors together and then finding a quilt pattern to suit them... or choosing a quilt pattern and then picking the fabrics. Which do you usually do first? When I choose fabrics first, I seem to never have enough to complete the project, and then am on a hunt. When I choose the quilt pattern first, I don't have a good eye for color, especially to pick something that will really make the quilt pop. Maybe you could give a tutorial on quilt patterns and colors.....
Can you tell me what the quilt pattern/book is in your second to the last picture (the 4 patch with the sashing and cornerstones)? Thank you and I always enjoy and am inspired by your projects!!
Posted by: Patty | October 07, 2010 at 04:15 PM
I just love the blue , brown and cream fabrics and patterns. I just have to purchase those 2 patterns ;-) What gorgeous projects ! I have a question Nicole. We are going to be staying in carmel next week and was wondering if there is any awesome quilt shops down that way. Carmel? Pacific grove ? Monterey ?
Posted by: Sue Babich | October 07, 2010 at 05:56 PM