Project Simplify - Day 11
April 26, 2011 Just shy of a few weeks ago I was visiting Posie Gets Cozy - the very first blog I ever read cover to cover - and noticed a button for "Quilts for Quake Survivors". When I clicked on it, I found a wonderful group of women collecting quilt blocks & tops to make into quilts that were being sent to Japan. Without hesitation, I knew I wanted to contribute.
I already mailed this quilt top to them - to try to make their April 22 deadline - but I'll spend the next week or so sharing the story behind the making of it.
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My original plan for Project Simplify was to go thru the book in order by Chapter. But my absolute favorite quilt is Sugar Rush ... in Chapter 6 ... way, way off in the distant future ... weeks & weeks away ... . So when I discovered this cause I thought not only was it ok for me to change my plan, it was necessary.
And I had the perfect fabric for it too - "Flower Sugar" by Lecien, a Japanese fabric manufacturer.
This fabric found its way into my stash from three separate shopping trips over eight months. That's one of the many wonderful things about Flower Sugar - every new collection works with the previous one.
The first batch of fabric - from the 2009 collection - I found last summer when we were on vacation. We drove to California and on our way home I did a random search with my GPS for a quilt store and luckily found this little gem of a quilt shop just south of Salt Lake City. I could have spent hours in there. If you're ever in the area I highly recommend checking it out.
Next, I bought a FQ bundle (ok, ok, - 2 bundles) at Quilt Market in Houston 2010 on impulse (remember the agreement we have that Quilt Market purchases are always classified as impulse buys and are, therefore, exempt from any justification?).
Then my local quilt shop had a lovely roll of 10" x 40" strips ... just the thing to satisfy my need for width-yardage. I must have been subconciously planning to make this quilt for myself because I also got a few metres (yds) of the blue with white dots which are perfect for the border.
So, what have I used this fabric for already? Well, again before Project Simplify was born I made this quilt from Chapter 3.
I'd never made an aqua/red quilt before (Camille's signature colors) so I gave it a try combining both "Flower Sugar" and "Sweet Divinity" by The Quilted Fish (another Market 2010 impulse buy ...).
I love how the quilt turned out. (Notice my standard cross-hatch ... now a thing of the past?!) But looking around my house I just couldn't find the right place for it. So now it lives at the quilt store on display.
I've made a few other little things from this fabric, but they were birthday gifts for my daughters' friends so I don't have photos.
Because that was before I became 'crazy blogger lady' who photographs everything ... (here comes a tangent).
"What's that sweetheart? You hurt yourself at school? Tell me what happened. Maybe there's a blog post in there somewhere for me. Yep, there it is! Just give me 5 minutes while I take a picture of some books with a bandaid."
Or how about, "Yes Honey, I know I'm still in my pjs, but the snow on the trees isn't going to last long! Don't worry, the neighbors won't see me."
Uh, yeah they will.
Note to Self: If you're gonna wear pjs outside in broad daylight, at least put on the black bottoms that could sorta pass for active wear, not the bubblegum pink flowery capris ... with black snow boots, still unzipped ... and a chocolate brown corduroy jacket. There's just no way to look 'not crazy' in that ensemble - especially while holding a camera & ruler - when Mr. Jones from down the street is looking for someone to talk to and happens to catch you on the sidewalk. Just exactly how DOES one explain blogging to an 86 yr old, hard-of-hearing, retired construction worker who's never used a computer?
Go ahead. Give it a try. I dare you. No, I DOUBLE-dare you! ;)
Fabric, Project Simplify, Quilting 
Reader Comments (9)
Oh I know exactly what you mean, there's a blog post in everything!!!!
Love all those gorgeous fabrics. :)
Vivienne x
WOW....I love those Flower Sugar fabrics. I am going to hunt for those on-line today and see if I can buy some for myself! I have officially decided that I love your stash more than I love my stash....LOL
Have a wonderful day!
Don't worry, I take photos of all sorts of weird things to include in posts ...... Malcolm just pretends he's not with me and walks on!!
I thought this post was soo funny. My neighbor caught me wondering around my front yard in my jammies dragging a quilt and camera to "catch the best light". She laughed, but I could tell she still thought I was kinda crazy!
ha, that's too funny - I try to keep my camera with me, or at least my camera phone b/c you never know when a blogging topic may present itself :)
Girl you are funny! I know what you mean about walking outside in pj's....try running after 2 stray dogs down the street and around the corner with a bag of dog food trying to catch them!! Seriously Mr. Jones would have a hay day on my street : ) I am a proud to be dork! I wear my pj's or sweats all the time - it's called " a working from home ensemble"....
Anywhoo, you are amazing as always and I love the red and aqua quilt! Those are two of my fave colors of course...have been for years! It turned out wonderful and I'm so happy you'll be sharing with our friends in Japan. Someone will love it so much : )
I love Flower Sugar! I don't have any but it's wonderful. Love your quilt. You rock girl! I'm working on another quilt too. Will send you a picture when I'm done. So many more quilts to make.
you will be glad to know ive started pinning squares :p ive run out of pins though so im going to have to start stitching a few rows! How long does it take to do an entire quilt?!
I'm in love with all the colors and fabrics.Vintage and sweet looking!