New Fabric Purchases

Do you wash your fabric before using it?  I know a lot of people don’t, but I always wash my fabric as soon as I buy it.

Yesterday I went fabric shopping with a friend, and bought some beautiful fabric at Cutting Cloth in Fairfield.  It is a gorgeous shop and I was only planning to buy a few things, but I walked out with two bags of fabric, and a new quilt idea percolating. 

I have washed all my new purchases, and now they are waiting in a giant mound to be ironed.

So this is what my personal sewing area looks like.  I always have several projects on the go at once.  You can see on my design wall a young girl’s quilt I am making for a family member as a Christmas present.

My ironing board really needs a new cover.  It is so bad my husband commented on it recently.  I really would like a new ironing board as this one is very old and on the small side.  My iron is also very old, but I like a plain iron, and this one works perfectly.  

Sydney 2012 Quilt Show

Last weekend I went to Sydney for the weekend with my husband.  On Saturday morning we went to the Quilt Show.  We both agreed that it was the best show in Sydney we have attended.  The quilts were so inspiring.

It was with pleasure I saw my quilt Ruled by Chocolate hanging there.  As it won Best in Show in Victoria last year, it travels around the country this year along with all the other Best in Show quilts, which is such an honour.

Here is a photo of my quilt with the quilt show in the background.  If you want to see close up photos of my quilt click here.

It wasn’t until I got home that I realised that I also managed to include on the left of the photo a lovely shot of Rachelle Denney’s gorgeous wholecloth quilt.  Luckily I also took a photo of the quilt information for this quilt.  

I usually don’t spend too much time at at the vendors when I go to a quilt show as I find the crowds off putting, but I wanted to find  a present for a friend.  I also ended up buying some fabric for myself – I just couldn’t resist. 

After we left the show, Paul and I stopped for lunch and of course I had to pull out and play with my fabric purchases.  I was unaware Paul snapped this photo of me.

In my hand I am holding the roll of Kofu fabric which will be a gift for someone special (she knows who she is, so if she is reading this blog I bet she is zooming in for a close up on the fabric right now).

I was in Japan several years ago and was lucky enough to attend a quilt show there.  I loved the Sakizomemomen fabrics and bought some.  When I saw more at the Sydney show I couldn’t pass by adding to my collection in the same shades as what I had at home.

Here is a picture of the fabric I purchased in Japan.

Here is a picture including my new purchases in the top row.  I think they blend in perfectly.  I don’t know what I will do with the fabric yet.  Just playing with it is pleasure enough right now.

Shopping with Sinead

Today was a fun day.  My niece Sinead had asked me to make her a quilt for her couch.  As her 21st birthday is coming up, I thought it would be a perfect present. 

So today we went fabric shopping.  I always enjoy shopping for fabric, and spending time with my favourite eldest niece was a bonus.

This is the fabric she chose – very yummy, and matches her couch and cushions perfectly.

These are Sinead’s three blind mice statuettes which she loves and asked me to post on my blog for the world to see.

Whilst I was visiting Sinead I also took a photo of the quilt I made for her a couple of years ago.  The is the Giant Dahlia pattern, and I got the templates from Michelle Yeo.  I plan to make this quilt again in reproduction fabrics, and have even selected the fabrics - it is on my very long ‘to do’ list.