Friday, February 15, 2008

Quilting Up Flowers!

Yesterday one of my tasks was to replace my lost embroidery supplies. It just so happens that the needlework shop, the quilt shop, and the sewing machine shop are all next door to each other (how much better can it get than that!), so I enjoyed browsing through all three shops in the process of shopping for a new hoop, needles, and floss. Each shop was filled with beautiful patterns, textiles, and sample pieces. It was fun visiting with the shop owners and to learn of what they see as trends in sewing. From them I learned that quilting has been popular again for about twenty years, so quilters are looking for more dimensional projects to work their magic on, thus quilted tote bags and similar projects are very popular right now. And the forecast is that garment construction will experience a come-back in the year ahead. Unfortunately, in our community, the fabric stores that carry beautiful fabrics appropriate for garment construction have mostly all closed their doors while quilting shops have sprung up all over the place. Although they are most welcome and wonderful, they don't carry the luxurious, draping, and silky yardage that makes personal sewing projects turn out with exceptional quality, fit, and form. The good news is that I learned that a new and very large fabric store is coming to town soon! I'm excited --- it's one that has it's roots in Seattle and is well-known for a broad range of textiles. It will be nice to have a source of quality and assorted fabrics nearby again. While in the sewing machine shop I noticed this beautiful floral quilt on the wall. I immediately thought of the Wildflowers in Winter project that Elizabeth Joy is conducting and asked if I could take a picture. This quilt is exquisite! An Eleanor Burns design, the fabrics featured for each flower are specially coordinated for the type of flower. For example, the morning glory flower is made from yardage that has a print of tiny morning glories. The vibrant spring colors and the beautiful scalloped edge make this quilt stunning and oh so lovely!

14 comments:

  1. Lovely quilt.....I love our Pacific Fabrics that is not to far from me. You know there is a huge Sewing Expo coming to the Puyallup Fairgrounds at the end of the month. Over 450 vendors...I don't know IF you know or not.
    I am enjoying your week of wildflowers.
    Deby

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  2. Let me know when the new fabric store is open. Good fabric is so hard to come by in my town. I wish I could go to the Sewing Expo. I've wanted to go for several years, but haven't thought it was something that the kids would endure too well. Maybe I can go when they are older.

    The quilt you found is so lovely. I might have to make one.

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  3. Anonymous11:48 AM

    What a beautiful quilt with interesting tidbits about the sewing community! What new fabric store is coming to your area? That will be exciting!

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  4. Wow, that is a lovely quilt. I love quilts, though am not a quilter. I did a little embroidery this past week (freehand) on some baby onesies (did I spell that right ?) -as I had lots of couch time, due to a viral infection.

    Doing some embroidery to personalize some wee baby things, as we await our adoption to Ethiopia. Hopefully our baby will be swaddled in love! Looking forward to enjoying the wait, which sometimes feels eternal.

    The to-be-sewing shop sound great...hope you enjoy it.

    Kimmie
    mama to 6
    one homemade and 5 adopted

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  5. Oh that green is so spring like. Good job on asking to take a picture of it.

    Oh I am already jealous of your new fabric store. I loathe our pathetic selection.

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  6. Anonymous2:58 PM

    The quilt is so Springy! I love the colors...

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  7. Anonymous5:07 PM

    I don't quilt but visited several fabric stores today (as I plan on doing more plates in the future)
    I love the creativity that I see in these shops in the displayed quilts and clothing items...it is truly awesome what people come up with!
    I'm no good with a needle myself but I can glue...glue I can do...LOL!

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  8. Oh the joy for you to be able to shop for fine fabrics. That quilt is so lovely. I am enjoying all the wild flower posts you have been doing. Maybe as the kids get a little older and we move and settle in I can start a garden again.

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  9. Anonymous6:05 AM

    A beautiful quilt!

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  10. We have a fabulous fabric store here...we can spend hours going through the aisles...beautiful quilt, too!

    Have a blessed and wonderful day!

    smiles, kari & kijsa

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  11. What a gorgeous quilt!! I can relate about fabrics. So excited for you to be getting a new fabric shop. Ohh ~~ your blog is inspiring and I love your pics.
    Blessings!
    Celestina,
    La Rea Rose

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  12. Gorgeous quilt. I so wish I could sew.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Blessings,
    Sandy :)

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  13. Beautiful quilt. The hand-quilting is very intricate, isn't it? :-)

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