Aug. 16, 2008 - Seaside Rose, Portugal, Mulberry, Paisley, Carnival Bloom,Sugar & Spice

For some of you, the title is a list of interesting nouns, but for the ones in the know, well, I hope your heart skipped a beat like mine did when I first held these fabrics. 

They are luscious!  Absolutely delicious.  These are not your average fabrics.  Don't expect to run to Hancock Fabrics and find material of this quality.  I would look online or at a local quilt shop for fine quality.  You pay a little more to begin with but you won't be disappointed by the feel or weight of the fabrics.  These are seriously smooth and luxurious. 

It has been over a year since I have bought fabric. I have been diligent in using my stash at home and being content.   I have been daydreaming about quilting and sewing again and decided to take action.  It soothes my soul to sew for others and for our family. 

Out of this stash, I hope to sew 6 dresses, several burp cloths and bibs for gifts, 2 throw sized quilts for our sunroom, and one surprise gift for a good friend.   I also bought the self healing mat, 2'x3', for $25!  It was 50% off and I am thrilled to have a new mat that is 3 times as big as my other one. 

Each of the three girls will get 2 new dresses, one in the mod foral with hot pink and chocolate brown corderoy and the other in the Seaside Rose florals by 3 Sisters (Moda).  I intend to make the corderoy fabric into long jumpers for this winter and the rose floral will be a dress with an apron over the top.  Very feminine! 

The yellow and red fabrics, Portugal, Mulberry, and Paisley by April Cornell (Moda), will be the fabrics for two new quilts in my sunroom.  The colors will look great with all our paint colors in the surrounding rooms.  I can't wait to snuggle in my swivel rocking chair and cover up in one of these quilts and hold my little ones.  I may try and hand quilt these.  It is much faster to quilt "in the ditch" on the machine but there is something to be had for quilting by hand when the weather outside gets cool. 

Quilting is one of my hobbies that teaches me patience.  You'd think that 5 kids and homeschooling would teach me all there is to know about patience but I have so much more to learn.  Cutting out each piece and sewing straight seams over and over again to create a beautiful quilt top is time consuming.   This is not a quick weekend project. I really want these quilts in my home though.  I can just picture them draped over the back of these two chairs.