Having a sew day to work on projects is always nice, but when it comes with a group of friends to chat with on Virtual Retreat, it is even better. Last Friday, we had a bunch of ladies, some coming for the whole day, others popping in and out as they needed to. My project for the day was to do something with the Japanese fabrics. So, I have a layer cake and a jelly roll in this gorgeous line called Kyoto. I want to do a wall hanging with the black background ones, but the sashing is not coming together. I tried black, but it doesn’t give the contrast needed. Red isn’t a color I want to use. So gold was next. But, this is not the right gold.
I was hoping to use something from the line, so I tried the green ginko print. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work either. I think what I need is a metallic gold.
So, I know what I want to use and don’t want to use from these precut packs. There are several prints I am not so fond of. I pulled those out to see what could be done with them.
If I sacrifice a couple of the black jelly roll strips, I’ll have enough contrast to do strip sets of three. I put them together and started sewing.
When I had four sets sewn, I cross cut them into 6-1/2-inch squares.
Then, I pulled the same prints from the layer cake and cut them down to the same size.
Making sure that one of the strip sets was placed horizontally, and one vertically, I began sewing the rows in random order alternating the prints into the strip set blocks.
Three rows of four blocks done. This is starting to get interesting, because the prints are tesselating.
Another row added.
I made another four x four piece, and sewed them together. Well, crap on a cracker! I sewed two rows of the same strip set together.
I ripped out a line of stitching and turned the bottom half around. I thought that fixed it, but I realized later that it is still wonky. All the strip sets of the same fabrics are supposed to be oriented the same way. They are not. But oh well, it looks OK. And it is a improv after all.
It is too narrow, so I lay out some additional bits to add another row to the left.
Along about here, I was commenting to the group that I may have had an epiphany. I realized that I was spending more time sewing what I didn’t want to keep, rather than on something I wanted to do. Do you do that? I am so afraid of messing up the pretty stuff, that I spend my time working on other things where the outcome isn’t critical. I need to look for that perfect pattern or additional fabric to finish the project I really want to do, so I enjoy the project more.
Back to the improv, I put a black border on it, so it will separate the main body of the quilt from the scrappy border planned.
That is where it stands now. I will get back to it this week. I do need to figure out how I can best utilize the scraps left over to make the final border. Then I’ll quilt it.
The other project I finished right before Virtual Retreat, that I shared in the Zoom was this Honeybee project. Remember the little tray I made for my table next to the chair in the den?
Well, in actual use, it was a miserable failure. I didn’t put a stiff enough batting in it, and the sides were not tall enough. When I put things in it, the side collapsed and stuff went to the floor anyway. So, I took out the stitching that created the sides and pressed it flat again. I really like the fabric and didn’t want to waste the work.
I remeasured the corner seams to 2-1/2 inches, and marked a new sewing line.
This will more that double the height of the sides. Repeat for all four corners.
The wings created will help form a sturdier box.
Fold two wings to the center of a side and pin. The measurements were designed for the points to just touch. Repeat on the opposite side.
I sewed the points together by hand, and then stitched them down to the base. I had found these adorable buttons on the freebie table at guild, and got them out to adorn the box.
I sewed a little bee on the points. I love this!
Now I have an adorable thread catcher, and one can never have enough of those. I still need to make a couple more, one for the longarm and one for the ironing board.
So, questions for you, dear readers. I am doing a bit of a survey among friends about what you buy at quilt shows. Do you actually buy handmade items at shows? What makes you buy rather than say “I can make that myself?” Is it the fabric the item is made with? Is the design? Is it an embellishment that you know would be hard to find or something you cannot do yourself? Is the item perhaps something cute that you’d rather not make but would like to have – like potholders or things with cute fabrics or embellishments like embroidery? Are you more likely to buy something in seasonal prints (spring, fall, holiday) or everyday prints (sewing, gardening, cooking)? Would you buy one of these thread catchers if it had a cute button? How about a table topper with an embroidered center? Does a funny saying sway you? What have you bought in the past? Please leave a comment with your experience. Post in our Facebook group what you’ve purchased in the past so we can discuss there too. I’d really appreciate it!
From My Carolina Home 
Hi,
My purchasing at quilt shows usually leans toward vendors I have gotten to know over the years, to support them.That was a great call on changing the points on your thread catcher and adding the bee buttons! If you haven’t used up your Kyoto fabrics and still need the ‘right’ gold, ypu mighttake a look at Christmas fabrics. I enjoy your posts and that you share your thought process.
Charlie
I’m a terrible person to survey – at quilt shows I only buy fabrics/threads or something I can’t/don’t make. I figure the gift gallery is for those who would like to sew but can’t or don’t have time or don’t know how. The items I make & donate to our gift gallery that were good sellers are baby quilts, quilted pouches, & covered notebooks. I think anything embroidered is a good bet, and people love seasonal items, especially if it’s something they can use as a hostess gift – wine bottle bags were popular at the last show I visited.
I do buy items at craft shows. Mostly, I would not purchase something that I can sew myself. If there are UNIQUE bags that are handmade, I would buy them. Because I use my bags and they do get “used and abused”. I love knitted items and I always buy hand-knitted dish cloths (probably 10-12 per year). My mother made those and they are the best dish cloths! I cannot knit. I probably would purchase placemats if I liked the design because my placemats become used and abused, too. So, for me, items that become used frequently is good to sell.
I love how you redid the box and the Japanese fabrics are lovely. I can’t address your question in terms of quilts but for the stuff I do, if I see something I like that isn’t outrageously expensive but would serve as a good inspiration or technique piece, I’ll seriously consider buying it.
Love the fabric box for traveling, fold and go – also your choice of pattern for that lovely fabric!!!!!
i have only been to one quilt show (a few years ago). drove 4 hours to get there. after paying for a ticket, i used exceptional self control, and walked away with numerous ideas and a few (3) fat quarters.
truth in advertising, i did get to look and play with floor model sewing machines as displayed by the different companies. i got a great “education” on the feels and built in packages of sewing machine models. (was using a singer 305 at the time. not even a zig zag stitch on it!) i purchased a (sale) used for the show “classroom” model sewing machine a month later!!!
my next “ticketed” event will be a bucket list item… visit the quilt museum in paduka, ky.
im not a hardcore quilter. i quite enjoy my sewing time, but being outdoors still wins hands down. there is so much information (available and shared) on the internet that i have been able to make do. it truly is a varied and inclusive community of crafters with something out there for everyone. i thank you for that!
I primarily make quilts so besides fabric, I buy handmade goodies: seasonal napkins, baskets, coin purses, a stuffed pumpkin, stuffed tomato, christmas ornaments, bowls, mug rugs. Many I’ve given as gifts. I think price point is important, so probably under $20, but then I would buy multiple things!
I bought the stuffed tomato last fall because I had never seen anything like it! It’s about 6 inches round and weighted at the bottom (then solidly stuffed) with a cute little lady bug button on the top! My other favorite purchase is a Christmas napkin set that we use every year that washes up nicely without turning into a nasty crinkly mess that needs to be ironed! Even my husband enjoys the handicraft section at the quilt show! He picked out the stuffed pumpkin a couple years ago and bought a laser cut wooden lantern from one of the men that was displaying his non-quilty handicrafts.
One local quilt guild show had little two pocket credit card holders – I got one. Use it all the time. Have not purchased anything else pre-made at a show ot store.
When at a quilt show, I buy things that I don’t care to make myself. Zippered items would be something I’d look over and baskets. Other than that, I generally veer towards fabrics or little kits. Sounds like you had a very productive sewing day!
If it’s my local Guild I will put some Throw Quilts and anything else I think would make the sale table. But I will buy embroidery patterns, maybe a couple of pieces of ‘can’t live without’ fabric. Luscious buttons. Don’t usually buy things I can make myself. I’m more likely to attend tutorials where I can build on my knowledge. But, it’s certainly a fun day. 😀
Mary :))
I definitely love to purchase home sewn items. I would not be interested in the catch-all trays but theybare darling, nor cute sayings. But I love seasonal table items (runners, squares, napkins to match, perhaps). Bowl cozies i purchased were a big hit for my grown kids this year at Christmas, even though they made jokes about them when they opened them (made beanies out of them), they later said how useful they are. I also purchased a darling Advent quilted wall hanging for granddaughter that had button on characters for the days leading up to Christmas. It appeared to be a kit the seamstress used, as it came with a legend of where to button the items.
I can sew but do not devote my time to that hobby. I most certainly appreciate the time and handwork of seamstresses and quilters who do!
I tend to purchase project type kits at Quilt shows. One year I bought a kit to make one of those collapsible scrap catchers. Another year I bought the kit to make a small quilted advent calendar. If you had that little bee box sitting there with kits made up with everything in it including instructions, that’s the sort of thing I would buy.
Great save on the tray . That new shape works so much better.
I hope you find the right colour for your sashing.