THERE'S SOMTHING ABOUT THOSE 30s

The other day when Linda Tanner stopped in at the shop to get border fabric for this charming quilt, I persuaded her to let me take a picture of it.  I love the 30s fabrics and couldn't resist drooling over this quilt.  Lately I have been using brighter fabrics and gone a little modern, but I find myself always going back to the 30s fabrics.  They are so clean and gentle looking.  Linda said this pattern is called Pride and Joy.  She calls it Clara's quilt as it is for her seven-year-old granddaughter. 

Thanks Linda for sharing with us!  I'm sure you will find the perfect fabric to compliment this quilt as the Attic Window Quilt Shop has quite a few bolts to choose from.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• Gayle Bong has a few free patterns for you.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE 30s FABRICS

I arrived early Tuesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop in hopes of seeing what members of the Tuesday Bee were working on before they left for the day.  I was glad I did.  Above is this darling hexie quilt that Jan M. is making.  There is something about those 30s fabrics that make me smile and think of sweetness. 

Jan is so interesting to talk to.  I sat and watched her while she stitched and told me how she got interested in quilting.  She said when she was a child her father took her to visit one of his Aunts.  Jan said she was in awe of all the beautiful hand made items in the house.  She said to her father, “I want to do that when I get big.”  Jan said that her Father (that’s right) taught her how to use a sewing machine when she was five years old and that she has been sewing since.  All her early quilts were completely hand stitched, even the patchwork pieces.  She didn’t get a sewing machine until years later.  Jan said she still enjoys hand sewing.  You can tell that too.  Just look at this perfect block that will go into a full quilt!

Barb David showed us this darling quilt, also in 30s fabrics.  Barb said it is called the Jiffy Jelly Roll quilt.  I was surprised to see this large quilt was made by using only one Jelly Roll. 

Jelly Rolls of the 30s fabrics are in the shop.  I’ve searched for the pattern and have not been successful.  If you are interested please call the shop.

DON’T FORGET: 

• The Shop will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.
• Teachers please get your upcoming classes on the calendar ASAP.  A reader said she’d like to learn how to hand sew. 
• Mark your calendar now for the next Stitch-In which will be held September 20th and 21st.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  Just Another Hang Up has a clever tutorial for a pocket pillowcase.  Check it out.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

DO YOU LIKE 30s FABRICS?

What do you think about the 30s fabrics?  When I first started quilting, 30s fabrics were all I used.  Then my taste changed and I gravitated to the brights.  However, my love of the calming 30s fabrics has never died.  I still love them and decided to visit the 30s Clubees at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Barb David said that this group uses the 30s fabrics in whatever they decide to make.  It is her wish to keep the 30s alive.  It is also a good time for people to visit and stitch.  Above Barb is working on her Butterfly quilt.

Pat Anisko showed me her Butterfly quilt.  This is an old pattern and lends itself to these beautiful 30s fabrics.  I love how Pat has her butterflies going in various directions….just like real butterflies.

This is a close up of some of Barb's blocks.  Note the various size blocks and how these butterflies are not of all one fabric.  I think that is what I like about the 30s fabrics.  The colors are friendly and they all seem to go with one another. 

 Mary Ellen said that she loves the 30s fabrics and enjoys the Clubees because she can find all kinds of ways to use these wonderful fabrics.  Above she showed me her English Paper Pieced hexagon flower for her Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt.

 Jan is also working on a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt.  Note her stack of flowers that she is pulling “flowers” from.

 I love this flower that Jan made.  This is just one reason I love the 30s fabrics.  They are sweet, fresh, clean, and invoke of wonderful memories.

Maggie showed us this die cut.  If you don’t want to cut the hexagon templates or the fabric for them yourself, you can have the shop do it for you with this die.  

After the first of the year, when that winter doldrums set in, come and join the 30s Clubees.  All are welcome, from beginners to seasoned quilters. We’re a little bit Club and a little bit Bee, but we’re a 100% 30’s. Come join us once a month as we work with the 30’s fabrics. Choose from the extensive re-production selection at the Attic Window, or pull from your 30’s stash collection. There will be new patterns and projects to choose from or bring a 30’s UFO with which you need a little help to finish. Our goal is to share, help, and enjoy! Come—Be a 30’s Clubee. We meet the third Tuesday of the month from 1:30-3:30.  Fee: $5/month.

Don't Forget Happenings at the Attic Window: 
           BREAKFAST STITCH-IN – Friday, Nov. 23, from 8 a.m. - ? Stop in and sit and stitch and enjoy a light breakfast with quilting friends.
           CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY – Saturday, Nov. 24, from 9-5.  Join us for a fun filled day of making some early Christmas gifts. Class is FREE. Three or four projects will be available. Kit fees will vary. Bring a dish to pass. Call and sign up as space is limited.

On Another Note:  My Garden of Loves has a tutorial for attractive place mats.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

FLOWERS FOR YOUR TABLE

Not much happening today. It’s still hot here in Michigan, and humid! Therefore, I’ve been in my sewing room in the basement trying to stay cool, and sewing. I just finished this table topper. I love a dressed table and thought this would like nice when a friend stops by for coffee or ice tea. This is an adaptation of the Basket of Flowers pattern by Mary Engelbreit for Moda. Naturally I made it out of the 30s fabrics. Not only do I love those fabrics for their clean crisp look but I have a ton in my stash and this was a great way to use them.

You can make this table topper with me during an upcoming class at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Look for the new class schedule and newsletter which will be out soon.
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Check out this great tool for calculating how much fabric you need for your binding. Try the Nifty quilt binding calculator. Wamber Whimsies blogs about it here. You can try it out here.
♥
Until next time,
Caroll

DO YOU FEEL SAFE?

“When our soul feels safe, when we have relationships that nurture us, then our souls feel safe to grow and create.”
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I read this some place and thought about my relationship with the quilting world. When I first started quilting, I was often amazed about how the women would ohh and ahh over a quilt that I thought not to my liking. Over the years I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone at the Attic Window Quilt Shop tell another person during show-n-tell that their work was terrible and they should have done this or that. Somewhere along the way it dawned on me: Quilters are nurturing and giving and realize that even though that pattern might not be to their liking or that the color choice is not theirs, others are proud of what they do and that is what matters. The above quote is true. When our soul feels safe, we feel safe to create. What do you think? Has the quilting world made you feel safe to create? Are you able to experiment, screw up, learn, and experiment again without fear of someone trash talking about it? Let me know what makes you feel safe.

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I made the above windmill quilt out of 30s fabrics from my stash. My 30s stash is in great need of reduction so I’ve been trying to use them up. The aqua border lends a more modern touch to those 30s fabrics, don’t you think?

These coloring book bags are for my dear friend who has three little ones. I filled them with coloring books and crayons to help the little ones stay busy during the summer when there is “nothing to do.”

I love this new site I found (new to me). It even has free quilt classes on line. Hope over and take a look at the Lyn Brown Quilt Blog

Quilt, Knit, Run Sew has a great way to audition your quilting design before you start to sew.
♥
Until next time,
Caroll

FLOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! I hope you’re having a great day. My kids will be here later this afternoon so I thought I’d show you my latest finish before they arrive. As you know, I love flowers, appliqué, and 30’s fabrics. When I saw the book “Flower Festival” by Kim Schaefer, I had to have it.

Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been making my blocks for the Around the World Quilting Bee from this book.

Don’t look too closely. My quilting on it leaves a lot to be desired as I was trying some new things, but the quilt itself is one of my favorites. The 30s fabrics are so fresh and clean looking. I think something subconscious might be going on here, as these fabrics remind me of my childhood.

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Don’t forget to take a look at the calendar for the upcoming classes at the Attic Window this week. You don’t want to miss Chris’s Mystery Block or Carolyn E’s Quick Trio Table Runner. Lee Ann’s Chubby Charmer tote and Sue’s Journal and Fabric Sampler classes are on Wednesday and Vickie has her All Shook Up class Saturday.
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Now, for something different. I hate waste. I love gathering all my scraps and “making fabric,” as shown here and here. I think this gives your quilt so much depth. Now Heather Reed of Holland Michigan has another way to make use of all those little scrap pieces. She has a great tutorial for making Confetti Fabric on her blog. I saw the finished product at the last Fiber Arts meeting and it is way too cool. I can’t wait to get started on a project of my own. Check it out here.
♥
Until next time,

Caroll