And the verdict is...!

The fabric is what everyone claims it to be. Really...Really...REALLY fantastic. Not kidding. It's got some GREAT colors and the prints are amazing.

However, it looks suspiciously like Punctuation By Sandy Klop of American Jane for Moda. 

Copy cat? Perhaps. 

When I was at the store, she shorted me when she stretched the fabric (again!), so tomorrow I'm heading on a road trip to one of the super-stores to find more prints of this line. Word of the wise - call ahead to make sure the store has this fabric. When you call, specify that the label says D.S. Quilts on a blue label on the bolt. 

When I went to my local Jo-Ann's, they looked at me like I had three heads, and then showed me all the new stuff they had. The D.S. was laying under a heap of sale fabric because they hadn't gotten around to putting it out yet. (audible gasp!). I told them how big a deal this fabric was in blog-land and the manager looked at me like I must not have a life, other than sewing (which isn't a bad thing!...right?)

I felt a little like I was betray my LQS (local quilt shop) by buying this fabric. I'm reeally loyal to my LQS, so it felt like I was going to a cheap motel to have an affair. Hahaha!

Have fun with this fabric! It's worth it!

Happy Quilting!

Four words I would have never imagined being in the same phrase

Denyse Schmidt. Jo-Ann Fabrics. Yes, ladies (and a few gentlemen), you read correctly.

This photo was taken from a fellow Etsy seller, with her permission.

Denyse Schmidt is a very popular designer. And the quality of her fabric is very good. Which is why (and I will say this without shame) I was so surprised to see my computer blowing up with this news that she had designed a line specifically for Jo-Ann Fabric Stores. 

Holy S&%$. 

(Excuse my French)

This is sure to create some controversy. How will this affect the local stores that carry awesome, high quality, and already beautiful fabrics? 

How will Jo-Ann's handle the onslaught of quilters flocking to their stores? 

I can tell you right now, the ladies (and, yes, a few gentlemen) at my local Jo-Ann's are lucky to know the difference between cotton and canvas. I'm not, in any way, bad-mouthing their character, personality, etc. But the ladies at my local quilt shop know their stuff, and the service I get at my local store is far better, more personal, and a lot friendlier than the service I've gotten from Jo-Ann's, which is something I value over a good deal.

Not to mention, whenever I've gotten fabric at Jo-Ann's, they stretch the fabric and it always leaves me short of what I asked for, and they cut with scissors so I end up having to cut off at least an inch to make it straight. So I'm over-paying!

So, the question that everyone is asking themselves...

Do I betray my LQS (local quilt shop) and get this beautiful fabric, and risk bad customer service and, quite possibly, not the amount of fabric I want?

How many of you are speeding out to Jo-Ann's to snatch up some of this fabric? I think I might take a trip over there just to see what they have. I'm very wary of buying fabric from my local Jo-Ann's, so I will keep you updated. 

Charm squares, layer cakes, jelly rolls, and fat quarters

Doesn't the title make you a little hungry? LOL! It sounds a little like a bakery with delicious treats that probably shouldn't be in my diet :o)

Since Sunday night, my rotary cutter has been busy, busy, busy! I've been making charm squares from the Whimsy FQB (Fat Quarter Bundle), and the accent fabric!

This fabric is from Make Life by Sweetwater for Moda. Yum! I fell in love with it the minute I saw it :).

It almost has a purple undertone when it's put next to the Whimsy, and I love it!

Also, I picked up a couple layer cakes today :).

 

Origins by Basic Grey for Moda.

It's got some really interesting color combinations that I've never worked with before!

Black is always a color I've been afraid of in quilting, and I've been trying to stay away from it. Mostly because when I think of quilts, I think of cheery, cuddly, blankets that you curl up under on your back patio while reading your favorite book. Black...well...it's not very cheery, lol!

But, Seeing it paired with the yellows, blues, and greens makes it seem so much more beautiful, and I even got a little Moda Marbles in black!

The plan for these cakes is for two rag quilts!

My dearest friend Lauren is going to help me make them (weather she likes it or not, heehee!).

She is just starting to sew, and I may be a little biased, but I've been talking her ear off about quilting and how easy it is. I think she's starting to be sick of me :).

Hopefully we can get together soon, because I refuse to start mine without her!

Oh man, have I got new stash up the wazoo! Two jelly rolls and a FQB are here!

30's Bella Solids for Moda and Moda Bella Solids in Snow. I love it!

Punctuation by American Jane for Moda. If you recall the baby quilt I did using a kit with this fabric, I love, love, love it! This FQB also comes with two panels, which was a fun little surprise :).

Happy Quilting!


**EDIT - Someone asked where they could find the Basic Grey layer cake. I found it at my local quilt shop, but it can be found on Ebay here. The 30's jelly roll can be found here and the Bella Solids Snow jelly roll can be found here. The Punctuation FQB can also be found here. <---That link also has selections of punctuation in charm packs, jelly rolls, honey buns, layer cakes, panels, and yardage. Enjoy!

Finally, a quilt for us

I are in the very early stages of assembling a quilt for my hubby and I. 

This will be the first quilt that will live with us. I am very excited! I am using the Whimsy by Fig Tree Quilts Fat Quarter Bundle. I posted about this bundle awhile ago, and I finally worked up the courage to cut into it. 

I will be using a disappearing nine-patch pattern, and a tutorial of this easy-peasy pattern will go up later this week. 

In the meantime, these fat quarters will be cut up into charm squares...lots...and lots of charm squares! 

So what's everyone having for dinner? I think chicken and potatoes sounds lovely :).

Happy Quilting!

A labor of love

Another quilt top finished! This particular quilt top is for my aunt. I ordered thread today, and I will be quilting it in the next week or two. 

The borders are absolutely fantastic. The bigger border really ties in all the colors and it just kinda gives this a good punch. 

This quilt was definitely a labor of love, but I am so proud of myself for accomplishing a quilt of this size.

Not to mention, it already makes for a great cuddle blanket :).

How are your projects coming? I'd love to see what you have going on in your sewing rooms!

Happy Quilting!

Spam Alert!

This is for all bloggers! 

Today, while checking my quilting email, I found a message from one "Kathy Lagoli" saying that she never heard a response from me and wondered if I was still in business. Yeah, pretty good stuff, right? Well, I searched and searched through all my archived messages, emails, the works and found nothing from this person. 

So, to Google I go and found that this is a spam email! They might ask for your phone number, etc. so DO NOT respond! I was convinced I had lost my mind and didn't respond to someone! 

In other news, I am taking a hiatus from sewing (gasp!) and doing some serious house cleaning (bigger gasp!). I will return on Saturday to show off some stash and a new pattern I will be trying! It's very exciting and it's something very new for me! 

Have a lovely day and Happy Quilting!

Hey there, Delilah

This Saturday, April 9th, one of my quilts will be auctioned off at my local church/school auction! I am so very humbled that they accepted my quilt :). 

"Delilah"

I was listening to a song by The Plain White T's - Hey there, Delilah and I was very inspired! 

I feel it's very whimsical, fun, and just down-right pretty :). 

I used a pattern from Moda Bakeshop. It can be found here. 

The entire quilt top and binding was made from one layer cake! Yes, you read right! Although I didn't use the Lilly and Will she has in the tutorial (I used Whimsy by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda), I found this pattern to be very easy to follow. The instructions were clear, precise, and the diagrams for the cutting of the layer cake were very handy! 

The back is pieced, also with fabrics from Whimsy.

This quilt went very fast. From start to finish, it took about 5 days. That's some serious speed-sewing! Whew!

I used an all over free-hand design that took about an hour to quilt on the long-arm machine. I think I mentioned this in my post for my last quilt, but I'll say it again. If you don't use a long-arm for quilting, I highly recommend it! I have seen the light, as it were!

The thread I used, which blends in perfectly with the fabric, is a light yellow, almost a butter from Connecting Threads. It's a variegated, 50 wt cotton thread, and I will definitely be buying more of this color!

The finished quilt measures 43" square. A perfect baby size!

Oh, I almost forgot about labels! I always, always, always label a quilt! After I'm 6 feet under, I want others to remember my work and where it came from! 

I used to label my quilts with a fabric marker and a little stabilizer, and I hated labeling this way. I don't have very nice penmanship, so I dreaded this part. Until I found a tutorial for so pretty labels from Crafty Gemini! She posted a very easy video tutorial on how to make labels using a computer, printer, freezer paper, an iron, and a scrap of fabric. It's so-ooo easy, I promise! Watch her tutorial here, and try it! You won't be sorry!

Happy Quilting!