Paying It Forward and Giving Back

As I am refolding my fabric collection I see how much it is, and it is quite overwhelming really, taken in that I love to make tiny blocks and work by hand the very best.

As I have been folding like 1/4 of my stash over the last days - or maybe less than 1/4, I have not yet come across a piece of fabric that I do not love - that is always something :-)

Well - it is time for some serious action - I do not like to have this much fabrics.
It is all to much, as the professional organizer Peter Walsh would say.
There are some colours and fabrics that I do not love as much as others, but I love them nevertheless ;-)

I have always said that we shall support our local (quilt) stores, especially the independent ones.
My local quilt shop is closing shortly, like in about one month.
Marianne has chosen to find other work and I wish her the very best of luck!
She will still be in the business, so I know our paths will cross, but she will not be a shop owner and she will not be so local, but she will have more time to be with her loved ones and  take care of herself.
That is the most important things of all, we all know that!

I am grateful for the years she has run the shop - and I feel blessed to have had her only minutes from my home.
Marianne has always given the very best service and she will be missed!

The short distance to the shop has off course influenced on my fabric collection. It will be easier to keep on track with the fabric diet now that my nearest quilt shop will be further away from my Quilt Corner.
I will however miss very much to have a supplier of everything, like the latest Anni Downs patterns, needles, embroidery floss, batting and what not, close to my home.
Conclusion - I will not shop the closing sale for fabrics - I have what I need and then some!

How to shrink my fabric collection:

I will make more care quilts for children with cancer and other long term diseases.
I found this book in my book shelves - I have a nice collection of books too - I love my books as much as I love my fabrics :-)

I think this book is perfect for some stash reduction in fabrics for fronts, batting scraps and backing fabric.

My sewing has carried me through all kinds of days - through laughter and tears, through pain and through good days - you know sewing and fabrics are the very best pain killers, right?  :-)
Sometimes a good shopping spree combined with sewing has been the cure too!

I feel so blessed to be a quilter, and I feel so blessed that I can do something good for others too.

I know that the care quilts will be very well received, and I can not possibly make quilts for myself and my loved ones from all my fabrics, right ?
I like the thought of Paying It Forward to someone needing a hug!

I will share with you if/when I make fabric purchases through the rest of the year - I am making myself accountable :-)

Did I mention that my dear husband will love my shrinking of fabrics and batting scraps too? Not? ;-)

Stay creative,

Hanne

Think it, say it, do it

Think it, say it, do it - using from fabric collection, searching the scrap boxes :-)
Drawing in EQ6, calculating block size - 10", calculating the days available to do the quilt.

We are invited to a friend's 40th birthday Saturday in less than 2 weeks - 11 days to do the quilt.

What to give to someone having the most ?
A lap quilt matching the living room :-)
My friend is very fond of Coffee Lattes, and with the colours matching the living room style the work title of the quilt is just that - Coffee Latte.

Picking fabrics from my new shelves are a joy, as I can see them so well, and while talking on the phone with DH I sorted browns and cream out of the brown, cream and white scrap box.

To work oh bold quilter!

A Great Day

Oh great anticipation, the day had come, to visit May Britt !

We met at her local quilt shop, Lille Stasjon, and if you guessed I spent some (!!) money, you are right.
I am starting Leanne's House, in Japanese fabrics, as we speak, so to say.
May Britt was very supportive, helping me picking from the shelves ;-)
Here are my treasures:


I will mix these with Japanese fabrics I already have here.

May Britt's house has 2 porches, and we sat on the main porch first, having lunch, and when it was to hot, we moved to the other side of the house, where we spent the rest of the day outdoors, chatting, laughing, stitching, drinking coffee and soft drinks.

I got the chance to admire May Britt's quilts around her house. Every room have decorations made by her, some for decorations only and some utility things, like draw string purses of different sizes and purposes. Her sewing room is lovely and even her Ufos are neatly stacked.

When it comes to stitchery May Britt and I am two of a thread - or is it kind ? ;-)
She tipped me that Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House is coming to Norway in the autumn and now I am booked for Leanne's workshop too, with a sleepover at May Britt's house !
What can possibly beat that ???

May Britt is lovely company, as always, and her smile and laughter are very catching. If you saw me now, you would see I smile just writing about it :-)
You already know she is very skilled with the needle and it was very inspiring to spend time with her.

I was back home here a quarter to midnight, and even if it was a long drive, the driving conditions were good, with one of the rare evenings we have here this time of year, when it is still a touch of light by midnight.
I regret I did not stop near here to take a photo of the horizon, with reflections of the sun by midnight. It was a very special sight. Right after sundown the sky looked like mother of pearl too, in pink. I was playing a nice talk show on the radio, and I sang out loud to the music, so the drive was pleasant. Singing out loud when driving alone is one of my quirks, remember ?
Thanks for a wonderful day May Britt :-)

Early this morning, at 6.30 am the new fabrics went in the washing machine, and here they are drying. Goes well with the garden on wheels my DH built recently :-)


I was planning to cut them early today, for the first Leanne's House block, but good things also happens in clusters * yes ! *
and a friend dropped by for lunch and chatting on the porch, and after, it was time for running some errands and stuff.

Now, at 8 pm, I am cutting into my new fabrics :-)

PS. I will not be counting my buys anymore.
I will keep in mind that mindless buying brings little joy and new buys are for cutting into - and first and foremost: I am in this for the fun! :-)

Diet does not mean to not eat - diet mean regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one's weight Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary.
I can do a fabric diet - and I am still on the right side of using more than I am buying, and I will keep the diet plan in mind, but not let it take over for the fun :-)

Time to start the new block with the new fabrics !