Pink Quilting Bee 2018

What an adventure it has been! Last year I was lucky to be invited to join a group of wonderful girls to go on a year-long adventure - the Quilting Bee. I had no idea what it was and how it really worked, but after reading some history information behind it and some blogs, I thought that it was a wonderful opportunity to help all 11 girls make a quilt each and get help making my own pink quilt along the way. I am so grateful that the girls picked me for this project and let me use my stash for sewing for them.

Each months one of the Quilting Bees picked a particular block and sent us the instructions and colour preferences and then it was up to us to pick the fabrics from our own stashes, sew the block and send it to the Queen Bee. It was fun going through my stash each month and pulling the fabrics that I felt were right for each and every block. Even though I felt quite scared at the very start of this adventure, I am happy I joined the group and got to know the Instagram girls much better. So let me show you all the 12 beautiful blocks that I have made during 2018.

Sweet Orchard

It's the first fabric line by Sedef Imer of Down Grapevine Lane. I could not wait to get my hands on this pretty and absolutely sweet collections of fruit, berries, stripes, dots and florals. It truly is sweet!

Fabric Stash: New Additions

It's been a long while since I posted any fabric additions to my stash on my blog, but it does not mean that I have not been buying any fabric. It's quite the opposite actually. I have been adding small bits and pieces of different collections and random prints to my stash. Since I joined Instagram, I have discovered so many nice online fabric stores and what's even better is that some of them are local which means that the delivery costs are quite low. These adorable mice were on my shopping list for a very long time and finally I found them along with some piggies, and frogs, and kittens. Heather Ross' designs are always so fun and cute.

Fabric Stash: All in Pink

It's been a while since I showed you any additions to my stash. I have been buying some fat quarters here and there from time to time but nothing major really because I am trying to work with whatever fabric I already have in my stash. But some prints are simply impossible to resist. Just like the two prints below by Atsuko Matsuyama. Look at these cherries and strawberries! All in pink!

Fabric Stash: Small Additions

It's been a long while since I took any photos of new fabric additions to my stash. I keep buying fat quarters mostly of prints I like when I get a chance to visit any of the fabric stores. I also enjoy checking out some online stores, just to see what pretties are out there.

Fabric Stash Additions

I spoiled myself just a tiny weeny bit the other day. We all need a little bit of prettiness and treats in our lives, don't we? I came across these fat quarter packs from Korea in a local book shop. Yes, a book shop, in a craft section. I couldn't resist buying them. Simple but delicate prints in pure cotton would be great for any small project.

The top three fabrics are called "Strawberry", the middle three cuts are called "Petit" and the bottom ones are called "First Love". Lovely names, don't you think so? I have a couple of ideas where these prints may end up one day. I already used a tiny piece of the red fabric from the "Strawberry" pack, I am going to show you the result soon. Larisa xox

Fabric Stash: So Cute

I couldn't resist it. I got some new additions for my stash on my visit to a newly discovered fabric store recommended to me by Dina of Little by Little by Bossymamma all the way from UK. Thank you, Dina! :-)

I went to that store just to get some funky elastic but ended up with this lovely bundle. Tiny yellow acorns are from a collection Autumn Woods by Kate & Birdie for Moda Fabric. The cute hedgehogs are a part of Bluebird Park collection by Kate & Birdie also printed in Japan. And the third print is A Day in the Country Micro Check. Generally I would choose pinks or pastels unconsciously but this time around I was drawn to the simplicity and calmness of these prints and the cuteness of the hedgehogs.

The mushroom stamp I bought recently at a craft store and the hedgehog one is a lucky find while on our trip to Hong Kong in July. I already have a couple of ideas what to use these prints for, I just wish I had more time to hide away in my little sewing nook without any distractions for cooking, washing and useless things like that. I am looking forward to my back trip to that store where I saw much more cuteness. :-) Happy stashing everybody! Larisa xox

Fabric Stash: A Shopping Spree

Me, who really doesn't enjoy shopping, ended up going on a shopping spree... online... while I still had my cast on. It was a great excuse to buy more fabric and feel a bit sorry for myself. Hee hee... I suppose I should forget all about trying hard to use fabric that is in my stash only and admit that I have an addiction. A fabric addiction, just like many of us have. And admit that I love shopping for fabric.

Fabric Stash: Useful Scraps

I bought some scraps. Yep, fabric scraps. Two bags full of small bits and pieces and a few bigger offcuts. Oh, and a few handmade buttons as well. These scraps are not something that you might want to call delicious or pretty. These are upholstery and furnishing fabric scraps. Mostly screen printed linen and hemp. Not my usual choice of fabric but something that might be used quite creatively I think. I was hoping to find some medium weight linen for my envelopes at that particular store, but found this instead.

Fabric Stash and Pincushions

How many pincushions do you have? Do you always use the same one or you like to have a few around? Is there a limit to how many pincushions a girl should have in her sewing room?

A Little Exercise or Colour Therapy

It was a pile of old issues of Home and RealLiving magazines that was collecting dust and taking up some space for a very long time that I saw on Friday afternoon in my sewing nook. These magazines are full of interesting decorating ideas, living spaces solutions, great finds, handy hints and other stuff like that. But most of all they are full of colour. I was going to see if I could find some inspiring pictures for my sewing projects and then throw most of the magazines away. But instead I decided to give myself a little exercise.

While flicking through the pages, I realised that I was mostly attracted to colours, not the pictures of objects themselves, maybe because of the pain I was experiencing at that time, my mind was somewhere else. So I thought what if I flip through the pages and pay attention only to colour combinations that would captivate me. Armed with a cup of tea and a pair of scissors (a great work out for my left hand again!) I sat comfortably and began my colour therapy. It was interesting! I had never done this before. You look and see only colours ignoring anything else, any other details. Quickly I had a pile of small cut out pictures that looked like that put together.

Fabric Stash: Small Additions

I stayed at home for almost a week after I fractured my wrist before I was comfortable enough to go out. So when the pain settled a bit, I went for a short stroll. I needed a permanent fabric pen, so it was a great excuse to pop in to our local craft store that has a fabric section as well. How lucky! I got a little treat for myself along with the permanent pen I was looking for. If I can't sew, it doesn't meant I can't buy fabric. Right?

Fabric Stash. No More Additions. For Now

It's been a while since I shared with you new additions to my fabric stash. I have to admit, I went on a fabric shopping spree late last year and ended up buying a lot of fat quarters, much more than I need for things I make. After paying for the last bit of fabric, I found myself feeling quite guilty. It was an impulse purchase, something I don't usually do. So at that moment I decided to stay away from fabric shops for a while and try using only what I have in my stash for at least next month or two and buy fabric only if I really, really need it.

Fabric Stash Tickling Imagination

It's been a while since I bought any new fabric. Well, not that long but long enough to make me feel a bit fabric deprived. So I went shopping. Not really, just had a little look around one of the shops that has a teeny-weeny shelf with pre packed fat quarters. I picked up about eight rolls but stopped myself (Good girl!) and got only four. The four that I liked.

Beautiful Mess

Let me show you something. Do you know what it is? Well, this is the unexpected gifts that caused some pleasant distractions that I mentioned some time ago.

I was very lucky to get a gift from a Friend of mine, who works in a bridal boutique. She gave me a huge bag full of fabric scraps. Not just any fabric, but beautiful delicate fabrics that wedding dresses are made of - satin, silk georgette, tulle and lace. They throw them away! Our living room turned into a beautiful mess once I emptied the content of the bag on the floor. My mind went spinning... roses, purses, bags, more roses... Beautiful mess that inspires me, fills my head with ideas. Now you can see why I got distracted for almost three days in a row, I just kept folding and rearranging these bits and pieces of fabrics and lace, dreaming away and sketching what I could do.

These are just a few beautiful roses that I made in a matter of a few minutes (after I spent almost three days just rearranging the scraps and looking at them). The roses can be used as a decoration for a purse or a bag. They can be turned into brooches, hair clips, hair band decorations or can even be made into a necklace. For now I will just keep making them and storing them in a vase. My Boys thought they were meringues when they saw them on the dining table in the vase. How funny!

Fabric Stash Belle & Boo

I wish I could start this post with "today in my studio..." but at the moment I do not have a studio or a dedicated space for my stitching. My sewing machine is sitting on the dining table in our living room. The growing fabric stash is neatly stacked on one of the shelves of the book case and slowly crawling on the floor near by, and for small bits and pieces like snaps, buttons, threads, bobbins I have a large box that I keep in our sun room. A sewing and drawing studio is my DREAM that I am sure is going to COME TRUE one day. One day, but that day is not here just yet.

So for now I am going to keep creating in the warmth and coziness of our home, mostly in the living room or not far from the kitchen. :-) The lack of dedicated working space does not stop me from making things and building up my fabric stash. I know I already have more fabric than I need for my planned projects, but nothing can stop me, especially when one of the shops is conveniently located and the choice is quite good.

So good that I was lucky enough to find this fabrics by Belle & Boo in Spotlight the other day. The prints above are: Woodland Walk, Pirate Games, Tea Party and Ava and Friends. The drawings are amazingly sweet. I thought it would be hard to think of something to make using this materials because the prints are quite large and I do not really make things for little kids, but to my surprise the hardest part was cutting this fabric. I felt so sorry. I am going to buy some more, if I am lucky, and just keep it, because I like it so much. Do you have your absolute favourite fabric that you can't part with? Come back soon to see what I am making using these pretties.

Fabric Stash New Additions

It's been a while since I shared any new additions to my fabric stash with you. I am afraid that fabric shopping is becoming a serious problem; I simply cannot help myself when I see a pattern or colour I like. This is someone who does not really like shopping. Sometimes I buy material that I need for a planned project, sometimes I buy it only because I like it.

The stripy red and green fabrics were bought for two projects that I am working on at the moment. The beautiful bright flowery fabric, on the other hand, was bought only because I loved the colour combination of pink, green and pale yellow and the flower pattern too. I just had to have it.

The second fabric from the top was bought for a specific little project, a traditional Russian doll that I would like to make one day. I came across a picture and instructions on the net and thought it was rather cute. The material is meant for a head scarf. The bright orange and blue with flowers and orange specks might end up as a make-up bag. Maybe. The top and the bottom fabrics I bought only because I liked the look and feel of it. Do you have more fabric than you need? Happy stashing everyone!

Fabric Stash Additions

Just a quick stitching note - some new additions to my fabric stash. I know that I already have more fabric than I need for my planned projects, but I simply cannot help myself especially when one of the shops is conveniently located and has some nice finds.

I mostly use linen or heavy duty cotton as a base for my stitching so you can imagine that shopping for this type of fabric is nothing exciting. The printed cottons are primarily used for linings of notebooks and envelopes and small pieces are used for appliqué. Just a tiny splash of colour. This is why I am not fussed about the releases of latest fabric collections. But still I feel really happy when I come across something cute. Two fat quarters from Flying a Kite collection (in pink and orange) by October Afternoon for Riley Blake is my favourite. It's a last year collection but it does not matter, this fabric is still so pretty.

I just love looking at my stash, the colours and patterns are absolutely pleasing to my eye, the little bolts of fabric neatly stacked on a shelf or tiered up with a cotton ribbon - it's an endless joy for a fabric addict and a source of inspiration.

Fabric Stash

The world of needlecraft and fabric magic is still all new to me but I already have built quite a stash of fabric.

I don't like shopping but shopping for fabric is a different experience all together. I can spend hours looking through countless shelves of fabrics. It's like being in a library but instead of reading the spines of books you "read" fabrics; I am sure each and one of them has its own story to tell. When you see a new print, you know instantly if you like it or not, you get this rush of energy and your imaginations starts running wild with all the ideas of how you can use this particular fabric in your future projects. The photos show just a small part of fat quarters I got the last time I went shopping... it's never enough.