Fab Finds

 

Fab Finds- Building your stash

Looking for a little magic for your fabric stash? Exploring and expanding your fabric collection sometimes involves more than just a trip to the fabric store. Yes its always good to graze at your local quilt shop to keep abreast of what's new and add to your stash, but there are other cool places to find fabrics for your next quilt. 
A trip to the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show in Sturbridge, MA was a treasure trove of choices. Vendors came from far and wide. I found vintage fabrics, clothing, accessories, and linens from Europe and the US.  My imagination and pocketbook were not in sync but I happily found a few fabrics to add to my stash and the dates to return next year.   

 

vintage and new fabric collection

Can you guess which fabrics are the vintage finds? The two on the left came from the textile show. The blue and white dot is a seersucker with a Simpson Fabrics NY label the other has black velvet textured dots! The next three were purchased at a local quilt show, a quilt shop, and one from my stash all selected independently without a quilt design in mind. 

Stay tuned and see what happens to this wonderful assortment of fabrics! 

To visit the Vintage Textile Show see www.VintageFashionAnd TextileShow.com

Happy Quilting, 

Mary

 

allquilts: Exploring Elements of Quilt Design

allquilts: Exploring Elements of Quilt Design:    Welcome to All Quilts with Mary Walter!     For those of you looking for touch of  inspiration, it's time to take out y...

Exploring Elements of Quilt Design

 

 Welcome to All Quilts with Mary Walter!

    For those of you looking for touch of  inspiration, it's time to take out your fabrics and audition a few likely candidates for your next project.  

 Exploring Elements of Quilt Design: Contrast

     There are many ways to approach designing a quilt successfully. Quilters often use familiar images or favorite themes as a tool to begin their quilt design.

I admit, I am easily captivated by the quilts I get to see, and when a quilt captures my eye it makes me want to dig deeper. I ask myself, what is really attracting and holding my attention?  For example, I was instantly charmed by this new quilt by Ruth McDowell. 

 "Blue Moon Chicken" by Ruth McDowell

   Let's consider some of the reasons why Ruth's quilt demands a closer look, and focus on contrast as a design element. Contrast in quilts can be achieved by using color, texture, pattern and stitching. In this quilt, fabrics were chosen using color and value to visually set apart the shape of the chicken using lighter shades of blue against a darker background.

Looking more closely within the chicken, Ruth chose fabrics with more subtle value and patterns to further define the body parts, successfully capturing the posture and character of her chicken.  The chicken is so believable that it takes a moment to realize that it's blue!

Behind the chicken is a darker collection of fabrics with a less defined and larger scale. These fabrics hint at an architectural element - maybe a fence or chicken coop doorway set against a colorful field, enhancing the slightly more realistic view of the chicken.

 Essentially, we are given abundant visual information through Ruth's sophisticated use of fabrics that provide contrast through color and texture.

If you have been experimenting with contrast or are inspired to try this design technique in your next quilt, please share your thoughts! If you would like to see more of Ruth McDowell's quilts, be sure to visit her website at www.ruthbmcdowell.com.

                                                                                              Happy Quilting!

                                                                                              

                                                                    Mary