Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Flowers Thru The Barn Door


You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.
~Michael Jordan

I remembered!  My brain finally allowed to me remember what I wanted to write about yesterday!  That allusive little thought finally bared itself.  Do you remember when I made the promise that I wouldn't buy any fabric for one month?  I made that promise on March 24.  Today is April 27.  I made it through the entire month without buying a stitch of fabric.  Nothing, nada, zero, zip!  And now that I have made it to my goal, I really don't have any strong desire to run out and buy something new.  I have looked at sales sent to me and found some other great deals online but have managed to think "Do I really need it?"  And the answer is "NO!".  There is no nagging sensation that makes me feel like I have to buy.  No need to add to my stash.  Now I don't promise that I won't buy any fabric ever again because that would just be a waste of breath and an impossible promise to keep.  Especially since I will be going to a quilt show this weekend and there might be something that I just can't pass up - lol!  There - I did it!  I can turn away from sales and specials!  I can tamp down that urge to buy.  I just needed that little cooling off period to remind me to work with what I have.  I am proud of myself!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY
World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.
Some of us are natural storytellers. Some of us seem to get stuck listening to a lot of long-winded stories. Whatever your take, telling stories is an important part of the human experience. If you're stumped for a story to tell today, give this a try. It starts with a trip to the grocery store and it ends with a stolen helicopter and a talking dog.  You fill in the middle!

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BARN DOOR SWAP

Yesterday I made all of the blocks for both of my Barn Door Swap partners for May.

These are the 7.5" blocks I made for Jane.  She had no preferences.  I used some of the left over fat quarter from the block I made yesterday and made the fussy cut center for the block on the left.  The block on the right is made from some left over scraps from the Sweet and Sour line from Connecting Threads.

Next I made this 12" block for Blondie, once again using the left over scraps from yesterday.  I guess this is what fireworks would look like through a barn door.

This is the second block I made for Blondie.  It definitely has an Asian feel.  The flowered fabric has gold highlights around each flower.  The sides really aren't warpy like they look in the picture - that's what I get for laying the block on a curvy chair seat.  And the colors are much prettier than the camera was able to pick up.

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HEXAGON FLOWERS

Today is One Flower Wednesday and even though I didn't get a flower made for myself, I did get two flowers made for my May swap partner in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.

My May swap partner, Jorie, requested citrus colors with a white or white on white center.  This one reminds me of a lime.

And this bright orange one certainly fits the citrus color range.  I hope Jorie likes these flowers. 

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on the baby quilt.  Maybe I can get everything but the binding finished.

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GIVEAWAYS

A Quilting Life is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Sky Reve Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 28.

Lily's Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a layer cake of your choice from Simply Solids.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 30.

Blushing Rose is having a quick giveaway.  You could win one of two stitchery kits.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 29.

Fabric Worm is having their weekly giveaway.  This week  you could win 7 fat quarters of Jenean Morrison Silent Cinema in Orange.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 2 at 8:30 am PST.

I Have A Notion is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of More Loose Change or a copy of S Is For Scraps.  Two winners will be drawn on Saturday, April 30.
Stray Stitches is still having her (MY) giveaway!  I am giving away 10 fat quarters of some very pretty coordinated spring fabric.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 1, at 8:00 pm PST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Tonight is grocery shopping.  Off to the 'store in the hood'.  It's really a nice, clean store - it's just not in the best part of town.  They do provide a security guard for the parking lot - not that I've ever seen a need for one.  And good thing, too.  The little mouse of a man that stands outside the door in his rent-a-cop uniform couldn't discourage a fly from entering the store.  I really don't think the management hired him as a daunting presence but it is nice that they gave him a job.  Our store is a little different in some of the aisles from other stores in town.  You can find more ethnic foods plus tubs of lard and pickled pigs feet.  A lot of time our prices are lower than the better part of town and that's a good thing.  The clientele ranges from the upper middle class to the down-and-out.  I really wish I didn't dread shopping so much.  It's just too bad the both my DH and I feel that we have to eat regular meals - lol!

The woman just ahead of you at the supermarket checkout has all the delectable groceries you didn't even know they carried.
~Mignon McLaughlin

Wednesday - make it more than mediocre!

35 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I just love the Barn Door blocks. Your Hexies are wonderful - not an orange person, but that is just too cute.

Have some minor housework to do today and then I think I will play in my scrap bin.

Jeanette said...

Love the barn door blocks & your hexies. The orange one is just gorgeous. Happy Stitching,

nono said...

Congratulations on your fabric freeze. The blocks look great.

Impera Magna said...

Congratulations on making it more than a month without succumbing to fabric sales.... oh so tempting but once you overcome that, it gets easier.

Love your hexies and barn door blocks... the hexies are starting to call my name... *lol*

Lynette said...

Very good! Keep up the good shopping discipline. I'm getting much better, too. Being focused on my UFO's through my blogging has helped a lot.

Your barn doors are fun, and I love seeing your hexies. :) Another heart's desire that I'll get into when the UFO list is squelched. . .

Maria said...

Well done Linda for staying new fabric free for a month.

Just love the bright hexagons you made.

Cheryll said...

Your hexies are so bright,happy, fun and cheery..all of the above! WOW how good do they look !!!! Just LoVe 'em! Well done Linda!

Brita said...

Good job for not buying fabric! It's really hard, especially at first. The best thing I did was to cancel subscriptions to fabric shop newsletters. It's always tempting when they have sales, and even worse when they have free shipping with $50 purchase. I mean, don't you always buy more so you'll get free shipping!?! Nowadays, I'll fill up my cart, then walk away. I almost always empty it!

sewfunquilts said...

Congratulations on your fabric diet, and have a blast at the quilt show this weekend. Love your description about the grocery store. Great post.

Lee Prairie Designs said...

Have fun at the quilt show and love your collection of hexies!

Carolyn :)

Needled Mom said...

The woman in front of me always has ten items that need price checks!! lol

Congratulations on a month of no fabric shopping.

Your green flower looks awesome. The orange one isn't coming up for me, but I am sure it is gorgeous. The barn blocks look wonderful too. I love the flowered center in the one.

Hope your day is fabulous day too.

Kim D. said...

Congrats on making it a month without splurging on fabric. Great blocks, love the brights in the hexie blocks. I can so relate to the grocery store, we have a few around here like that. One very nice Mexican market where they have everything from beautiful mexican pastries to Pickle pigs feet and cow heads in the meat market. Ugh!

WoolenSails said...

The white center really makes the colors pop, fun fabrics. I have that pattern, tempting me to make it, tempted to start something new, but I have to finish things, lol.

Debbie

Toni said...

What a great accomplishment on saving pennies and fabric!! Just show you that you are not addicted ;)

OOO Storytelling fact is great and I live close to Jonesborough, TN where the National Storytelling Festival happens ever fall. I hope to visit it this year: http://www.storytellingcenter.net/events/national-storytelling-festival/

Loving your Barn Door (I prefer churn dashes) that are coming - how fun. It's my favorite block!

Be safe shopping in the hood!!

Anonymous said...

Funny! I was just at a guild meeting last night, and their swap for the coming month was Barn Door blocks, with a fussy cut flower in the middle! Quilters must be psychic!! Love your blocks....have a lovely day!
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

Donna said...

Congratulations on the fabric-use-what-you-have!

Shannon said...

Wow! Good for you for sticking to your plan and for remebering, LOL! Your barn doors are so cute. I love the hexies.

Megan Harmeyer said...

Congrats on making it through your no-buy month! Every time I tell myself it's a no-buy month, I end up obliterating it. LOL On a side note, how can it already be a month?! Whew! Anyway...the blocks are really pretty and I especially like the hexie flowers. Have fun grocery shopping.

Staci said...

Good job on the fabric shopping fast! Are you going to keep fasting? Or is it time for a snack? or even a feast?

Raewyn said...

Shopping from my stash is always an intention that I can never quite stick to!! Well done on keeping to your promise (but do have fun at the quilt show!!). All your swap blocks look great - I'm sure your partners will be thrilled with them.

Sheila said...

Very PRETTY blocks!
No fabric for a month, Congratulations. I'm trying to cut back, too.

Gene Black said...

Congrats on keeping your promise to yourself. I find it easier to break promises to myself.

Your blocks look great. I have been commissioned to do a baby quilt and I don't have a clue what I will do. If you want to tell me about the one you are making, I would love to hear it.

Renate Bischoff said...

I am sure your swap partner will love both flowers.

Talin's Corner said...

The barn door block was the first block I learned to make. Yours looks so much more up to date than the one I made. I love the fabrics you used.

Dolly Cloth said...

your flowers are lovely and bright

Karen said...

Good for you on a month of zero purchases! And, great barn door blocks and flowers.

Quilter Raised in the South said...

congrats on the "not shopping!" it's fun sometimes to go shopping in your own stuff. If you are like me you forget what you have. Your hexies are so unusual and beautiful, I look forward to them every week. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Awesome job on being strong and sticking to your commitment!

Your barn door blocks are great! Thanks for sharing :)

Barbara said...

Beautiful blocks.

I hate grocery shopping too. That's what i'll be doing tomorrow. I'd rather be shopping for fabric!

Jen said...

I don't often comment on your blog - but I thought it might be nice to tell you that I read it every time it's published, and I completely enjoy it every time! It's always a little unexpected, fun, interesting, and I love your "giveaways" links! Thanks so much for your generosity and time!

Karyli said...

Love your hexi-flowers. They look so fresh. Your Barn Door blocks look great too.

sunny said...

Oh my - no fabric for a whole month!?! You go girl. Isn't it amazing how you can get past the urge, you can get over the cravings? I love your lime hexie!

Marieke (http://quiltpassie.web-log.nl/) said...

Your flowers are beautiful, eventhough they are not for yourself. But it does mean that you will get your oww send to you, doesn't it?

Roxanne said...

I love your hexies. Great barn door blocks.

Anne said...

Love all of those Barn Doors! Can't wait to see what you find at the quilt show. (You need a reward!)

Love the quote about seeing desired things in someone else's shopping cart. Grocery shopping always reminds me of the summer my daughter and I visited France. We were in line behind an elderly, stooped French woman at a neighborhood grocery store in Paris. I watched as the little lady, dressed in black, gazed one last time at her shopping list, which she held between her wrinkled, bony fingers. I recall seeing "lait" scrawled as the last item. I so wanted to ask the woman if she'd let me keep her list as a souvenir, but I was worried she might alert store security. Don't know if French stores hire little old men in rented uniforms, but I don't think I could have explained myself even if Inspector Clouseau himself showed up to arrest me for being an annoying American tourist.

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