Project Simplify - Day 1
March 28, 2011 Hello, hello! If you missed Friday's introduction check here and you'll be up to speed :)
When I first thought about doing this project, I saw my quilts looking quite different from those in the book. My stash has a “shabby chic” flavour. I definitely gravitate towards soft, light fabrics. The more pink, the better.
But I do have a few stacks of brights and settled on this collection to make “Square One”, which is similar to the American Jane - "Snippets" used in the book.
I bought this happy fabric when it first came out in 2007. I’m a big Susan Branch fan (fabric, patterns & scrapbooking stickers/paper/stamps) and was excited when this line came out.
I bought almost every print and planned to make this & this – one for each of my girls. Well, I did make the red one - for the quilt shop where I work - but then I don’t know what happened. Guess I'd satisfied my red pinwheel craving. (Although thanks to Carrie's post last week, I think I feel a new craving coming on!)
Love these cute little quotes on the selvedges.
From top to bottom they read:
- It’s believing in roses that make them bloom.
- The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time & Patience.
- Creativity is really the structuring of magic.
- No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap.
- Today, if you’re not confused, you’re just not thinking clearly.
And my personal favorite:
- "Stay” is such a charming word in a friend’s vocabulary.
I just added it to my sidebar. (Thank you Susan!)
In my defense, I have made a few things with this fabric. A couple of years ago my girls were taking an art class and needed something for their pastels & charcoals etc. So I made these little bags which have become their Nintendo DS storage/travel cases.
Every year, I make my girls a new backpack for school. When I first started (in 2005), I was in charge of fabric selection. But that control didn’t last long. Soon they wanted to choose and the conversations would go something like this:
Her: “Mommy, can I have this fabric?”
Me: “No, I just bought that.”
Her: “What are you going to make?”
Me: “I don’t know yet.”
Her: “How about this?”
Me: “No, I have plans for that fabric.”
Her: “This?”
Me: “No (can’t come up with a good reason and she doesn’t understand the concept of hoarding yet). How about this? This is really pretty, don’t you think?
Her: “No, I don’t like it.”
Then we’d go to the fabric store and buy something they liked. I think you're starting to understand why my stash is out of control ...
This year my 9 year old finally wanted this fabric for her backpack and I made a lunch bag with matching placemat too.
But that backpack & lunch kit didn’t make much of a dent. Let’s see what making a quilt will do ... :)
Fabric, Project Simplify, Quilting 
Reader Comments (15)
I love your shabby chic collection! And beautiful bags that you've made for your girls. I have not shared my stash with my kids like I should. I just found your blog, it's beautiful!
Project #1 looks like so much fun! And those colors and designs you picked out of your stash are perfect for it! I have been a Susan Branch fan for so many years. It started with her stickers and books! I have only a couple of her fabrics though...
Your sewing projects for your kids are wonderful : ) I love the little backpack : )
HI - thanks for visiting and agreeing with my 'rant' on Thimbleanna! I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with this project. I have embarked on a year long project to use up my yarn stash - knitting a project a week from the Debbie Bliss book The Knitter's Year. Regards Anne
I think you better plan on finishing this project before RUBY comes out. It would not be nearly as much fun buying it all by myself!!! And I know you will not be able to resist. Blog looks great.
Your girls are very lucky, those bags are just gorgeous! :)
Vivienne x
The girls bags are so cute! I have a pattern for the same but haven't made it. I look forward to seeing your quilt. I have also begun a quilt from my stash. You continue to inspire me.
What a great idea! I too love this book. I am defiantly going to follow your journey. I love your fabric and how you organized it, looks beautiful!
What a great idea! I've looked through the book and have one coming to me...the wait is gonna test my patience for sure.
I can easily see making each project in this book! I might just join you although I will have to play catch up.
I love your fabric pictures... and also the little red travel cases you made. I would totally get that for my daughter! Do you sell them? :)
How fun! I LOVE your pictures. Love, love, love them. And your fabric stash too. It's SO beautiful. And your bags. Oh swoon. Oh to have little girls, you lucky duck!
I love Susan Branch too ~ such cute things ~ your daughters backpacks are SO cute!
ooooo i am so jealous!! I got a load of fat quarters from sew mama sew in the post yesterday! I posted them on instagram via my iphone. So much fun! I put my back out at the weekend so i cant do anything but lie here and eat these muscle relaxants. I feel very hyper and a bit lalalaa but inspired! thats the main thing lol
Hello Fellow Classmate! I'm from BYW and I stumbled across you blog in the forums! You're the first quilter I've found in BYW! I'm a quilter too, so naturally I was excited! Your blog is beautiful and I love your new project! Great work! :)