Thanks to Debra, who quilted it for me, I finished my Shirts and Sheets quilt. The fabric is harvested from vintage linens and from some coordinating cotton shirts I'd collected.
One benefit of piling fabrics up around the sewing room, is that sometimes I'm surprised by the things that want to go together. These plaids with their blues, yellows and greens, coordinate nicely with the big romantic yellow roses.
This is a very nostalgic quilt for me. Yellow was my paternal grandmother's favorite color. She always had her kitchen painted yellow, and being a very independent woman, she always did the painting herself. She wasn't a sewer at all, however. I remember how proud she was once when she used hem tape to make a set of kitchen curtains, without sewing a stitch. 
Of course these florals also remind me of the 70s, of clean sheets, and of the satisfaction of a well-made bed. The fact that these are re-purposed fabrics thrills me to no end of course.
And just so you know where I get my aesthetics, I'm showing you the contents of a package I got this week from my mom. Debra once aptly called her my "enabler," which isn't far from true. Like my grandmother, Mom isn't a sewer nor a crafter, but she has the best eye for goods than can be re-purposed. She sent me these three beautiful panels of home dec fabric. Each piece is nice and big, so I should be able to do something substantial with them.
She also sent four of these very gently used pillowcases in the perfect colors for Operation Pillowcase.
And for me, there where king-sized pillowcases I'll harvest for fabric...
and a big chunk of this thrift store fabric, which will likely go into more Operation Pillowcases for soldiers.
She must've been a crafter in another life. I've absorbed some of my best quilt making concepts from her attitude toward collecting, salvaging, and reusing. She's got the eye, and I'm fortunate that she passed it down to me.
Who influenced you in your approach to your craft?
10 comments:
Those yellow roses are scrumptious, as is the whole quilt! My mother was always a sewer, but I think she did it more from necessity than for enjoyment. Knitting was her fun, still is actually.
I see your cat has an eye for fabric too!
Let me just say that you are darn lucky I returned that quilt to you! I wanted to eat it, it is so pretty! I know you will enjoy it everytime you use it or even just look at it.
Nice score from your mom too! She does have the Eye. All my mom has is the Evil Eye which she would use on me when I wasn't standing up straight or wasn't holding in my stomach. Glad those days are over!
I love that Laurel Burch fabric. I have a little scrap that I am saving for the perfect bird quilt; another one. . . .*wink*
Love those florals and plaids together! I'm collecting my "vintage" linens and will try to remember how nice that looks. Aren't you lucky to have a Mom "looking out" for you??
Very pretty quilt!
What a beautiful quilt, Barbara; I just love what you did with it, the pattern, the fabric, everything! And to think you did it with "real" quilt fabric, just like the first quilters. My mom taught me to sew, knit and embroider. She was an amazing needlewoman.
Ooo, if you have any scraps of those parrots left over I'd love to have them! How did I ever miss that print when it was in the stores?!
Love your quilt too. I really admire the way you repurpose fabrics. It truly is a gift.
I consider my foremothers to be my biggest influence - all of them. They were, for the most part, farmer's wives and had to make do throughout their lives. One was a standout needlewoman, but for the most part they were utility stitchers. Remembering them keeps me grounded.
That is such a comfy and inviting quilt. It just emanates "Cheerful Home...."
You must just love having a mother who honors and supports your work~! My Mom was similar and was also my biggest fan. It's funny, people rarely ask if I miss her...and they expect me to miss her at certain holidays or anniversaries of the year. That's not when I miss her. I miss her every single time I create something new with my hands...She even took me to the garment district in NYC for my birthday one year and ooh-ed and aah-ed over trims and beads and fabrics -- even though she used none of it herself. There isn't anyone left in my life that will listen to my indecision of using this color or that...or that piece of fabric or something else...
You have a real treasure there and I'm so glad you know it. Enjoy each other and soak up all the love, Barbara. It's the most beautiful gift on earth.
Your quilt is lovely! If ever you decide that you don't want it, I'm sure I could find a home for it here....
Hi Barbara:
great ,great quilt !! love the design and the colors..!!!hugs Gloria from Argentina
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