Here is the quilt book, pattern and fabric I’m working on.
I’m not even sure what color this is but it’s my favorite right now – pink/orange?
My favorite thing to do is lay out fabrics that I want to use together. I’m on a blue kick right now, too, but not just any blue – THIS blue. My mind can just see these in a quilt!
Fabric is fleeting, isn’t it? By the time I get around to cutting it up, it’s gone in the store – thus a controlled scrap palette. You can always add more pieces. Connie and I have always said the hardest quilt to make is a 4 fabric quilt – there is no room for error when you’re using only four fabrics! Scrap quilts are very forgiving.
Here’s a new piece I’m in love with – these birds!
Remember those first two orangey pink fabrics? They look good with these birds, too!
So many choices!
Here’s another grouping waiting for me.
And I’ve had this fabric for years and have never found just the right pattern to use it. Got any ideas for me?
Connie drew the name of one of our faithful readers to win the Scrap School book – congratulations, Deb Voigt! Her dog’s name is Hannes – I always need to know the dog’s name! Haha!
I’m getting a badly needed pedicure while I’m writing this – she’s finished now so I can be on my way. Nice talking to you!
You have the absolute BEST color sense, I love all of your “curated collections”! That bird fabric is STUNNING! I’m over the moon about winning Scrap School; thanks again (Hannes says “thank you” too)! Your pedi will make you feel as though it’s springtime~ I love having pretty toes. 😉
Wonderful. I like scrappy too. My fave.
Take care.
Shirley
Hi Mary, lovely to see all the fresh new fabrics for your quilts while l labour away at sorting out 42 years of stuff in our house! I am getting a cat at the weekend, 3 year old female bengal siamese being rehomed, exciting! Take care everyone, best wishes from sandy
Sandy – oh, you’re so lucky to get that cat! Will you send me a picture? I have taken in dozens of stray cats over the years and don’t want mor3 but I did tell Rick that if I ever had the chance to get a bengal cat, I’d do it. And you’re is Siamese as well – I’ll bet she’s beautiful!
I love your fabric combinations, I have trouble choosing fabric. It looks good in the store and when I get home I wonder what I was thinking!
What is the name/manufacturer of the green fabric with flower names?
Thanks!
Linda – Olive’s Flower Market by Lella Boutique for Moda – this is the sour green fabric with flower names written on it.
So I see face masks made out of that dog panel. Each segment looks wide and long enough for the masks with the pleats in it.
Great DOG print. Pepper returns from her groomer’s wearing a pretty fabric triangle scarf tied around her neck. I save those.
Thanks for your fabric show groups…Love the varieties you have put together. DOT, DOT, DOT pattern looks great. I’m not sewing large projects at present. A friend has been sewing from her bags of leftover strips creating a beautiful corner square log cabin. It is amazing how all the fabrics have gone together.
Another snowing day here. Up to 16o now.
Hi Mary. Picking out fabrics is a great skill that you have. I have so much trouble and anxiety with something that seems to come naturally for both you and Connie. I can remember when you had the shop that it was ALWAYS exciting to walk in and see what was happening. I still have fabrics that I purchased so many many years ago at country threads. You have a knack for picking great patterns to go with the selected fabrics.
Every grouping of fabric you showed was great. I especially love the last one, greens and peachy pinks. Like a breath of spring. My puppers are Sam and his sister, Sophie. We got them at six weeks of age and will celebrate their 12th birthday this August. I love your blog and look forward to pics of your quilts, dearly loved pets and your farm. I had the good fortune of visiting there on several occasions, made it to some of your sales, remember your Mom popping the corn and I still enjoy my hypertufa from a class friends and I drove from extreme southeast Iowa to your farmyard to attend. Looking forward to your plants returning outside and pics of your neighbor’s corn field again as it progresses through the season. Thanks for all that you do for so many. 🌱☘️🌿
Marilyn Miller – oh my, you did remember the farm so well! You even remember my mom popping corn – those were the days, weren’t they? It was so busy back then – I worked 24/7 and I couldn’t even really enjoy it all. We’re you a fabric rep?
I have several hypertufa troughs that I still use and would love to make some more!
Mary your fabric combinations and choices are all yummy. I love your bird fabric and your blues and creams. All the fabrics are definitely pointing to spring.
I know all computers, tablets, etc. show color differently but your wonderful fabric is a beautiful piece of fresh Lake Superior smoked salmon to me……as yummy to look at as it is to eat!
My comment didn’t post! Love your groups of eye candy! The Dot Dot Dot Pattern is great…curved piecing! Your Dog fabric has so many opportunities for print colors. Pepper always returns from her groomer with a colorful triangle of fabric tied around her neck.
Another snow day up here with 16o outside.
I’d better go sew on a small topper.
Thanks for the pictures, Mary!
Love the bird fabric! So pretty with your pink/red collection. I’m so jealous over the dog fabric it is too cute!! 🐾 Not sure how big the actual squares are but could you do a scrappy quilt with red, black and white solid interspersed with cut up squares? Can’t sit to see what you do with all your fabric collections!
Absolutely love the blues! Was that one quilt called the Friendship scrap from the book you were working with a couple weeks ago? I’m not good at remembering names, but this would work. The darker blue with white dots at the top of the pile could be the diagonal accent block?
When you are cutting pieces do you do it manually with the rotary cutter or the die cutter?
Take care and enjoy life. Betty in Rapid City
Betty Klosterman – rotary cutter – I don’t have a die cutter. Loved the article you sent – thanks for thinking of me!
Oh Mary that dog fabric is just adorable. I think you should find a way to use it in a panel design. It’s super cute. Those neutrals are just luscious with all those blues, I look forward to seeing what you do with them.
Mary,
Let’s call your pink-orange color Salmon! That’s what it looks like to me.
I always love your color choices and combinations of prints, checks, stripes and solids.
Bluebirds in our yard for a week now, four pair! They are the bird of happiness!
Hi, love all your fabric! I like coral, but my all time favorite is blue. Your blues are fantastic!! Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoyed your pedicure. Our weather has been nice. Cool, but sunny.
Mary I have had that dog print too. I used it in scrappy log cabin block quilt for my beloved Sadie!
I also used it in a mask for my vet tech granddaughter!
Mary I have that dog print also. I used it along with other dog prints in a scrappy log cabin quilt for my beloved Sadie.
I also used it for a mask for my vet tech granddaughter.
My first thought for the dog fabric was a dog bed. Second idea was a dog quilt for Miss Hazel.
Mary I had this same dog fabric. I made used this along with other dog fabrics for a scrappy log cabin quilt for my beloved Sadie. I also used it in a mask for my vet tech granddaughter.
Ahhhh, beautiful colors. That is a great quilt you’ll be making. We had our second Pfizer vaccine this morning. All went well.😃. Our Irish Setter’s name was Arsenic! My husband taught Chemistry and Arsenic was a very different, but wonderful and much loved dog. 40* here today with much melting.
mary, i like your color runs. i think the absolute best job would be pulling fabrics for a quilt. or pulling fabrics and then finding a pattern to use with them. i guess i just love fabric and mixing them. a 4 or 5 fabric quilt is so stressful for me. but 100 or more fabrics – no problem. one of my very first quilts was a boston commons quilt. i used 17 prints (i think). it was fun. you’ll find a pattern or plan for all your fabric runs. thanks for sharing. patti in florida
hi mary. i really like your fabric runs. i think the very best job would be pulling fabrics for a pattern or a plan. i enjoy it so much and wlll make up stories to go with them. never crossed my mind that i might seem weird until someone mentioned it. four or five colors (fabrics) in a quilt drives me nuts – too easy to make a big mistake. let me have 100 or more fabrics and i’m in heaven. one of my early quilts was a boston commons quilt using 17 different fabrics. people thought i was nuts. well, i’ve already lost this message once so i’ll sign off. enjoy your play. patti in florida
Love the bird fabric with the first grouping of corals and yes auditioning the fabrics is my favorite part too. Your pedicure sounds nice to do.
Kathy in western NY – I got your comment on my screen
Glad it is there now as I see it too. Not that I have anything of significance to comment….such is the life in our peaceful kingdom.
Happy Friday. Sun is shining, snow is melting and my kitchen floor is muddy paw prints once more.
Mary, your orangey, pinky fabric is maybe coral??
If you can’t think of something for the doggie print, maybe a backing for one of your dog donation quilts you make.
Got our 1st Covid vaccine this afternoon. 3 weeks ‘til the next one. Woohoo. Feel like we’re half protected. Ha!
Stay safe, Be still
Peggy S
Mary, your orangey pinky fabric is maybe coral??
The doggie print could be used as a backing for one of your quilts you make for your donation to the dog place.
Got our 1st Covid vaccine today. Feel like we’re half way protected from it. Next one is in 3 weeks.
Stay safe. Be still.
Peggy S
Blues, yes, yes, yes! Glad your feet are happy!
Hi Mary, love all the new fresh fabrics! I am getting a female 3 year old bengal siamese cat this weekend,very exciting, will send photo! Take care everyone,best wishes from sandy
Sandy – I am so jealous but can’t wait to see a picture of your bengal Siamese cat!
Oh what beautiful shades of fabric! I do love the floral.
I love all your fabric. I too need a pedicure. you could use that doggie fabric like a panel and just border around . I not too good planning something without pattern. My Maggie dog has been limping since she was one and its getting worse so made an appointment to find out the problem..She is almost 3 now. she is a great dane great parnnisee cross I also can’t spell. Have a good night.
Beverly LOCKMILLER – I can spell – Great Pyrenees and she must be quite a large dog. Could it be a hip issue?
Let us know what you make out of the bird fabric, please. I bought some too but I’m puzzled over which pattern to use it in. Thanks!
When I first saw the pinky fabric, I thought tomato, but now I’m swaying toward salmon, like the others have mentioned. All the fabrics are fabulous!! I have a problem buying fabric if I don’t have a specific quilt pattern in mind. I often leave the quilt shop with only a fat quarter or two. That’s probably why most of my quilts are scrappy. Thanks for sharing with us again.
You put together such lovely fabric groupings. I really enjoy seeing them. Helps me when I am trying to choose things. That bird fabric is really great! Will look forward to seeing what you do with it. I was able to order Corgi fabric to make a quilt for Penny. That was fun. Glad you enjoyed your pedicure!
Loved all your fabric collections, thinking of a couple of patterns I have used which would be so colorful with your fabric choices, Yellow Brick Road by Terri Atkinson at Atkinson Designs and one that could feature your dog or bird fabrics using a larger block with smaller blocks to accompany the featured fabric is Just Can’t Cut It by All Washed Up, just a couple came to mind, I absolutely love the collections, it’s hard to cut them sometimes! No doubt you have some ideas already! The wind is sure howling today out in SW Minnesota!
Mary, you are such an enabler! Every time you show a book or new fabric, I WANT IT! I’m trying to use what I have, but just can’t resist!
Re: Bengal cats—our neighbors have a Bengal. I didn’t know they had gotten him, and they keep him in the house. A few summers ago he got out and was walking across our backyard. I saw him and thought a miniature ocelot was loose! I don’t think I’d ever seen one in person before. He’s a beautiful cat and has come to visit a few times when he’s slipped out. They also have a purebred Siamese who is leash-trained and walks with them in nice weather. They also tie him out with a long cord to a tree in the front yard. He’s got about 15 feet of leeway and loves to lay under the tree or on the public sidewalk to be admired by all who pass 😁🐱
Sue in Marion, IN – I loved hearing about your neighbor cat – I, too, would have thought it was a wild animal in your back yard!
Oh Mary you do an excellent job of putting colors together!! The fabrics you have put together are just wonderful! I especially love the pink and green fabrics you put together–one of the fabrics has flower names on it–I just love that combination! You and Connie’s quilt that is in the new book is beautiful! I had to order that book right away yesterday!!! Heaven knows I have enough fabric scraps in my sewing room! Keep designing you to because I love everything you do!!
I love all your fabric combinations, but especially the one with the big flower print and the fabric with flower names on it. I’ve been collecting blue fabric too and I’m looking for just the right pattern to showcase it. Got any ideas? Thanks for bringing beauty to what is in Indiana, a grey, somber day. It’s supposed to be in the sixties here by Sunday.
Your new fabric is beautiful; I couldn’t even begin to choose a favorite. It is all wonderful! My Sisterhood of Scraps book arrived today-how exciting.
Have a nice weekend, Mary. Thanks for this great blog. 🥰
I love that pink/orange fabric….reminds of salmon or coral colors. My favorites!
How about your 2-hour couch quilt for the dog print? that would really show off the print.
Mary Says Sew – yes, that is certainly an idea but I don’t really want another bigger quilt. I might have to learn to make dog beds!
Your new fabric is beautiful; I could not even choose a favorite. They are all wonderful!
Have a nice weekend, Mary. Thanks for this great blog. 🥰