Sunday, August 16, 2009

Mother Earth DONE, and Fairy Fabric

Lesson -- If a woman saves her buttons for 47 years, and carts them around for 47 years, and dusts around them for 47 years, and plays with them for 47 years, she will eventually find a use for $5.00 worth of buttons! It's truly amazing how many are NOT suitable! There are little button buds on this vine, and the centers of the red flowers have khaki colored buttons, highlighted with tufts of black embroidery thread, knotted and left about 1/2 inch long, looking very interesting, as I wanted to divert attention from my flower edges not done well, but done well enough.

The shadows of the morning light in contrast with the brightness of the quilt were too delicious so both photos are included. I was very thoughtful and did not insist DH walk in the wet grass in his bare feet to hold this recent treasure. I'm not gifted at applique, but better than I used to be! At least I'm no longer afraid to try - another one of those danged life-lessons! Thanks for the suggestions of crosshatching by many of you. It's exactly what was needed. This will look amazing, when washed and all crinkley! This is a gift for my SIL, also named Elaine, who has 5 children, many grandchildren, and a gift for gardening. She picked the pattern from a Mimi Dietrick book, Bed and Breakfast Quilts (out of print), but I made it smaller. Elaine is just 5 ft. tall, so it didn't have to be made large!

New subject - here is the fairy fabric for a 3-yr old great niece, that I 'found' in my own stash after unsuccessfully searching 4 quilt shops all over this section of Nebraska. THAT'S why we have 'stash'! And that's also why we need to keep a handle on those messy stashes! LOL I don't have a pattern yet in mind, but I DO have a good supply of pale blues and greens, corals, white, pinks and oranges. (yeahhhhh, I just cleaned out my stash drawer!)

36 comments:

  1. Beautiful quilt, Elaine!

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  2. The quilt is indeed beautiful and your applique is too.

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  3. Fabulous quilt Elaine, I love the addition of buttons to your very pretty applique.
    I love the story of the fairy fabric-trying to organize my stash is a neverending challenge too- You take fabric out so that you can use and then you re sort it because you want to categorize things differently. Do you mix the batiks with the colors or keep them separate? Do florals go in a separate pile from the thirties fabrics( in both cases I do keep them all separate florals with florals, 30's with 30's etc) I am not sure where I what put fairy fabric - probably in children's or speciality theme fabrics..
    Glad you found the fairy fabric.
    Have a great weekend.
    Regards,
    Anna

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  4. The quilt is beautiful! I have a button collection too. In fact, I have one entire file cabinet full of nothing but buttons. I love every single one of them and will not get rid of them!

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  5. oooo the quilt turned out so beautiful. I am sure that Elaine will love it!

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  6. That quilt is just gorgeous!!

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  7. Beautiful quilt. I love the buttons on it. I have lots of buttons too and seldom find what I want when I need buttons.

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  8. Your quilt looks wonderful! SIL will love it! Yes, hooray for stash! I was thinking the same thing today as I pulled out the perfect fabric for a project and it was dated 1998 on the selvedge!

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  9. love the quilt, and the buttons with "hangy" threads was perfect.

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  10. Aunt Elaine-
    Mom is going to LOVE the quilt! She's gonna cry when she gets it because it is so beautiful and just perfect for her. I won't tell I saw it :)
    Love,
    Amy

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  11. Elaine, that quilt is beautiful! Just beautiful! Lucky, lucky "other" Elaine.
    Your comments about 47 years of buttons made me chuckle. I had the big apothocary jar full and it had traveled from east coast to west with me twice, house to house, etc. Last fall I sorted out my least favorite of the bunch and donated them to the quilt group craft fair, thinking what a dorky donation 'cause no one will want them. Hah! They went like hotcakes. What is it with buttons?

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  12. Wonderfully made and cheerful, bright, and cozy looking quilt! I think the applique looks so good and the buttons just the added touch. A very lucky lady to receive this treasure, indeed. Your pics of your stash drawers inspired me to keep an old dresser to do the same--so much handier than hauling down big plastic bins from the shelf!

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  13. Beautiful, I love that book!

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  14. What a great way to use 4 patch blocks. Your color choices are wonderful. And, sewing the buttons on with embroidery floss and leaving the ends flapping -- nifty. I have lots of Mimi's books but I don't have that one. I can do a variation on the idea if I ever decide to do it. I really like this one. Great job.

    At least you FOUND the fairy fabric at last. And, won't you feel virtuous that the quilt will come from your stash? Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Wow! I love the buttons on the flowers. A perfect touch!

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  16. It is a good feeling to put the finishing touches on a quilt isn't it? Beautiful quilt!
    Lynn

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  17. Your applique is just perject those buttons are precious. I had a chance to buy my grandmother's buttons that my aunt had..and well they sold at auction and I just missed them. Of course that person was not willing to part with them. So I search for button to add to what I have. Your quilting is so wonderful makes the whole quilt amazing to see. I think we all havea little fairy in our stash, she hides pretty good.. sew peacefully DEB}:o

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  18. That is one gorgeous quilt, and I love the way you quilted it. You are pretty amazing.

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  19. The crosshatching worked out perfectly on this!! Very pretty; she will indeed love it.

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  20. I love this quilt. In fact, I love it so much I have saved the picture to go in my "make this next" folder. Yes, there a few pictures in there but this one is going in there too because I'd love to make it! You did a fabulous job Elaine. blessings, marlene

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  21. Gosh Elaine, your quilt is delightful. I love the photo you too, with the way the light filters and all. The crosshatching is truly lovely ~ was that a lot of work?

    Okay I just have to say the fairy fabric is so neat and happy. I was wondering what you were going to come up with. Now, we'll see what you'll come up with for the pattern. (don't forget that silly HUGE "Melon's and Orange" quilt) hee! Silly, *karendianne.

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  22. What a gorgeous quilt! Love your stash story--makes me feel better about all the stuff that's languishing in my stash. I've also got some fairy fabric waiting for a great niece to be old enough for it (she's now not quite 1).

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  23. It's a beautiful quilt Elaine! And the buttons added perfect touches!

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  24. Georgous...absolutely georgous!

    The fairy fabric is cute. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

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  25. lol

    If I figure out a way to join your family, do you think I'd get a quilt like that one? ;)

    It's gorgeous!

    And thanks for telling us the story of the fairy fabric! Sounds familiar....

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  26. Oohhh. I forgot to sign my last post so it will make some sense!

    Elaine (from Illinois)

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  27. That is just beautiful! The quilting is exquisite and the 4 patches just shine! And there is absolutely no problem with your applique either!

    I know what you mean about buttons. Why do we collect them at all? I have a heavy cookie can full of them. My sister in law has a large box that she bought at a thrift shop and she has never sewed a button on in her life!

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  28. It's so lovely Elaine!
    The quilting is perfect for the quilt!
    I hope someday I develop some interest in applique because it looks so wonderful on borders like yours.

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  29. Your SIL should really love that quilt. I enjoyed your article in the NSQG newsletter. I have been following your blog for some time now, and enjoy it a lot.

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  30. I hope to develop this type of designe.
    I need your guidence.

    RITA

    Cash Online Get Easy cash at your door step

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  31. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful. The quilting is super. You have completed another great quilt. Way to go!

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  32. Your quilt finished beautifully!

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  33. LOL on the buttons Elaine! You do realize that you've given us pack rats the excuse to save more stuff now because you've proved that "I WILL need that someday!"

    Beautiful, beautiful job on the quilt, your SIL should love it! If you had not mentioned where the quilt design was from I would have sworn you did a variation of that famous Florence Peto minature calico quilt that's in the Shelbourne. I really like this design and see that it is also on the cover of Ms. Dietrich's "Favorite Applique Quilts" book which has gone on my Amazon wish list pronto (since the other book is soooo expensive now that it's OOP). Thanks for sharing!

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  34. That's a beautiful quilt. I love the colors and of course, the BUTTONS!

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  35. Your quilt is gorgeous and a clever use for the buttons! Lovely applique and machine quilting.

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  36. oh stunning... I just love that quilt. Put the kettle on, I'm popping up for a chat and some chantelle (Aus for show and tell)

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