Monday, December 01, 2008

Fabric Square Shop

Have I ever told you how much I love fabric? My husband jokes that I must throw it on the bed and roll around in it naked when he’s not home. Now that’s just silly – I have to be able to see it and touch it, rub it between my fingers..

Pokey with some great postcard fabric that Threadlines KathieB sent me.

Pokey on postcard fabric 11-26-2008 12-18-48 PMI am trying trying, trying to break out of only using certain color palettes. I look at Bonnie’s lively scrap quilts where she uses every pattern and color, no matter how ugly or uninteresting. I want to try it, just haven’t yet. But I have started a new scrap bin that I am putting EVERYTHING into.

That fabric up above? I love it. Old me wouldn’t have used it because its got beiges in it, not pure white. Silly I know. So I’ve at least got some of this cut up and put in the Everything bin waiting for when I’m ready.

Y,a’all may have noticed a new item in my sidebar: it’s an advert for The Fabric Square Shop. You know that old quilters’ joke: Will Work for Fabric. Turns out it’s true.

I’m actually really excited about this. In exchange for the ad, Laura at the FSS is going to mail me a squishie full of fabric every month. Woohoo!  I’ll add some of the fabric to my own stash but the rest I’ll make up into packages for those of you who make quilts for those in need.

Like I said, I love fabric. Love it, love it, love it. In many ways I love playing with it – trying out different combinations and just plain old touching it – more than actually sewing it up into quilts. It will be so much fun to play with with a larger selection. Mix up the fabric lines and come up with packages for Project Linus, or Heartstrings, or Quilts of Valor or repros for an older person undergoing chemo.

That won’t all happen at once. First I’ve got to get back to the states.  I’ve been worried that I won’t have enough fabric, except for what I’ve managed to stuff into the suitcases (and hey, I gotta have a few items of clothing). Which I know is irrational – I have enough fabric.

Anyway to announce this new venture, Laura is holding a giveaway of $25 worth of merchandise. You can enter even if you live outside the U.S. which I think is very generous of her.

Here are the rules:

Go visit The Fabric Square Shop website, ebay, and etsy shops and check out all the fabric. There is a wide variety including reproductions, popular designers and brights. Laura tells me there’s actually more merchandise at the ebay site than there is in the shop shop.

Leave a comment on this post saying which items you’d like to have. For ebay that only works if it has a Buy Now price – I don’t think you get to have it for the 1 cent bid.

Do make sure you leave some contact info in your comment or at the very least a very distinctive name – because just drawing the name “anonymous” isn’t going to work very well. If you have problems leaving a comment you can email me.

The drawing will be held in one week.

This fabric is for you, no matter how you choose to use it – doesn’t have to be for charity quilts.

Oh, and you may recognize the quilt in the advert – yes, that’s my Margarita Quilt.  Now go look at all that fabric and don’t drool on your keyboards.

46 comments:

Kristin L said...

I am soooooooo happy to see that both you and Laura are benefitting from the use of your quilt on her button. Yippee for symbiotic relationships.

And as long as you're giving things away, sign me up for Park Slope fat quarters -- the ones with the drool puddle on them. (Fingers crossed you draw my name.)

meili_lo said...

hi there.

saw u in meggie's blog... hope to exchange links with if it's ok. do visit my blog and hoping u can share ur thoughts. would be glad to hear from you...

http://any-some-every-thing.blogspot.com/

thanks!

Quinta da Quilter said...

Great new site! Love any and all the Kaffee sets! Would love any of them please.

Clare said...

I was going to ask you what that was for yesterday.

Oh oh oh - soooo much to choose from. If it was me - oh goodness help! If I was chosen, which is highly unlikely cos I never win these things, I'd choose (oh gosh decisions). Ok then deep breath. The Ocean Lines FQ's OR the Windswish FQ's.

Her postage rates to France are very reasonable so I've bookmarked her EBay store and the web site and will be back.

Lovely fabric from Kathie.

antique quilter said...

What a great website...
have bookmarked it and will leave it on a piece of paper maybe Santa will see it????

I would love a few of the repro charm packs!
5" Collections for a Cause by Howard Marcus
5" Civil War Crossings by Barbara Brackman
5" Collections for a Cause by Marcus Howard

these would be great for my tumbler quilt I want to do as a charm quilt!
although have to admit I am thinking like you maybe I should chose a few that I wouldn't normally chose and challenge myself to get out of that comfort zone too!
Kathie

missemilysmom said...

Love the sites!! I have bookmarked them to look over later!! Thank you for sharing! Hmmm. decisions.. I love the 1974 Fabric Charm Pack by Urban Chicks for Moda. 5" Califon by Mark Lipinski charm pack and 6.5" In Color Licorice by Marcus Brothers! There are so many to look through!!

Heather

Jennifer said...

Oh, my! She sure does have a lot of fabric to offer LOL! I'm having a hard time narrowing it down ...

On Etsy, I love the Zesty Zinnias, Gypsy Rose and Pop Garden fabrics, but I think my most favorite is the Jane's Magic Forest squares ... such neat textures!

On eBay, I found lots to love, but my most favorite was probably the Recipe for Friendship ... too cute!

On her website, I love those layer cakes! I can't decide ... the Smores is adorable (actually, all of the Me & My Sister Designs are sweet), and the Isn't Christmas Jolly? is fun, too.

Oh, the pressure!! She just has way too many goodies to choose from LOL! But if I win, I will try very hard to narrow it down (or maybe I'll just apply the $25 to a very large order!!)

Jenny Hassler said...

I'm working on my very first word quilt using your tutorials. I'd love to add the Bali Pops Mint Chip pack or Love Is In The Air to the mix. Alternately, 6.5" Party Cupcakes are just the thing my baker daughter needs included in her quilt! Wow!

Anonymous said...

Definitely going to have to bookmark those sites.

My favorite are the Civil War Crossings fabrics, followed closely by the new Judie Rothermel repros. I just adore those 1800s prints.

Love the picture of Pokey, too, but the picture isn't close enough to read the postcards on the fabric! :D

Joyce said...

This sounds like a good deal for all concerned. I'd have to chose the Maya Collection or Michael Miller Zest, although I couldn't see even one that I didn't love!

LauraJ said...

Oh how wonderful a fabric give away. I love fabric and what's better than fabric that is won?!
here's my choice...Urban Chicks 1974 Reproduction Moda Fabric Strips Jelly Roll
there was so many to choose from!

Anonymous said...

Wow she has great stuff!! I have never tried a charm pack before!! Looking at her site, I fell in love with the Cheap Tricks pattern and would love to win it along with a layer cake (since I think that's what it takes to make the quilt), I adore the "It's Snowing" by Deb Strain!! (I know this is more than $25, but who could resist?? :) :) )

Thanks for the chance!!
Rachel

Sassenach said...

WOW -- what great fabric!

I looooooooove the Urban Farm apron panel.

Kim

Amanda said...

What a wonderful collection of fabric, I almost found myself stroking my computer screen. I went to a 'coffee and free pattern' session at my LQS this morning, and was given a pattern for using a layer cake, so would love to get hold of the Strawberry Lemonade layer cake to try it out.

Mary Johnson said...

I hadn't seen this shop but she's got lots of fun stuff. Great choice for a *sponsor*

I can't wait to see what you make from your new scrap bin. I love your quilts but it's fun to try new stuff too.

sewprimitive karen said...

What a good idea; it will benefit both of you. My choice would be in the Coming Soon category, a bit of Beach House or Flag Day Farm yardage.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for introducing me to this shop! I love the fabrics and I am a big fan of precuts--saves so much time and no waste! I'd like to enter the giveaway for Mark Lipinski's #5 Califon charm pak. But I already feel like a winner, enjoying your blog for months now and finding a new fabric source! Thanks--ndmills53@yahoo.com

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

That's SO funny....and here I am wishing I could stick to a more controlled palette like TONYA! But maybe it is best if we just be ourselves...I do think that's what comes through in the end anyway :c) Love your quilt on the button!!

Bonnie

Robyn said...

Maybe I'm just in a Christmas mood, but I love that Merry and Bright fabric! So cute... What a great site... how could I even begin to choose?!!

Quiltdivajulie said...

ebay item 140255459642 - 4 or 5 paks of those wonderful pins...

What a marvelous, mutually grand arrangement for you and for Laura ~ most excellent!!!

And I adore that fabric Pokey is resting on. I've been gathering up wordy fabrics for a while now (leaning to handwriting and calligraphy styles)... no clue what I'll do with it but I love them!

Libby said...

It's hard not to love fabric :)

Funny, I clicked over to the store in the middle of the post, and then came back and discovered I could win something for having done that.

I am loving the "All About Color" line, so I would probably get that charm pack - I just wish she had it in bigger squares. There is a lot of great stuff, though, so it is hard to choose one thing.

Lucie said...

thanks for pointing out her store. what beautiful fabric and way too many choices. My favs are Kaffe Fassett, so please add my name to the draw.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Doesn't Pokey look cute...she's the one rolling in the fabric in her birthday suit :o)

What a great Ebay site...I love the 20 Freshcut Heather Bailey Fat Quarters :o)

qltmom9 said...

I'd like the Civil War Crossings fabric or any reproductions.

Paula said...

I'm in love with all the civil war fabrics....any of them!! Lovely. She really has some great prices too! Thanks for introducing me to her eBay stuff!

jacquie said...

ok, despite the fact i just spent an hour cruising fabric...i would go for the katie jump rope or the park slope...there were sooooo many good choices. great sponsor!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Anything reproduction for me!

Donna said...

you are evil -- encouragming me to fabric shoppping! I will resist.... well Christmas is coming.... can't be scrouge lie can I?.... just a couple of peices.... NO I can wait and see if I can win some first! :-)

I truly love it all -- being one who has no problems mixing and matching everything in a scrap bin (my only rule is you can toss it back if its already in the block, otherwise you use whatever you're hand lands on)...

Sue said...

I love the triangles!
38 Midwest Modern Triangles by Amy Butler
That would be so much fun!

nickname: My2K

Jan said...

I want the Monkey'N Round charm packs!
I might have to buy them.

Erin said...

Urban Couture
and
Tranquility
in the etsy shop are pretty sweet!

Kristin Shields said...

Great deal Tonya! Your Margarita quilt looks great in the button. I would go for the Kaffe Fassett Reds that I saw on Etsy. She's got lots of great combinations though.

Stephanie D said...

I'd like Valorie Wells' Olive Rose Blue collection! Not that I need more blues, but this is not about need, is it?

Jude said...

Wow, what a site, thank you. And it posts abroad.
I love Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler so I was torn.Cobalt Jewels by Kaffe or Midwest Modern by Amy, duh! Anything!! Will be visiting again and again.

the Campfollower said...

OK Tonya, I totally understand your love of fabric...I do to, my love is a Friendship sort of love. My fabric is my friend. I know that I don't need any more fabric, so don't choose me, I just want to let you know that I love fabric too much too. We are getting geared up to move again so I need to figure out what to keep and what to purge...

xo,
Tia

jovaliquilts said...

What a great arrangement for you and for the FSS! Neat idea. If I'm the lucky winner, I choose Kaffe Fasset's Cobalt collection and the Maya Collection.
That postcard fabric Kathie sent you is wonderful!

Karen Gentsch said...

That is a great site. I love your Margarita quilt also.

I like Jinny Beyer's Over the Rainbow for RJR. I've got this thing for jewel tones.

Andi said...

I'm in love with Bali Pops Mint Chip by Hoffman. But, in reality, I would take ANYHTING!! Fabri-holics, unite!

Marit said...

So much delicious to look at. I like the big selection of cut squares. And my favorite would be 5" Sturbridge Village Scarlet by Judie Rothermel. I could only find that one in the online store. Got temtpted to do some bidding to....

Anonymous said...

Wow! what a great give away! This site is amazing. I will definitely be spending my Christmas money here.

I love the Fiesta Bali Collection or the Christmas Micheal Miller or the Chelsea Lime black Collection...oh oh...there are toooo many choices.

Ursula
uschbear@gmail.com

Lady of the Cloth said...

I loved the Cat Ladies by Loralie on the Fabric square website. I got lost in the three sites and finally came back to my first choice
Love your blog.
Carline of lady of the Cloth

Christine Staver said...

I love Civil war crossings and Jane's magic forest. But even more than that I would love to win Pokey.

Unknown said...

Hi,

Everything but the kitchen sink in the shop is beautiful!

Erin :)

kelly mae said...

You are so generous! I'm already watching a few of the auctions on ebay! Alot of eye candy there!
Wish list
28 6.5" SWEET PASTEL Kaffe Fassett Fabric Squares
40 5" Moda FRESH SQUEEZED Fabric Squares Quilt Kit
Thanks Laura!

Sandy's Quilter's Block said...

You have to have a love for fabric if you're going to be a quilter, that's just the way it is. Of course, most people love a group of fabrics like civil war colors, country colors, and so on. Me I love them all.
At the Fabric Square Shop I would like the Christmas by Michael Miller in Pinks and Lime Greens. So beautiful and non-traditional. You're so sweet, Tonya, I'm keeping my fingers crossed :o)

Cher said...

fabric -collecting it led to quilting for me.
shop: all about color by cozy quilt
5" charms
ebay: bold butterfly by blank textiles, quilt squares
etsy: Cheri Strole's Silly Safari by moda fabric square charm pack

glad you found a sponsor relationship that is so wonderful