When people see my stash -

they're surprised.

Maybe even a little shocked.

I do not have a storage room full of fabric from floor to ceiling.

I do not throw down hundreds of dollars every time I go to a quilt store.

I.  Am.  [relatively] Frugal.

So how does a quilt designer, an avid quilter and a girl who works at a fabric store no less, have such a small stash?!?

Here are some of my thoughts on that:

First, I am definitely a girl who has made lots of quilts,

so my fabric accumulates at a rather slow pace. 

Second, I am a girl on a budget.  I have to be frugal. 

We're not into "charging up the credit card" around here and we're not "rich folk" either.  All of my fabric and long-arm machine quilting costs come from the money I earn at Just Sew and selling patterns, etc.  Not one dime comes from our "family funds".  I couldn't do that to my husband.  He would probably go into cardiac arrest if he knew how much money went to this little hobby of mine:)  So, as long as it's coming out of my money, he doesn't have to ask.

Third, I'm just a little OCD about scraps.  I LOOOOVE to use them up.  I'm always thinking of the next project to make with my left-overs.
 

Fourth, I learned during my old scrapbooking days, that scrapbook paper can go out of style and get old real fast.  So I stopped stocking up on paper.  I'd only buy when I was ready to use it and if I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.  I guess that's carried over into how I buy fabric.  It's much more fun to use new fabric, so instead of buying something that is cute and letting it sit around for who knows how long, I buy it when I need it.

I'm not perfect and I do buy little bits here and there if I really like them or I think they're basic enough to use with lots of things.  Which, by the way, Allison at Cluck, Cluck, Sew just did a post on what/how much she buys for her stash.  It's worth checking out. 

Anyways, when it's all said and done, if someone wanted to deliver a truck full of fabric at my door, I wouldn't complain:) I think I could get over having "too much" fabric, but I would definitely get busy trying to use it up! 

Anyone?  Anyone?  A truck?  Fabric?

Tuesday Tricks

Now don't get too excited because I don't have that many tricks up my sleeve (so this probably won't be happening every Tuesday), but here's a little one I picked up somewhere along the way.  Thought I'd share...

For Half Square Triangle Units (or any block that tells you to draw a diagonal line on one side of the fabric and then sew along that line), here's a handy little trick you can do to help you skip that step of drawing the lines on a bazillion little blocks...

First, put some tape on your sewing machine

so that the edge of the tape lines up with where your needle comes down.

Second, layer the two blocks on top of each other with right sides together and the corners matched up.  Then insert the first corner under the needle.

Begin sewing towards the opposite corner, making sure to keep that second corner lined up with the edge of the tape the whole way.

As you keep that second corner lined up with the edge of the tape as you're feeding it through,

it will give you the straight line you need!

Trim.

Press open.





And voila! 

You have just skipped the time consuming step of drawing lines on a million little squares. 

Easy right!?!

You could use this trick when you're making a block such as this:

or this:

or on these stars points:

Hope you liked this Tuesday Trick.

Enjoy!

~ Amber

Clearing My Plate

You may remember the wee version of this that I made a while back [???]

At that time I decided to make the little one for my sweet new nephew, Van,  and a throw size one for our family [instead of making one really big one.]  Well yesterday I finished piecing together the last of these zig zags.

I debated about the brown.  But, I needed one more row.  So this is what I came up with.  I told my husband this will probably be a very controversial quilt [among all of you color experts out there...]

What do you think?  Do I dare ask?  :)

Gigi's Thimble Class & Trunk Show

Alpine Quilt Retreats is now offering DAY classes!!

At this beautiful home in Alpine, Utah.  You can come set up at 8 a.m. and stay and sew until 10 p.m. that night.  This is a great way to get a day away [with no interruptions] and sew!

I'll be teaching Friday, May 6th and Friday, June 10th from 9:30 - 1:30

[with a trunk show at 7:30 both nights].  The classes will be on my pattern, Square Root, where we'll have fun experimenting with design layout and learning basic piecing and applique methods.

Cost = $125.00 and includes lunch, dinner, drinks, class & trunk show.

[Sign up by January 31st and receive a 20% discount, making the total $100.]

Click here to find out more info and register.

I'd love to see you there!

Progress Made

Thanks for all of your advice.  I buckled down this weekend and focused on one project.  I needed a little bit of time to do a "just for fun" project.  Lots of hand applique gave me time to think and get organized.

I just need to put the sashing and borders on, which I should be able to finish up today.

I plan on finishing up my zig zag quilt today as well.  Sometimes you just have to clear a few projects off your plate to make room for more.  Hopefully some fun things are in store...

This Is Where I'm At Right Now...

Literally.

Life is a bit crazy right now.  My mind is feeling a bit cluttered [and so is my desk].  I'm trying to make some big decisions.  Get some things lined up.  Get some projects done.  There's a lot going on.

And in the mean time, I am dreaming of this:

and this:

and cutting into these:

Aren't these mini charm packs adorable?  I won them from a giveaway at the Make Life Sweet Blog a week or so ago.  The line is called Sunkissed by Sweetwater for Moda ~ but I'm sure you knew that already.  It should be in stores any day now...  Anyways, the ladies at Sweetwater are always doing fun giveaways on their blog.  In fact, I think they're doing one right now.  So hurry, go check it out!!! 

Well.  Wish me luck.  Hopefully I can keep my head on straight this weekend.  I have the afternoon free, but don't even know where to begin to start getting things done.  I guess it's time to start making a checklist...

Any ideas on how to keep your head on straight [and the anxiety down] when your brain is swirling on high speed?

~ Amber