My Little Stash

Monday, March 12, 2012

I'm so desperate to not do my taxes that I'm getting a lot of other things done instead.  Such as, I cleaned my kitchen, vacuumed the downstairs (wood and carpet), started laundry, sent some emails, cleaned off my desk, organized a couple of files (those last two were really in an effort to make doing my taxes easier).  Now I've decided to do a random post for you peeps (since it's been a while)...still trying to avoid doing taxes :)

Anyways.  Today I thought I would show you how a girl like me buys fabrics for her stash.  Here are just a few cuts of fabric that I've bought over the last month or so.  For no apparent reason at all.  Except for the fact that I thought the colors would be good to have in my stash - figuring that I would use them someday. 

Care to see?

[Windham Fabrics.  Prairie Crossing.]

Orange and Brown - I thought these colors would fit nicely into any civil war quilt (not that I do many of those) OR into a vintagy little boy quilt (which is more along the lines of what I thought I would do with them).  Dots and checks.  Good basics.  Would probably look good with navy and dark brown too...Two quarter yard cuts.


[Moda.  Sandy Klop for American Jane]

Green, orange and yellow PEZ fabrics.  To me, these are good basics.  Similar to a polka dot.  Could throw them into any number of quilts as long as they fit the color scheme.  Three - quarter yard cuts. 


[Michael Miller.  Mini Mikes Bunting Scallop.]

Who doesn't love a good bunting?  I fell in love when I saw this unique version of a bunting banner fabric.  So I bought up a half yard.  Thought it would be real cute to throw into a scrappy quilt for my son.


[Moda.  Navy Dot: Reunion by Sweetwater.  Grey: Grow With Me by Deb Strain and daughters Katie and Arrin.]  

Navy and Grey.  Both of these are great basics.  Love them.  Half yard of each.
Wouldn't they be cute with yellow? 


A hot color combo right now if you ask me. 


[Blue Hill Fabrics.  Feedsack II by Sara Morgan.]

Gosh.  I have been loving these 30's reproduction prints for a while now.  I'm so happy I finally bought some up.  A half yard of each to be exact.  For me they could go vintage or modern.  That little bubble dot looks a little bit retro to me.  Love them.


[Riley Blake Designs.  Stars and Stripes.]

A quarter yard cut of each of these red, white and blue fabrics.  A necessity for my Scrap Jar Stars quilt.  They're already almost gone so I feel those were a good purchase.  I especially thought the pinwheel print was fun so I got a 1/3 yd. of that.  However, after some consideration I've decided that the scale of it is not quite right for my stars so I'm not sure where I'll incorporate it just yet...


[Navy Paisley: Riley Blake Designs, Blue Check: no info, Red Numbers: Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda.]

A few more blues and reds for my Scrap Jar Stars quilt.  The red was a 1/8 yd. remnant at 50% off which is better than my employee discount.  Just enough to make a few star points out of.

So here's my philosophy.  If you like it - buy it.  You don't need much.  I usually by anywhere from a 1/4 - 1/2 yard.  I mostly go for color and print.  If you'll notice, most of my fabrics are one or two colors (one color with white as the background for example).  That way I can incorporate them into a million different quilts as long as it has that color in it.  I usually stay away from trendy designs. 

Those are just some of my thoughts for today... 
What kinds of fabrics do YOU buy for your stash???

Guess I'll go change the laundry.  Maybe do some taxes...

Happy Quilting.
Amber


16 comments:

  1. I MUST do my taxes this week. Must. Eek. Anyway the bunting and the pinwheels really pop out at me. Cute stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is real good advice. I sort of freeze like a deer in the head lights when it comes to buying stash. It intimidates me still. I like how you were able to see not only a civil war era quilt, as well as a little boy quilt with the colors you showed to us. :o)
    Oy, I am grading school work and would much rather be doing something "fun" but really trying to get it all done today ... well and the rest of the week too.
    Have a great week. hugs, Trish

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm like you Amber...if I like it...I buy at least a 1/2 yard (and, if it's on sale for a really good price, I'll buy a bit more).
    Enjoy your week!
    ~Terry~

    ReplyDelete
  4. Usually, I buy fabric for a specific project - When I have a little extra $$$$, and I want to build the stash I look for a couple of specific things: backgrounds (neutrals, beiges, whites, dots) and then nice greens for applique leaves, and then ... well, anything that inspires me! When it's for the stash, I try to stay away from anything too trendy as I may never use it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. nice choices of fabric....I hate taxes too....lol

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very interesting process in how you choose your fabric. I think I end up buying fat quarter bundles because it takes a bit of the work out of it! And my husband does our taxes. Yippee!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful fabrics.No way to buy.If I like it I buy it and take half meter or fat quarter.On sale I buy more if I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great post. I like that you told us the reason why you buy the fabrics you do. Now I understand why some of my larger, colorful prints never get used! The oranges would be great in a Halloween quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love batiks but generally, tend toward smaller prints. I usually buy at 1/2 yd as I work lots with FQs and it's more economical to get 2 FQs for the price of a 1/2 yd.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my gosh I have been buying up a storm lately! I also love 2 color prints. And I love anything that is very saturated in color. Love the Pez. I bought some of that too. Now go do your taxes :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great fabric finds, love the bunting banner!! Hurry and get your taxes done, maybe you will get a refund so you can shop some more!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am less than a year into quilting and I never thought I'd have a stash because I'm an accountant (precise) at heart. I am a project girl. Well, here it is 8 months later and I have a nice little stash of nothings on my bookshelf! No one (who knows me) believes me so I have to take a picture and send it to them. Stashes are fun!

    ReplyDelete
  13. i buy any thing that takes my fancy . thinking i will find something to do with it

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like we both like the same kinds of fabric. I have that philosophy too, if I like something I get 1/2 yard cut of it. It's why I have so much fabric but also why I have just what I need sometimes for a project.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I know what you mean about your taxes. I procrastinate until the last possible minute. Got mine done last Friday and it is such a load off my shoulders.
    Gee, sure wish I had your stash. You gave some good guide lines along with your buys. I'm trying to use up what I have right not, but I usually buy what I like and somehow, they usually work into what I have.
    Okay...Momma says, get your taxes done...you will feel so much better. LOL

    ReplyDelete

I ♥ to hear from you so please feel free to leave a comment. I read each one and try to respond as often as I can. Thanks so much for stopping by! ~Amber