Life Keeps Getting Richer

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(Amalfi Lively Floral Rayon in Mint)

I used to THRIVE on low volume, low saturation, low color, pastel, and very white quilts. If I’ve learned anything in life these last two years, though, I’ve learned we are all on a winding and varying path in life. Just because I chose one road two years ago, that doesn’t mean I can’t choose a new road this year.

My sewing shelves are slowly morphing to rich colors and florals in multiple substrates. Textures! Adding textures to quilts and blankets is a new (and wonderful!) discovery for me.

The fabric above is rayon. After doing a bit of reading, I learned that rayon is typically used for making dresses or shirts. I asked the wonderful quilting Instagram community for some other uses and received a variety of answers. Besides apparel, some recommended pillow cases, scarves, crib sheets, or quilts! Yes, quilts! I can use rayon in a quilt. I’ll let you know how that goes. 🙂

(Amalfi Herb Garden in Natural)

I bought both of the above fabrics a couple weeks ago from Nekoneko Fabric. This Etsy Shop is in Singapore, but the shipping cost was actually lower than many fabric stores in the United States. The shipping time was a little under two weeks for me. I’d buy from there again despite the shipping time.

Plus, she was one of the few shops I could find that still had yardage of the Amalfi Herb Garden in Natural.

I haven’t bought a lot of fabric this year. I’m still working through some fabrics that I bought in 2017. 2017 was the year of weekly fabric purchases for me…or at least it felt like it reflecting on the year. It was too much. But it was also a fun stage in the creative process. I learned a LOT in 2017. I’m still learning.

But I have learned to buy less fabric.

I don’t have immediate use for the rayon foral, but I am currently using the Herb Garden fabric in my half square triangle quilt. I also used a bit of it in my compass pillow…which I actually think turned out quite grand for the practice pillow that it was.

(Liberty of London Tawa Lawn Wiltshire)

Last week, I bought my first ever Liberty of London floral fabric. It has a very sleek or slippery type feel. It reminds me of the feel of Art Gallery Fabric cotton quilting fabrics. It’s very pretty, and paired with my favorite gold zippers, I think this fabric will make some beautiful pillow covers.

My younger sister saw this fabric on the Instagram feed of Field and Cloth, and she decided this fabric would look nice in her living room. Since her birthday is coming up in early November, I figured a few pillow covers were in order to celebrate.

(Yours Truly Strawberry Fabric)

I’m beginning to fall hard for the above burnt orange, clay, sienna type color. Is it just because fall is coming? Or is this color popping up everywhere?

This strawberry fabric is the only bit of fabric I have in this color, but it’s been hard to resist Cotton & Steel’s Sprinkle in Corduroy for a while now.

It’s another rich color that I’d like to see more of on my sewing shelves. Do you see it below too?

Have you heard of Field and Cloth? I mentioned this new shop above as well. I cannot get past the fabrics Nathalie stocks there. They are FULL of rich colors and hues and textures. She has such an appealing eye, and her photography draws me in to all her fabrics.

See that burnt orange on the right site in the above picture?

It’s double gauze embroidered with gold circles. Beautiful and full of texture! I want to buy two yards of it and hem the edges for a simple light throw for our living room.

And last, but not least…a little bit of rich texture to inspire you.

(Picture from whitehouse.co)

Velvet.

Can you count how many places I’ve priced some velvet fabric? I can’t. I keep looking at it. Some velvet mixed with that Outback floral fabric is just beautiful!

Yes, life keeps getting richer. Rayon, cotton, velvet, linen, double gauze. Florals, burnt orange, deep navies.

I used to sew with pinks and yellows and light blues and white white white. But it’s okay to choose a different path. Burnt orange is good too.