I wanted to show off some of the new fabric and/or projects I'm working with. Above is my favorite new series, Lush by Erin Michael. I haven't decided just what to do with it yet (obviously a quilt, I just don't know what kind) but I have a fat quarter of each print in the series and three yards of the dusty aqua deer print.
I was also thrilled to find this Drawing Room print at Josephine's and got two yards for the back of a scrap quilt. This quilt is a scrappy variation of my Mixtape pattern.
Here's some of the new Echino fabric by Etsuko Furuya. I just love the random assortment of animals.
Okay. This isn't new fabric, but I haven't made anything out of it yet, mainly because I've been trying to decide on the perfect project. This is a full fat quarter set of Cake Rock Beach that my best friend got me as a birthday gift back in August. I think I've finally settled on a project for it, so it's washed, pressed and ready to go.
Finally, here's a sneak peek at a project I'm working on with Annette Tatum's House line. More about this one later in the month.
I also wanted to thank everyone for your wonderful comments about Olivia's and Chris' quilts! Several of you asked why I said that I prefer working with linen and linen blends over Kona cotton. I should have elaborated that I don't have a problem with Kona cotton for piecing. I love using it for that. I just don't like the way it handles for making sashing -- particularly long pieces of sashing -- between blocks. The linen is heavier and doesn't warp around so much when you're using long strips. I also think that the linen just looks better as sashing. I like the way it gives the sashing a slightly different texture than the smooth cottons used in the blocks. As a bonus, the Essex cotton/linen is just about the most pleasant fabric ever to work with. It doesn't ravel much, has a nice heavy hand and creases beautifully when pressed.
Several of you also asked about the patterns from the Hedgerow and Rec Room quilts. Both of those patterns are coming. The Mixtape pattern is up first, and will be ready at the end of this month or early February. The Hedgerow and Rec Room patterns will follow as soon as I can get them done.
And, in answer to several other questions, Chris did like his quilt, but I think George-Michael likes it more.