Ava Rose fabric fun

April 29, 2017

I came home from my day job yesterday and could not wait to sew!  I started with a free pattern from the Riley Blake website:  Garden Path Mini.  There are a ton of free patterns on the web!

The squares are cut to 5" x 5" and then matched up with the same size white square.  A line is drawn diagonally and then sew 1/4" seams on both sides of the line.  Cut.  

The pattern calls for one border, but I revised the pattern and attached a 1-1/2" dark border and then a 2-1/2" outer border.  I love the new fabric and the pattern was simple.  You can find this fabric at my Etsy shop, Darlene's Fabric Shop.  

Here is the finished quilt top:

  

Here are a few marketing pictures that my daughter and son-in law took (Melissa and Kevin Bice) of the new products:  

April, 2017

My daughter sent me this quote after I told her that I had opened an ETSY shop.  It has stuck with me all week.  Just before Spring Break came to an end, I decided to take the plunge and follow her advice by opening an ETSY shop.  The idea for the shop came after months of bantering about opening a fabric store online where I would sell fabric for quilting.  I love color, fabric, quilting, and almost anything that involves sewing.  The fabric store idea seemed overwhelming because I would have had to design on online presence, hence, her suggestion about ETSY.  While I am still dreaming of opening that shop, as the quote states, I am starting where I am.  I spent one day running around town getting a business license and doing all the other "things"involved in becoming an official business.  Of course, I had no time to sew which made me a bit sad but at the same time, I  was elated to finally be "official."  I then spent the weekend stocking my "ETSY" shelves, and shopping for fabric to sell.  I have been spending evenings researching fabric stores and trying to figure out what works for them.  There are a lot of great online stores out there that carry beautiful fabrics and patterns.  I am hoping to soon become one of them.  

Let me take a step back and explain.  I have been a school teacher for almost 15 years.  I started later in life, and so am looking at retiring soon.  This fabric venture is something I have always dreamed of and only recently decided that it would be the next chapter in my life once I retire.  Well, I just couldn't wait. While I don't really have the time to devote 100%, I can "do what I can" as the quote above so realistically states.  I can still give 100% of what time I have after my day job.  I am full of energy, creativity, inspiration, and love adventure.  This is just another adventure that I hope you will join me on. 

I have somewhat decided to start with precuts and just got my first batch of "charm squares" delivered to my doorstep yesterday (Friday).  Here is a sampling of some of them:  

I absolutely love the "Goldilocks" fabric collection and can see myself making numerous projects with this line.  I am already planning a sweet gift of the "Goldilocks" book and lap quilt or dress for someone special in my family.  You can find further inspiration with this fabric line at Fabric Mutt who has sewn up some really cute pieces as part of the Blog Hop.  Although this line is my current favorite, here are some other precuts that are in the shop:  

This "Vintage Made Modern" has some great possibilities as well.  So many possibilities with this one!

Please visit my shop at:  Darlene's Fabric Shop and add me to your list of "favorites".  I thought that I might be adding fabrics daily, but that was a daunting dream of mine.  Weekly additions are more realistic.  Stay tuned...

Happy Sewing, 

Darlene