It rained, on and off, all weekend so getting a shot of the top outside was impossible. This is the best we could do inside. If it’s dry enough later today, we’ll try for a better shot outdoors. One more row to finish, which will add to the width of it, and it’s done!
We went to Sew Sisters on Friday to pick up the silk batt. I was hoping to find a wide backing that would be appropriate — thinking my best bet might be a mottled pink or green. I was thrilled to find a Robyn Pandolph print in a wide backing. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
During the weekend, I also reorganized partially done projects. I’m glad I did that as it reminded me of a few things that need very little to complete them. Once my aunt’s quilt is done, I now have a better idea of what I want to work on next. One project in particular will jump to the head of the queue and be ready to quilt in very little time.
I have quite a collection of Australian Patchwork & Quilting magazines, which is my favourite of the quilt magazines. Storage of them is something I struggle with. If I put them in a bookcase, they are going to take up at least 2 shelves, probably more like 3. I love having them available to leaf through so having them handy is rather nice, but I’m trying to come up with a different idea. Do you keep all of your favourite magazines and, if so, how do you store them?
Smudge was helping me piece one of the Alabama Beauty blocks Sunday night. He’s often on my lap when I’m stitching.
Lester was watching out the window during the weekend.
Quilt Obsession 
The quilt is turning out just beautiful! Your Aunt is going to love it. The print for the backing is just perfect. As far as magazines are concerned, I tend to keep all my quilting ones too. Like you, I enjoy leafing through them. But they are in stacks throughout the house. My intention is to go through them all and rip out the patterns that I like and put them in clear protective sleeves and place them in a three ring binder. But that is a large task and I am just not ready for it!
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Cathi, your quilt is beautiful! And the boys are looking very handsome too, aren’t they.
I store my magazines in magazine boxes but I really should have culled them before we moved house…..have rather a lot……never mind.
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Your quilt is looking wonderful Cathi. I have no solution to the magazine dilemma, mine take up far too much space along with various quilting books as well. I keep thinking I should go through and take the patterns out of the magazines and file them but I’d rather use the time to sew instead.
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That is so beautiful, and I am loving how the colors all came together!
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I can’t wait to see how you are going to quilt this lovely! It is just perfect, the pattern and the colors – even the backing is “just right” 😉 Your Aunt is going to be bowled over
the magazine issue: aaack- I keep them in holders, on 2 shelves across the closet in the sewing room- but need a system to “locate” patterns- I keep thinking a 3 ring binder with dividers with sections for “Civil War, “Christmas” etc, because when I start looking for something, I spend way too much time going thru them all! I actually did let go the of the entire collection of McCalls “Quick Quilts”- but can’t part with any of the others. I am not a hoarder in any other area- sheesh! Sandy
PS I love those little guys in your life- they are so very photogenic.
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Zounds. By Gads Girl that is an astounding quilt! Seeing all the blocks together is swoonable! and the backing could not be more splendid. jolly good job.
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Your backing fabric is so beautiful, what a lucky find! No napping for kitties today…bird patrol?
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That backing fabric is beautiful, like it was made for your Aunt’s quilt!!
Crispy
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That backing is perfect! The top is looking great.
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The backing couldn’t be any better! The top is gorgeous!
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This is a beautiful quilt!! I love the colors and the peacefulness of it. The backing is a perfect choice.
Love these pics of the boys…they are so sweet!!
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A long time ago, I started pulling patterns/articles/inspiring photos out of magazines & put them into binders. I am now inspired to go back through & cull those…
I “never” got around to looking through the magazines again…
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Just beautiful — and the backing fabric is perfect!
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The quilt is lovely! and that Robyn Pandolf just gorgeous!
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That backing is wonderful for your quilt and the top is fantastic – I just love it!
As for the magazines, I use the magazine boxes too and label each box with the name of the magazines and date range. I put up a shelf in my sewing room that goes around the top of two walls, just low enough from the ceiling to get the magazine boxes in and out easily. I figure that space up there needs to be useful too. If you’d like to see a photo, check out this post on my blog – http://needlingthings.blogspot.com/2010/01/too-many-books.html
Years ago I started marking projects I liked with little post-it flags when I first got a magazine. I do go through them occasionally and I find that my tastes have changed over time. Some of the tabs get pulled off and often some patterns get tagged that I originally didn’t mark. Its for that reason that I don’t like the idea of tearing patterns out of magazines. I know that, as time passes, my tastes seem to change.
I have put the brakes on how many quilt magazines I buy. At one time I was buying every one that came out every month. Now, I’m more selective and page through them first to see if there is a pattern that I REALLY love before I buy.
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VERY pretty! We were at the store on Saturday to pick up a wonderful cat panel that Judy has in now. And of course I had to pick up a whole bunch of fat quarters for a swap I’m in. 🙂
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Cathi, that is just beautiful! I love the fabric backing fabric! Might want to get some extra of that while it’s around… It’s wonderful! or do you only use them once? I tend to buy too much of things like that. Same w/toiles for me. I love the new name also! I hope you turn it into a magazine or somehow show it off… It’s just beautiful!
I adore those Australian Magazines also. I can’t bring myself to rip out pages from those, so have to keep the entire thing. They are so well done, they are like books to me. So, I use old wooden crates that we’ve had. They are from canned food,etc. from the old days w/grooved corners, all wood and old w/the stamping on the sides. However, you live in a fancier house than I do. I’ve seen magazine holders for bookshelves.
I sure wish we could have those delivered to our mailbox. There’s a quiltshop near here on St. Simons Isl, GA and she has a bunch of old ones for 50% off, so I may get her to mail me some… I’m lucky that I have several Australian ladies who follow my blog and have the opportunity to see many of the quilts from there. Their style is so unique!
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Gosh, I leaped on as soon as I saw your post to blather on about how much I love this quilt and what a great find for the backing (I love Robyn Pandolph fabrics), and I see that I’m just parroting what everyone else has said!
We are all in agreement. This quilt is fantastic.
: D
~ Ronda
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That backing IS perfect! I ended up tearing out the projects I want to make and put them in plastic sleeves in binders. It did help make some room. The best time to buy binders is two weeks after school starts and the stores want to clear out the school supplies!
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Beautiful quilt! I can’t wait to hear about your aunt’s reaction. The backing is just perfect and no piecing! For quilting magazines, I tear out projects and articles I want to keep and put them in page protectors in binders then recycle the rest of the magazine. Maybe once I year, I go back through the binders and take out projects I don’t think I’ll get around to. The only magazines I keep on bookshelves is Martha Stewart Living. I have years of them!
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Gosh friend, I’m tranformed. Looking at this quilt makes my mind transform with concepts, ideas and it’s thrilling. It makes me want to hurry up and get mine done. So I can move on. But of course, that’s not reality so I’ll enjoy the glow of yours. What a beauty!!!!!!!
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That is the perfect backing for your aunt’s quilt!
Like others, I have cut way down on my subscription to magazines. Sooner or later it all comes around again in another format, especially with the internet patterns being in such abundance. I only subscribe to 3 now, instead of the 8-10 I used to get.
So several years ago, I began saving patterns I really loved and putting them in the protector pages in 3-ring binders. Loosely speaking, I have one binder that has quilts especially for the seasons, and of course, there’s a lot of applique in that one. Then there’s one that has a section for baby quilts, quick projects, etc. I also save color combos or secondary block patterns , but only cut out the picture rather than the entire pattern. Chances are, I already have or can easily find the block dimensions elsewhere.
If I am going through a magazine and that particular issue has many projects I want to try (I keep up with sticky notes), I keep the entire magazine. A friend who was moving out of town had about a dozen magazine file boxes she passed on to me, so the magazines go in those in the top of the closet. Periodically I go through the binders and the magazines, as my tastes and skill levels change, and toss out what I no longer want. Sometimes I find a new one that was unmarked, but not enough of them to regret tossing out a whole magazine minus 1-2 projects.
I do have to keep my sanity!
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Cathi – the quilt top is just too beautiful — and that backing fabric is perfect. It makes me want to use to wallpaper my sewing room! 😉
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The quilt top looks wonderful and I love, love, love the backing fabric. An excellent find!!
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