Thursday, February 10, 2011

Prepping for Bonnie Hunter

One day until Bonnie Hunter arrives!!!

First, on Friday night, she is doing a Scrap User's System lecture/trunk show. I want to sit RIGHT UP FRONT so I can see. I learned my treatment of scraps from her website, and I love that I always have pre-cut squares ready to pop into a project.

Then, on Saturday, she is doing the Scrappy Mountains Majesty workshop. This was the quilt pattern that introduced to me to Bonnie Hunter in 2007, and I made this quilt for my mom for Christmas that year. I've been a Bonnie Hunter fan ever since.


I'm thrilled to making another one, as my mom's quilt is one of my favorites, but what theme or color scheme? Hmmmm.... Nancy is making one in Christmas fabric, so originally I thought I would, too, but only a few fabrics in I realized that I didn't have the variety of Christmas fabrics that I wanted and I didn't want to buy more. Back to the drawing board.

What I do have a lot of, and what I almost NEVER use, is FLORALS. For some reason, florals just never speak to me. What the heck? I thought. This will be a way to use up a bunch of them. So last night I started cutting, and managed to cut out all the lights that I will need, plus a couple extra (since I always make mistakes). And, in true Scrap Users fashion, whatever leftover scraps I had into either 2" strips or the square sizes that I collect - 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3", 3.5", 4", 4.5" and 5".

It was a calming and cathartic exercise, as I have been pretty overwhelmed at work, not just with the quantity of it, but also the unbelieveable things that some of our clients/customers say and do.

Tonight, I'll be back down there cutting out darks.

I hope I will like all those scrappy florals together, but even if I don't, at least I will have moved some stash that wasn't otherwise likely to move. Do you know that I found a fabric with a 1989 copyright date in the selvage? Obviously a floral that someone else didn't want and gifted to me. That's OK - I'll gladly take your discards and cast-offs, and one day, they will find their way into something BEAUTIFUL!

12 comments:

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I hope you have loads of fun with Bonnie Hunter! Learn lots and then share with us.
Your quilt you made for your mom is beautiful. I look forward to seeing the floral beauty hat you will create!

Judi said...

Selvages you can give me your floral selvages... Looking forward to Friday night for sure. Yeah Bonnie!

Char said...

Sorry you're working so hard. I know it's that time of year, my daughter is waiting to here from one more college before she makes her decision.
I'm so jealous that you get to see Bonnie in person. Enjoy yourself, you deserve it!

Cheryl Willis said...

have a wonderful weekend, our plans have change yet again. Hopefully I can get a few borders sewn before we leave.
Plz give Bonnie and hug for me. (and everyone else) cw

The Cozy Quilter said...

I am green with envy! Have fun with Bonnie Hunter. I am looking forward to reading about the trunk show and workshop on your blog.

Julie Fukuda said...

I've got a whole tin of 3.5 inch florals. I will be waiting for some good ideas. Have fun!

Shay said...

I hope it's everything you dream of and more. Have fun!

Wilma Lee said...

I love her stuff. I have made many of her quilts.

Lane said...

Hey, Erin. Ooh, how lucky you are. Enjoy the Bonnie workshop. I think your florals idea is perfect and so fitting in with her ideas on using things up! Lane

bernie said...

You are going to have so much fun - can't wait to see your floral quilt top! Bernie

Kim said...

Oh how fun......and Bonnie blogged about YOU this morning! Have a great time,,,take pictures and share em with us....we are all so jealous!

Happy Sewing

Nancy said...

Erin, so good to see this weekend. Thanks for opening your home to me - glad I got to see your quilting room in person. Special thanks to Donald for lending me his room, and thanks for sharing your mom's quilt with me! As always, our time went to quickly, but I certainly enjoyed the time we had and the memories we made!