ANXIETY AND OVER STIMULATION????

I had the opportunity to visit some out-of-town quilt stores in the last week.  The minute I walked in the doors, I felt just a pang of anxiety.  There were so many bolts of really bright color, wild prints, theme (Christmas, Halloween, Dinosaurs, etc. etc.) fabrics, unusual motifs that I have trouble relating to, racks of patterns, to me useless notions, and numerous samples.  In addition, there was background music to distract my mission.  I know that I am an old-school, traditional quiltmaker; and, obviously, out of touch and not trendy.  I've been quilting for at least 50 years; and just want to make pretty quilts relying on inspiration from the natural and architectural environment; and my own creativity.  

So, I put on my grown-up mindset to search for what my personal aesthetic deems to be beautiful fabric.  I'm not good at estimating the number of bolts of fabric I saw, but I figure that there must have been 2000+++!  Not counting the 'blenders', I only saw maybe 10 bolts of focus fabric that I would consider building a quilt around.  I didn't purchase much.

I know, I know; I am seriously out of touch with the current quilt industry.  I do not wish to disparage any other quiltmaker, designer, or shop owner.  I understand economic theory.  You do what you do; I'll do what I do.  I guess that is what makes the quilting world go around!

I'm just interested to know if I'm alone, or if there are others who experience the same feelings.  Comments?

LIGHTNING STRIKES

The idea that quilt blocks do not have to be square is always fun to explore.  In the middle of the night (my usual time to think about those things), this idea came up.  The first thing the next morning, I drew this up; and put it in my pile of designs I wanted to try.  While I wait to go shop for some fabric I need to finish another quilt, this seemed the right time to start this one.  I knew I could raid my scrap bins for the fabric I needed to get started.  The story continued as I had no idea of what else I would need to complete the idea.

I have spent the last 40 years always searching out what might be a suitable striped fabric to use in a future quilt, but never knowing where or when I might find one.  Well----- I found one; and not in a store or my own sewing stuff, but in a box of our memorabilia.  

  Fifty-five years ago, we hung some wallpaper in the dining room of our house in Montana.  At the time, I also purchased the matching fabric to make the curtains.  We moved back to Colorado before I was able to make the curtains.  So, packed away was this wonderful five yards of 100% cotton quilt-weight striped fabric from Waverly.  I had forgotten about it, but there it was!!!  Part of this wonder-fabric is now in this quilt and on the back.  And, this is one reason I continue to quilt -- the mystery, discovery, and challenge of it all.

THE STATS:  Lightening Strikes, 2024, 32" x 30", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

P.S:  We have moved to 7 different houses since that house in Montana.  Guess it is time to go through stuff and downsize.

Here's a poor 1970 picture of that dining room wallpaper in the Montana house!