Last night I got home from a PTA meeting at 9 pm. For 2 1/2 long hours I sat in a chair and listened to some very important issues and many not so important ones - the lengthy discussion as to whether to spend an additional $95 to place our school logo on six umbrellas for the teachers to take to the buses seemed silly as it has rained every day this week and the teachers won't be getting these umbrellas for another month. Nonetheless, I feel it is important for me to take an active role in my kid's school - I also volunteer there every tues and thurs. Until this year my kiddos attended a private montessori school and I am very happy with their transition to public school - both my boys have excellent teachers.
When I got home I was feeling both tired and restless and looking for something to 'make' that requires little attention span. Normally I would turn to knitting, but I have nothing on the needles since I finished abigail's sweater . Then I spied this stack of Amy Butler prints that I purchased months ago.
I knew right away that I would cut the fabric into squares to sew into triangles. I find chain piecing triangles to be relaxing - draw a line, sew, draw a line, sew...
Before I knew it, I had lots of triangle squares and the sewing helped me unwind before heading off to bed.
Then, this morning while I was on the computer reading blogs and checking out ravelry I suggested to my daughter that she assemble the triangles into a "quilt" on the batting covered board. She worked on this dilligently for nearly half an hour - I tell you, these triangles have proven themselves to be extremely helpful.
This is what she came up with - not bad, huh?
And so I leave you with these words of wisdom: tired? need to unwind? need an engaging and creative activity to occupy your kiddos? piece some triangles tonight - and see what happens.
she must have her mother's eye for design.:) good job abigail! Can't wait to see the finished product. Larissa, when you buy your fabric do you buy a certain yardage or do you only buy with a project in mind? I'm never sure how much to buy if I don't have a project in mind. Just wondering what you typically do.
Posted by: Lisa Q | May 07, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Lisa, I rarely buy with a project in mind. I usually buy 1/2 or 1 yard cuts of fabrics by my favorite designers (amy butler, anna maria horner, denyse schmidt, joel dewberry) I almost always buy them when they are on sale. I buy all my fabric online at fabricworm, pink chalk studio/fabrics, or ebay. both fabricworm and pink chalk studio have excellent shipping and customer service and lots of sales. right now fw has anna maria horner and joel dewberry on sale and pcs has the katie jump rope line by denyse schmidt on sale - this is my favorite line and i bought 1 yard of each print pcs has on sale. just buy what you love and then make stuff - any stuff - out of it. My personal rule when I have an idea in mind is to go to my fabric shelves and choose what i love the most that day. and some projects i come up with to show off a particular fabric. I like to think of myself as an artist and the fabric as my palette - it's what motivates me and keeps me from feeling like I should be cleaning my house instead. as for the yardage question, unless you're planning to sew clothes buy 1/2 yard cuts - they're small enough to use up and large enough to throw in the washing machine. hope this helps!
Posted by: larissa | May 07, 2009 at 11:28 PM
ohh those look fantastic! Tonight I started making triangles as an attempt to start a zigzag quilt and it was amazingly relaxing until I realized I'd pinned all the wrong fabrics together! oops ;)
Posted by: Amanda Elizabeth | May 08, 2009 at 03:42 AM
lovely fabric prints, i love amy butler but havent been able to get some for myself. i guess its best to wait, im a beginner and i would probably ruin it!:)
i cant wait to see how the quilt comes out, it is looking awesome!
have a wonderful weekend!
xo-kendall
Posted by: Kendall Micayla | May 08, 2009 at 08:38 AM
OK, this is so beautiful. All that gorgeous Amy Butler fabric! Can not wait to see the finished piece.
Posted by: Heather | May 08, 2009 at 02:57 PM
larissa,
you are one of the most generous commenter/sharers of your knowledge! I've learned so much reading your blog and your reply comments. I never would have known about the online fabric companies without you!
I sat through a similiar PTO meeting last week! There you go again being generous with your time and talents!
she did a great job!
Posted by: kristyn | May 10, 2009 at 08:53 PM