June 15, 2009

Still Distracted

My rotary cutter and I have a very close relationship. We're the best of friends. Cutting is probably my favorite part of quiltmaking. I know -- very strange. Give me a new blade and a stack of fabric, and I can keep myself occupied for days.

I recently fell in love with Moda Lissa's Carolina Courthouse quilt featured in the June issue of McCall's Quilting. (You can read about it in her blog post here.) It's a great quilt with a unique setting, and she used 1 1/2" strips of Moda fabrics. Having a ton of tiny scraps left over from cutting a million 2 1/2" strips, I saw a perfect opportunity to share some quality time with my rotary cutter! Unfortunately, my wild excitement caused me to cut sizes of my dark fabrics I didn't need, so I started cutting a different quilt. (I'm sure I need therapy, but I'm having too much fun to stop and make an appointment!) Here's a picture of what my rotary cutter and I accomplished. Some of these Moda fabrics are very old (from the mid-90s), and some of them were just barely 1 1/2" wide.

And since I was already cutting . . .

I'm back to 2 1/2" strips now. The fabric on top is from the Kiwi collection by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures. I've been thinking about a quilt using black and white prints for the background, but couldn't decide what else to include. Until I saw this adorable print.

So now I'll have to spend a little quality time with my sewing machine. I hope my rotary cutter doesn't get jealous!

21 comments:

Unknown said...

I just love that colour combo with the Kiwi and black and white. It will be a stunning quilt.

Karen said...

I can see why you would want to make the Carolina Courthouse quilt. I, too, like cutting out. It's the playing with fabric gets me excited thing. I recognize the top piece of every stack you showed!

Ren said...

My rotary cutter is jealous of your rotary cutter. Can't wait to see the out come of all!

Grandma Barbara said...

Good to know I'm not the only one who loves cutting fabric. That green is the perfect foil for the black and white!! So fresh!

Dawn Heese said...

Love the look of the lime green with the black and white. Sweetwater has a line with similiar colors.

Bunny said...

Looks like you have the makings of some nice quilts have fun.

Loris said...

Hmmm, those lime green, black and white fabrics look yummy :-)
I love the courthouse steps quilt block. Lucky me, I have that McCall's magazine. I like your scrap choices...might have to pull out some myself.

Sherri said...

Both of your quilts are going to be great! So many strips to cut...but it looks like you've got a great start!

*karendianne. said...

What a fun post! I rarely experience this feeling, this cutlove, but look at the invitation you've created. The inviting cut pieces. Cut pieces ready for a round of "She Sits and Sews."

Yes, fun post.

Jocelyn said...

Funny, I think I enjoy the cutting the best too. More then the piecing, and definitely more then the quilting. Don't think I would ever want one of those new cutting machines :-)

Cheryl said...

I agree.....I just love the cutting part. Love all your pretty strip piles!! There's going to be some beautiful quilts from those strips.

antique quilter said...

I LOVE Moda Lissa's quilt too and its on my list of quilts to make...
love the fabric choices for the B,W and green quilt can't wait to see what you make with that!!!
great use of a box to keep it all together btw!
I use box tops all the time for pieces carrying from the cutting table to the sewing table
Kathie

Karen said...

Your fabric looks so enticing sitting there waiting for you. I may have to buddy up with my rotary cutter now!
The green in the black background fabric is perfect! Very nice! So often it is black white and red. I like what you chose!

Anonymous said...

We're peas in a pod then! I too love rotary cutting. Your fabrics are very pretty...I say make that cutter jealous and put the pedal to the floor! No need to reply....still in CA and getting on computer is limited. Been thinking of ya and glad I popped in to see what was in the works.

Carol said...

I love to cut a whole bunch too...I can cut for a whole day and be very happy and then sew, sew, sew! Love your stacks of fabric.

Cathy said...

When can you get here? I have to say that while I love all parts of quilting, cutting is probably my least favorite. That is a box full of "eye candy" for sure!
Cathy

QuiltSue said...

Good grief, you've given my rotary cutter a nervous breakdown just thinking about all that cuttin.

Can't wait to see what you're going to do with the black and white (and green) fabrics.

SueR said...

I admire the way you make those scraps behave! Cutting takes a lot of time, and you got lots done. I love the black and white with one more color added combinations, and it'll be fun to see yours.

Annette said...

I just love the combination of lime green with black and white. This is going to look so awesome!

Becky said...

I love cutting fabric, too. My rotary cutter is on break while I try to finish a couple of projects, but it is eyeing the fabric on the side of the cutting table. It knows something is being planned.

Mary Johnson said...

I don't mind cutting ....as long as it's a little at a time and not the whole quilt but that stack of pieces looks mighty organized and ready to sew which will make it go quicker I'm sure.