Girlfriend day
Yesterday was a girlfriend day, morning fun and lunch. In the middle of the afternoon I moved Dad back to his apartment and then went home to do his laundry. My brother and I went back over in the evening to see how he was doing and he has mild confusion right now.
While the clothes were in the dryer I started looking for a particular fabric and I ran across my pile of Dutch Wax batiks. I don't think the blue and white ones are available any more.
When I first found them back in the mid 1990's they were over $20 a yard. I don't think I ever got them for less than $15 a yard. That makes them too precious to cut into, right? I still haven't figured out what to make with them because there aren't any dark prints so there wouldn't be any contrast in the quilt. I guess I'll start searching through my fabrics to see if I can't find some companions for them.
I'm teaching a finishing class today. I can't wait to see what they bring to class to finish (or start).
22 comments:
Wow! I have never seen batiks like those -- they are stunning! I'd be tempted to add a rich blue and perhaps some yellow and see how that looked.
Just like you, I have a special collection too (posted this morning). I have seen the Dutch wax prints and they are really pretty. What fun you are going to have searching through your stash to find coordinates. Looking forward to seeing what you will make.
Interesting fabrics - new to me.
Thanks for a peek at your beautiful Dutch wax batiks. I wouldn't cut into them either!
What amazing batiks, I don't think I have ever seen these before. The one with the elephants is gorgeous and it would be great if some how it could become the focal point of a quilt, perhaps a central panel with more detailed quilting to enhance the birds and animals. Then bring in the other blue and white batiks with one or two other batiks that would compliment these in a pieced frame around the central panel. Just a thought.
Oh beautiful fabrics, surely there must be a pattern that could showcase them, they are too good to cut up small.
What beautiful fabrics.
Glad Dad is home again and I am sure he will settle in soon.
Glad to hear your Father is home again. Amazing how fabrics can be timeless and peek out interests again. Have fun with them. Chris
I have a couple of those batiks that I bought when I was working in London. Where I found them you had to buy the whole piece - about 5 or 6 yards - but they were only $20 or so. I still haven't done anything with any of them!
Wanda, those batiks are wonderful! I recently bought over 100 yards of african fabrics at a store in Cincinnati that was going out of business. The flat folds ranged from 8 to 12 yards and the cost per yard was less than $2.00! I will post some pictures on my blog tomorrow so you can see what I have in my stash and maybe we can do some trading if I have anything you would be interested in. Of course, you know from one of my earlier posts, I love blue and white fabrics and those batiks have me drooling all over my keyboard!
wonderful fabric I can see why you have put them aside for so long. You will come up with something I'm sure.
Glad you dad is back in his own place and hope the confusion won't get worse.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
https://www.french-nc.com/fabrics/african-fabrics/real-wax-ghana/cat_30.html
She used to have a lot more. Maybe they're not up on the web. I've bought scores of the Blue& Whites from their booth at the big shows over the years (all at $10 yard).
I'd be curious to see what you do with your fabrics. I finally, after years of pondering, came up with something. For now, I'll just say amebas.
Also, so sorry to hear St. Theresa's (Cinn.) went out of business. One of the most unique fabric stores I've been in.
And, if anyone is looking for some real eye candy (re: African fabrics), check out http://www.vlisco.com/...the photo gallery is breathtaking.
These fabrics get me on my knees. Breathtaking! It is a real shame that such things aren't on sale anymore. And the new fabrics -- I saw the links above -- are quite beautiful, but who likes to purchase 6 yards?
They would be great in a one piece quilt or at least a large space with the elephants in the middle, wouldn't they?
I did a large applique wall hanging with blue vases and jugs using some of this fabric. It was really wonderful to use and fit perfectly on the vases and jugs. I saved all the scraps.
I love it when you go searching for fabrics and end up showing us another collection from your stash. These pieces are wonderful. Inspiration for sure. I know you will create a spectacular design with those pieces.
I do hope your Dad will adjust to his apartment again.
J~MT
I googled Vlisco http://www.vlisco.com They're in the Netherlands and still making fabric. But nothing like the beautiful indigo ones you have. Look forward to seeing what you do with them.
That might help me with some ikats I'd scored. I don't want to cut into them. They'd make beautiful backs, but that seem like such a waste.
Glad you've gotten some much deserved fun time with friends.
Those fabrics are all so beautiful. Maybe some of your color batiks could keep them company. I hate to cut into some of my fabrics, too, but if you don't what's the point of having them?
Those fabrics are fantastic! Hope your Dad's confusion lifts now that he is home.
Those fabrics are amazing! I love them.
Gorgeous! Would they work if you brought in a blue palette? Maybe with some grays and a touch of brown?
Yay, girlfriend day! I am overdue for one of those. Love those rich batik fabrics, great patterns. Can't wait to see what you make from those!
Holy Cow, Am I really 21 days behind on my blog reading? I've never seen this fabric before. It is too beautiful to cut!!!
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