Tuesday, November 29, 2011

It's Birdseye Time . . .

Woo Hoo!! It's fall, I've got my fabric, I've got my window of opportunity and I'm finally starting on Birdseye!! It seems like it took forever for this project to make its way to the top of my To Do list.

I've drooled over this pattern for at least 18 months.


Birdseye is by Carrie Nelson for Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. I like the size of this quilt (it finishes at around 80" x 80"), I like the dark background, I like the big star blocks and I LOVE those nine patches dancing around everywhere.

I bought three different background fabrics, all black, for this project. But I just wasn't 100% sold on any of them so I kept looking, until I finally decided on this one.

It's Kansas Troubles Favorites by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda, and it's brown, not black. I like the color of this brown and I like the little hint of additional color in the background. I can't take credit for choosing this background fabric, the talented ladies at Quilts Plus in Indianapolis had this fabric in a Birdseye kit. But as soon as I saw it I knew that was the fabric for my Birdseye.

The red accent fabric I'm going with came from my stash and is a perfect match for the dark background fabric.

I'm using the red vine fabric from the Stars and Coxcombs collection by Terry Clothier Thompson for Moda.

So in addition to drooling over the pattern and the searching for the perfect background and accent fabric for the last 18 months, I've also been collecting fat quarters for the stars and nine patches. I wanted 25 coordinating fat quarter sets (two matching fat quarters for each star) so each star would be unique. I figured I would also use that fabric for the nine patches, 50 different fat quarters should be enough, don't you agree?

Anytime a couple of fat quarters would catch my eye I would buy them and throw them in my Birdseye project box. Imagine my surprise when I got out my project box and sorted through my fat quarters to find 45 sets of fabric combinations which I was able to narrow down to 37 perfect sets for my Birdseye!


I guess that's the problem to have, but I don't know how I'm going to only pick 25 sets out of the 37 sets, but I figure as I make my star blocks and throw them on my design wall, I'll get a better feel for what the quilt needs as far as fabric color and contrast.

Here's my inspiration block, and I'm inspired. I'm coordinating the star points but not worrying so much about the nine patch in the middle. I figure my 25 sets of fabric (50 individual pieces) will give me a nice variety and a good look, no need to try and coordinate a third fabric for the center, right?

Even though I did go and raid my stash to select a different coordinating fabric for the center of my first block, I won't have to do that for the remaining 24 star blocks, I can go scrappy, I can throw caution to the wind, I have the confidence to know that 50 different fabrics is all this quilt needs, trying to find 24 more fabrics to go with the star points would just be crazy!

In addition to the colored fabric I'm also going scrappy for the light background fabric.

Like you, I'm squeezing in my sewing around holiday responsibilities, but I'm looking forward to tacking both, a different sort of marathon! Ready, set, GO!!

19 comments:

  1. Thelma, you will be my inspiration! I just bought this pattern earlier this month and will follow you eagerly to see your quilt come together. I haven't decided on my fabrics yet, and probably won't start 'till we're into the new year, but you have definitely peaked my interest in putting this at the top of my list. I love your first block and the background and red are perfect choices. Enjoy your sewing day!

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  2. Thanks for a fun, interesting post! Your quilts are always so beautiful. You had the red in your stash & I'm wondering how much yardage you usually get when you're buying for stash without a specific project in mind?

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  3. Love. That describes it all. Love the pattern; love the fabrics; love the inspiration block; cannot wait to see the finish! Will follow with anticipation!!
    Jayne

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  4. Love it! I can't wait to see your progress - your quilts are always so wonderful. I'm so glad you have your red and white quilt on your blog - I'm inspired every time I see it!

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  5. I love the fabric you've chosen - it's got 'Thelma' written all over it! I'm going to enjoy watching this quilt grow!

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  6. Woot Woot! Love that you started this one. I can't wait to see the final product at the end of the month. You know I have the pattern just sitting there. I'm thinking you might serve me a good dose of inspiration for the new year.
    Have Fun!!!

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  7. You go girl. I know you will have this done so quickly. Look forward to seeing your progress.

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  8. It is going to be so much fun to watch your progress on this quilt ! You are brave starting this one during the holidays ;-)

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  9. I can't wait to see how this quilt turns out. I love the pattern and your choice of fabrics/colors. So....we'll see the finished top in, oh, two weeks?

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  10. I look forward to seeing your progress. I will put my sewing on hiatus until January, though. Too much family activities and still trying to get ready for Christmas.

    My sewing machine has to move out of the living room to make room for the tree!

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  11. Thelma, I can't wait to see this project progress. Your inspiration block is gorgeous! This is my very favorite star block to make. There is just something about it that always draws me back to it. I think I have made more of this star pattern than all of the others put together. Matter of fact I have a project box full of them, all different fabrics that I have made when I wasn't in the mood to work on anything specific...maybe I should throw them together with some sashing for a scrappy quilt. I made them all 12 1/2" so I could make a new bedspread with them. OH...by the way, I was over on Judi's blog today of (Green Fairy Quilts)...WOW!!! Your Nottingham Star quilt is completely breathtaking. All joking aside, I literally gasped when I saw it. Between your beautiful eye for fabric combination's and perfect piecing and Judi's magnificent talent, you have an absolute show stopper. WOW!!! Hugs...

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  12. I think you made a good decision when you threw caution to the wind and decided to NOT pick a third matching fabric for the center nine patches. Sounds like there are quite a few of us who are watching your progress on this one :o) We know it's going to be beautiful even before you get it done :o)

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  13. I love that Kansas Troubles fabric you are using for this quilt. It's perfect! This is on my "Someday To Do" list, so I can't wait to see how yours turns out!

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  14. I believe I have a Birdseye quilt kit that I purchased from a LQS, but not positive. I have so much stuff that my husband tells me he's sure I've bought the same things twice and I probably have! I should do a little searching and see if I really do have a kit and quilt along with you!

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  15. Great choice of fabrics! Really like your black background fabric. Enjoy:)

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  16. Can't wait to watch you put this one together! You are so fast :) Absolutley love the background fabric. this is going to be another stunner!

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  17. Very nice choices Thelma! Glad you are able to get started on your dream project.

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  18. You're off to a great start. I love your fabric choices. And it looks like you'll have enough left over to make a mini Birdseye (or maybe a Birdsbeak) when you're done. Enjoy!
    Debbie R.

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  19. Love this quilt and your fabric choices!

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