The End of an Era (well…almost the end)

I came to a difficult decision this past week.

Oh, it’s been a long time coming, but I finally just dealt with it.

I’m passing on almost all of my upcycled fabrics. Lest I make it more dramatic than it is, I actually have hardly used anything from my upcycled fabrics boxes in several years. I can not easily get in the room where they all are, and I’m frustrated with the situation. They are mostly all sorted and nicely kept (due to the number of boxes in the room - and along with a queen size bed in the room, there isn’t a lot of extra space on the floor along with all the quilts I have in there.)

However, I’m not using them.

And anytime I start thinking about using them, I get this little sad feeling in my mind for all the things I would not be able to make if I did start again on my Upcycled Pinks series, for example—which I started with a bang and immediately decided I needed to take it apart because I hated how it looked.

Upcycled Blues series

My upcycled quilts journey started back about 10 years ago in 2015 when my friend told me I could make beautiful quilts because I had all that amazing fabric from the USA.

At first I objected, and then I stopped myself. What if it was true?

It’s true, I did have amazing fabrics from the USA at my disposal every time I went back to the states - yes, even before my sis and I had a store.

Could I make nice quilts from only upcycled fabrics — from items found at the thrift store including but not only duvet covers, sheets, clothing, etc?

I didn’t know, but I decided to try.

And so it began.

I made it a goal for several years to make at least 5 nice quilts from second hand only items. That didn’t include thread or batting.

Here are the first 7 quilts I made in this series of Upcycled quilts.

Once I made that bargello using only upcycleds, my creativity started to explode. Yes, I started with a simple framed 9 patch and then went to rail fences and other things. To me, however, they all “look like” I’m using men’s shirts. Could I make something that didn’t give out the vibes of “This fabric was a man’s shirt?”

So…

I took a quick perusal through my upcycled quilts folder and picked out some that I don’t think scream, “I was a man’s (or womens’s) shirt”.

Besides a rather extensive Upcycled Series of quilts folder, I also have two very large series of quilts - the Upcycled Blues and Upcycled Greens series.

Both my Upcycled Blues and Upcycled Greens series are large. In fact, I still have a few of the Upcycled Greens series to finish, so I will be sure to save back enough of those fabrics to finish them with backings and bindings.

 

Shown below is the Upcycled Greens series.

I feel like some of my best designs have come from the enforced limits that I put on myself in making these quilts.

However, in the end, these are quilts I don’t necessarily for the most part, want to keep. I am finding myself in love with a few of them and I will keep them - but the rest - due to actually how many quilts I have - I’m wanting to pass on. I find I have no attachment to them. I suppose that is good, but at my age now, I’m wanting to really enjoy the quilts I make.

So, I’m passing almost all of these boxes of pieces on. I’ve worked for hours in taking off buttons and cuffs and collars - but then again, I also made these two amazing quilts (Label Equalizer) out of the labels.

One of these Label Equalizer quilts I gave to Ewa, who helped me collect so many things, and the one on the right I kept and is currently on my couch as a conversation piece.

I do not know how many of the big name people keep all their quilts. You know I don’t keep my charity quilts - so that’s 120 quilts I move out of my house. BUT, as I finish other quilts, they tend to just get stored in the house. I do not give all the others away automatically. Some years I finish between 30 and 50 other quilts besides charity quilts.

And I just can’t.

I can’t keep most of them.

Ice Cube Prisms

I recently sent a quilt that I made with my husband to the Republic of Georgia. I’d like to send a quilt with him every time he goes somewhere, just to help move them.

So, with both trepidation and excitement I am watching my boxes and boxes of second hand fabrics move out of the house.

I have so many quilts I want to make and I have a room FULL of amazing new fabrics that I want to use. I can’t do it all. Ewa will use these pieces either for charity quilts or just to play with - or, knowing Ewa, pass them along to others who can use them. Once I give them to her, that’s up to her.

 

Here’s what at least SOME of what I’m moving along looks like.

That room has more - but this is what I’m trying to see if Ewa can take now. I’m at peace with moving this along. I have a room full of beautiful fabric and I’m itching to get to it and this is just not where I am currently.

I will admit - however, I’m not passing along the pinks and the reds. I want to make at least one or two red/white quilts and I think that using upcycleds will help not have a bleeding issue. :( I need at least some of the pinks to help me remake the quilt I am taking apart. In this pile of boxes are two boxes of pinks, but I have 2 I’m keeping which have plaids in them. At least I’m keeping them for now until I fix the quilt top I made and am taking apart.

So there you are. I’m excited to get some of this out of the bedroom where it has been. I want to be able to use the room again like it should be used.

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey.

Have a great day wherever you are reading this.

Becky PetersenComment