04 April, 2008

Saving Time, Saving Money

Quiltkeemosabe and I took a day trip on Wednesday, I was in search of fabric to back five quilt tops and she agreed to help me find what I needed! Yes, FIVE quilt tops. Now that I'm actually finishing quilts, they suddenly all need backs. (Two of the quilt tops that I carried along to the fabric store were at least 15 years old!) I needed anywhere from 4 to 6 yard lengths, depending on the quilt size, and I was determined not to spend too much money per backing. When we arrived at the store I went straight back to the "bargain bolts" section and didn't find a whole lot to choose from there, but since these were marked $3.39 per yard I was determined to make them work for my purposes! Quiltkeemosabe helped me to pull out potential candidates and do some quasi-coordinating, we got it done fairly quickly. Quite unlike shopping for fabrics for the top of a quilt, where I could spend all day matching and complementing each and every hue, I can happily choose backings in a split second based on what's available. I'm reminded of what it must have been like to be a quilt maker at a time when one's quilts were completely determined by the current inventory at the dry goods store, that and one's scrap bag were all there was to choose from, I could get used to that kind of efficiency! I was swift and decisive on Wednesday, instead of valuable time spent micro-matching it was very easy to adopt an attitude of "that's close enough" and quickly move on to the next decision; saving time, saving cash. I'm proud of my thrifty ways when it comes to this aspect of quilt making; I guess it makes up for other extravagances... maybe? If I don't post as often for the next few days, you'll know why, Sundance and I have our work cut out for us; times FIVE! (Pictured: tops and their backs; in their own stacks, arranged in corresponding order.)
Life is Good!




18. Get organized so everything has its place.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

From what I can see the backings match the tops very nicely and if they were at a good price, well everything is just perfect. I wish you fun with the quilting.
How lucky you are to see Bonnie in the flesh!
Has the vanilla turned up? Take care.

jovaliquilts said...

From the photos, they look like great matches (it was kind of fun to bounce back and forth between the photos -- do you think that counts as exercise?). Have fun quilting!

Unknown said...

I just love being thrifty! Looks like you did a great job picking out your backings. I await the pictures of the finished quilt!

*karendianne. said...

Frugal and with Flair!!!

Those fabrics for the backs are really great. Funness! It looks like perfect match ups really, if you ask me.

Don't forget to give Hannes extra love and a cookie, too, maybe. ;)

Splendid Day for Sundance Love, *karendianne.

Shelina said...

You certainly do have everything organized and in its place. The backings look like they would match the front wonderfully!

MARCIE said...

You go girl!

julieQ said...

Aren't they pretty backings? I love them! The bargain table is fun and leads to great creativity, don't you think? Are you enjoying your new quilting machine or what? :)

Julie

meggie said...

There is always a place for a bargain in wise quilt making!
Good for you.

Libby said...

Five new finished quilts about to enter the world - life is grand! Your choices look fabulous *s*

Tanya said...

Yes, the colors look like they match nicely! I don't like to spend much for backings either and recently I've been tempted to try some of the pieced backings that people have been making. As prices go up I end up shopping more and longer looking for a bargain. (And not many to be found in Japan!)