Inspiration Mosaics

When I was in high school I was on the literary magazine staff.  One exercise that we used to help get us to start writing was to pick a famous poem, write down the first few lines, and then use those lines to jump start our own poem.  You were never stuck trying to come up with the first line because your first few lines were already written.

Most of the time the resulting poem bore no resemblance to the original and the first few lines were erased pretty early on, but it was an inspiring way to begin a project.  This is the same way I like to begin a quilt.  I like to take a print or a collection and add, subtract, and edit until I am happy.

And with that long intro, welcome to my first Inspiration Mosaics post.  My plan is to make a monthly post where I choose one favorite fabric from each of my sponsor's shops, and then build on that to create a mosaic.  If I had infinite time and money I would love to make all of these into quilts, but since I don't have either of those, hopefully it will help satisfy that need and maybe inspire someone out there who is feeling a little tepid about putting fabrics together.

Lark Cottons

Charley Harper White Breasted Nuthatch, Botanics Branches Charcoal, Squared Elements Honeycomb. Cotton + Steel Basics XOXO Dandelion, Botanics Branches Blue, Charley Harper Twig Fall Mineral, Architextures Crosshatch Black, Comma Swinging Mustard, Botanics Leaves Tangerine, Cotton + Steel Basics Dottie Kerchief, Botanics Foliage Teal, Botanics Line Scratch Charcoal, Brambleberry Ridge Flight Taupe

I have a special place in my heart for the Charley Harper prints.  If you read my blog regularly you might remember that making a quilt with some of these prints helped me through a difficult time. I used the colors in the Nuthatch print to try to match some more basic fabrics in a variety of shades.  I really like using blues, blacks, and browns together and the Charley Harper prints do that beautifully. 

Lark Cottons is also having a 30% off sale on lots of designer prints and is definitely worth checking out.     

Fabricworm

Kokka Japan Floral Navy, Oh Clementine Stripe Yellow, Fancy Free Stripe Teal, Miss Kate Sundae Navy, Kona Bluegrass, Cotton + Steel Basics Dottie Jean Jacket, The Color Collection Honeycomb Blue, Riley Blake Small Dots Green, Field Day Vines Yellow, Honey Comb Honey Gold, Dear Stella Sunburst Stripes Green, Michael Miller Ta Dot Wave, Alexander Henry Heath Green

I am completely smitten with the beautiful blues and greens in this Kokka floral.  I tried to build on those colors with some basics that won't distract from this pretty print.  Also, how gorgeous would this print be as a quilt backing?  

Fabricworm is having a 15% off sale on all Moda fabrics and, as always, get $5 off a $50 purchase with code Linus5.  

Fat Quarter Shop

Silver Forest Frivolity, Charcoal Swarm, Spot On Orange, Basics Ghost XOXO, Ansonia Mushroom Connecticut, Littlest Silver Simply Simple, Ansonia Magenta Fine Stripe, Ansonia Onyx Fine Stripe, Cotton + Steel Basics Plummy Netorious, Cotton + Steel Basics Plummy XOXO, Moon Shine Silver Doe Eyed, Cotton + Steel Basics Grape Dottie, Moon Shine Tangerine Static Dot

I am really loving the pinks purples, and oranges in Tula Pink's new collection Moon Shine.  They seem to make this color combination much more grown up.  Plus the deer and bears are so cute.  I really need to get some of these prints into my stash.  

Plus the FQS now has new reduced shipping rates which is so great because I want to spend my money on fabric not on shipping.  

Stash Fabrics 

Brooklyn Bridge in Glare, Central Park in Breeze, Crosshatch in Curry, Scribble Notes in Navy, Canyon Wall, Hearts in Gray, NY Circuit in Ashen, Subway Routes in Glow, Rush Hour in Tan, Oval Elements in Mood Indigo, Commute in Taxi, Crosshatch in Lake, Bella in Ochre

I am really in love with everything that Leah Duncan makes and her new collection Gramercy is no exception.  Brooklyn Bridge is my favorite print and I used a few other Gramercy prints in the mosaic.  The Commute and Rush Hour prints would make great stash additions.

Stash has an extensive and awesome selection of clearance fabrics right now so make sure to check those out.  

Southern Fabric

Mimicry Hazel, Plumage Poppy, Miss Kate, Feathered Flight Sunken, Frames Graphite Grey, Fox Field, Cotton Supreme Solids Dust Pink, Aves Shatter Dim, Stitch Square Teal, C+S Basics Dottie, C+S Basics Netorious, Trendsetter, Dear Stella Confetti Dots, 

Southern fabric has a great selection of some of my favorite new collections including Winged, which I am completely in love with.  I really love the peach and pink colors and this collection looks great with some of the Cotton + Steel Basics.

If you haven't checked it out before, Southern Fabric has a great Daily Deal feature.  


I hope that was as fun for you as it was for me.  I am planning on making this a monthly feature and would love to hear your thoughts.