When life throws you scraps ... make a quilt ...

My sister is a mad patchwork quilter.

She first caught the bug around the late eighties ... early nineties ... correct me if I'm wrong Juliet ... I know you're reading this.

Since then she has made quilts for pretty well everyone within the family ... and probably a few more people ...  with the exception of herself.  Which is extremely generous ... but kind of insane.

I have a gorgeous one on my bed that she decided to make as an engagement present for Hubby and I.  She completed it around the time of our sixth wedding anniversary!  (This might be the correct moment to point out that I have been working on a quilt for Master 16 since he was Master 12.)

If you are after a hobby that provides instant gratification ... quilting probably isn't for you.

But as often happens when you are a mad patchwork quilter ... you end up collecting a "stash".

A stash is a collection of fabrics .... picked up over the course of your quilting addiction.  It contains all manner of fabrics that you have come across in that time.  Ones that you loved ... or just liked.  Ones that you thought may be handy ... or were on special ... or that you thought just might go well with that other fabric that you picked up four years ago.

Stashes regularly become living, breathing entities that grow out of control and threaten to take over your life ... well at least your storage spaces.

I only have one box worth ... so I'm quite proud of my lack of stash.  I like to believe it shows restraint in my character.  I like to believe that ... but it doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

My sister ... on the other hand ... her stash is something else entirely.  She filled a large cupboard ... several layers deep.  There may well be more cupboards ... but that's all she's admitting to.

She likes to call it SABLE.  Stash Above and Beyond Life Expectancy.

Her partner looked in "the cupboard" one day and declared, "Wow ... look at all your fabric.  You must have a hundred dollars worth in there."

HA!

Sometimes it is kinder to keep them ignorant ... for their own safety and good health.

But in an attempt to cleanse the unwanted and unnecessary from her life, she decided to cull her stash.  Six garbage bags later, she still had a full cupboard ... but a far lighter spirit.

So I had a little look through her discard pile ... you know ... just to help ... and accidentally came home with these ...

Seems I might have the beginnings of a stash after all.

I'm thinking a pretty, pink, girly concoction of a quilt for the bed will be just the ticket ... Hubby will be SO pleased!

Stay tuned for the results.

But please ... don't hold your breath ... I wouldn't want anyone's asphyxiation on my conscience.