Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

All Hat and No Cattle

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That expression has long amused me.  What does it mean?  All hat and no cattle means someone who talks a good line, but doesn't have much in substance to back it up.

And maybe that is what I have been guilty of lately.  I sure have a lot of ideas for quilting projects, but haven't really been buckling down and getting anything done.  In my defense, I think I am going through a creative phase where I am taking stock of my inventory of fabric and the projects I would like to do.  My mind just swims with idea after idea.

Look at that girl in the picture above.  She doesn't care a bit that if she drinks that beer her big butt is going to crack that table she is sitting on right in half.  She is happy as a lark.  Oh well, I guess I am too!

But, like I said, I've been thinking.  Look at this year old issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.  Is that not a gorgeous quilt?  It sure is.

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Here is a picture of the entire quilt.

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Ok.  Now imagine this:

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Oh yes.  That works.  I just made a red and white quilt, so I am not in the mood to do that in the near future, but how about black and white?  This is an Alex Anderson collection called Always and Forever for P & B Textiles.  There is a red and white color way, a blue and white color way, and the black group you see above.    The fabric has been out for quite awhile, but you can still get it.  Check out quiltshops.com, and you will find it.

See what I mean?  The old brain is always workin'.  Just think, if I made this quilt, it would match my kitchen chair cushions, and go splendidly with a red painted wall.  If I had one.  Which I just might someday.

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This is a teaser you are just going to have to wait to find out more about!

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38 responses to “All Hat and No Cattle”

  13. Another wonderful idea! I love the black and white group. It would be rich/instant heirloom! Now I have to go backtrack and see what all those Happy Camper strips are getting made into…

  14. Another wonderful idea! I love the black and white group. It would be rich/instant heirloom! Now I have to go backtrack and see what all those Happy Camper strips are getting made into…

  15. I need to write that expression down, I love it. Enjoy your creative phase, I’m very jealous of it. Maybe I need to loosen up a little and let the ideas in….not sure it’s possible. We need to pair up, you think up the Ideas then I execute them, but then, who would get to keep the quilt?
    The black Alex Anderson fabric is perfect for that pattern! Another great idea!
    That cat picture is too cute, who thinks up this stuff!!

  16. I need to write that expression down, I love it. Enjoy your creative phase, I’m very jealous of it. Maybe I need to loosen up a little and let the ideas in….not sure it’s possible. We need to pair up, you think up the Ideas then I execute them, but then, who would get to keep the quilt?
    The black Alex Anderson fabric is perfect for that pattern! Another great idea!
    That cat picture is too cute, who thinks up this stuff!!

  17. Welcome to my quilting world – ideas constantly swirling, projects waiting in the wings tempting me constantly. Isn’t it great?

  18. Welcome to my quilting world – ideas constantly swirling, projects waiting in the wings tempting me constantly. Isn’t it great?

  19. Nicole, you crack me up. I am in the place you are heading I think. I look at all of the old books and mark all of the patterns I just love, then go look at my fabric and think, yes, this would be wonderful, and then I go sit back down and dream about doing them. But at least you are getting some quilting done. This is a pattern I have marked also and I think it will be wonderful in the fabrics you have chosen. I see another quilt started in your near future, lol

  20. Nicole, you crack me up. I am in the place you are heading I think. I look at all of the old books and mark all of the patterns I just love, then go look at my fabric and think, yes, this would be wonderful, and then I go sit back down and dream about doing them. But at least you are getting some quilting done. This is a pattern I have marked also and I think it will be wonderful in the fabrics you have chosen. I see another quilt started in your near future, lol

  21. Nicole,
    Just last night I was looking at the same quilt and decided to do this one.
    I need to enlarge it for a king. Just cannot decide on the red or blue.
    The creative process of designing and planning quilts always spurs me on.You just got my cattle moving. I will be ordering the fabric this weekend!

  22. Nicole,
    Just last night I was looking at the same quilt and decided to do this one.
    I need to enlarge it for a king. Just cannot decide on the red or blue.
    The creative process of designing and planning quilts always spurs me on.You just got my cattle moving. I will be ordering the fabric this weekend!

  23. I say…..go for it Nicole! I love black and white. You’re getting my creative juices flowing just looking at it…now on to check it out! Nancy in WI

  24. I say…..go for it Nicole! I love black and white. You’re getting my creative juices flowing just looking at it…now on to check it out! Nancy in WI

  25. My theory is Strike while the iron is hot! If you are inspired to start a new quilt, just do it and don’t agonize over it. It’s my favorite thing to do. Have fun girl! That’s the most important thing!

  26. My theory is Strike while the iron is hot! If you are inspired to start a new quilt, just do it and don’t agonize over it. It’s my favorite thing to do. Have fun girl! That’s the most important thing!

  27. My local quilt shop was the one that designed the quilt. She probably doesn’t have anymore kits left, but there could be a chance that she does. I could call tomorrow and ask if she does have anymore Black and White kits if you would like.
    Cathy

  28. My local quilt shop was the one that designed the quilt. She probably doesn’t have anymore kits left, but there could be a chance that she does. I could call tomorrow and ask if she does have anymore Black and White kits if you would like.
    Cathy

  29. Great pattern. Ohhh, I think that black and white fabric would be awesome—especially since you have the chair cushions to match!! I got a good chuckle out of the saying—had not heard that one. My dad was a farmer and cowboy—didn’t hear that one out of him either. Wish he were here and I would run it buy him for a good laugh.
    Have a great weekend.
    Beverly in WA

  30. Great pattern. Ohhh, I think that black and white fabric would be awesome—especially since you have the chair cushions to match!! I got a good chuckle out of the saying—had not heard that one. My dad was a farmer and cowboy—didn’t hear that one out of him either. Wish he were here and I would run it buy him for a good laugh.
    Have a great weekend.
    Beverly in WA

  31. Now, didn’t I buy some black and cream fabrics from you? Ideas are now swirling in my head. And BTW, you also sent me a piece of that fabric that’s on your chairs. I made a valance out of it.

  32. Now, didn’t I buy some black and cream fabrics from you? Ideas are now swirling in my head. And BTW, you also sent me a piece of that fabric that’s on your chairs. I made a valance out of it.

  37. I made that exact quilt for my MIL for Christmas. She loved it! I used Quilt In A Day’s flying geese ruler, and it cut the piecing time by about 1/3.
    Laura

  38. I made that exact quilt for my MIL for Christmas. She loved it! I used Quilt In A Day’s flying geese ruler, and it cut the piecing time by about 1/3.
    Laura