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.

Morris Garden

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Ever since the quilt historian/fabric designer Barbara Brackman came out with her two William Morris inspired fabric collections, I have been unable to come up with a good idea as to how to use them.  I know, how pathetic.  But no matter how I toyed with ideas in my mind, nothing seemed to grab me.  The two collections I have are A Morris Garden and A Morris Workshop. 

I think the problem I was having is that I wanted to use all the colors in both lines in one quilt.  Chocolate, red, pink, rust, sage green, light blue, navy blue.  And those colors don't necessary blend all that well together.   There is also a mustard yellow, but despite my best efforts, there is no way I can add that color into the mix.   I would take the fabrics out of their storage container and lay them out, fondle them, put my favorite combinations together, and then put them all away again.

Kim, of Magnolia Bay blog has come out with a really fabulous new book called Scrap Basket Surprises, which I have mentioned here before.  Everywhere I go, I see someone making a quilt out of her new book.  This book is hot, people!  I was at my favorite quilt shop last week, and saw a gal making this pattern:

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The fabrics used in the quilt in the book are batiks, but the woman whose quilt I was admiring had been using Civil War reproduction fabrics for a stunning result.  I am telling you, you can take any pattern in this book and use whatever your choice of fabric is, and get an amazing quilt, just to your own taste, style and preference.

I have been carrying Scrap Basket Surprises around with me, pouring over the pictures in the book, and kept being drawn back to a design called Kitchen Sink.

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I found the answer to my dilemma in regard to the Morris inspired fabrics.  Keep it scrappy.  That way I can use all those pretty prints and they will all work together.  Except for the mustard.  No mustard in my quilt.

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This past weekend, I cut out all my little rectangles, and made a couple of the simple blocks.  I love what I see, and making the blocks is easy and fun.  I will probably end up making the quilt larger than shown in the book.  I must have bought half yard cuts of most of these fabrics, and have enough to experiment with!

I have been inspired by so many new ideas lately, and must have cut fabrics out for four or five new quilts.  It is such a wonderful feeling to be so excited about launching into these projects!  I will keep you posted as to my progress!

42 responses to “Morris Garden”

  3. Nice, nice, nice. Excellent solution. I have the same problem with my Morris Workshop stack of FQs. I fondle and fondle and ponder and ponder. I did manage to make a quilt from Morris Garden. Still working on my Nicole-Inspired Rouenneries Baskets with a working title of Going Rouge.

  4. Nice, nice, nice. Excellent solution. I have the same problem with my Morris Workshop stack of FQs. I fondle and fondle and ponder and ponder. I did manage to make a quilt from Morris Garden. Still working on my Nicole-Inspired Rouenneries Baskets with a working title of Going Rouge.

  7. I made a Kitchen Sink quilt (posted it a few back)…sent it to mom in the mail yesterday. Loved it!! Also how ironic that your working with Morris….I just finished up another Schnibble but haven’t show it yet using that line!! (great minds thinking alike)

  8. I made a Kitchen Sink quilt (posted it a few back)…sent it to mom in the mail yesterday. Loved it!! Also how ironic that your working with Morris….I just finished up another Schnibble but haven’t show it yet using that line!! (great minds thinking alike)

  9. I’ve seen another of those and it looked great! I can’t wait to see yours. I liked the fabrics but they don’t suite me enough to have a whole quilt but I love seeing them in someone else’s home!

  10. I’ve seen another of those and it looked great! I can’t wait to see yours. I liked the fabrics but they don’t suite me enough to have a whole quilt but I love seeing them in someone else’s home!

  11. Hi Nicole,
    I found the book this weekend at JoAnn’s. I agree with you, I don’t usually buy a book unless there are at least 3 quilts that I’d like to make. Thanks for telling us about Kim’s book. It’s a winner.

  12. Hi Nicole,
    I found the book this weekend at JoAnn’s. I agree with you, I don’t usually buy a book unless there are at least 3 quilts that I’d like to make. Thanks for telling us about Kim’s book. It’s a winner.

  15. It looks like you are off to a great start!! I like the colors you have cut and ready to sew. It’s such beautiful fabric that your quilt will be gogeous!

  16. It looks like you are off to a great start!! I like the colors you have cut and ready to sew. It’s such beautiful fabric that your quilt will be gogeous!

  17. Hi Nicole! I know what you mean- this book is everywhere! I ordered mine from Amazon and I’m waiting very impatiently for it. I’ve even bought new jelly rolls!!!!! Like I needed an excuse. Thanks for the inspiration!

  18. Hi Nicole! I know what you mean- this book is everywhere! I ordered mine from Amazon and I’m waiting very impatiently for it. I’ve even bought new jelly rolls!!!!! Like I needed an excuse. Thanks for the inspiration!

  23. I’m with you on “mustard”. That is probably my least favorite color ever. I’m going to find the book and look at it. I like what you like, so maybe this one is for me, too.

  24. I’m with you on “mustard”. That is probably my least favorite color ever. I’m going to find the book and look at it. I like what you like, so maybe this one is for me, too.

  27. now THAT is mustard!!! Maybe you could auction the poor lil orphan piece off? Ba ha ha….Can’t wait to SEE your finished product…Heres knowing you are enjoying working less!!
    Gael

  28. now THAT is mustard!!! Maybe you could auction the poor lil orphan piece off? Ba ha ha….Can’t wait to SEE your finished product…Heres knowing you are enjoying working less!!
    Gael

  29. I just know I’m going to love this quilt. The fabrics you’re using are fabulous! And the Kitchen Sink pattern is my favorite in the book. Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the book, and I hope you enjoy the quilts you make from it. Can’t wait to see your finished Kitchen Sink quilt!

  30. I just know I’m going to love this quilt. The fabrics you’re using are fabulous! And the Kitchen Sink pattern is my favorite in the book. Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the book, and I hope you enjoy the quilts you make from it. Can’t wait to see your finished Kitchen Sink quilt!

  33. Must.Get.This.Book. Oh, and mustard rocks (just not with all those other prints!)
    Love the plan, looking forward to seeing it jelled.

  34. Must.Get.This.Book. Oh, and mustard rocks (just not with all those other prints!)
    Love the plan, looking forward to seeing it jelled.

  35. Since I’ve been looking for a pattern for my William Morris fabric I’ll be keeping a close eye on this project. I got Kim’s book yesterday but have yet to have a minute to look it over. Do you have to draw lines on all those rectangles?

  36. Since I’ve been looking for a pattern for my William Morris fabric I’ll be keeping a close eye on this project. I got Kim’s book yesterday but have yet to have a minute to look it over. Do you have to draw lines on all those rectangles?

  39. Dear Nicole,
    I was browsing through your blog- Morris Garden is one of my favourite fabrics. I finally decided to make a quilt using this fabric line, had a panic attack, tried to buy more of the fabric to replace my loss but to no avail. It’s amazing how attached we do get to fabric. The quilt was suppose to have been a gift-it still remains in my living room.
    You have a wonderful blog – Congrats.
    Carolyn

  40. Dear Nicole,
    I was browsing through your blog- Morris Garden is one of my favourite fabrics. I finally decided to make a quilt using this fabric line, had a panic attack, tried to buy more of the fabric to replace my loss but to no avail. It’s amazing how attached we do get to fabric. The quilt was suppose to have been a gift-it still remains in my living room.
    You have a wonderful blog – Congrats.
    Carolyn