A Fabric and Pattern Obsession

Do you know why I have so many unfinished projects in my art and sewing studios?  Because every time I see something new that looks like fun to make, I try and get it - well, some of the time.  I have a weakness for fabric and patterns, especially things for babies.  The colors are so bright and happy.  How can anyone walk in a baby store or baby isle and not smile.

I love Heather Bailey's talent for designing fabric and patterns and when I saw this "Happy Stacker," I had to get the pattern to make for my granddaughter, Reagan.  I think she may actually enjoy playing with this for a year or so before she gets tired of it.  What do you think?

I even went through my stash and found some fabric that I thought would be fun and soft.  And that's another obsession I have - fabric.  Whenever I'm in a fabric store, if I see some cotton fabric I like, I'll buy a yard and stick it in my stash.  The fabric above is a perfect example of fabric that I fell in love with in the fabric store and purchased on impulse.  I'm bad like that.  We all have our weaknesses I suppose, and mine is fabric.  Issues.  Impulses.  I can't help myself.  

And patterns.  I love patterns for dolls and baby clothes, especially baby girl dresses.  I must have made each of my girls a dozen or more dresses when they were babies and toddlers.  They looked so cute all dressed up in dresses I made them with eyelet trim or ribbons and pearl buttons.

I found these little gems online about 5 years ago.  Unfortunately, I've been too intimidated to actually try to make one.  I think I need to just jump in and try to make one, before I'm too old and arthritic to even get the pattern out of the plastic bag.

About 3 months ago, while walking through Michaels I ran across this in the yarn aisle.  Don't they look delicious?  Don't you just want to curl up with all 8 of them?  I do.  Of course, it would help if there was a baby stuck inside one for good measure.  I have a thing for babies.  I like the way they smell and look at you with that innocent look that says "I may be cute and cuddly now, but you just wait, I'm going to run laps around you one day and you'll forget how sweet and innocent I once was."  "Yeah, yeah, yeah - I hear ya, stop cooing and let me enjoy this while I'm still able."  

Back to reality - Oh my goodness, check out this French Roses quilt pattern.  I absolutely fell in love with this pattern the minute I saw it here:

Isn't it beautiful!  I love the way the quilter used vintage rose fabric for the roses in each block and around the border.  I think I'd like to do the same thing.

  

And I love this pattern from Alex Anderson too.  Classic Star flowers in such a beautiful array of colors and designs.  I think I might like to try to duplicate this pattern just like the cover and then hang it on my wall.

By the time I finish making everything that I have around here, Reagan will probably be going off to college.  I may not live that long.  I suppose there's no time like the present to start sewing up some memories.