Overexcitability

I have to tell you I am suffering at the moment, reeeeaaaaaallly suffering. Yes, I have been struck down with a most severe case of Overexcitability and it is so bad that I am quite beside myself. I can't sleep properly, I am all over the place with the giddy-jitters and my mind is bursting with so much inspiration and so many creative possibilities presenting themselves to me at the moment.

Of course, this is not a new experience for me, no-no-no, it's all too familiar. I often suffer from this affliction, and it just today occurred to me that it could possibly be seasonal (see this post from this time last year? See how remarkably close the dates are?? Uncanny or what??)

So let us chat a little about the Root Cause of my current Overexcitable condition shall we? Well it's been brewing for a while you understand, but finally came to a head yesterday when I left the house at 9.30am, and drove myself across the hills to Harrogate to visit the Knitting and Stitching Show. It was quite a spontaneous and last minute decision to go, but I am so glad I made the effort. It was sooooo exciting! I only took one photograph at the show (the above amazing stitched vase of flowers), cos I was quite honestly too busy rushing around hither and thither working myself up into an Overexcited frenzy.

After a medicinal cappuccino and a danish pastry had been consumed, my first stop was my favourite button stand to replenish my stock of deliciously coloured plastic buttons.

I spent a lovely time here selecting from the colour themed pick-and-mix tubs, filling my little bags with same-size buttons, chatting to the other customers as we took turns making our selections, swapping places when necessary, admiring each others choices. It was a lot of fun, and I love-love-love my buttons.

Second stop was to be fabric. Now then....I had it in the back of my mind that I might possibly be able to buy some rather nice fabric at the show, but had not really entirely planned it you understand. The whole business of buying fabric and Building a Stash scares me a little, it always seems so frivolous and extravagant, and there is often a lot of associated Guilt involved.

But you see, I've had it in me to make a Patchwork Quilt for the Longest Time now, I really, really, really have desperately wanted to do it for years. You may remember me chatting to you about it earlier in the year, and showing you my modest stash back then. You may also remember my patchwork chair seat cover, and how I managed to end up with a whole stack of extra fabric squares now waiting patiently to be assembled into Quilt Formation.

 

So yesterday, with this quilt idea in the back of my mind, I ended up going a little bit crazy and went off on a bit of a spontaneous fabric-buying splurge. I visited four different fabric sellers and in a frenzy of Overexcitable buying I ended up with the above fat quarters. Sixteen in total, a mixture of Kaffe Fasset, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey and Anna-Maria Horner.

What do you think?? Aren't they LUSH????

Oh I have been fondling and smooching these little stacks of fabricky gorgeousness like you wouldn't believe, I am very much smitten.....

.....and once they were added to my other fabrics, I realised with complete joy that after many years I have now assembled the Perfect Stash to make a quilt with. And I am so excited.

SO VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But deary-deary me folks, that is not all. That is not the end of my Overexcitability I'm afraid. No, there was one other thing that Got me yesterday :: my third stop at the show was the amazing "Decopatch" stand. I wish that I'd had the thought to take some photographs at this stand, it was completely brilliant, and hugely inspiring, I just could not resist it's colourful charms. Already buzzing from my button and fabric purchases, I kind of just went with the flow here and indulged my creative Overexcitability to the max.

So what is Decopatch?? Well it's basically a form of decoupage, where one uses specially dyed thin tissue papers with a special glossy glue, and proceeds to cover all manner of household objects.

The blurb describes it as the "exciting new 'paint without paint' papercraft technique. It's a funky addictive papercraft that's amazingly simple to use, a modern twist on the traditional decoupage.  All you need is the paper, the object that you're going to cover and the special glue varnish.  Simply cut or tear your paper into small pieces - we've found postage stamp or a bit bigger works well - paint a coat of the glue-varnish onto your object, stick the paper on and pop anopther coat on the top and hey presto, you're a decopatcher! And you'll find projects everywhere, you can cover practically anything: old furniture, glass, wood, stone, cardboard, the possibilities are endless!"

Ahhhhhh just LOOK at the papers I bought!!! Aren't they amazing?!

 

Can you just imagine me in a complete state of Overexcitement here, gathering these pretty papers together, jigging from foot to foot, almost hyperventilating with pleasure :o). Well yes, you know me well by now, I'm sure you can imagine it very well indeed.

 

So now I am about to become not only a Patchwork Quilter, but also a Decopatcher too. I bought these wooden LOVE letters as my starting project and plan on doing that tomorrow. I am hugely excited by it I have to tell you.

By the way, I've discovered today that there's lots of stuff on the www to do with this amazing craft...a couple of good sites/stockists I've found are here and here, should you find yourself as Overexcitable as me and be tempted to give it a go.

Well, after all that dizzy show-n-tell I really need to go have a cup of tea and try to calm myself down a bit now. Deep breaths, reeeeelax.

Have yourselves a lovely, creative, fun, inspiring, happy day my lovelies.....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Claire Hurd Design]

I completely understand your overexcitability! Such beautiful fabrics, buttons and papers. So many excitingly beautiful things to be made. I definitely need to make it to the Knitting and Stitching show next year - so much inspiration. Happy making, Claire x

[Marilyn]

What a riot of colour! Can't wait to see what you do with it all.Especially the decopatch. Furniture for the Bumps room maybe??
Marilyn

[Jennifer]

What fun you had, I can see why you are so excited. What a great stash for a quilt, it is going to be so bright and beautiful. I did my first patchwork blanket this past summer and after getting over the initial fear, I just love how it turned out. It really is quite addictive, and the decopatch? I can't wait to see how yours turns out, it really sounds like a project that would be good for the kids as well. Hope you have a restful, rest of the day. Thanks for sharing your day with us Lucy.

[Heather]

gorgeous fabrics Lucy, I can't wait to see the quilt :)

[Lucille]

I very much like the look of decopatch. Thank you for sharing that discovery. I used to do something similar with tissue paper and dilute PVA but the papers fade over time.

[Audra]

Hi Lucy,
I always planned to decoparge, old wooden chairs, one day. MMMmmm surpose after 16 years of thinking about it, I should do atleast one soon.Reasently Better Homes and Gardens did decoparge with fabrics.
As to quilting, I have the one I started 18 years ago to finish. Never made it to the last lesson to learn how to put all the layer together.( At the time I was sick with a 2nd arey chest infection, had a 1 year old child, toooo many jobs and was a single mum)Not to say that there is atleast 3 quilt designs in my head, waiting to be made.
Love the buttons, wish I could find some here.
Hugs Audra

[Serenata]

Now breath in and out slowly Lucy... Seriously though some really lovely fabrics and papers. Looking forward to seeing your process of the quilt and the letters.

[Linda Kristin from Norway]

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see the quilt... I don't know if I trust myself to look at the links... I have too many projects waiting for me!

[Louise]

I went to the knitting and stitching show when it was at Alexandra Palace this year and totally understand how you are feeling, it is a fantastic show. Have been catching up on your ta dah bathroom, wonderful! and the crochet stars, I am so making those tonight.
Have you tried Chamomile tea to drink at night, it calmed me when I was expecting and also calmed bump, so it was a double winner, the taste is not for everyone though, not quite up to a frothy cappucino !
take care
Louise x

[marigold jam]

What fun - those fabrics are so you Lucy and will make a fantastic quilt. Just right with all your other colours. Those buttons too look good enough to eat don't they and as for the decopatch well... I just hope you will have time for all this before Bump24 arrives!! Attagirl!

Jane

[PengPeng]

I went 'oooo' and 'ahhhh' and 'oooooo' reading your post Lucy.

can't wait for the post on the start and progress of you patchwork quilt...

patchwork quilt always reminds me of my late grandmother... during the olden days, my late grandmother who originated from China was poor and so patchwork quilt was a common thing to make in order to salvage any piece of fabric you can get from torn and unrepairable clothing. she even made floor rugs from tiny tiny pieces of fabric...can you picture how colourful the rug was?

I should have learned a trick or two from her :)

[The Girl]

Oh my goodness! Your excitability is definitely catching!! Looking forward to the ta-da post about your decopatching efforts :)

[jeane]

lol.., im excited for u too, but pls be careful with ur steps. beautiful colors, i loves those buttons and fabrics too. looking forward to ur patchwork quilt, and bet that added to my will-be-making list too. lol..

[Kimbles]

Gosh I am out of breath reading your post today Lucy the energy comes flooding through blogland! Cant wait to see the quilt and the decopatching sounds really fun - reminds me of paper mache we used to do at school - looking forward to seeing the LOVE decopatched. x

[Petit Filoux]

Looks like you had a lot of fun indeed!!! Love your fabric stash, it's gorgeous! Can't wait to see what you make with it all! And the decopatch thing looks well nifty!

[Jackie]

Gosh Lucy ~ I am quite dizzy myself after reading such an enthusiastic post! Patchwork quilting and Decopatching? ~ it seems there is no end to your wonderful creative talents and I am really looking forward to the Ta~dah moments.

It was my first Bloggy Birthday at the weekend and I am having a little giveaway to celebrate and I would love for you to be included.

Hope you enjoyed your cup of tea and have managed to calm yourself down a little :O)

[Marian M-S]

Lucy, what gorgeous colors! Buttons, fabrics, and papers...all so bright and inspiring :-). I just bought a cheap toy box at IKEA, and it is rather bland (light wood and white fiberboard). I knew I wanted to do something to it to brighten it up a bit, but I didn't quite know what. And then I read your post and decoupage would be perfect for it! I had never heard of it before, so what perfect timing! (I just bought the box two days ago). Divine inspiration :-). Now you got me all excited here! Have a happy, colorful week!

[Lesley M]

I am expecting something very beautiful to be created from those fabrics - have you started yet?

[Dominique]

Hello Lucy ! I would like to be also in Harrogate for the show, but it was too far for me (Aix-les-Bains in France)!
Now I wait for the photos of your future WIP ... Thanks a lot for all these colourfull photos ....

[Andrea]

OOooo OOoooooo..Decopatch..that does look very very cool..thank you for sharing, thats another thing on my list of crafty stuff-to-do. I so know what you mean about the overexcitedness thing. I am new to crochet, and sometimes I get so excited whilst I am doing it my hands shake and my heart thuds with anticipation..I guess thats a good thing! & I absolutely love those flowers..the colours and shapes..fabulous indeed.x.

[Esther Rasmussen]

How Exciting, thanks for sharing. I am very envious of your anna maria horner fabrics. Didnt realise you could buy them over here.

[Siobhan]

Goodness, who can blame you for being excited! Such a wealth of goodies you've got there. It's a shame it's so difficult to find those lovely fabrics as all the shops have closed down. But it does mean you can go on special outings and get a whole stash all at once. This must have seemed like Aladdin's Cave! Those papers are beautiful aren't they - can't wait to see what you do with them. I so get the guilty thing about buying stuff - but mostly that's because I don't trust my self to use it. You shouldn't feel guilty though cos you make tons and tons of stuff - so it's definitely OK. Will be curious to see if you do your quilt by hand or machine. With those fabrics it will look sooo good which ever!

[Emily Valli]

Greetings from unusually warm and sunny Pennsylvania, USA...Dear sweet Luce...I need a cup of tea and a break after reading about your excursion! What fun.You are going to be so busy doing your new projects...can't wait to see the results. Love,Emily V.

[Carole]

Oh Lucy, i can`t keep up. I would just love love to do some quilting. You are sooooooooo clever, i wouldn`t know where to start. I soo wish i could cos the fabrics are lovely. You are so inspirational.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxxxxxxx

[heleen]

Whauw I love all the colors and fabrics you are showing! I can see there is a lot of creativity going on.. can't wait to see what you'll make!