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Old 02-02-2011, 09:43 PM
  #73  
capsew
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 46
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Cute fabric! LOTS of good ideas. The large bears are LARGE. So, one bear design is over 12", the other about 11". Those little bears ain't so little, looking @ 7"x5" or so? and are the same design.... (I'm probably reading those rulers wrong - am I?) It appears you're showing over a yard. Do you have more of that fabric?

I like erstan947's quilt. Using it as the basic idea... For the center of the (lap?) quilt: Showcase the 2 different large bears diagonal to the other, and "border" each bear with alternate thin strips of color (pink..white..) to make them the same size. Add a square or rectangle of smallish design (Valentine?) heart fabric in say... pink or white background (a light fabric) to one side of each bear - making the heart fabric the same *size as the bears (*including the thin strips "border" as part of the bear's size) - to make a kind of 4-patch. The 4-patch can be more rectangular, depending on how you border the bears. Then put a thin (red? maybe a little darker red? instead of trying to 'match' reds) border around the 4-patch, and add another "just a leetle bit" wider border of the heart fabric. Using lighter fabrics like the pink and / or white will make those bears Pop!

The idea of cutting and using the smaller bears in strips for a wide border would be a cute next addition. Add a (last?) border of alternating little squares or rectangles of the heart fabric, the strips of color (used around the center bears, but in squares or rectangles), and the (darker?) red. Echo quilting the bears, and/or quilting hearts - something simple can be a nice finish.

With the bear fabric you have, and the additional "border" fabrics, I'm thinking you could probably get at least a couple of lap quilts. With the other large bears (being they Are LARGE), you could also get two or more different pillows AND the smaller individual 'stuffed' bears. (As a kid, I had to share EvERything with my younger sister. I always wanted something of my own {selfish little brat of me :oops: }). No, you probably don't have time for anything extra - until later :wink: .

This next part you probably already know... 8-), but for them that do not: Don't forget to wash the fabrics first, especially the reds (bear) fabric. Do you have Retayne or Synthrapol? In case you aren't aware of it... Retayne is good product which is for commercially dyed fabrics. It's used in your washing machine without other additives (detergent, boosters..) It's used to retain the dyes. Synthrapol is usually for hand-dyed fabric; to discharge any "extra" dyes. FOLLOW their directions on the bottle. I use them both for hand-dyed and commercially-dyed fabrics. I found them at my LQS; I think I've seen them at places like Ben Franklin and Michael's craft stores.

By the length of my post, one would think *maybe* I might know what I'm writing about... HA - fooled y'all! The experienced quilters know different. But, thank you for letting me share!

p.s. I'm not a fan of the color brown, esp., for girls.
Also, being an exec sec'y, admin asst.. in a previous life, for the life of me, I cannot seem to write succinctly :| . You'd think it'd be the opposite?...
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