Sunday Stash #80 – Saltwater from Overseas
Mama always said, “Don’t take candy from strangers.” But she never said nuthin’ ’bout fabric! What is it about Quilt Land though, that despite having never met most of you, I feel like we are old and fast friends? No, no, I’m not calling you old! I’m calling our friendship old … you know what I mean! I firmly believe that anyone that is willing to gift you fabric from the other side of the world must be a friend. So, with all that being said, my new friend Amy from 13 Spools sent me this giant stack of Tula Pink’s Saltwater range last week. She may have just been promoted to bestie! Oh, and we both sew on Jukis–meant to be.
I’m not sure if I have mentioned this before, but I’m not really a #TulaTroop, so to speak. I like some of it, but it can get a bit too frilly, forest-animaly for me. Hold up: #TulaTroops, keep the rabid raccoons at bay. I don’t need them gnawing at my ankles in the middle of the night. Honestly, Saltwater has really grown on me months after its release. (Redemption?!) It is a slightly different colour palette for Tula–and besides the sea shell print (1988 called, seriously)–a bit more sophisticated than her last few releases.
Plus, there’s this. The tortoise shell print! This is where the conversation between Amy and I actually started; of course, we bonded over fabric! I had said to her how I thought this would make the best binding, and she was all like, “Well let me send you some.” And did she ever! We both agreed that we love it when Tula gets all geometric because she is so brilliant at it! Hexagons, pluses, low volume, and those little pops of lemon-lime… all. in. one. fabric. Gimme more, Tula, just gimme what I want!
Yeah, ain't it just amazing. People you never have seen, who may live on the other end of the world but share a hobby with and it is like you actually know them. That is what i love about the internet.
Say the word Sparkly Boy and I WILL send you some Tula Rabbits!!! LOL….which since you cursed them are still sitting in my stash with not a single idea in sight!
Meh, any Tula you don't want send it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree on the friendship thing. I picked a girl up from the train station who'd flown in from Adelaide and spent a total of 5.5 hours in a car and 2 and a bit days with her and I feel like I've known her forever. The interweb is a marvelous place, most of the time, heck, I even met my hubby online!
Old . . and bold!
I love Tula's lines, but rarely find a place when I'd actually use them! Still, I've hoarded a few just in case…
hahaha I loved reading your thoughts on Tula. I love Tula, but that all started with Saltwater, and her previous and more recent designs just don't hold up. Some of the fabrics from the lines are fantastic, but as a whole…hmmm…(I have similar thoughts on AMH). But the tortoise shell! It most definitely makes the best binding! Case in point: http://www.quiltsofafeather.com/2013/03/salt-water-triangle-quilt-finished.html
I love love love the Saltwater and I'm so with you on the rabid raccoon comment!! Can't wait to see what you create with this bundle 🙂
Some Tula I love (including the racoons :P) but some I'm not so keen on, it seems I'm drawn to certain styles of print rather than a whole specific line. As you say, the geometrics are amazing and I also love the 2 colour line drawn prints as well. I was late to the party with Saltwater but still tempted when I see projects done up in it.
I totally agree with you (and raccoons…say what??). I do love the blues in this line….I used them in the blocks in my post this week 🙂
I tend not to buy whole lines of Tula and just do some cherry picking of the ones that work for me. One of my favorite prints would be the turtle bay print which actually came out before I was sewing but I have some in my collection.
I love Amy's blog! …and yours too, of course.
My favourite Tula fabrics tend to be the blenders in the lines. The feature prints are a little hit and miss for me – a lot of them I just can't see actually using. The less foresty prints though can be fabulous.
I have to ask–do you like your Juki–I am having issues with my Viking and am totally frustrated with it…thanks Julierose
What a great selection of fabrics. I love the hex-plus one!
Nice, I've never been a Tula fan either, but I discovered I had some bits of pieces that had come in a scrap bundle from somewhere, I didn't know what it was until a friend told me!
I love how Tula hides animals in her prints, it's so funny and very creative. I agree that her geometrics totally kick ass, she should do more!
As someone who has… well more than my share of Tula fabrics (and seem to only be working in Tula lately), I have to agree with you. I've always been honest that she can be hit and miss with me. But really, aren't all designers? I think Saltwater was the line that made me fall in love with her. I also love Flutterbye, Prince Charming, all the insects. Foxfield…. not so much…. Now, some of the blender fabrics from that line I love and will definitely get my hands on but the large scale prints just aren't doing it for me. They seem awful psychedelic.
You are very lucky to have made such good friends! I am looking at getting a Juki too – more and more people keep telling me how much they love it.
I have an urge to post a picture of my EXTENSIVE Tula collection all of a sudden…
ha! yep, having gone through many rounds of Tula swaps on Flickr, I have some of each line. Not all are my faves but most I really like.
Awwwww, thank you for the super awesome shout-out!!! I can't wait to see the quilt that deserves this binding 🙂 And I dare you to use the seashell fabric. Lol. I still have a bunch more and don't know what to do with it! I think that one works just great for 1" squares.
And re: Tula, I totally agree with you (and a number of other commenters). I didn't get her stuff at all until this line, which I absolutely love. I'm slowly getting into her other stuff. I must admit, I went through a "Tula can do no wrong" 3 week phase. Then I saw the release of Fox Fields and was kind of like, ehhh really?
And big sparkle kisses back to you. Mwah.
Except I probably need to get some better lipstick for that ;P
I also love that tortoise shell print. So graphic and perfect with all it's shades. I'm one of those that love Tula's bigger prints. Purple and aqua giant squirrels? Yes please. Psychedelic southwestern horses? Great! Lion's head blended into a ladies poofed up hair? Bring it on. The other print that I think is perfect is the cream turtle one from Prince Charming. Man I wish I had a whole bolt of that. It matches everything.
Did you need any green whale tails from Salt Air? The same shop I was in had that on super sale as well.
I was one that fell in love with Tula during the Neptune phase. I've been hit or miss with her designs as well since then. Although I do have the entire line of Saltwater in the blue colorway. LOL I'm really excited for the newest line Moon-something because she's bringing back her navy from Neptune. Wohoo!