Journal Notes

This was the first stashbuster I made if you don't count Postcards (Brought Together), and I made it long before the Stashbuster Frenzy*. I have so much African Wax Fabric! I purchased 3 full packages and 2 half packages in The Netherlands in September 2024. If you don't know, a full package is 6 yards of material! I did exchange some yardage with others which gave me more variety but didn't decrease the yardage. Then I purchased more packages when I shopped in Toronto later that month. I loved what I had but I really wanted more variety, especially after I found Miriam and Quilt Africa. Such beautiful prints! Next thing I know, I've signed up for her monthly Tribal Box of fabric! Each month in 2025 I got 3 yards of African Wax fabrics - sometimes one piece but mostly they were subcut: fat quarters; 1/2 yards; or 3 coordinating single yards. So beautiful! I got my variety! I was in heaven! In heaven, yes, but overrun! (As relieved as I was the spigot was shut off to additional fabric, I really did miss getting those monthly packages. Like a gift for yourself every month!) When I signed up for the Tribal box I knew I needed to make room. I decided to part with some of the fabrics and found people to take them. During Karen's DeClutter Challenge 2025, I decided to make her Ugly Quilt. Just use it up - make a doggy blanket. Anything! Sadly, it barely made a dent in the AFW stash and I really did think it was ugly. But magic happens when you do the quilting and the binding and, somehow, it isn't as ugly as I once thought. It still isn't one of my keepers. The black flannel I used on the back (from the stash) picks up every bit of lint and pet hair - it's horrible! I do really like the quilt design. It will be a doggy quilt for when my granddog visits and then, eventually, it will make its way to animal rescue as originally intended. *Information on the Stashbuster Frenzy 2026 is with Stashbuster #01.