Quilting...What Was I Thinking???

Quilting is not my favorite way to be creative.  I love quilts and I admire those who make them.  I am just not very engineering or mathematically minded.  So I have always done other sewing and creative endeavors. I certainly have many of the quilting tools as they come in handy for so many crafts.  So this time when my dear friend Donna of Brynwood Needleworks so graciously offered to host a QAL...Quilt Along...I thought long and hard and finally decided to participate.   So I purchased the required book, The Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.  That was easy enough.

Now for gathering some fabrics.  No, not from my hundreds of choices I already have!  I want something new.  But...what am I making?  A table topper?  No!  If food got on my hard work I would panic.  I couldn't think of anything I needed to make for my home until I remembered the blank kitchen nook wall that has been begging for a painting or ???  So I am now thinking of making a wall hanging for that wall.  How much fabric will I need?  I have no idea.  So off to a fabric store I went while I was in Bakersfield one of my trips.  I fell in love with the bright floral that has a greyish background which will work so well for my beautiful grey wall.  With the help of a very nice sales lady I purchased these fabrics.  In person they are much prettier than this photo I took in my hotel room.  

Here I am in my hotel room with my book and the paper templates I decided to cut out.  The scissors I used are the only ones I had with me.  Tedious for certain but what else did I need to do sitting there on the hotel sofa.  I am in the process of purchasing the template sets that are acrylic which will be much easier to use.

Here are my fabrics all washed and dried and pressed with sizing...not starch...as recommended.  I may use all of these or I may not use some of them and I may acquire others I like.

Another photo of my fabrics.  The large print that coordinates with the floral will be my backing fabric.  This assortment is of greys and yellows which can be found in the floral.  I want this piece to be cheery but understated.

Here is a photo of the floral again with the greens, blues and maroons that work with the floral.  Because I really don't understand the quilting rules of color I will be studying and learning a lot about lights, mediums and darks.
I am grateful for this decision I have made and will continue my path of quilting...at least to see this project through to completion.  I have challenged myself as part of my growth this year.
Thank you Donna for being our knowledgeable and helpful wonderful hostess.
As for our weather...winter is pretty much not here.  The sun is shining and the daffodils are sprouting and life is good.
Now I shall go cut some fabric...one piece at a time.
Have you challenged yourself with a new project?