Yummy vintage fabrics

Yesterday I snatched up these lovely vintage fabrics at a local vintage sale. They are all cotton, and seem to be screaming out to be part of a quilt don't you think?

These are from the 70s I believe:

And these are much older, not sure which decade though:

They are so sweet and lovely, I like to take them out and unfold them and stroke them and carefully refold them and then put them back.

The thing is, I parted with both my sewing machine (which was beyond repair anyway) and most of my fabric stash about a year ago, after finally coming to grips with the fact that I would never really take up quilting again.

Oh well, I guess I will have to ask for a sewing machine for Christmas now....mmmm.... more unfinished quilt tops...that's what I need.

I have so much fun piecing the tops, and then when I am faced with the thousands and thousands of stitches needed to actually quilt it, I get scared and hide. I know, tying a quilt is an option, but it just doesn't seem like a quilt unless it's been quilted you know? Tied quilts always seem more like comforters or duvets or something to me. Perhaps machine quilting? The very talented lady at yarnstorm makes gorgeous quilts and does all the quilting by hand. And she seems to be able to get it done in less than 3 years. I wonder what her secret is. I'll have to ask if she uses a hoop when she lap quilts, or if she just pins the hell out of it. I think it would go much quicker without a hoop. And probably sticking to more basic overall designs would help too....parallel lines or something.