For many quilting and fabric art projects, we don’t need the most expensive fabric.  Odds and ends from various souces will suffice.  Also,  you may find some very nice fabric as you accumulate it from your non-traditional sources.
At Quilted Paradise, I found an article about Fabric Finds for the Frugal Quilter which contains some very good ideas for acquiring fabric for your projects.  Mentioned here:
Bandanas
Neckties
Thrift Stores
Garage Sales
Yard, garage and church sales
My daughter and I’ve found many fun fabrics and embellishments  from these sources over the years.  Let your creativity soar and you’ll discover many interesting ways to use items found this …read more

I find my attention captured by quilting and fabric art wherever I go.  Today while I was substitute teaching in an elementary school, I worked with students in an art class.  The teacher was informing them about Grandma Moses and showed a picture of her Quilting Bee painting.
This is a fascinating painting depicting the social activities typical of the old fashioned quilting bee, from the ladies quilting to the families eating and playing games.
A couple of books with featuring her work include Designs on the Heart:The Homemade Art of Grandma Moses and A Year With Grandma Moses.