I Went Shopping

Even though I promise myself that I mustn't buy more fabric, I do - on occasion - fall off  the wagon. It makes sense to stumble when a 20% discount is available, wouldn't you agree? This is one of my rules for further fabric purchasing -  when possible, take advantage of sales. 

Two other rules that I try to follow: have a specific quilt selected requiring the new purchase or for completing a quilt already under construction. Now if a sale falls in line with either of these goals, then you can bet I am taking advantage of it. *grin*

The fabrics shown above DO meet the rules/requirements. In the last post or two, I mentioned that I bought more background for the fall leaves I was making. Thatched (Robin Pickens) is on the bottom of the stack, and I now have plenty to complete the quilt. (And I will probably have some left over.)

The four (4) fabrics on top are all 1-yard precuts, and I plan to use them in yet another 9-patch quilt I want to make. I'm thinking of a specific inspiration pattern that I will imitate with modifications, and while it might not see action for awhile -  it will definitely see action at some point. I figured it made sense to get them when I could take advantage of a 20%  discount.

That 'paint-spattered' print does not meet my buying requirements, but gosh, it looks like it would work with so many things. It just seemed suited to having around for future planning. I finished the bolt, getting roughly 2-3 yards.

The floral print in this photo was absolutely screaming to be bought. Instead, I left it behind. Yep. Walked away from it. Later I heard Becky (one of our retreat gals) gushing over this very same line of fabric - Sienna by Max and Louise for Andover Fabrics. We made a second trip to the fabric store the next day and I got 4 yards. The folded 1-yard cut I'd gotten the first day without even knowing that it was a Sienna piece. Seems like it was meant to be. You can be sure I am searching for just the right pattern in which to use this floral.

The final piece I got is for a new category of fabric purchasing  - clothes or quilts for Cate. Yes, since having a baby granddaughter to sew for, I am always on the lookout for pretty prints to make her little dresses and rompers. The mauve, pink, orange and maroon colors seem perfect for a little girl's dress. I have a new pattern and will get going on it ASAP.

And just look at our little angel in a dress made by me from the stash. Even for her, if I have enough of a suitable stash fabric, I will use it rather than buy more. This pic was taken Sunday while she and her parents visited Mom, Cate's great-grandmother. *smiles*

So, where exactly do I stand on the whole notion of curbing my fabric buying? Well, some might say it's a draw, but truly, I am buying much less than I once did. The stash I have accumulated for 40 years needs to be whittled down, and I am really working on doing that. My purchases are more carefully considered and carefully weighed before pulling out my wallet. 

Truly.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Did Someone Say Retail Therapy??

On Thursday, I joined Terry along with Sheryll and Becky - all of Frankfort Girls group - for a trip across eastern Ohio to the little river town of Belpre. The sunshine was a welcome companion and temperatures were far above normal for early January.

The purpose for the trip was for Terry to pick up a quilt that had been custom quilted by a long-armer over in that area. We made a full day of the trip by visiting three quilt shops - two in Belpre and one on our way home in McArthur.

Neff's is a combination quilt shop and home decor shop. Owner Beverly attends lots of quilt shows and is pretty well known by many quilters here in central Ohio. After I wandered through the fabric several times, I meandered around the rest of the space, checking out decorating ideas. Her main "look" is farmhouse primitive/early American. My fabric stash did grow a bit here at Neff's, but I refrained from making any home dec purchases.

From Neff's, we drove over to Sew Happy Quilting Traditions, a small shop tucked away on a busy downtown Belpre street. Isn't that red and white Ohio Star a welcome sight? Believe me, I noticed it! (See previous post.) Owner Rachelle has a small shop, but she has it packed full of pretty, popular lines of fabric. I managed to find several pieces to come home with me. *wink*

We located a very nice local restaurant for lunch - The Bellaire. We had many options, made yummy selections, lingered and relaxed before heading back to Ross County.

Driving home on Rt. 50 we stopped at the McArthur Quilt Shop. This is the shop that I went to twice back in November while I was trying to get my long-arm going. I was happy to see Terry, the man who fixed things for me, and to tell him that I was getting along just great. And, believe it or not, I found some fabric here, as well, to bring home with me! Amazing.

So, my stash is enhanced. I found fabric for two baby quilts that will be needed in the next month or two. Mostly, I bought fabrics to go in quilts that I sorta' have planned in the near future.

And that makes me think that I have not really set my 2020 goals down on paper yet, so that is something I need to get cracking on. Focus, woman, focus!!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Stash Enhancement

I mentioned earlier in the week that I'd spent a lovely day with my dear friends Sharon and Dee, and that we shopped a couple of local quilt shops. I hadn't gotten around to taking pics of my new purchases. Until now, that is.

These fabrics will join other similar prints already in my stash, and I promise - I vow! - I swear! - I am going to create something gorgeous with them - maybe several somethings.

At Dabble and Stitch, I found the pieces you see above. All were precut. The five pieces down front are fat quarters; the other 4 are 1-yard cuts, if memory serves. That gray at the very top is fabric, yes. It has a wood-grain look to it.

At Sew to Speak, the same colors and styles were on my mind, so below are my fat-quarter treasures found there.

In addition to the individual FQs above, I found a FQpack that called - screamed! - to me, so I grabbed it up as well. Sometimes, we just have weak moments, you know. It might be like an addiction, only in a much healthier form. (Yes??)

AGF (Art Gallery Fabrics) fabrics are very appealing, and the depth of the colors is amazing. I do love fabric from all the various companies and designers, but there is an unmistakable quality to the colors and designs of AGF.

Ahhh, new fabric. I am satisfied with this addition to my stash, although heaven knows the stash was substantial enough without it. I have plans - big plans! - for stash reduction this year. I guess I ought to explain that in a future post! *wink*

Happy Weekend, Peeps!
And Happy Quilting!

Recent Retail Therapy

It comes as no surprise to you regular readers that I rarely shop for fabric anymore. At some point in the last 7 years, I had this epiphany about the stash I have already amassed, and that continuing to add to it was senseless. I will never sew all of this fabric. Couple that realization with the increasing cost of fabric, it just became crystal clear that I needed to curb my buying. 

But I have not stopped entirely. Case in point, in the past month or so, I have splurged on some fat quarters. Wanna' see?

The fabric group above came from Old Town Fabric Shop in Chillicothe. I needed to go in for something - needles, I think. Anyway, I allowed myself to select a handful of pretty stuff based on a picture Emma and I had been looking at back when we were discussing a wall-hanging for her apartment. (I still need to get on that!) Anyway, this grouping struck me as pretty, in addition to being out of the norm for the type of fabric I usually go for. Branching out, you know? 

Last Friday, I met Sharon P. and Dee (you met her last fall) in Columbus for a lovely lunch at Marcella's at Polaris. It is a Cameron Mitchell restaurant which is synonymous for delicious food, in this case Italian. What a fabulous meal to linger over with friends. 

Then we hopped over to Quilt Beginnings on Sawmill Road for shopping. I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket. Again, I shopped for fabrics that aren't typically 'me.' 

That first group I found appealing based on the colors - intense and saturated. Dee and Sharon suggested that they'd make great-looking zipper bags or a purse, and I agree. I bought an extra fat quarter of 2 fabrics, just for that purpose.

The next group makes me think of the fresh, spring-y quilts from my youth. Those prints look like vintage '60s to me, and the green accents all three. I might do some great granny squares with these. 

So far, I have done a lot of petting and fondling, unfolding and refolding. I sometimes hesitate to cut into pretty fabric, so I hope I can get on these soon.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

I Shopped

It's a rare day when I find myself shopping for fabric anymore. I came to an unpleasant realization 3 or 4 years ago that I could not possibly live long enough to use all my fabric, and that I had better focus on reducing the stash instead of continuing to buy more. And for the most part, I have been rather successful in that endeavor. If only I'd kept track of how much I've bought as opposed to how much of the stash I've used. That would be some telling statistic, for sure. But I did not, alas. It's gratifying enough, then, to know that I have done well at limiting the new fabric purchases.

All that being said, I did cut loose while on retreat recently; we took only one outing and, of course, it was to buy fabric. Jackson, OH, has a unique discount clearance store called Guhl's. Fabric is drastically reduced, and they draw lots of quilters from all over. I spent $25 and got 6.5 yards. At full price, $25 would get you little more than 2 yards, so I know I did well. *smiling!*

 Ten fat quarters in a pleasing array of colors. I never could resist a pile of fat quarters.

Two 2-yard cuts of neutrals. They are actually the same design in different colorways. One is gray on gray; one is navy on cream. One always needs neutrals, and I seem to use mine up, so it seemed wise to restock.

That little bit of retail therapy satisfied my fabric appetite, and I didn't stretch the purse strings too terribly far.

Happy Quilting, Friends!