Fabric Show 'N Tell

Since I mentioned the shopping in my previous post, I thought it would be nice to see what I did get.

L to R -- 1 and 2: Studio 8; 3: Reunion by Sweetwater; 4: Half Moon by Moda;  5: Dear Stella; 6: Good Fortune by Kate Spain; 7: Terrain by Kate Spain

 

L to R -- 1: Edith Ellen; 2 and 3: Mary Engelbreit; 4: Kitty Yoshida; 5: Amy Butler; 6 and 7: Deco Delight by Fabric Freedom; 8: Timeless Treasures 

Shop Hop efforts

There are these little things called "Shop Hop" that quilt stores like to host from time to time to promote their business and the love of fabric.  My friend and I went on the "Shop Hop the Blues" of 12 stores: Hermiston, Pendleton, Walla Walla, La Grande, Baker City, Halfway, Joseph, and Enterprise.  This year, we did them ALL . . . not all together, but 75% of them.

Here is how it works: check-in with one of the stores, get your passport and free bag, grab some water/candy/fruit/cookies to refuel, and browse whatever fabrics they had.  Some had free fat quarters or patterns to give away too.  Each store stamped your passport and if you go to all of them, your name is put in the pot for a chance to win a new Bernina sewing machine.

The stores had over 200 ladies come and go!  We are helping the economy!  I feel patriotic, one stitch at a time.  I had a budget.  Yes I did.  I tried to stick to my budget.  I went over about $100.  Halfway had the most amazing variety of fabrics, I fell in love with a couple, and spent enough to keep me busy until doomsday.

Each shop has their clientele preferences and I found something at almost all of them.

Hoffman Batik Bundle of "Key Lime"

In the end, I did win a little something for my efforts: 20 fat quarter bundle of green batiks!  Which is essentially 5 yards of fabric, soooooooooooo about $50 worth of freebies.  This will make a nice collection for some future applique project.

Craft Warehouse is Evil!

I live in a corner of Washington, the "mall" is a 45-min drive to Tri-Cities, WA.  I had to use my $25 gift cheque at Lane Bryant by August 18th.  Who makes a "use by" date on a Thursday?  Nonetheless, I did not brave Cost-Co, so I had the patience to go to Craft Warehouse just to see what they have. 

A color range of teeny tiny stripes.

Bright green & pink batiks.

I like Craft Warehouse's fabric better than JoAnns just based on quality, price is comparable.  I learned they had a S.A.L.E.  Yep!  Yay . . . for my stash!  So every bolt was 30% off ($6-8/yd.), had to find an array of deliciousness.

Mary Englebreit fabric, because it's not black background for once.  I love a lot of her stuff, mainly because it does have black, but also they are whimsical.

Coffee . . . you can never have enough!  I'm thinking of birthday/new year's gifts for people with these . . . or something.  I'm intrigued by the words and it's not a coffee ring or bean, so expands out my creative options.

Then I found random things that I love or can use.



In the meantime, I had an inspiration from PBS with Fon's & Porter's Love of Quilting.  I watched it muted because I was really watching something online that is too embarrassing to admit (Say Yes to the Dress), and it was Gail Kessler's Strata Quilt.  The concept of it is interesting, but a huge waste of fabric.  

Line up diagonal

The red stash & strips

The light red strip set (almost done)

Dark red square, half done

I did two color test strip sets, one being dark red, and one being lighter red, almost borderline pink but not quite.  I researched a little online, looked at pictures, and the strips don't even have to be the same width, which works for me because I want to try out the technique.

I cut out the 9 1/2" blocks from my strip set and it created 3 blocks.  When you layer the other blocks on top, sew diagonally, you should have 6 total (2 strip sets x 3 blocks each = 6)  Hmmm.

Half light & half dark red finished block

I think I like the method of base piecing, like crazy blocks.  You cut 9 1/2" blocks out of a base material, piece strips diagonally and iron as you go, then trim.  It creates the same effect, less waste.