The FART That Wasn't

I'm a little behind in my stash posts.  Fabric generally goes right in the laundry pile, and I often forget to take photos.

Our annual trip to the USA was moved up from November to the end of August this year.  I had high hopes that this would be an awesome FART -- Fabric Acquisition Road Trip.  I had dreamed about all the wonderful fabric I would buy.  But alas, it was not meant to be.  Instead, it turned out to be the Shoe Acquisition Road Trip -- seven pairs of shoes/sneakers -- and I'm not complaining.

I purchased the orange wide-back with the plan to use it on the back of my Gravity quilt, but I have since changed my mind.

Wide-back

Before I purchased the orange wide-back, I wanted to use this Michael Miller HST print for the back of Gravity, but the thought of having to piece the back stopped me.  But I did buy one metre for the back of the Gravity pillows.

Michael Miller

Some miscellaneous prints because the price was right.

Miscellaneous

And a few more...just because...

More Miscellaneous

I did purchase notions at Joann's:  several bottles of spray baste, a bottle of spray starch, pins, and rotary cutter blades -- using 50% off coupons.  Yeah for coupons!!

Linking up with Sunday Stash hosted by Molli Sparkles:

The Kona Horror

Arrived back last night from my annual shopping expedition to the United States.  Bangor, Freeport, Portland, Kittery, and Portsmouth -- a lot of driving and shopping in three jam-packed days.  Good thing day four is for driving home.  This year, we added a trip to the Merrimack Premium Outlets.  Well worth the extra hour of driving.  But I sure was tired when I finally pulled into the driveway last night.  I was too tired to even unpack and play with my new fabric.

I bought five pairs of shoes, clothes, fabric, and quilting supplies.  But imagine my surprise and horror to find that Kona cotton costs $8.99 a yard.  Really???  I'll never complain about the $7.97 a metre we pay here in Canada.  My goal was to purchase an entire bolt of Kona White.  But I was not paying $8.99 at Joanns, and Hobby Lobby only had four metres.  I used my 40% off coupon to get those four yards.  Guess I'm still on a mission to get a bolt of White.

Today's photos come to you courtesy of my front step.  Today was a beautiful sunny day, around 12 degrees -- the fabric definitely needed to be outside.  Quite a change from the chilly temperatures in the US.



Purple collection



Orange collection



Green collection



Blue collection 



Minky fleece and Kona White

I purchased fabric at several different stores, but didn't realize until I got home that I purchased basically only four colours.  Clearly, my mind was on these colours.

I had to stop buying fabric as I was running out of money and reaching the $800 Customs limit.  Why does the tax man have to ruin all my fun????

I also bought three cans of basting spray and a new Olfa cutter and blades.  QJ and QB both have an Olfa cutter and rave about it.  Since they were on sale for $10, I thought I deserved a treat...as if all the fabric wasn't treat enough.

Now comes the chore of washing, drying, and ironing.  But that gets me closer to playing with it.

I'm home just 24 hours, and I'm already thinking ahead to next year's trip.  Perhaps two trips are in order...time to start saving my pennies nickels.

 

Fabric, fabric, more fabric, and even more fabric.

I haven't been very productive this week as it's been too hot to sew.  However, I have more than made up for the lack of sewing in fabric purchases.  I got a tad bit carried away, but...it was my birthday, and I deserved a treat, or two, or three....that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

First up is my first purchase from Connecting Threads.  A friend said there is no Canadian duty to pay.  And you if order $50 US or more online, shipping is only $7.99.

Of course, there had to be some orange.  I thought I'd try titanium needles as recommended by Scrapmaster -- I wanted to see what she loves about them.  I was disappointed with the brown fabric on the bottom.  It looked black online, but I was so very mistaken.  Oh well, lesson learned from ordering online.  The thread is $2.79 for 1,200 metres.  I've tried piecing with it this week, and I like it.  If it works as well with free-motion quilting, it may be my new thread choice.

If you look in the background, you'll see a quilt top on the design wall.  Stay tuned for the reveal.

Then I was playing around on Joann's website.  Why?  I don't know.  They don't ship to Canada so I didn't have a reason to be looking. But it was meant to be.  They were having a 50% sale on notions.  So a quick Facebook message to cousin A in Detroit to inquire if they were coming home to visit this summer.  As luck would have it, they were.  And so I quickly placed an order to be shipped to Detroit, and my gracious cousin brought my goodies when she came this week.

Basting spray is a minimum $16.99 for a small can here.  It was regular $12.99 at Joann's, so it was only $6.49 a can.  So four cans later.  And a new rotary cutter.

Happy Birthday to me!!

And then I remembered that my LQS gives 15% discount if you shop on your birthday.  So off to the store I go.

These lovely Kona half metres will be paired with some Kona pieces from my stash.  That's Papaya, Purple (although it does look blue), Kiwi, Cyan, Citrus, and Pewter.  I just keep adding to the list of things to make.  Think it's time to update my WIP list.

And my first purchase of Art Gallery fabric.  Oh...it is so very soft.  A quilt along I discovered at Fat Quarter Shop.  I wanted to try some new blocks.

And it continued to be a great birthday with a gift certificate from my boss.  LQS, here I come again!!

These will turn into Night Sky by Jaybird Quilts.  And to show QJ I'm learning my Kona names:  Leprechaun, Kiwi, Peapod, Sprout, Kumquat, Orange, Flame, Lipstick, Lilac, Crocus, Tulip, Surf, Water, Peacock, Pomegranate, Candy Pink, Carnation, Canary, Lemon, Sunny, and Papaya.  Sadly, they did not have Wisteria, Riviera, Bright Pink, or Black.  But one of the friendly clerks (who sadly knows me by name...okay, they all know me by name) is checking with their other locations to find the colours for me.  Thanks!!

No. More. Shopping.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.