Fabric Fast Update

Last week I was in Paducah and I knew when I signed up for the fast that I would be going.  I did have a provisions in there that it was allowed but it still felt like "cheating".  I really wanted to be strong but.....

It was when we went to Handcocks of Paducah.  Have you been there?  That place was crazy big!

The first night we were there we went late that night around 7:15 and it was not very crowded.  Looking at the pictures again it looks crowded but it really wasn't bad.  This is not even the whole space, they have a clearance room or more like a warehouse that I didn't get to until we went the 2nd time.  They have a lot of fabric. It is all divided up by manufacturer.  Collections are not necessarily together either nor are they grouped by color.  I did manage to find some things.  The two red ones on the top are from the rotary show and are fat quarters.  They are getting cut up and put in my DS#2's quilt.  He hasn't seen them but that monkey one was too cute not to get.

Then everything else is from Handcocks.  I love that Kaffe print and I have used that print all up so I "needed" more.  The grey linen will make a great background (2.5 yards) and I have had that before and loved it.  I love the Botanics line and then a little Color me Happy.  Not sure what the light grey one was put it was pretty!  Half yard cuts on the rest.  Yikes 7 yards of fabric!

So what else did I get - a great deal on batting so I bought 3 queens and then the sample pack on lunch hour from class.  We definitely had a lot more to carry out of class than in, a new ironing board cover (all six of us got that one).  I bought some clearance thread in some pretty colors, 2 new Creative Grid rulers and then my big purchase.....

I bought this!  I ended up getting it on Friday afternoon.  I stood waiting to try to it out but the lady before me was giving it a test drive and she bought one too!  I was able to sew on it.  It sewed amazing well.  Most of that doodling was me.  It sews fast, smooth, even and stops on a dime.  I also got the table with it in the deal which worked out great for me since I was trying to figure out what I might sew on upstairs so I am not stuck in the basement by myself all the time away from everyone.  It included shipping good thing since there was not one once of space in my car on the way home.

My friend had been trying out mid-arm machines as well and then tried FMQ on this one and thought why spend so much so yep she bought one too!  

Needless to say we were done shopping then!  I am super excited to get it - it can't get here fast enough 10-12 days.  

Well if you read through all of that - thanks.  I have more pictures and things to post but that will be for another day!

My wonderful #! Son told me since I bought the machine I really should be on the fast for another 6 months!  I don't think I can argue with that but boy that is a long time.  Let's see how I do till July 1!  Linking up with Making Rebecca Lynne and Molli Sparkles.  

Retreat Update

What a fun relaxing weekend!  I love just hanging out and sewing with a group of ladies and one gentleman.  We had plenty of sewing space.  The food was good.  However not as good as what I prepare for our trip in November to my mom's house.  My quilting buds told me I am a much better cook!  Here a few pictures of the sewing space.


My sewing table and my table mates Laurie and Francesca.  Yes, I travel with my chair!

 View out from where I was sitting.

Table behind me with my other roommates-Mom, Robyn and Linda.

 Robyn made us each a hexi pin cushion.  Love mine in Noteworthy.  I didn't take a picture of each of them but she had done one in Lucy's Crabby Shack and fussy cut the bikini tops, a shamrock one, and then a bright orange and white one.  So very sweet!  My plan was to make journal covers for them but it didn't happen.  We get together again in November - maybe then?!

We go to a hotel complex about 40 minutes from where we live but it takes us about 6 hours.  We travel about an hour west of our final destination!  One must shop and eat!  So we went to two quilt shops, and I didn't have much restraint this time either.  We went to Mill House Quilts in Waunakee and I found some nice navy's which was on my list and then some grey, lime green and aqua. Next stop was Stitcher's Crossing in Madison and I picked up three towels and some grey. I also bought some pretty yarn to knit up a new cowl scarf.  I bought Laurie some reds since she couldn't shop with us and she could still participate!

Then on Saturday we went to Ben Franklin in Oconomowoc.  They had a great selection plus there was a shop hop and we scored a 25% coupon so I picked up this piece.  I had looked at this or something similar for awhile and figured it would make a great back with the solid stacks I have been saving(hording)!

Then I picked up a few pieces of novelty prints and some Sew Mama Sew reds.  The one military piece is for QOV quilt for a piece on the back.

Plus I bought a few things from the retreat store!  I ended up adding 8.5 yards to my stash!  Ouch!  I really need to finish the next couple of quilts!

Here is a picture of us just before packing up!  We were missing one this year which was sad but hopefully she will be back next year.

There was a great show and tell and lots of good work being done over the weekend.  You can see some of that here on Flickr  I will share where I am at later this week since I have to go through and take stock of what I did get done.  (A lot but not as much as I thought I would).

I am linking up to Let's Get Acquainted.

Retreat sewing

What a fun great weekend.  I love sewing for long periods of time and with friends how great is that? 

We headed out on Thursday morning first with coffee at Starbucks.  Then we headed to the first quilt store which was Primitive Gatherings.  They had beautiful quilts displayed. They have a lot of wool and civil war fabric.  I had that stage a few years ago and since I have not been using it no buying any more.  I still love the bubble gum pinks.  However, I did find the Swoon Pattern there.  I had been eyeing that up since last summer.  Then we headed to Piece by Piece.  This was a really nice shop and they had a lot of patterns with lots of bag samples as well.  Just a couple pieces of fabric here. In the same strip mall there was an Artist shop and a wine store. So we checked both of them out. Then lunch and our ride to "The Cabin".

We have to set up but doesn't take long with five of us so we were sewing well before dinner.  Nice sewing area with a large TV and fireplace.  Then a huge bar area with a pool table topped with a ping pong top.  That makes it super easy to cut or lay out and pin/spray baste a quilt.  Love no kneeling.

Thursday night I worked on sashing my Summerville patchwork, which I was able to finish that night.  I would have could have finished faster if I pay attention and did not have to rip!  Oh well, just pay a littler closer attention!

I then started on making blocks for my grandmothers quilt as well and had a good chunk of blocks done before bed and an all day Friday Sew I finished the top! I am happy how it turned out and I know she will love it! 

I then worked on the baby quilt.  I had planned on a solids baby quilt but in my bin from last year were rainbow batiks from the Warm/Cool quilt I made the year before.  So I sashed in white and finished it up. I just quilted in random lines.  I found the binding shopping on Saturday. 

We were able to go to a  couple more stores on Saturday.  The Cotton Thimble was first up.  I had found a stripe to finish up the baby quilt. Then we headed to Antoinette's Quilt Shop.  This shop just opened in the last year and I really enjoyed it.  Great staff and owner and some really cute lines with some good variety.  I did some damage here!   They also had a Bistro in the same strip mall and a great gift shop.  I know I will have to head back there sometime soon. 

We were gone all day so we didn't start sewing until late but we did get more done.  I then started on the solids charm pack and white for the Wiggly-Whimsy Quilt. I ran out of Kona white or I may have stayed up to finish those as well.  Well, at the least the blocks.

Sunday only gave us a few hours so I made 2 drawstring bags from In Color Order. Love those!  Then I had bought two fat quarters for one Swoon Block but of course I said no extra fabric so I have to cut right but I didn't so they are sending me a new one. Hate that when that happens but at least I can get a new fat quarter!

Oh my that is one long post!  I didn't get all things on my list done but I got a lot done and am really happy with them!  This weekend should be good as well since the hubby and son will be deer hunting.  I love these two weekends every year!