What a deal!

Or should I say deals? I used to mention to my husband how much I saved when I found a really great deal on something. His reply was to note how much more I would have saved if I didn't buy it to begin with. So now I just don't mention these great buys to him. However I'd be glad to share with you! (Now I'm hoping my husband doesn't stop by and read this post...) I'm guessing if you're a quilter you've heard of Hancocks of Paducah. I was fortunate enough to visit them in person earlier this year. The store is pretty overwhelming in person. I think I'd rather shop them online instead.

Every so often they add new items to their sale categories. I'm particularly fond of their pre-cut web sales and boy did they have a doozy of one recently. I managed to pick up some fat quarter bundles for more than half off. And they were ones I'd been tempted to buy when they were full price - so how could I possibly pass them up now. I just know you agree with me.

I bought the Robert Kaufman Imperial Fat Quarter Bundles in both the Antique and Spring colorstories. I also bought the Night & Day: Black & White collection by them as well. These fabrics are so beautiful and they feel just like silk.


You can also see a roll of the Bali Wraps in the front. They're the blue-green color family. Not too long ago I bought a set in the red family and paid more than twice as much. Ughhh!

Well after I ordered these fabrics for myself, I got to thinking how great the black & white bundle would be for my secret sister. And at such a great price, I couldn't afford to pass it up... So I went back and ordered one for her, as well as a few yards of juvenile prints that were on clearance. I know she likes these types of fabrics and I hope she likes what I picked. The FQ bundle will be for her August package and I'll save the rest for later.


And finally I went back and made a purchase to make into a Christmas present (I think). The Gypsy Rose bundle by Fig Tree was also greatly discounted. Won't this make a very soft and pretty quilt? (The fabric underneath it is for binding on another quilt.)


On another note, I had my first acupuncture appointment yesterday. It was very interesting. Did you know that they leave the needles in for a while? He used about a dozen needles and left them in for half an hour. They didn't really hurt going in and I was very relaxed during the whole thing. So much so that I almost fell asleep a couple of times. Unfortunately when I would jerk awake, that's when I would feel my muscles trying to contract around a couple of the needles in my neck. That was a little painful but not too bad. The worst part was when he took them out. I don't understand why that would hurt, just that it did. In any case, I go back next week and then a couple weeks later. I'm optimistic that I'll see some improvement in my symptoms. Until next time...

Back in the groove of things

Well, I have lots more pictures to show of some new fabric I got in yesterday. First of all, I received a package from HOP (Hancocks of Paducah) that contains some more of the Williamsburg Heritage collection from Windham. And it was all on clearance! How great is that? This pretty much rounds out my collection. I realize there are a few more prints that I don't have, but that's ok. I have plenty to make a beautiful quilt. I have yet to pick out the pattern to use this on. I want it to be something that will showcase the beautiful colors.


I also ordered 1.5 yards of a Marcus Bros. Strip It fabric. It contains 18 different 2.5" strips of black and white fabrics. I still need to cut it apart and place it in my 'noodle' drawer. Can't you just imagine it in a B&W quilt with a pop of color (maybe red). That's definitely on my todo list for the future. I tried to fold the fabric so you can get a peak of all the different strips that run the length of the fabric.


Now on to my purchases from Whittle's fabrics. Someone from the HGTV Quilting & Needlework Forum introduced me to this online store and I'm SO glad they did. You can't believe their prices. Most fabrics are $3.50 to $4 per yard and they're the same fabrics you would get in quilt shops. They can sell out quickly though so shop early for best selection. They just added the Mocha Meringue collection from Marcus Brothers. The fabrics are a blend of greys, browns and blacks. They're just beautiful and the feel of the fabric is like silk.



This collection also includes several batiks in these colors. Aren't they wonderful?


Ok, enough about my growing fabric collection... I've managed to complete a few things this morning. I finished the November and December blocks for the BOM from Sew Unique. All 12 of the blocks have a different bird in them and when placed together look like a winter tree full of birds. It's a different looking BOM and I really like it.




I've designed my own borders for this quilt that necessitate my making at least 150 flying geese units in 2 sizes. I use the one-seam flying geese method to make them and it goes pretty fast. However, I have some other projects I need to work on before starting those.

Like new sofa pillows. My husband and I found a curtain panel that we really liked and I'm making some pillows for the living room furniture out of them. Here's the first one I finished.


There's quite a bit of glare to the picture, but you can get the general idea. I going to make a few more in this fabric and a couple in another silk fabric I have. I thought about adding trim to these, but I think that would frou frou up the living room too much. In any case, my husband has just walked in to take me to the bookstore and for a bite to eat, so until later...

Glad to be back home again!

There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed is there? I'm finally back home. And although I enjoyed visiting my sister and her kids, I've missed my family here. I also found that I had 4 packages waiting for me at home. Of course, 3 of them were pet medications but the last one was some fabric I ordered from Hancock's of Paducah. I ordered 5 yards of Kona Snow cotton for the 30's quilt I want to make. I packaged it up with all of the other materials and the pattern so when I'm ready to start, it's all right there. I also bought a cream and blue ombre because I like the subtle color changes and they were really on sale. The same goes for the 2 Kashmir IV charm packs.


I also had a little time yesterday to play in my sewing room. I'm working on an applique UFO from Sew Unique. I only had November and December's blocks to finish and I'm almost done with them. I need to make about 150 flying geese units for the borders that I'll get started on next. Well, not immediately. I need to make some pillows for our living room first, but that shouldn't take long.

Also, I'm going on a trip to Whistle Stop Quilt Shop in Selma, NC tomorrow with some friends. They're having a 4th of July sale. I hope not to purchase anything (yeah right), but just spend time with friends.

Until next time...