This is the last of the loot from my 2016 Quilt MN Shop Hop trip. Although these were things that weren’t on my list, they still followed my plan to like all that I buy. I couldn’t leave them behind so I splurged.
I’m sure it will be of no surprise to anyone that I found and bought cloud fabric. I was captivated by the Minnesota skies and took lots of sky pictures. You can see some pictures here on Day Two, Day Five, Day Six, and Day Eight.
I’m thinking one of these would make a cute background for some hot air balloon blocks. What do you think?
I can’t have sky without including some water.
One can’t have sky and water without having some little rocks. I really needed this before and didn’t have it so I decided to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
I grew up on a wheat farm and had been eyeing this one since the collection was released. I almost bought it at one shop on the hop but decided to let it stay on the shelf. The next day, I heard it calling my name from the clearance section of a different shop. How could I ignore that?
Along the way I found some prints to add to my orange, brown, and green stash. How could I resist those coffee beans?
When I saw the fabric with dots, I saw sprinkles and I thought it would make cute ice cream cone or cupcake quilt blocks or a pincushion or two.
I already have slices of watermelon fabric in my stash and found these two pieces that would make a fun picnic quilt with it.
Here’s more great fabrics I found.
These were just too cute to pass up! I’m open to suggestions.
Just before I left home on the shop hop, I started a project using a green leaf fabric from my older stash. After cutting all the pieces, I decided it was just too thin to use so I found these two leaf prints on the hop. Since I couldn’t decide between them, I bought both.
Here’s the remnant I found on Day Six. I’m sure I’ll be needing a good quality gingham for a future project.
I’ve now decided that these two fabrics will become a pillow.
Here’s the Amazing Grace fabric that I’d given up hope of ever finding again. I previously bought 4 yards for a quilt back but you and I know that 4 yards isn’t nearly enough for a larger quilt. I was ecstatic to find 4 more yards of it on Day Six. Now I know I’ll have enough.
The following pic shows my all-time favorite fabric splurge on the hop. At the time of purchase, I had no idea what it might become.
I plan to use these one-yard cuts with some of the black and white for my challenge project for my AZ quilting group. They were on sale for 50% off. I should have bought more.
Now for some non-fabric splurge.
These were the only two patterns I bought. At one of the shops, we saw a finished labyrinth quilt and talked to the quilter that made it. She was picking it up from the longarm person after just having had it quilted. It looked fantastic. This Labyrinth quilt has been circulating around Facebook and I just couldn’t resist buying it for a future quilting project with my sisters.
I found a magnetic lighted pin picker upper
which opens to this length to help reach pins in far away places. It’s already come in handy!
I bought two spools of Superior thread and two spools of 100% Egyptian Cotton to try.
I splurged on the Mini Dresden Plate Template. I purchased this larger template at the same time as the Tiny one that I wrote about on So Where’s the Loot.
That’s all folks! I have no more loot to show you; it’s all been revealed. It was a fun trip and I’ve enjoyed telling you about it. But wait, I’ve planned a bit more fun.
Up Next: A guest post by Tu-Na Helper (my husband) regarding his thoughts and impressions of the shop hop trip.
What I Learned Today:
- Decision making is difficult for me.
- I made a lot of purchases on this shop hop trip.
- I definitely shop faster than I sew.
- The past two posts have been embarrassing but I’ll get over it.
Question: Do you plan first and then buy or buy now and plan later?
Linking to Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
and Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats 
So much fun to see what you picked up. The poppy fabric is really nice — I could see a really fun bag out of it (for all your purchases on your next shop hop)!
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A bag from that poppy fabric sure would look nice. I do like your idea of using the bag for the next shop hop. I think it would be fun to shop hop in a different state next time.
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I try to plan first then shop for fabric. Not as fun and exciting as just shopping but this way my fabric room doesn’t become overwhelmed.
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You must have will-power and I know it makes more sense and saves cents. I used to buy fat quarters but now buy one yard cuts unless it’s something basic then I buy 2 or more. But I often have the problem of not having enough of what I need especially for background fabrics.
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HOLY MOLY. YOU ARE GOING TO BE ONE BUSY GAL THIS YEAR!! Remember Quilt MN 2017 is only 10 months away!!! I have so enjoyed following your blog. It was such a pleasure meeting you. Happy stitching and come back and see us (if you find time!)
Sharon – Old Alley Quilt Shop, Sherburn
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I shall return! It was a pleasure meeting you, too, and talking with you about your shop. You have one very special shop. I do have a lot of sewing to do. But one can’t be going to 72 shops without doing some serious buying!
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I love how you said that you shop faster than you sew, that is so true for all of us 🙂
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I wish I could take credit for it but I saw it on a wall plaque years ago and then on this trip, so I’ve kind of adopted it as my slogan.
I may have bought a lot but just think about all that I left behind!
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Well, lots of yummy finds here! I love the red poppy fabric! I tend to start out with a list, but always, always, add to it 🙂
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I know of very few quilters who stick to the list. For me, it’s all about the leftovers.
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I shopped with you throughout the whole trip. Only difference was I didn’t spend any money. (That’s a first for me.) As long as you had fun & enjoyed yourself is what counts.
KathyF
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I can always send part of my credit card bill to you, too, so you get the whole experience. Yes, we had fun but it’ll be interesting to hear my husband’s perspective of the trip when his post as Tu-Na Helper is published.
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“I shop faster than I sew.” Yep!
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Creative minds think alike!
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You not only write very well, you can paint the pictures and we are right there with you on the great Shop Hop, but you shop well tool, and plan well into the future, even if the mills quit rolling out the fabric, you will be able to just quilt on. Wonderful choices. Keep us informed as you roll out quilt after quilt. Should be most interesting.
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I guess that makes me a “word artist.” When I was in college, I was told that I do not write well. When I was in high school, I was told I couldn’t sing well; maybe I should give that a try too.
If the mills ever quit, I’d probably have enough to keep you, me, my mom, and my two sisters busy for a long time. Look for lots of project posts to come where I use up that new and my current stash.
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WOW!!! I do love your haul! The Amazing Grace is gorgeous and I also swoon for the sky, wheat and “watermelon-related” fabrics!! And since you asked, I do usually have a short list of things I am specifically looking for (so plan 1st, buy later) and then I also usually get those things and much, much more (buy now & plan later)!! I guess quilters are basically alike!!!
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Thanks! I’ve had to buy a couple of new totes to store it all in. Quilters do love fabric or we wouldn’t be doing what we do—adding to the economy!
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Sew much fun! I’m looking forward to seeing how your loot finds its way (is loot singular or plural?) into all your projects over the next year. Loved taking this trip with you without leaving my chair.
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The trip was so much fun and writing about it was like doing it all over again. I have lots of plans for projects that I need to start working on so I can justify going into another quilt shop in the future!
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