Fabric, fabric, fabric!

The week before I went on vacation, I headed to the two closest quilt shops to look for fabric for a particular project. Didn't find what I wanted, but I did find these.

And these that go with another piece I'd bought earlier.

And these two pieces from the clearance section. Pretty backs for some future quilt.

Then on vacation I discovered Heartfelt Quilting and Sewing completely by accident. I ended up spending two hours there wandering through the shop. Good thing I don't live close or I'd be in BIG trouble. The shop is huge with a nice selection of Civil War reproductions, 1930s reproductions, batiks, novelties, Asian fabrics, solids, current fabric lines, threads, fusibles, buttons, rulers, books, purse making notions, etc. I've never seen a shop with such a good variety of quilting fabrics and so many sewing tools. The shop also has a couple longarms that you can learn on and then rent to quilt your own quilts. I would love to do that and see how I like longarm quilting.

When you buy fabric without a particular quilt in mind, how much do you buy? I get fat quarters when they are available, but when they aren't I have a hard time deciding how much. How much for a main fabric piece that could be a border? How much for something that will be used in blocks?

Adding to the stash ... again

Didn't find the same cornerstone fabric, but found something that will work. I searched the Internet for a couple hours after I got home from the quilt shops and figured out the fabric I used was Pepper Pistachio from Momo's Wonderland (that took awhile) and it isn't available any more. Oh well.

While looking for a cornerstone substitute, I found these adorable Halloween fabrics from Minick & Simpson. I don't normally make holiday themed things, but the pumpkin stripe (which I see now I have covered up in the photo) reminded me of my Japanese penpal. I will make her a little table topper, and if I start now, I have a chance of finishing and mailing it to her in time.

When I didn't find the cornerstone fabric in the first shop I went to, I had to go to another. In both shops, I was distracted by the first bolts of fabric I saw as I walked in! The two on the left are new from Clothworks, which I found at the first shop. The purple floral from P& B was found at the second shop. I love the colors. No idea what I'll do with these. I just hope when I figure it out, I will have enough.

Everything's being washed now so I can get some sewing done this afternoon.