Meadow Dance Blog Hop - Baby Quilt and A Giveaway

Hello everyone, regular readers and new ones both! Today I am super-excited to share the tutorial for my Ribbon Stars quilt with all of you. It uses the gorgeous new line of fabric by Amanda Murphy, Contempo's (Benartex Fabric) Meadow Dance. I have loved Amanda Murphy's designs and her quilting for some time, so I did a little happy meadow dance of my own when I was asked to be a part of this hop at Benartex's blog, Sew in Love With Fabric.

Pinch me! Just looking at the lush designs on that button, which happen to be in my favourite fabric in the line, makes me smile.

So my quilt is one I designed two years ago for Sarah's (Confessions of a Fabric Addict) Hands2Help charity quilt drive. It got quite the love.
Readers:  Are you going to write a pattern?
Moi:  Yes! Of course!

It didn't happen.

Well I had notes jotted down and my graph paper drawings and figurings... And then I made it again, only bigger, Blue Ribbon Stars, for one of my aunts....and it got more love...

Readers:  Are you going to write a pattern?
Moi:  Yes! Of course!

Uh, it didn't happen, much as it wanted to be let out.

And then...this.

Well, I was asked to do a small, simple project.  But I couldn't decide which fabrics because I adored them all, even the ladybugs, and I do not like bugs.  However. Ladybugs I do like, and I will pick them up and save them...

So.

Like a Howler for Ron from Mrs. Weasley, this quilt FLEW into my brain and careened around my head.

Moi: Would it be possible to have a wee bit of them all because I kind of have an excellent pattern to show them all off...

No problem.  And here she is, third rendition of that pattern:

I promise you, she sews up super-quick. It makes an approximately 42X45" baby quilt. Or small lap quilt.  Or take-to-yoga-class quilt. 🙏 Don't the fabrics just sing like the birds in that meadow?

Flit (or careen, lol) on over to Sew in Love With Fabric blog where you will find the tutorial (finally!) for making one of your own.

GIVEAWAY Has now ended. Congrats to Lori, comment #20!
First though, or second, if you're coming here from there, answer this question for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of this fabric for yourself!

Do you prefer all-one-fabric backings or pieced, fun backings on quilts?

Answer in the comments below.  Followers (new ones welcome) can have a second entry by simply telling me how you follow me.  US addresses only please, as Benartex is trying to keep shipping costs down. Unfortunately I will not be able to answer all the comments because of the volume with a giveaway.

Please please be sure to include your email address if you are a no-reply blogger so I can reach you. Otherwise I will have to draw another name. The giveaway will remain open until Sunday midnight EST, and I'll announce the winner on Monday, September 25.

Mine is not the only stop on the hop to host a giveaway! Be sure to visit these other sites:

Monday: Interview with Amanda Murphy on the blog Sew In Love With Fabric
Tuesday:  Alison at Little Bunny Quilts (pocket organizer wall-hanging)
Wednesday: Benartex Blog Design Team (strip pillows)
Thursday: Sandra (that's moi!) at mmm! quilts (baby quilt)
Friday: Chrissie at Made By Chrissie D (cushion cover and table runner)

I did a couple test blocks before cutting into Meadow Dance. This was made using some different Benartex fabrics, from Kanvas, "Fleurish" by Maria Kalinowski which I won last summer when I subscribed to "Modern By the Yard", Benartex's e-zine (link on sidebar--terrific magazine, and no trees are killed in the publishing!) and sent them several emails of my friends who I knew would like to subscribe. Here is a peek at how this one is shaping up:

Lots of possibilities for this design!

I also have a cushion cover on the go, with a completely different vibe from the baby quilt. It's hard to believe this is still the Meadow Dance line! Amazing. Isn't the border fabric, Crochet Lace Aqua, fantastic? Wait until you see it not cut up! I didn't quite get it completely finished, but here is the flimsy. I made the blocks smaller this time and played a bit with the ribbon centre blocks.

Linking up:
Let's Bee Social
Needle and Thread Thursday

DrEAMi! Linky #6

I nearly forgot about the July DrEAMi! for July, so I am interrupting my post in progress on the Cows quilt, which should have been published yesterday but wasn't, to write this up and get it posted for you to link up. I'll leave it open all week, as usual. Please feel free to add a link from June if you had a Drop Everything And Make It! moment during that month, since there was no DrEAMi! in June.

Can you have AtDrEAMi! moments? (About to Drop Everything And Make It!) I believe you can...LOL. Within the next day, I am having one, and within the first half of this coming week I am having another. What? Scheduled DrEAMis/DrEAMies (whatever the plural would be, or DrEAMi! moments, there that's easier!)... Well, a fast and simple project is going to be made today using this PURR-fect or ROAR-fect fabric I snagged at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop Free Shipping within Canada sale last weekend (and it arrived on Wednesday, like super-fast shipping despite a huge influx of sales, love it):

Update: Here's the finished product! Whipped it up Saturday night. It kind of suddenly took a bit of a curve, and I'm totally fine with that.

From cutting to finish, it took 45 minutes! It's the Roll It Up! pillowcase on All People Quilt -I've made the pattern many many times. I suddenly had the idea to stitch Brady's name down the navy blue band. Wrote it in chalk pencil, then FMQ-ed it with Sulky rayon.

And a baby quilt using these beauties:

Both projects are under a very tight deadline, which is why they both are DrEAMi! projects; however, the lions and tigers fabric is very definitely a DrEAMi! as when I spied that, I knew a certain Leo whose birthday is tomorrow needs something made with this fabric. This little Leo's grandpa is going to visit him this week.  The other is for the Fall issue of Modern By The Yard, Benartex's e-zine, so it's less of a DrEAMi!; however, I am having to set other projects aside to get it done for the deadline to have it sent for photographing.

Since this has turned into a bit of a fabric ogling post, thought I'd just mention two quick things available at Connecting Threads (that is an affiliate link as are the ones below).  The first is that wide backing is on sale for 8.96/yard US. Even with the exchange, that is a terrific price. I bought some on their last sale for my other aunt's quilt, and have been happy with it, but I will let you know how it quilts and washes up. The second is that Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts has just released her second line with them and I actually like it more than her first!

At only 6.96/yard I do believe some will be coming to live in my house. Love that pale green with the red, reminds me of Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew colours. Psst! They have her fabric too... And remember they ship free at some pretty decent minimum purchase amounts. As always, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for purchasing through my links and supporting this blog, the writing of which makes me so very happy.

If a class is what you feel like cuddling up with on a Saturday night, then know that Craftsy has a TON of them on for less than $20. They also have a pretty good clearance section, just sayin'...

Temptations! Now, let's see what DrEAMi! moments you've had these past couple of months, those squirrels, like that lions fabric that you just HAVE to drop current projects and make right NOW!

Sunday Stash - A Missouri Virgin No More

Yep, lost my virginity.  Of the fabric store kind.  It's Preeti's fault.  I signed up for updates from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Broke the seal of no purchases from them within a few days of updates.  And I'd been doing so good on the fabric diet.  Here's what I bought:

The daily deal that day was the Windham Basic Bright Charm Square pack.  They have a $5 flat rate shipping so to quote a phrase from Tish, 'it just looked lonely all by itself' so I had a leedle look around... which is when I spied the Mystery Charm Pack deal for $4.95.  That's pretty decent so throw one of those babies in. Besides I love surprises.  I got this lush flannel Fossil Fern pack!  I've loved Fossil Fern from way back; I used some dusty rose in my mum's 70th birthday quilt, and that is going back 10 years.

They sell Kona cotton for $5.95/yard, and now that I know how I am adding to Radiance, I know I do not have enough of the Cheddar I used, so I bought a yard of that. 

Balanced the Windham pack on its end so you can get an idea of the happy brights therein

Finally, one more item somehow popped into my cart, didn't even know I was looking for labels, but you know how anal I am about labelling all my quilts properly...

They're a little out there.  I like that.  This is one side of the two-sided panel, so you get two of everything.

Pretty good haul I'd say for $21.40, which included the $5 shipping!  I am not an affiliate; just thought I show you Craftsy is not the only one with some screaming good deals.  Be sure to check out both places if you're like me and saving money while feeding the fabric beast is your thang! Craftsy's sale ends tonight...I might have spent a leedle more than $20 there... btw I am an affiliate for them. ;-)

Linking up with Molli Sparkles.

Sunday Stretch For Sewists #10 Toes

Bernie Clark says in his book that there is an old Daoist saying, "A person with open toes has an open mind."

The feet is the first place we start to age, so putting some tension on our toes or our ankles, arches, balls of the feet or tops of the feet is good.  Long hours with one foot on a sewing machine pedal, or standing at a longarm, can mean your toes, feet and ankles will love this massage, but go easy.

Ankle Stretch and Toe Squat
Start with Ankle Stretch by coming to sit in Japanese sitting position, bum resting on your heels.

If this won't work for your knee health, then sit on a block or a cushion that is between your feet, or put a rolled up towel acros the calves and behind the knee joint which helps to decrease the bend in the joint.  Begin with the tops of your feet resting on the floor (blanket or yoga mat).  Relax here, finding your breath, pulling it in through the rings of your nostrils, tracing its path up your nose, down your throat, into your lungs and back out that same pathway, counting to 2 or 3 or 4, slowly on the inhale and same slow steady count on the exhale.  This is called a yogic breath.  While steadily breathing, notice a tug along the tops of your quads maybe, in the front of the ankles as they press into the mat, more so with your weight on your feet.  You may feel the top side of the toes as they too, press into the mat.

In the beginning, you don't want to stay here very long, maybe 30-60 seconds.

Come out by coming forward onto all fours, and staying still while you enjoy the 'ahhh' release as the blood rushes into those areas where you were feeling tension.

Next, go into Toe Squat from all fours simply by tucking your toes under, and raising your body to an upright position.  Depending on your toes' and ankles' health and flexibility, you may need to stay on, or mostly on, all fours for the first several times you do this.

Ease back onto those toes, trying to get all five on each foot in contact with your mat.  Enjoy :-) the tension and tug on the arches, every toe, the ball of the foot and even through the ankle.  Hold for 30-60 seconds, but eventually work up to 2-3 minutes.

You can juice each of these poses up, but do it slowly and mindfully, never forcing or going into pain.  You just want a tension, or tugging, a traction hold, kind of feeling.
For Ankle Stretch, lean back onto your hands, lifting one knee at a time, or both together.

This is very strong through the tops of the feet and the ankles, so don't hold it for very long in the beginning, maybe just a minute maximum.

For Toe Squat, see if you can balance on your toes.

Just a few minutes maybe twice a week, and you will notice a little more freedom of movement through your feet which should lead to a happier you!

Here is my work so far this holiday weekend in both Canada (July 1, Canada Day) and the US (July 4, Independence Day):

A flimsy finished, another Better At The Lake project for the Henry Glass Fabrics Desire to Inspire Challenge

If you didn't see my previous post, then here is a link to the Henry Glass Fabrics blog, where I revealed the projects I had completed (well, the above quilt was still on the design wall!) for the challenge for June.  There is a giveaway of two small projects, so be sure to enter on their blog for it!  I do have the backing pieced and hope to quilt this up this afternoon.

Oh, and as a small nod to Sunday Stash, here is a fabric I picked up to make some summer pj shorts for the best grandson in the world:

Too adorable!  He loves Minions, and with his English roots on my side of the family, I could not resist!

Warm Fuzzies

I love this term, one from my CGIT (Canadian Girl In Training) camp days (that takes me back).  It means something, tangible or intangible, that makes you feel warm and fuzzy in your heart.  A few weeks ago I had the absolute joy of receiving not one, but three surprise packages in the mail.  They were well-timed little warm fuzzies.

Tangible warm fuzzies such as this hand-made gorgeous bracelet that my friend Vicki of Vicki's Crafts and Quilting made me.  Several months ago, I'd surprised her with a fabric bowl at a time when I knew she needed a little pick-me-up.  Well, somehow she picked the perfect time to send me this.  How did she know I am a bracelet-loving girl?  I was always known at school for pretty bracelets, wore them every day.  Vicki, you do beautiful work; so intricate, and it's the perfect size. She stalked my yoga pics and decided I was pretty small; guess we have tiny wrists in common, as she used her own as a guide!  I love this and have worn it several times.  She is so talented! AND she just published her first Island Batik post as a new ambassador for their fabric company.  Her project is a beauty.

Double C: Cleaning and Canton

Canton as in Canton Village Quilt Works.  Thought I'd put a little plug in for Jackie Kunkel.  I have no affiliation.  I've taken advantage of her recent sales a couple of times.  Here's the latest score/crush:

Top to bottom:  Timeless Treasures "Seasonal Portraits" by Judy Neimeyer; Hoffman Bali "Stitches in Lime"; Rowan "Glow" by Amy Butler-Crossroads in Marine; And Rowan "Glow" by Amy Butler-Water Fall in Turquoise.

We All Love Deals

I do especially.  I love saving money.  I love getting new fabric.  Happy dance when those three come together!  However, I am thinking it may be time to do an intervention on me...  Well, maybe after this weekend.  Craftsy is having a huge Winter Clearance Sale on their project kits and supplies.  So good, (an extra 20% off existing clearance prices!!) that I am interrupting my WIP, which I'd hoped to have finished for today but fabric shopping has put a dent in my sewing time! Drat. ;-)

Swoon Mini

This is my OMG (One Monthly Goal) if you didn't recall, so I am under the gun to get it done in time.  However.

Priorities
As my friend Pat pointed out, I am being an enabler.  As a bona fide enablee (that is a term, I am sure, lol) I feel it is my duty and my privilege to invite others to join me in my pursuit of fabric.  Bahaha.   This week in my life:
JoAnn's (no affiliation) had a 60% off coupon, which I took advantage of yesterday on Warm 'n White batting.  Happy dance!!  Fat Quarter Shop (again, no affiliation) had a terrific deal on one of their 24-Hour Flash Sales this past week.  Pink Castle Fabrics Monthly Club (my Christmas present from MacGyver, no affiliation) sent the second of my 3-month installments and I whooped for joy when I opened my bundle of Avant Garde!!!!  See? I spread my love around.  This weekend, however, my love (read moola) is headed full tilt boogie over to Craftsy.

I might have already loaded a few items into my cart.

Below you see some of the great bundles I've bought in the fairly recent past on Craftsy.  These often work out to $1-2-ish per fat quarter Canadian dollars.  I figure $7-8/yard CA is pretty awesome; $5-6US about the same.

The top two are both Windham Fabrics bundles, and the bottom is Robert Kaufman

You may recall the ten 1-yard cuts bundle I bought and made into a lap quilt using a 2.5" strip off each fabric plus some Kona Snow:

You can read more about this quilt and other Craftsy goodies here

There are excellent deals such as these and more to be had, quilt kits and totes among them.  Take a look:

Many of us quilters also do other hand work.  I knit.  Here is just one of the kits on sale:

Linea shawl

I haven't had a knitting project on the go in some time, so I'll be snagging something that's for sure.  You all know by now how much I love and have talked about Craftsy, from before I was an affiliate even.  This post does contain affiliate links, so I do get some commission on any purchases made through them. As always, thank you in advance. :-)

Once I'm done placing my order, and if I can just keep Bella off my Swoon mini,

as well as from running from one end of the house to nearly the other trailing the thread I'm using to quilt it, I may just accomplish my One Monthly Goal.  There are a few of us in on this Swoon Mini quilt along; you can check out Tish's finish here.

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Squirrels Abound OMG

I went to Expert Sewing in Port Charlotte on Saturday, as I found out by a fluke that they had been running a sale for a good chunk of the week to make room for new stock, and it was ending on Saturday.  A girl's gotta help them out, right?  I scored these lovelies, in my favourite combo of blue and green, in the clearance section, where they were $1 extra off per yard, so $4.99!  The white with grey x's is by Zen Chic, Modern Background Essentials.  Regular priced fabric was 30% off.  I could see bags.

Three yards of this Northcott came home with me too, from the clearance section.  I thought it might work as the backing of my mystery quilt, which I hadn't meant to be Christmassy.  I like it.

Then my sweet friend Tish and I have been having lovely (that's the word for this post apparently) iMessage convos about all things quilty, and some things not, and anyhow, one thing that came up was that she has wanted for some time to do a Swoon as well.  I'd mentioned it in my Sunday Stash post that my first fabric club shipment would work nicely for a big one.  Thus, an idea was born, where each of us is doing a Swoon quilt (we're starting with the mini) in February.  And, we've decided that we are joining in with Red Letter Quilts' OMG: One Monthly Goal (I just love intelligent acronyms like that!) to get this done.  Somehow our private little quilt along grew two more friends, Cindy of Stitchin' At Home and Julie of Pink Doxies. Fun! Fun!

The pattern is available at thimble blossoms. The four of us would not say no if you are wanting to pick up the pattern and join in.

This is how Dayna's quilt and Brady's movie do NOT get done...

And how fabric bought with no particular pattern in mind has now become some for my mini Swoon!
Sidenote: I was listening to a podcast on the weekend on Crafty Planner, episode 34, where Tula Pink said she finds there are two camps of quilt fabric buyers: those who buy fabric for a specific pattern and those who buy fabric and then later figure out what they want to do with it. I'm in the latter camp for the most part. 

So the blue and green Michael Miller fabric I bought has now decided it is going in the Mini Swoon.  I think the stripe will be binding, not sure.  I need 8 fat eighths, so taking out the stripe means I have four here.  This morning I spent some lovely time pulling some other fabrics, fabrics that will "go" but contrast at the same time.  I liked the little hits of light blue in the navy/green fabrics, so I started there.  Thought pink as a contrast to the cooler colours here, but it felt too soft.  In my Tula Pink's City Sampler stack of fabrics, I had some leftover red from Parisville Weave, and I liked it! Here is the final combo:

The Kaufman light blue with red hits in it was yet another score at the sale, and the daisies is one of my 10 yards in the Craftsy 10-yard bundle I bought a while back.

 Something new, something old, something borrowed (the reds from Parisville Weave as well as The City Sampler), something blue!

This will be so much fun.

Speaking of fun, you may want to stay tuned to this blog, as well as to Julie's Pink Doxies, as we have come up with something pretty sweet and fun for next week leading up to Valentine's Day!  Did I mention there will be prizes?  Love stirring up the waters, creating intrigue...

Finally a "feels like Florida" Red-Letter Day yesterday!  At the halfway point of our Bradenton Riverwalk dogwalk, Rocco found a walk-in spot to the Manatee River and in he went and promptly laid down!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get my phone out fast enough to capture that hilarious moment.  He was like, "I'm done you guys; I need to cool off before we head back; the water's lovely!"  Then Brandy and Naala decided to join him but they didn't lie down.   Our private little joke when people ask, "Just what kind of dog is that?" about either Rocco or Brandy, both pibbles, aka pitties, aka Pitbulls, is, "Oh that's an Oklahoma Water Dog," which doesn't exist but helps in avoiding the prejudice these sweet dogs face all the time.  Well, Rocco, unlike Brandy, who dislikes water, definitely IS the second half of that made-up dog breed!

Linking up with Red Letter Quilts for OMG for February!

Craftsy is a Preeti Awesome Website!

Nope, that's no typo in the title.  I have loved Craftsy since I signed up in July 2013, and took my first two classes, Free Motion Fillers with Leah Day and Free-Motion Quilting With Feathers with Angela Walters.  To date I have bought several more classes, downloaded several free classes--if you did not know that there are free classes, then simply enter "free" in the search box and you will get a pop-up that lets you select "free classes", and voilà! There are a plethora of them (167 to be exact) from which to choose, in all sorts of subject areas--I've also bought several patterns, downloaded several freebies as well, and, as of two weeks ago, finally succumbed to the temptation and bought some fabric.

In such a pretty plastic bag too!

And it's all Preeti's fault.  She has a terrific blog, Sew Preeti Quilts.  I love her sense of humour and her Paul stories and conversations.  I love the stories behind her quilts, and I am so impressed with how she can often find an easier way to do a technique, for example, check out this post!  Well, in her post on her two hexie quilts (btw where she simplified making a thousand and one hexies lol), she told of her fabulous score on fabric from Craftsy.  ELEVEN beautiful yards of it.  All for under US$50.  Okay, when I see $5-6/yard, (or in this case LESS!) I go running to check it out, literally and figuratively.

Although I did not buy the hexie fabric, I sure did buy another 10-yard bundle.  It worked out to  CA$4.90/yard.  That's no typo.  Canadian funds.  Blue is my favourite colour, all shades and hues of it.  Oh, I love a rich burgundy and most pinks, a soft green, or a deep purple, but if I had to pick just one colour, it would be blue.  You would know this in a heartbeat if you took a look at my stash shelves. I have more than double the amount of blues as compared to other colours.  So of course I need to ramp up my blues palette, right?!  Here's what was in that bundle:

My least favourite is the bottom one, but it still works with the palette

and these

Delicious!

I am itching to make something with these; it will be my own design.  Just look at the stack from this angle!

Blues and seafoam greens and even a Kelly green

This was a real score.  I've been being bugged by my sister, brother and daughter to open an Etsy shop and sell some of my quilts.  This is what has been percolating on the back burner of my mind, and now with this purchase, it might be going to happen.  Thank you so much Preeti for the tip!  If you've been paying attention, you know I didn't stop with the bundle.

This was less than CA$20!  Prior to purchase, I googled the line under images to see what the prints looked like, as you don't get much of an idea from a jelly roll, and I really liked what I saw.  Here's another angle:

I really enjoy making quilts designed by Pam and Nicky Lintott. I have two of their books, and used another of theirs that belongs to the guild to make two wheelchair charity quilts, Stardust and Fairysteps.  I plan to use this roll with some stash yardage to make another one of their quilts...or maybe a jelly roll race even, as I haven't done one of those.

These were delivered to my door within 36 hours from the time I place the order! Unfortunately, they do not ship for free to Canada...something I didn't realize at the time...  However, I do want to tell you the fantastic story of what happened the day after I placed my order.

One of my mum's oft-used expressions is "eeee, gifted with afterthought" and I am the epitome of that saying!  I suddenly realized, 'Crap! (or some other bad word) I did not order through my own link!'  Yes!  You can do that!  Give credit to yourself for ordering through yourself.  Are you still with me?  ;-)

So I emailed.  At first my request was politely refused; 'Once the order has been placed, they can't go back in' kind of thing.  When I filled out the survey the next day and stated no, sorry, I wasn't completely happy with my Craftsy experience and explained what had happened, someone again got in touch with me.  They told me they wanted me to be 100% happy with the entire transaction.  They put my request through to Melissa, who is in charge of the affiliate programme. Melissa initiated a process, I had to fill out a short form, and I was then credited with my commission.  Melissa was so helpful and friendly.  I was left one very very happy customer.  I think the commission was just about $5.  In the grand scheme of things, that is a pretty paltry amount.  Yet it made for a happy customer.  Happy customers go back, and happy customers spread the word.

I'm spreading the word once more about another terrific sale on now at Craftsy: time to pick yourself up some supplies or a class to watch over Christmas, I'd say!  Remember, clicking through to their website via the button on my sidebar and purchasing will give me a little compensation from them for your business. Thank you!  And thank you Preeti.  :-)

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash #156.  If you want to see some more loot of other bloggers,  head over there!

Sunday Stash--a little more loot

Just when you thought, she did pretty good at Miller's Dry Goods in Amish Country, yep, there is more!

Not including the brushed cotton in aqua on the bottom of the stack, this was a kit at Millers' Dry Goods to make a tree skirt.  I am going to turn it into a quilt, possibly with the Moda "Storybook" by Kate and Birdie 4 yard cut incorporated in the front and as the backing. Love these colours together.

One of Julie's of Pink Doxies all-time favourite yellows, which I very nearly didn't pick up, as I didn't have any thought as to where/what I'd use it (like that has EVER stopped me in the past from a fabric purchase, I'll admit), I'm so glad I went back and got a yard.  I love it.  Okay, to be honest, all 3 of these fabrics I have no clue as to intended project, but they will grow up into quilts, have no fear.  Love the Robert Kaufman ivory on the bottom, a great neutral. Love that aqua.  I'm working on getting more aqua shades in my stash. Oh, I also snagged five spools of Coats' Dual Duty thread at 75c for a 250 yd spool.  Ahh, I miss Miller's...

At Zinck's I also picked up some flannel at a great price, still all within my $200 total, remember; there are two other posts, here and here, about the wonderful trip.  Julie has tested it, and found that it has pretty low shrinkage.  Flannel is ideal for tablerunners, and smaller lightweight projects and quilts.  As well, I haven't shown, nor will I until I use it, a 2 1/8 yard roll of a wide fleece product I want to try in the wheelchair charity quilts.  Those should be being quilted soon (yes, I said those; there are 3 more flimsies complete with a fourth one being laid out all on the design wall.  I need a second design wall!

More on these various projects in another post

I also miss Boyd and Wurthmann...

The very best homemade pecan pie with homemade ice cream I have ever tasted

 Linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash Share.

More Amish Country purchases

Seriously you didn't really think all I bought was the two pieces of Minky Cuddle and the lake quilt beach-themed fabrics?  I had just short of $200 mad money from covering extra yoga classes this summer while other instructors were ill or on vacation, and I spent every dime of it. :-)

The fabrics below are going into a quilt a wee bit further down on my list of quilts to make.  Again, I had not planned to shop for this quilt, but you know how it goes, they percolate on the back burner of your quilt inventory in your head.  Well, mine do anyhow.  The bottom green I just liked, thought it might go in this quilt; didn't realize until closer inspection that it says "meow" or "mrow" on it amongst the yarn.  Darned if that nice grey isn't the same line, 'Purrsnickitty' - great name, very clever.

Most of the feature fabric is hidden, as the person for whom this is destined reads this blog--mysterious, I know.  It's background reads black here but it is a delicious deep navy.

Sunday Stash from Amish Country

Not Sunday Stretch for Sewers...Sewists...as I'd planned...hmm might have to switch that so we think happy fabric thoughts and not be thrown off by unpleasant smells thoughts...

Any-who.  In the previous post where I let you know why I'd not blogged for a week, and showed off two more bags I'd made, you learned that I'd spent a couple of days in Amish Country in Ohio.  I helped support a couple of several businesses there of course, amongst them cheese, wine, Amish foods, and of course, fabric.

Loved this.  Squealed in disbelief at the first few, never did lose the shine of seeing this:

I took a couple more of various buggies, on the road, parked, a team of four horses across raking in a field, but then I read that they do not appreciate being photographed, and so, in respect of that, I will only post this fairly anonymous shot.

I felt like I'd stepped back in time.

This is Miller's Dry Goods, two stores side by side, this one in a barn on what was the farm where the owner grew up.  There are two houses in back, now set up for (drum roll) quilt retreats(!) or family reunions.

This is Julie's favourite shop, and I can totally see why.

So!  On with the purchases.

May I just say a big fat, "EEEEP!"  This is Minky Cuddle from Shannon Fabrics.  The good stuff.  It is the only full price fabric I bought.  When I saw the footballs, well, done and done.  Brady.  Cost does not factor into the equation where my beloved grandson is concerned.  My dad, penny pincher extraordinaire, was like that with his grandchildren.  He bought Brianne her first pair of baby shoes:  excellent support, leather, expensive from an expensive specialty shoe shop in Windsor, he was with me and waved away my wallet, saying, "Grandpa is paying." They cost more money than he probably ever paid for a pair for himself...or his own kids, lol.

Brady loves football.  Loves.  Cannot wait to start playing.  Last November he "ordered" a Halloween quilt from a picture he saw in my American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.  This is going onto the back.  Fall and Football, Halloween.  It works.

The gorgeous, plush, oh-my-god-should-I?-I-should, sculptured ivory Minky is for me!  Probably for the back of Wings.  These are 60" wide so 2 yards costs $35, not too shabby for a quilt backing, I'd say.  And what a backing.  You think petting cotton fabric is good for the soul?  This will massage your spirit, your senses, your soul, your inner mmmrrrroooowww of a feline rolling around in ecstasy.  You get the picture.  I'll stop before I feel the need to run downstairs and touch these two pieces again!

Two winters of collecting lake-themed fabrics

The top two in the run under the feature fabric are from my stash.  I show you this, because I did not know I was going to shop for some other pieces to go with this collection.  Look what I got:

I am not sure whether I will use the Moda wood grain (think dock) fabric, but it does work.  The sea glass, sea foam batik was bought with my Sea Glass quilt in mind, although I don't need any more fabrics for it... (pattern purchased on Craftsy- if you click through the Craftsy link on my sidebar and purchase this pattern, by an Alberta designer, cool, I will get a few cents, merci beaucoup)  However, it works, maybe, in this quilt.  It's not the exact green in the feature fabric, but is great with the wavy water fabric and the 'lake' peppered cotton on the bottom. The batik was $8/yard at Zinck's, the wood grain in the basement sale fabric for $6/yard. 

The lower fabric was at Zinck's for, as you see, $3.99/yard.  Score!  Backing for the lake quilt.  I bought 4 yards.  It's going to be a throw for the bench in the front entryway.
The other two shell and rope fabrics were from Miller's Dry Goods, $6/yard.  They might go into this quilt, might not.  They might grow up into a cushion for said bench.  The blue stripe will be the binding for the quilt!  $6/yard (I bought 1/2 yard).  Love that basement.  Bolts and bolts of fabric.  Current.  Amy Butler. Riley Blake.  Moda.  Quilt shop quality.  Prices for my budget.  Sorry Canada.  Can't do it.   This translates to about $7.50-8 per metre, which Sew Sisters does do on their site, and they do have a pretty good selection.  I've yet to see a quilt shop around here with this kind of sale prices.  And cough, $4/yard?  $5? like this shop does, as does my beloved Alma Sue's Quilts in Sarasota, smack dap in the Amish and Mennonite section of town, and my new favourite in North Port, Expert Sewing Center.  Facebook page here.  Online store here.  Rarely if ever, have I found $4-$5/metre fabric here in Canada, of the quilt shop quality.

If you are still with me, I have to share this "wee-ooh, wee-ooh" cue Twilight Zone music,  moment (there were a few, but this one--!) that happened in Miller's Dry Goods.  I had told Julie about the Amish and Mennonite ladies who hand quilt quilts at Alma Sue's for so much per yard of thread.  How I wanted, one day, to take a quilt down to Florida with me and get it hand-quilted by these ladies who come from Ohio and Pennsylvania and spend the winter in this entire section of Amish around the shop.  We walked into Miller's and a tiny Amish lady greeted us.  I did a double-take.  It couldn't be.  Come on, Sandra, with the dark blue dresses and white caps, they tend to look the same.  Look closer.  Name tag.  Mary.  No freaking WAY!

me:  Do you work at Alma Sue's in Sarasota in the winter time?
Mary: I sure do.
me:  (picking my jaw off the floor) I shop there while we are in Florida! I thought I recognized you!
Julie: What??? You know her??!!
me: You've cut fabric for me!
Julie:  She's (meaning me) visiting from Canada!
Mary: (who doesn't seem amazed in the least) We get a lot of Canadians at Alma Sue's.
Julie and Sandra: (laughing and exclaiming in amazement to each other) I don't believe it! Really?!  No way! This is crazy! etc. etc.

What are the chances, though,  that of all the quilt shops and all of the various counties where the Amish and Mennonite live, this particular store would be the one that Julie takes me to, first time visitor to the area, where Mary would happen to be working that day, and that Alma Sue's is the store I frequent while in Florida... Small world.

Linking this lengthy post up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash #139.