Yes, the blog posts have been a little scarce the past two weeks. But I think today's will make up for it. Before I got to quilt retreat there came a family emergency which resulted in My Little Sailor coming home from the Philippines on emergency leave. Even in the midst of sadness, there is joy.
That said, let's go on to the road trip report!
I took a different route to Idaho this time (it's an Idaho thing. We hate to travel the same route both directions). First stop, home of the inspiration for Sweetwaters "Mama Said Sew," in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Because I had to fill out my "Mama Said Sew" collection:
I saw Quilt Moment's "Tilt a Whirl" pattern in
Clotilde's catalog made up in these fabrics and just "had to have it!" When I was growing up in Idaho, my BFF's favorite carnival ride was the Tilt a Whirl.
Then on to Cheyenne, Wyoming and the
Sierra Trading Post outlet store. No fabric, but if you like to wear Smartwool socks, they are half price at the outlet! BTW, if you want to expand your Starbucks mug collection with one for Wyoming, you can't. Apparently there aren't enough Starbucks in Wyoming to justify making a Wyoming mug.
Next stop, Laramie. Now, who would think that two of the best shops for modern fabric would be in Laramie, Wyoming?
Snowy River Quilts has a wonderful collection of batiks, plus is one of the best places to buy
Edyta Sitar's triangle papers. It was early in the trip, so I only bought some triangle papers and one pattern:
Triangle Swirl uses 2" half-square triangles and looks to be an excellent choice for a Sunday Scraps of batiks.
I added to my Sweetwater Sunkissed collection at
Quilt Essentials. Plus, I bought the cutest little travel iron. Which is buried somewhere in the as-yet-unpacked quilt camp supply bin, so photo to follow.
Why oh why didn't I fall in love with Sunkissed when it first came out? I guess so I would have the thrill of the hunt to complete the collection!
When I left
Little America the next morning, it had snowed overnight and my poor car was covered. Signe is not accustomed to spending the night outside. However, she is Swedish (a Saab), so she was ready to hit the road for Logan, Utah and "
My Girlfriends Quilt Shoppe." Although the staff complained that their best decorations had gone to Quilt Market, I was delighted with the selection of fabrics and uber-friendly staff. Pat even went downstairs to see if they had more of a particular pattern!
I delighted in their sample quilt made from Annela Hoey's "Breezy." Rather than use the panel, I chose this cute reindeer fabric by Maude Asbury, "Tinsel" for blend fabrics:
I love it when a shop has a fabric I haven't seen anywhere else. And when
I haven't seen it, you know it's unique!
I completed the required fabric at my new favorite shop, "
Suppose," in Preston, Idaho. Most of these fabrics are from "Cherry Christmas" by Aneela Hoey for Moda fabrics.
"Suppose" also has one of the best selections of quilt kits you'll find anywhere. I've wanted to make this striped quilt, but hadn't found all the stripe-y fabrics elsewhere:
The host shop at quilt retreat,
Cindy's always has a pop-up shop and brings their best new fabrics. Plus some great bargains -- I scored this "Blitzen" kit for 30% less than it was at other quilt shops:
Hmm, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas quilts!
I don't remember where I found the Moda "candy" in the new
Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille. But won't it be perfect for the November Schnibbles?
I read on another blog this morning the idea that quilters could make
themselves a quilt every year for their own birthday. What a great idea! This fabric will make my quilt for the next birthday:
Pretty wild, huh? My friend and table-mate at quilt retreat made a
One Block Wonder from this fabric, and it is stunning. So when I raced down to Boise to the airport to pick up My Little Sailor, I "happened" by Quilt Essentials and scored the last of the bolt!
My Little Sailor and blog co-author is helping me update the blog design. Come back later in the week to test out our new links and widgets!
From the desk of your