The best laid plans . . .

aren't going to happen - at least for now.  We are having a heat wave here in the Pacific Northwest, which is almost unheard of in June.  It comes with a humidity index far above normal.  Yesterday was 89 degrees, but with the humidity it felt at least 10 degrees higher.  By Monday and Tuesday we are predicted to hit 99 or even higher.  And we have no air conditioning.

All this means that work in the sewing room is almost at a standstill.  The last thing I want to do is turn on the iron.  It is amazing how quickly an iron can send the temperature in the room skyrocketing.  So much for the applique prep I planned to do.  So much for making binding.  At 10:30 last night it finally cooled off enough for me to tolerate fabric on my lap, so I started quilting another quilt.  Thursday night I finished quilting the fourth quilt this month, but binding will just have to wait, as it is 95 degrees upstairs in the room where my Pfaff and its walking foot live.

So, while I wait for the temperatures to revert to normal, I'll just post some pictures.  The first is the quilt I just finished quilting.  Instead of an all-over grid, I did a background grid with applique details quilted.  The curving quilting on the flag gives the illusion of movement.  I'm amazed how quickly I finished this.  The border quilting isn't white - I've not yet sponged off the chalk.

Visiting the three quilt shops in Bend, Oregon was a highlight of our camping trip last week.  I started my stash of batiks in anticipation of combining them with reproductions for the "Edyta Sitar" look.

 

I also purchased a nice selection of beautiful hand dyed Prescentia "Finca" threads, something I've wanted for some time.  I'm using them to hand quilt the small quilt started last night.

 

On Thursday I kept my friend Kim company on a trip north to "Momma Made It" - our favorite quilt shop in Longview Washington.  Of course I took advantage of the opportunity to fill a couple holes in my stash, and add to my growing batik collection.  Sharon, the owner, has added batiks to the reproduction fabrics that are the backbone of her shop offerings.  I can tell right now - it is going to be hard to keep track of what batiks I've already purchased so I don't duplicate any on future quilt shop trips.

 

I see a blue quilt in my future with either sashings or alternate setting squares of cheddar - I'm just not sure what quilt block I want to base it on.

Fabric stashes - and a shopping trip

This morning I was catching up on blog reading, and came across this post.  What fun - I love to look at fabric stashes!  After checking out the entries I decided to enter my own stash.  I will certainly not get may votes if people vote for messy - there is one picture that makes me shudder.  I need to help that quilter organize her stash!  I think I'll get votes from those people going for size. 

It would be great if you vote for my stash, but even better if you enter a picture of your own stash.  I really don't need to win - I have more than enough quilt books - but I'd love to think one of my readers might win for a picture of her or his own stash.

So get out your camera and take a picture - no matter what your stash looks like.  Post it on your blog too - just for kicks and giggles.

Here is what mine looks like this morning.  Click on the picture for the full (gasp!) effect.

What doesn't show - because it is on the floor behind the cutting table - is this mess.  Here we have my vacation purchases plus the results of a little "shopping trip" I took yesterday.  I hope to start washing and ironing these today.

Here in Vancouver we are right across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, where one of the biggest fabric stores ever is located.  I'd not been there for over two years.  They are currently having their famous "30% off of everything" sale, so it was time for a trip.

Do I hear you thinking, "what about the no-buy pledge?"  Looks like I failed, right?  Well, you can see three large pieces - 24 yards total - to use for sashings, etc. with Civil War Diary and Civil War Love Letters.  Two quilts, three pieces - I have to have a choice, right?  The fat quarter and fat eighth pack, as well as the dessert roll, are French General fabrics to supplement what I bought on vacation.  I like scrappy, so of course I needed to supplement!  Yes, there are a few other fabrics in there too, but not many - just some new seasonings to bring the stash up to date.

You are right - I AM the queen of rationalization!  Now back to the pledge . . . we'll see how long I can stick to it.

Of course I had to cruise through the notions aisles to see what new gadgets were available as well as replenish my supplies.  After all, 30% off doesn't come all that often.

I've always wanted to make a Pickle Dish quilt, but shuddered at hand cutting all those tiny pieces.  Look what I found!  I didn't need Double Wedding Ring templates, but they are necessary for use with the three Pickle Dish triangle templates.  I can hardly wait to start on this - my scraps will all be cut into little triangles for some time to come.

The other purchases aren't exciting but needed - new rotary blades, needle threader, and Thread Heaven.  A bottle of Fray Check that isn't half solidified.  And a 1/4" bias tape maker for all those little stems in applique.  Finally, a large bottle of Retayne to use when I wash quilts that include jelly rolls, charm squares, layer cakes, etc.

I shuddered when I paid the total, but kept telling myself it was so much less than it would have been without the sale.