Friday, October 16, 2015

It's been a while!

Even though I've been officially retired for several years, I'm supposed to have lots of free time, right?

W-R-O-N-G!

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way and I'm certainly not complaining because I'm so thankful to be able to do what I want and not what I have to.

So let me bring you up to date.

My mystery quilt and another flimsy have been sent off to my friend Alice to work her long arm quilting magic on them.

I also told you in my last post that I joined in on the 1930's Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt along which I'm pleased to say I've managed to keep up with. Two blocks a week is a perfect pace and not at all difficult to fit in along with other projects and commitments.  

I've also assembled all my paraphernalia to start in on the 'Brinton Hall' quilt that was featured in the two latest issues of Quiltmania magazine.

There were some things I needed before I got started so I put off starting in on it until we returned from our vacation in Maine where we spent another five glorious days.   I ordered a slew of stuff to be delivered to our motel and it was like Christmas when we arrived.  

It goes without saying that I shopped both on line and in person till I dropped!



You can't beat the free shipping!



L-O-V-E these 'Farmhouse' fabrics by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.  I haven't decided what I'm going to make with them but it'll be something special for sure!



How about these large-scale reproduction and period prints from ReproductionFabrics.com?  They're destined to make their debut in my Brinton Hall quilt.



The Brinton Hall quilt features both English paper pieced hexies and clamshells so I ordered enough of each to finish the quilt as well as a new fabric glue pen and refills.  For some reason, my other one is really crummy and dries out quickly.



I couldn't resist these colored leather purse handles which will be used in some future project down the road.

And for the "piece de resistance" (my Mac doesn't do accents or if it does, I don't know how to make them appear)...



Kaffe Fassett fabrics!!!

These are sooooooo out of my comfort zone but I'm going to get a few more and make something wild!  Ya only live once, right?

I bought a bunch of other things as well but I don't want to embarrass myself so I'll save them for another post.  *wink*.



And just yesterday I was invited to give my first ever trunk show to a nearby 'Gathering of the Guilds'.  What a wonderful day hosted by a great group of gals.  

I have lots of pictures but I'll share them with you as well in my next post.


Happy stitching!


18 comments:

Jeanna said...

Wow! It is like Christmas as your house. You made some wonderful purchases. Don't you just love Fat Quarter Shop packaging?

Can't wait to see pictures from your quilt show.

Phyllis said...

Love your fabric! I have been working with Kaffe fabrics and they are way out of my comfort zone but I love them. Have fun!!

Monica said...

This was a good plan, Kaaren, to ship everything to your hotel! Did they think you were crazy? Or is there a quilter there too? :D

I think you'll be busy for quite a while now. Happy times!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Wow, nice groups of fabric.
I love the reproductions, and those purse handles are gorgeous!

Carin said...

You bought wonderful items. Good luck with your new quilt.

Kim said...

A very good thing. 👏. Free shipping means more money to spend on lovely fabric such as this.

Kimberly said...

Karen, continue to enjoy great health and retirement! I can't wait for all the pics. Of course, little did you know, that I vacation vicariously with you! I love your style! Kaffe Fassett! Wow! You go girlfriend!
Kimberly

Flickenstichlerin said...

Love to look at all the beautiful fabrics. Shopping is always exciting, kind of like getting a new dall, when we were little.
Greetings,
Sylvia

Janet O. said...

Oh, it looks like you know how to shop, girlfriend! Nice haul! : )
I'll bet you put on a stellar trunk show.

margaret said...

some wonderful fabrics you have there, would have liked to see your trunk show, shame you are over the pond!

Robin said...

So glad you are so enjoying your retirement, mine is a couple or three years out and oh the things I plan to do! Your fabrics are fabulous. Karen Fassett, awesome

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Next time you go to Bangor, take a trip down to Damariscotta to Attic Heirlooms. It is about a 2 hour drive down Rt 202. Here is her link:
http://www.attic-heirlooms.com/

She has such beautiful hand-dyed felted wool for wool applique and rug hooking, lots of kits, and yarns for knitting. She is a friendly, lovely lady and her shop is a real treat! If you find her on facebook, you can follow the things that she does! I love visiting that shop when I go to Maine. Its a must-go stop for me!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Ah, fabric therapy! There's just nothing quite so therapeutic, is there? Really pretty, and Kaffe Fassett is one of my favorites (along with Phillip Jacobs, of course).

gracie said...

It all sounds so wonderful...and looks pretty too!

Anonymous said...

I love that you had it shipped to the hotel! Brilliant! I'd love to hear what the front desk must of said! It is a crazy busy time of year here in the hollow...but took a moment to pop in and say hi!

Sherry said...

Wow, that was fabric therapy just reading your post. I have purchasing the Farmhouse fabrics from Fig Tree on the top of my list. Have fun just looking at all of your new treasures.

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Welcome back. Glad you had a good time in Maine. Love all the goodies you bought. I too have a few of those purse handles and I have to warn you that the red one started to rub off on my hands so I saddle soaped it (you could probably use any detergent but I happened to have saddle soap) and it solved the problem. Just so you don't put it on something white before you test it. I do LOVE the purse I made with it. Have fun!

Dolores said...

Did I miss something? You wrote:
"I have lots of pictures but I'll share them with you as well in my next post."

I didn't see any trunk show photos.