Retail Therapy

Spring is trying to happen around here, but Winter isn't letting go easily. This rhododendron at my sister's house is just beautiful, but the weather is still cold and blustery and rainy.

I've been doing a little retail therapy lately. Not too much at one time and not too often, but enough to keep me happy, I guess.


These fabrics were purchased at various times over the last 2 months. The fabric on the right I found on sale at one of the quilt shows I attended. I got the last on the bolt . . . around 2 yards. I'll probably use it as an inspiration fabric. The batik on the left I found on sale the other day, and it'll be the back for my first Liberated Amish quilt "Shine". And there'll be plenty leftover for other uses! The blue batik is for the back of my second Liberated Amish quilt, which isn't quite ready for a back yet. The others were "just because".

Here is a pack of indigo batik fat quarters that I found the other day. Eight fat quarters for $15. I thought that was a pretty good deal, since most batik seems to be about $10 a yard.

Here's the pack opened. I like these! These will be fun to work with.

Now all the fabric is washed and in the quilt studio, waiting to play!

This past weekend we took off again. We went down to see my sister, and to see the Oregon Potters Association's big show in Portland. My sister has been trying to get us to see this show for a few years, and things worked out that we could make it this year. It was everything she had promised us, and more! We had a blast and saw so much wonderful pottery. Very inspiring!

We managed to get out of there without buying any pottery. Frankly, it was overwhelming and I couldn't make up my mind, so I guess that meant there was nothing that HAD to come home with me. This piece came home with my sister. This is a small tray made by Ellen Currans. She impressed it with wallpaper to get that design.

However, that doesn't mean I came home empty-handed! This pottery show isn't the only show at the Oregon Convention Center. There was also the Glass makers, with gorgeous hand-made glass. There was the art metal workers, with awesome jewelry. There was also a bead show, the woodworker's show (we were too late to see that one), and then there was the weaver's guild. Yummm! There was plenty of beautiful fiber to be found there. And some of that made it's way home with me.

First, I found a little ball of yarn that I had to have. I'm not sure why, since I don't knit or crochet or anything. But I couldn't pass it up for 50 cents! And I fell in love with these rainbow coasters. They feel so good and are so bright and cheery. A good deal at 2 for $6, I think. One for the quilt studio and one for the office, maybe.

And then I found the gallon ziplock stuffed with remnants of hand-woven fabrics for $10. Oh, I had to have them! I'll never weave and I love hand-woven fabrics. The pieces are big enough for a little something, like a small coin purse or an accent on an art quilt. The pieces on the right don't really have those white areas. . . that's actual sunlight on them! (It's so strange around here to have direct light on what I'm photographing!) These feel so good to the touch. Right now I'm just enjoying looking at and touching them.

I've made more progress with my Liberated Amish quilt. I have 9 of 12 blocks constructed, so soon I can start putting it together. I'm hoping I can get to most of that this week, but we'll see.

First I have to clean house, as I'm hostessing the Mother's Day barbeque. All the girls are going to a Mother/Daughter tea, while DH and DS go fishing at the U-Fish place. Then we're having "Steak and Lake" (as oppposed to Surf and Turf) for our barbeque! I'm hoping we'll have nice weather to barbeque in.

I've been staying up waaaay too late the last few nights. My sister and I talked into the wee hours, and since I got home, I've been engrossed in a book. I read for 6 hours last night! I'm reading The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series by Greg Keyes, which is high fantasy. I had a hard time getting into it, but now I'm totally mesmerized! I finished the first book, The Briar King, and am halfway through the second book (of four), The Charnel Prince. If you like high fantasy, I think you'll like this. And thanks for the recommendation, Tonya!

If you'll excuse me now, I have some reading to do.