...in my rural part of the world. There are not any JoAnn's, Hancock Fabrics, etc. here. We don't really even have a Walmart...with fabric close by. Even the closest store if over 20 miles away..but, no fabric. There is a Hobby Lobby about 30 miles away...but, it is limited too when it comes to "embellishing" supplies at times.
So, most of my purchases are usually online. However, today...my friend Francis decided to try and shop a little close to home. There is a little "hole in the wall, Mom & Pop" fabric store about 9 miles from home. It is just one of those metal fabricated storage buildings that they stocked with remnants from the cloth mills around this area...then about ten years ago, the mills all closed as the trade was moved to Mexico...and this little place has continued to keep those old fabrics. She also adds some new ones via her sales connections. She stocks a little bit of everything...cottons, upholstery, felts, flannels, faux fur, laces, buttons, zippers, etc.
Sometimes you luck out...and sometimes you don't.
Here is what we "couldn't live without" today. ;)
First off, some more green DMC perle cotton...cause really, "Can you ever have enough green?". A pkg of chenille and pkg of tapestry needles because her prices were just so good. Some laces, like the colors but have no specific project in mind.
Okay, I know that this is hard to really see. But, it was in the corner...all folded up; FELT in a lovely light peach. It felt and looked beautiful...and I walked by it 3 times as it just kept calling to me. Have not quite worked out what I want to do with it...but, brought a yard home just because. ;)
The owner has been listening...and how has about a dozen "batiks" in stock. These three just said "Under the Sea" blocks to me, so had to of course give them a new home. Now all of the above items were clearly impulse buys...as I didn't come into the stop looking for them at all. Here's what I was really looking for...upholstery weight fabrics for crazy quilt project quilts.
This first one is for a set of blocks (colors are deceiving in this photo)...but there is a lot of greens, golds, oranges, browns, etc. Definitely thinking "Autumn". The "brown" above is really a very rich deep orange...a perfect match to the fabric in the center of this section of the block sample I've done. So, SCORE...success for one project.
Next, I found this gray-blue upholstery solid for the border of my hexagon quilt. These are the last few loose blocks (easy to carry and match fabric with)...but the quilt will actually be squared-off when the portion blocks are also included. The upholstery will become a solid border, with lace included on top.
I'm thinking that this smoky blue with lace will be excellent! My goal is to finish this quilt for the Show'n'tell section of our February Retreat! Got to have goals and milestones to accomplish, right!
Lastly, I picked up this little blue/green/pink little floral print. It reminds me of the older flour sack fabrics...but the quality of the fabric is much better...and it sill be a border for a series of cross-stitch Easter Egg mini-quilt blocks.
So, a pretty productive day...considering I was shopping basically in a "storage building". ;)
