Friday, October 16, 2009

Another excursion

All week, DH has been asking me when I feel up to going out to visit two quilt shops near Sydney. Over hill, down dale, over the Sydney Harbour bridge and far away we went. Last year we did a bridge climb to the top, the view is great from up there. First, before the bridge we visited Quiltsmith. It's my new favourite shop. So many fabrics, from reproduction to Kaffe's and other designers, they have a lot, it's a big store.

Do you have a system when you go into a quilt shop? I do, I look at fabrics, look at the books, look at the fabrics, go to the notions, look at the fabrics. Buy stuff. It takes ages you know.

I just have to tell you about this new Clover thimble. Check it out! Very soft flexible rubber sheath with the metal top. It doesn't slip off! I no longer have to huff and puff into the thimble to make it stick to my finger. It doesn't fly off, it's comfortable, light and it comes in three sizes. I really wanted the shocking pink one to fit but I had to go to large since I have a big knuckle.
Next stop was Cottage Quiltworks. It was their opening day after relocation. More gorgeous fabrics, wonderful light with the floor to ceiling windows and next door, they have a very large classroom. There were a lot of fabulous fabrics and the staff there are very welcoming and friendly. It was a lovely visit and even better they have a 30% off sale until the end of the month. Go visit if you're in the area.
I spent a good part of yesterday washing and ironing this lot, now I'm well enough to go spend time in the sewing room playing with it.
I went through a brief debate with myself about not washing fabric anymore because of the time and effort. We have dye catchers and other products to prevent bleeding that work very well. I soon realised that for applique, when using freezer paper templates, the sizing on the fabric prevents it from sticking on for long, now it's back to washing.

34 comments:

Lurline said...

Lucky Girl - can't believe your DH would take you to quiltshops! And - what beautiful fabrics you have chosen!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Karen said...

What fun!!! I have been looking for the new Clover thimble. Maybe I will see it on the weekend at the Creativ Festival in Toronto. Love the fabric!

luv2quilt2 said...

I've been looking at that thimble, and since I love to hand quilt, a good thimble is a must. How great to have a husband who takes you to the quilt shop!

Carrie P. said...

How sweet of your hubby to take you out and shop in the stores. Nice fabrics too.

Mary said...

I'm glad you're feeling back (or almost) to normal and good enough to be out and about. All your pictures are wonderful! It's fall here which means rainy season until about June so it's nice to see sun in your pictures. Lovely quilt shops, too!

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Thanks so much for the tour of such wonderful quilt shops.The fabrics you purchased are beautiful. I am the same as you about washing fabric. I've always done it and probably always will. I've thought about not doing it, but if I mix a washed fabric from my stash with an unwashed piece, the shrinkage would be an issue. I guess once you start, there's no turning back.
Take care,
~Karen~

Liz said...

Well Janet, you have him well trained I must say, mine goes off to find a toy (read hardware) shop while I shop. It's good to hear that you are back into your sewing room again, look forward to seeing what happens with those gorgeous fabrics.
Lizzie
XXX

wishes, true and kind said...

I had a hard time concentrating on your blog because of your opening about your husband repeatedly asking to go to quilt stores with you. He sounds like a keeper! Quilting Husband of the Year!

In Awe of Applique said...

Ohhhh, it's a wonderful day when our DH's ask us to go to the quilt store! That in my book scores WAY above the DH not complaining while in the store...LOL!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful time and I love your new fabrics!

ozjane said...

Just a thought in passing as I drool at the rows of fabric....you mentioned washing......do you automatically wash everything?
I don't but have found that cutting the top of fabric to be washed with a wavy blade in my rotary cutter stops all that awful thread pulling and..it tells me what is washed or not.
Both aspects are invaluable.

Thimbleanna said...

Ahhh, shopping -- another sign that you're feeling better! A lovely batch of fabrics. I'm a big fabric washer -- I don't feel right if I don't do it. I'm just washing a big 15 yard piece tonight -- hoping to fold it back on the bold the way it came off LOL!

Julia said...

What fun Janet!...love your fabrics..
I'm going to look for that thimble, I have so much trouble with mine falling off..thank you Julia ♥

Terrie Sandelin said...

The flying thimble comment made me laugh -- I SO know what you're talking about! That looks like one way cool thimble, and, you know, you can just never have too many gadgets.

FlourishingPalms said...

And you made it all the way to Sydney! I'm so glad you did. I like Quiltsmith, Logan's, and Material Obsession. Haven't been to Cottage Quiltworks, but you can be sure I'll be looking for it!

Beth Karese said...

When I go to a quilt shop it seems like I'm there forever looking and deciding. Your DH offered?! You're a lucky gal. Do you use the dye catchers when you prewash?

Abby and Stephanie said...

I've only seen that thimble advertised...not in person. This summer I found some flexible thimbles in 3 sizes...a medium is too big and a small is too small! Perhaps Clover has the sizing figured out. I'll be on the look out. So happy you're able to venture out and enjoy a day of shopping.

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Oh beautiful quilt shops! I know exactly what you mean about huffing and puffing into your thimble!!! These are a fabulous idea, I'm going online to find one...hmmm, hot pink sounds interesting! xo

PatchworkRose said...

Must say all those fabrics look pretty delicious. Perfect Day by the sound of it. Your Hubby sounds like a gem :-)
Glad you are up and about.
Cheers
Lynne

Deb said...

Janet.. I have to tell you I saw those thimbles at another quilt store and asked my LQS to order them so that I can buy them from her..this way I will have options..they look so comfortable. I hope that you are enoying your hand quilting.. plus with the hot colors it will be easier to see where that darn thimble went to.. it the cat knocks it off the quilt!!
I love your pics they are wonderful to view from this side of the screen..

antique quilter said...

looks like a great quilt shop
Loved that red fabric with the elephant on it , what kind of fabric is that????
did you look at that...
great fabric choices that came home with you
glad to hear your out and about and a quilt shop what a wonderful DH!
Kathie

Barb said...

Great thimble....and oh so wonderful fabrics!!

Red Pepper Quilts - Rita Hodge said...

Aaah good husband! So glad you are feeling a little better. Getting out of the house now and again for a patchwork shop is always excellent therapy. When I go to a fabric shop that I have not been to before, I feel like I have to race through the store, just to get a sense of what it is like, and then I can go back and start again at a nice slow pace. My heart will skip a beat and then settle again. You've bought some lovely fabrics - a very worthwhile trip!!

Rita

ranette said...

Janet...I'm so glad that you are feeling like getting out and about. I have the pink clover thimble and I LOVE it. In fact I have several of them because I need one in all of my sewing bags and spots.

You are a lucky girl with a hubby like yours. Mine does pretty good most of the time. Great fabrics!

Keep feeling better!

Barb said...

What a fun day. Great quilt shop!
Barb

Miriam said...

What a fruitful shopping expedition! Lovely fabrics.

That thimble looks interesting. I haven't see one like that before.

Lori said...

I've nev3er seen that thimble before. It looks like it should work pretty well. I think if your previou thimbles kept falling off maybe it is too big? I don't know how many times I spent looking for my thimble only to find it on my finger! LOL
Love your fabrics. I'm not a prewasher, unless it's red.

Kaaren said...

Oh what fun, Janet. Does your DH come in or does he wait in the car?

Love your fabrics. Now I have a question for you. In the lower right quadrant of your photos, the sampler fabric, fourth from the right in the top row, could you please tell me who the designer and manufacturer are? I love anything to do with samplers and I don't recognize this one.

I never prewash. I love the feel of the fabric when it's fresh from the bolt and find it much easier to work with. But there are so many ways of "right". Whatever works, huh?

Crispy said...

Well, it looks like I will have to give that thimble a try, the metal ones are so uncomfortable.

What a lovely haul of fabric you picked up!!

Crispy

Janet said...

What an interesting thimble! What a great excursion - 2 quilt stores!

Four O'Clock Quilt Company said...

Yesterday I left hubby in the car with two toddler grandbabies asleep in their seats, and I went in a quilt store for a quick large purchase of civil war shirtings.. 6 yards and 45 minutes later, and he wanted to know what took so long! Well, the register was having problems, but honestly did he expect me JUST to look at the shirtings and nothing else??? After all, the kiddos were napping. I might add when I got back he went in the Radio Shack nextdoor!

Deb said...

Glad to hear you're well enough to go on an expidition. The quilt shops look great and your fabric choices are lively. What a lovely hubby....tell him he has made many new admirers!

Kim Brackett said...

Oh, how sweet of your husband to take you fabric shopping! I'd say he's a keeper for sure. Love the goodies you brought home. And thanks for sharing the new thimble -- that looks interesting.

rainey said...

I recently got the Clover silicone thimble too. It's the first thimble I've actually been able to keep on my finger and sew at the same time. ...only problem is that when I put on a thimble I start pushing further down my finger between the two knuckles. So, I had to get a second one, cut the metal tip off of it and slip the remaining sleeve down my finger.

In any case, now I've got a setup that I can sew with.

I can't believe you've already got that much of the Pickle Dish done. You're a wonder!

Amelia said...

Thanks for the shout-out mum!