Last Shop Hop Before Baby

Yesterday I got to go on a fabric shop hop with some quilty friends. The weather was cold and cloudy but the company was awesome and we all had a good time. We even had a total newbie quilter with us for the first time. We (C and I) were worried that newbie quilter would be like our friend A who only buys fabric when she has a specific project in mind. Crazy, if you ask me. But the newbie was awesome and when she loved things she picked them up. She was stroking fabric and matching thread like a pro. I think she's going to be hooked!

On a good note, I have my old machine back and she is running very smoothly:

I missed you!

I managed to fix a dress for my daughter, FMQ the last of the one twin's quilt and make all the binding for both twin quilts. Hooray! Progress!

Rolls of binding are satisfying.

But back to the shop hop...

Our first stop was Bee Modern Fabrics at the new location outside of Niagara-on-the-Lake. They have tons more room and we loved their tiny store when we went in the summer so we knew this was a must stop.

So adorable, right?

Tons of fabrics that appealed to all of us.

I am a lousy clothing maker. But A is awesome at it. I fell in love with this little dress, so I bought the pattern (It is an Oliver + S pattern) and A will make it for me once I buy the fabric. LOVE!

There are also these super soft Bamboo baby wools at Bee Modern, and A is making a sweater for me for the new baby. Those two aqua/teal/turquoise colours are gorgeous.

We then had lunch at a bakery and cafe across the street from Bee Modern. I don't remember the name, but the food was delicious! Check out the baked goods!

Our next stop was The Quilting Bee in Thorold. C and A had been there before so they knew what to expect.

Quilting Bee

Two floors of fabric? Yes please.

Much of the fabric selection was more old fashioned than I would choose, but I found this shelf of Ann Kelle flannelettes and I knew some would come home with me.

How could I resist?

They had about a thousand things on display. I liked this modern Christmas wall hanging:

Applique is beyond me yet!

And there was one section that seemed destined for C. She is a Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink, Amy Butler nut. This whole set of shelves was on sale! She picked up some beautiful fabrics for 20% off!

So much colour!

Some of the piecing on display was so crisp and perfect that I was jealous!

Such tiny little pieces!

Next up was Waterford where the Quilt Junction, housed in an old train station, was waiting for us as the sun began to set.

Charming!

It was really quaint, but mostly fabric not to my taste (civil war, batik, etc). The atmosphere was dark (which is nice for being cozy but not great for trying to see the colour of fabrics).

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Christmas lights were sparkling!

Tired and happy with our purchases we then made our way home. Want to see what I bought?

1m each of these two Ann Kelle flannelettes in Urban Zoologie (for the soon-to-be-here baby!)

A few adorable fat quarters:

Turquoise seems to turn up everywhere!

A 60 degree ruler, which I have been looking for. This one was from The Quilting Bee. I'm thrilled!

Wait, you say. That is so reasonable. Why so little?

Well...

Earlier in the week A was at two stores in Guelph, Triangle Sewing and Greenwood Quiltery. And thanks to the wonders of texting, she sent me photos of things (including the machines on sale- thanks A!) and I got her to buy me some things. Ooops.

Three spools of Aurafil and 10 fat quarters from the new Charlie Harper line of fabric which is sooooooo cute. I just wish they had the cardinals in stock.

And my second-to-last Blogger bundle of the month from Fat Quarter Shop just arrived. While I'm on maternity leave we are stopping my monthly bundle. I will miss them!

I love, love, love this bundle!!

So, with that last shop hop under my belt (ha! Like I could wear a belt right now!) I can perhaps get down to some sewing (I want at least one quilt for baby done before she arrives!). And there is a potential road trip in June to see a quilt show with these same fantastic ladies. I'll be looking forward to it!

Lynn