Sunday Stash - Off the wagon. And climbing back on.

This strange thing keeps happening. I feel like I have less and less time to sew and yet, I'm still buying fabric. Honestly. How will I deplete my stash at this rate? I've fallen off the Year of the Stash bandwagon. But I'm not beating myself up. Fabric is fun.

Miss K and I had a fun day out this week and headed to the lovely south shore towns of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. These towns are quaint and scenic, with lovely eateries and shops. One can easily wander a day (or a few) away! Once we chowed down on a tasty lunch at the Biscuit Eater and purused the wares at Northern Sun and The Teaser in Mahone Bay, we headed down the road to Lunenburg, home of the Lunenburg Makery.

Anja @ Anja Quilts has been busy collecting Row by Row patterns and I fell hard for The Makery's pattern. That house with the classic Lunenburg Bump and dories (not the Nemo kind). Though I could get the pattern for free, I bought the kit so I could get the cool little Dory Shop sign! I also picked up some wool felt to get started on this lovely Advent Calendar. 
Lunenburg Makery only carries one line of designer fabrics. Isn't that a shame? Not when it's Cotton + Steel! I treated myself to a few little FQs.
And then that pesky Chris ☺ over at Patch Halifax had to post a pic of a stack of sale fabrics on her Instagram feed. Honestly. Just not fair. I spied that beautiful Lizzy House strawberry print that I've been crushing on since it first arrived in the shop. 25% off? Yes, please! I'm tucking it away for a summer Geranium dress for GT next year!

I have no excuse for this crabby little FQ except for the fact that Himself works with crabs. And when one sees cute crab fabric, one buys it.

I filled in some of the gaps in my wool felt selection in preparation for making this awesome Advent Calendar.

I'm still going to need to order some more colours on-line. And beads. And sequins. I may have (okay... I have definitely) bitten off more than I can chew.

I'm linking up today with the fabulous Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash #186. And then.... I'm reviving The Year of the Stash, people.  We need a kick in the pants. We need a link-up. It's not to late to grab a hold of the tail gate (do wagons have tail gates?) and get back on. There are still 5½ months left in 2016. Plenty of time to use what's in those glorious stashes. Stay tuned, TYOTSers!

J

Glamp Stitchalot - The fabric haul

I'd be lying if I said the fabric shopping wasn't a big part of Glamp Stitchalot for me. Pink Castle, the shop behind the Stitchalot events, has some AMAZING fabric. It's a damned good thing that it's a long way to Ann Arbor. It would be dangerous to have this spot as my LQS. Seriously. And their website? Just as deadly. It was nightly reading for weeks before I went.

Since we could place orders to be picked up at Glamp, I bought myself this lovely bundle. It's a custom bundle created by the owner of Pink Castle, Brenda. You can pop over to their site for the run down on all the FQs.

We had a 2½ hour flight delay out of Toronto which messed with our plans to go to the hotel, then the Girl Scout shop and Pink Castle. Instead, we had our airport shuttle take us right to the fabric shop. We parked our suitcases in the corner and got to shopping. No one seemed to mind!

Given a large enough budget, I could have cleaned the place out, I kept myself to low volume prints. I have an idea to use my Birthday Bonus Club squares and want some more variety. I snagged pieces of Newport, Carolyn Friedlander's Ledger, and Alison Glass' Abacus Artifact.

I fell in love with these Alison Glass panels when Kitty @ Night Quilter used one for the cover of her Quilter's Planner. When I saw them in person, I just had to have them. What will I make? Who knows! But I have eight of them!

Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet and I got a little out of control and bought a half yard bundle of this Lizzy House Mini Pearl Bracelet goodness. 

We split it at Glamp so each of us went home with a FQ bundle. Delish.

I got so excited about the Mini Pearl Bracelet bundle that I forgot I had purchased some yardage to be picked up at Glamp. Lucky me... it's not in the bundle!

I had another awesome moment on Saturday night. It was giveaway time (8pm!) and there were a pile of Violet Craft's new (yet to be released) House of Hoppington fabric bundles to be given away. I literally turned to Julia @ Jada's Quilting Adventures and said "I want that so bad, I can taste it." And then they pulled my number. I should buy more lottery tickets.
The main motif in the grey fabric above featured on the shirt Violet designed for Glamp. You know, the one I bought! As if the fabric wasn't adorbs enough, there's the selvages! Squee!!!
And here are the perils of pre-washing. A mountain of ironing. ☺After a haul like this one, there's a lot to catch up on!

I'm linking up with the fabulous Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash. You know, because I love a link-up!

J

Sunday Stash - A few little treasures & A Winner!

Just when you thought all the fun and games from the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild's first retreat were over, I have my fabric acquisitions from the week-end to share. Given that one of our retreat sponsors was It's Sew Time in Elmsdale, NS, I really did have to stop and support the shop. ☺

I found these little treasures (even though the colour's a little off on this pic). From front to back, Blueberry Park Rough Patch in Limelight, Ann Kelle Ovals (I can NOT resist them!), and some Carolyn Friedlander Architextures Crosshatch in Yarrow. It was a clean sweep for Robert Kaufman!

And as if that weren't enough, when I got to retreat, Aimee @ Candy Coated Quilts was handing out her Candy Coated Collection subscriptions for April and May. Very spring-y!

Inspired by a pic of daffodils, April's bundle features Jungle, Pesto, Meringue, Lemon, and (of course) Daffodil. My selection of yellows is refreshed!

And then there's May. I love me some lilacs and this bundle's got me looking forward to the blossoms that will pop out all over my neighbourhood in June.

Mulberry, Dahlia, Lavender, Bright Periwinkle, and Hibiscus. How did Aimee know that my stock of purples was perilously low?

And because it's almost as much fun to add to someone else's stash as your own, I have a winner from last week's Tula Tigers for T Giveaway. Mr. Random Number Generator selected #22. That' happens to be Aimee @ Candy Coated Quilts! I swear it wasn't rigged! She said she'd make herself a lovely little iPad cover and I look forward to seeing it.

Thank you to Fabric Please! for sponsoring the quilt and the giveaway!

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash over at Molli Sparkles. Go on. Take a look. I know there will be some fabulous fabric eye candy!

J

Sunday Stash - Winnings don't count

Welcome to A Quarter Inch from the Edge! If you're new to The Edge, I hope you'll have a look around and perhaps leave me a comment or two. I'm very pleased to be guest hosting Sunday Stash for Molli Sparkles this week, even if it seems a little contradictory to The Year of the Stash. Don't panic, Stash Comrades. I'm still 100% committed, but I had some winnings left over from my sweet run in A Lovely Year of Finishes 2015.

Things got a little eclectic on this order from Fat Quarter Shop. I bounced around from designer to designer, cherry picking fabrics that I'd been crushing on for a while.

To kick it off, a little Carolyn Friedlander. You can't go wrong with some Architextures Crosshatch in Tangerine, especially if it's on sale. I wish I could get my hands on the entire line! And some Green Shards from her new line, Carkai. I already have a plan in mind for that one...stay tuned.

I've been caught up in the Blueberry Park craze. I mean, it's printed on my beloved Kona. How could I not buy a wee bit?  I went for Rough Patch in Aqua.

Text print. Austen quotes. What more can one ask for? Perhaps two different colours of Riley Blake's Ardently Austin Text. Yes, please!

I am often half agony half hope. It could be my blog name if A Quarter Inch from the Edge weren't so apt (and more quilting related).

In celebration/mourning of the last episode of Downton Abbey, I gave into my temptation and bought a panel featuring some of the Dowager Countess' most pithy one-liners.

 "What IS a weekend?" I don't know what I'll do with them, but I'll think of something!

No one says it quite like the Dowager Countess.

Now,  in the words of the glittertastic Molli Sparkles, show us what you got!

1. Link up a blog post welcoming any new sewing supplies to your stash.

2. If it is fabric from your existing stash that you've showcased before, please use new photos with as much natural light as possible, and provide as many manufacturing details about the fabric.

3. Try to leave a comment on at least two other links. We want this to be a safe space for sewing supply collectors, after all!

4. Grab the button from Molli Sparkles' blog, and proudly proclaim you endorse Sunday Stashing!

An InLinkz Link-up

J

P.S. Perhaps you'll come on back on Friday, March 19th to link up your finishes when I host TGIFF? See you then!

Sunday Stash - Oh my oh Marden's

We're into the third month of The Year of The Stash and I'm still feeling it. There's been less mindless fabric acquisition and more mindful choices.

But a couple weeks ago, DT, Himself and I went on a family adventure. Officially, it was a ski vacation in Maine, but no trip to Maine is complete without hitting up at least one Mardens.
Mardens is... well, not your usual fabric store. It's a discount shop and many of its locations are former Walmarts. They're sketchy. Very sketchy. But if you can get past the grubby floors and the clutter and make your way to the fabric department, you'll find treasure after treasure - at great prices!

I visited on my birthday and went a little wild. But I was more than 2 hours from home, so it's all good in the Stash Manifesto department. I can't walk away from a text print.... and one's in black are even more rare! In case you're wondering, it's Elementary by Sweetwater for Moda.

My stash is a little low on yellows. And I'd never seen that Michael Miller's Stitch Circle in that particular colour!

Oh, the novelty prints! I think DT's I Spy Polaroid quilt has been influencing my purchasing more than a little. Riley Blake's Gracie Girl Clocks in Gray, Geekly Chic Cassettes in White,  Michael Miller's Sushi in Turquoise, and Laurie Wisbrun's Perfectly Perched for Robert Kaufman.

 As for these Sunset Songbirds... the colour palette sucked me in!

 These Michael Miller Play Dots could turn into just about anything - a quilt back or even a summer dress for GT!

And the best part? Not one of these lovelies cost more than 5$/yard! Shocking!

Even my mom couldn't resist getting into the fabric buying (she's neither sewer nor quilter).  These fun Christmas panels made their way into her basket!

 Who can turn down fabric with a price tag like this?

I'm linking up with Patchwork & Pastry, who's stepping in for the oh-so-busy Molli Sparkles. And guess what? Next week, Sunday Stash will be here @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge! I better stock up on glitter and make sure the Dustbuster is charged for clean-up! Oh, and make a few fabric purchases to show off! LOL!

J

Sunday Stash - The Exception

Ah... sweet Kona. I knew when I was writing my Stash Manifesto that I didn't want to give up my monthly installments of Candy Coated Collections. My guildmate, Aimee of Candy Coated Quilts, started these last year and I love her colour combos!

I received the January and February bundles at our Exec meeting a while back (we're planning a retreat! Yay!!!). January's is inspired by Chinese New Year. Gung hay fa choy... I don't know the Mandarin for belated. ☺

Even though you can likely read the tags, there's Canary, Cardinal, Persimmon, Riveria, and Aqua. I can tell you that Canary and Riveria have already felt the cold blade of the rotary cutter. Gotta use that stash, y'all!
And February's bundle has my Girl Guide heart singing. I wonder if Aimee knew Thinking Day was this month! Camping and northern lights? Yes, please!

 

Nightfall, Celestial, School Bus, Storm, and Breakers. Definitely some faves in this bundle!

I'm linking up with the every glittery Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.  Yes, I know it's Saturday. Pay me no mind people... it's already Sunday in Molli's downunder world. Or I would have linked up with Molli if he hadn't handed the glittery torch to Ms. Midge while he parties it up at Quilt Con. I'm okay with that... since it'll be my own hands taking that very bling encrusted torch on Sunday, March 20th!

And tomorrow I'll be linking up with Barn Berry Designs' 4x7 Challenge - Week 3 Update!

J

Sunday Stash - January Acquisitions

If you're documenting signs of the Stashpocalypse (© Val @ Purple Boots and Pigtails), a major one occurred today. The ever entertaining Molli Sparkles has drafted a Stash Manifesto and linked it up. Yup. That's as sure a sign as earthquakes and Aurifil thread going up 70% in price.

All that said, we're one month into The Year of The Stash and I'm feelin' good. Yes, I've been to the fabric store. And that's okay. To keep myself honest, and to encourage all of you, I'm sharing this month's additions to the stash - keeping in mind that this might have been one trip to the fabric store a year ago!

Sometimes fabric just shows up in one's mailbox! This FQ bundle of Tula Pink's Eden is courtesy of Fabric Please! Soon it will be made into something lovely. And when it is, you'll have a chance to win this same bundle! Winnings don't count as stash acquisitions... kind of like broken cookies.
Those tigers must be fussy cut. And don't get me started on the selvages. Ah, sweet selvages! I feel like I hit the jackpot with 5 out 8 FQs having printed selvage.

Oh, Konas... how can I resist your siren's song? I've been doing really well resisting, except that Quilting Protection Program Project #1 required a few more green for its pieced back. So I snagged hunks of Leprechaun, Jungle, and Basil  I know I've been teasing you forever on this one, but a reveal is imminent. Let me say it again -  imminent.

And some Timeless Treasures Crosshatch Sketch in Red. I'm sorry to say that J-Boy's Good Old Hockey Game is in need of some repairs Appliqué and I are not friends. 

Last week-end, DT, Himself and I took a little road trip to Cape Breton. And since that's well outside of my 2 hour radius when it comes to quilt shops, I popped in to The Mira Stichin' Post and picked up a couple treats.

Some low volume and a pretty grey by Stof. Not a company I'm familiar with, but apparently it's based in Denmark. I'm plotting some low volume shenanigans for my month of the Birthday Bonus Club and a little more might be needed!

Who can resist a wee bit of sunshine? I have Michael Miller's Mod Basics Stitch Square in a couple other colours, but no yellow. (Thanks to Vicki Price for filling in the blank for me on this one!)

The elusive Wonder Tape! For those members of the Mighty Lucky Quilt Club, this is an essential tool for January's bias tape challenge. That's why I haven't done mine. No Wonder Tape. Yup. That's my excuse.

And because he linked up with me (insert me, squealing like a teenage girl at The Beatles' first Ed Sullivan performance, here), I'm linking up with Sunday Stash @ Molli Sparkles. Oh. My. Blog. Is it wrong that I very much want the fabric he feaured showed today? If I beg my friend in Australia to send it to me, it doesn't count as a stash acquisition, right?

J

P.S. It's never too late to jump on the Stash Manifesto bandwagon. Even with Molli's collection of feather boas, there's still lots of room. Get some inspiration for your Stash Manifesto here and link up here.

Sunday Stash - The Declaration.

This is it.

My last fabric purchase of 2015. I've even scoped out the Christmas prints at my LQS and decided that if they put them on 50% off, there's nothing I want. But don't despair. We'll have a good look at the fabric eye candy before coming to the The Declaration!

I know you're looking at this pic and thinking, "But she already HAS that fabric!" Not untrue. But I've used it up! Seriously though, the C+S Christmas quilt top is now finished (more on that later in the week) and I'm going to need backing. At 8.50$, it was worth the 1 hour drive to Avonport Discount Fabrics!

And then things got a little more spontaneous. There's a hunk of Kona Peridot for the continuing saga of Quilting Protection Program Project #1. And two ultra cute animal novelty prints. I didn't even look at much of the fabric. I came with a misson - C+S Twinkle and Peridot. Mission achieved.

Those critters got even better when I saw the selvage. I opted not to buy more just to get a repeat of these hedgies. I would like to make an all hedgehog quilt. You know, in my spare time. I likely have enough in the stash.

And now, here it is. The Declaration.

I hereby declare 2016...

Do I have the authority to do this? Who cares?! I'm doing it anyway! Very soon, I'll be drafting my Year of The Stash Manifesto. Yup. A Manifesto. The capital letters are warranted here. And you know what, you're welcome to come along for the ride.

I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash. Get ready, Sparkles. There's gonna be a lot more Sunday (Using My) Stash posts in 2016.

J