msjanquilts

After another very long train trip, I got back to Oakland close to midnight last night. I had a wonderful time with my friends Kathy and Becky at Becky's home in Lompoc.

As predicted, we chatted endlessly and did a bit of shopping and a whole lot of sewing. I got one flimsy finished using the kit I bought in Maine lost October, and 40 blocks done for the boys' Christmas quilts. Pictures tomorrow.

Even though I'm sort-of fabric dieting, we went to a place called Shelbi Ranch in Solvang, a discount (I'll say!) store that sells fabrics for 99 cents a yard. I found a 1930's style star fabric and bought 10 yards to donate to the Community Quilt project of our guild. I found another '30s print and bought 7 yards to donate as well. I picked up a couple of pieces of amazing psychedelic Peter Max style prints that look straight out of the late 1960s and I'm planning to make a couple of aprons from them. In all, I bought 21 yards there and I'll be sending 17 of them straight out the door, so that's not so bad, is it? Note: the photo above is not the actual Shelbi Ranch which is a warren of small shops in the ground floor of a small complex. This is very tidy compared to S.R.

We also stopped at The Creation Station in Buellton. We usually shop the Creation Station at Pacific International Quilt Festival where they are famous for their $5/yard fabric. The store is even more fun as the owners are very creative folks and have something for everyone. I got a few pieces of basics/blenders as did the other girls.

On the way home, we stopped at quilt shops in Orcutt and Nipomo, both named "Old Towne Quilt Shop," but they weren't related. In Orcutt, I found 4 yards of Kona cotton in Snow, a color that is fabulous for combining with the 1930's prints I love so much and it was only $5 per yard so I snapped it up too. I found a copy of Liz Aneloski's Simple Fabric Folding for Halloween on sale, and since I've borrowed it from our guild library at least 5 times, I thought it was time to get a copy.

After a dental appointment and lunch and a huge nap, I'm feeling pretty good. As wonderful as it is to travel and see and do, it is very good to be back at home with my sweet hubby and the mutts.