SHOP HOPPIN IN THE SAND!

 This is one of those posts I wrote last year
and it got lost in the shuffle.   
Still relevant..although the fabric displays may have changed.

Better late than never...right?

If you are headed to Florida for summer vacation
here are some shops I recommend!

Timeless Treasures

has two shops...

one in Ocala and one in Crystal River, Florida

Nice selection of fabrics and patterns

Great sale room with $1.00 FQs 

Quilt Lovers Hangout

 Fort Myers and I've been here a couple times

 Friendly staff, lots of fabric.

Good selection of fabrics from traditionals to batiks and some modern designers.  Lots of purse and quilt samples to admire. 

Suzi Qs

N. Fort Myers

A small shop with limited fabric selection.
Been there...don't that...quickly!

Kaffe Fasset was the most "modern" fabric I could find.
But I'm not a fan! (wink)

 The cute novelty/baby fabrics were displayed in a fun way.

  

Port Charlotte Sewing Center

N Port Charlotte, FL

 Bernina dealer, some fabrics 

Small store, two shelves of 40% off fabrics

Sew Worth It

in Sarasota, Florida more traditional fabrics
with a few modern designers in the mix.

 Displays are nicely arranged.

I have to agree

Life is better in Flip Flops

Do you check out the LQS when you travel?

SWAP IT OUT!

My commitments for Spring Swaps are done! 
I can't believe how much fun the Instagram swaps are.
And addictive...but more on that later!

Spring Mini Swap
#springminiswap

You know I luv me some Nested Churn Dashes

I think it has now become my "go to"mini kwilt!

They finish at 24" square

and you can use such fun fabrics!

They are easy enough to FMQ 

with opportunity to try new kwilting designs

A white back and the FMQ shows up pretty good here. 

Next up

Rainbow Mini Swap

#rainbowminiswap

My assigned partner dropped out of the swap

but I had already made this.  Spent lots of time

figuring out how to make a rainbow 

without jewel tone fabric.

She mentioned that she didn't like jewel tones.

So I pulled some medium value prints and use

scraps from MODA Quilt Blocks

This log cabin finishes at 16 1/2" square.

Simple straight line kwilting on the log cabin block

lets the fabric be the star.

I used a fun print for the backing.

Fast Forward...my swap mama provided a new partner.

You see if someone drops, someone flops!

I hope my new partner will like this mini.

I have stalked her and will find some items to

add in her package to make it her own.  

I also joined in the

Charley Harper Swap 

#charleyharpersewnstuido

I pulled this fabric from my stash  

I luv the Noodlehead Supertote...it's sew easy

and very practical!

LINING

FRONT

BACK

and now a Kwilty Pleasures soapbox rant...

People sign up for swaps and then

LIFE HAPPENS.

Take a breath..slow down....think about

ALL your commitments, at home, at work 

in the virtual world, everywhere!

Give yourself time to meet the commitment to your

anxiously waiting swap partner.

Make sure your swap partner is not disappointed

cause your LIFE HAPPENED.

Their LIFE HAPPENS every day too!

And oh yeh...if you click that submit button

start your project yesterday!  

I made all these swap project from my stash

and met the challenge for...

MY LOVE SHACK!

 I do have A LOVE SHACK...

and it's filled with fabric.

The Fabric Shack in Waynesville, OH

What I really love about this shack is that

its just over an hour drive from my front door.

Come on in and drool with me!

They have the best selection of modern designer prints

Check out their on line shop and you can see

all they offer.

No one pays me to tell you to shop here.

I could buy lots of fabric if they did!

great patterns!!!

                                       

did I mention fabric?

How about some precuts...just LOOK at the top of the shelves!

They have a back room sale area 4.99/yd sale fabrics

 and the remnant carts are only $3.50 per yard.

There's a pre-cut sale cart 

I got these layer cakes for $22.00

(jelly rolls also $22.00)

Charms were $5.00

Mini Charms were $2.00

              and FQs are $1.99 any day!

          

Location is everything...right?  

Waynesville OH is an antiquing destination

with lots of other fun shops and unique items.

If you love history, you can stay at this B & B  

 

The Cobblestone Cafe (and gift shop)

has some of the BEST food in town!

Funny story.  

Hubby and I are going to visit his brother (not to far from FS)

I was driving...

All of a sudden hubby was yelling..."this is the exit, this is the exit"

To which I calmly replied...

"this car was headed to The Fabric Shack!"

I'll be there in a few days, meeting my kwilty partner in crime

Kathy Guenther,  to celebrate her birthday. 

The Fabric Shacks makes ANYONE feel young!

A CHARM-ING DASH BLOG HOP

Ms. Midge has some great things going on and you won't want to miss a minute of it.

She has released a new  "Charm Dash" pattern

She setup a great "Charm Dash Blog Hop"

AND 

An Anna Marie Horner charm along.

Why am I sew excited?

The hop begins Tuesday, March 11th

I was asked to participate in the hop 

sew my day is April 1st

(no April Fool's Joke)

Here's the line up! 

Friday, Mar 13 - Sarah Goer -  Things I Make                                                           

Monday, Mar 16 - Linden Vine -  Vinelines Quilting                                              

Wednesday, Mar 18 - Crystal McGann - Raspberry Spool                                          

 Friday, Mar 20 - Anita LaHay - Day Dreams Of Quilts                                               

Monday, Mar 23 - Progress Report - Ms Midge                                                  

Wednesday, Mar 25 - Tsoniki Crazy Bull -  Me Being Quilty                                       

Friday, Mar 27 - Tisha Nagel  -  Quilt Therapy                                                           

Monday, Mar 30 - Progress Report - Ms Midge                                                  

Wednesday, Apr 1 - Kathy Gordon -  Kwilty Pleasures   (ME)                                               

Friday, Apr 3 - Angie Wilson -  Gnome Angel                                                             

Monday, Apr 6 -  Roslyn Russell - Sew Delicious                                                  

Wednesday, Apr 8 - Abby Rudakov - Things For Boys                                             

Thursday, Apr 9 - Final Post and Linky open  - msmidge.com.au

I am sew honored to be part of this hop 
I'm using Baby Einstein CHARMS
to bring a DASH of color and fun!

If that's not enough to get you excited...how about some great giveaways from these sponsors.

* Simpson & Scarlet

* The Oz Material Girls

* Teatree Fabrics

* Ms Midge (from AnnaMarie) - 3 fabulous bundles of AMH  

* Ms Midge  - an Aurifil prize

Ms. Midge is offering  a discount for the

 Charm Dash pattern click either link

Etsy       Craftsy

  I'll be waiting for you to get your Charm Dash on!
Stop over at Ms Midge's blog to get the
details on ALL this fun!

A LITTLE LOCAL FUN!

If you know me at all, you know I love gardening.

Second only to my kwilting.   

I have volunteered at Inniswood Metro Garden for 15 years. 

The Volunteer Shirts are the only thing UGLY in the garden!

During the month of March, Inniswood volunteers are displaying their works of art in Innishouse.

  I have 3 garden themed Kwilts hanging in the exhibit.  

They are from my earlier kwilting years, 

a bit more traditional than what I create now.  

I still enjoy them...and especially hanging in an art show!  

Some of my batik favorites.

"Dreamy Dragonflies"

Lovely fall batiks and some echo kwilting

This piece was a "Paint Chip Challenge"   

Blind draw for a paint chip...Mine had the greens.

Could add 2 more colors...So the pink and gold batiks.

AND we had to put a hand somewhere in the design.

Look closely at the flower!

and the beads are hand sewn!

"Hand Painted Flowers"

"Red Beauty Birds'

A fun piecing and applique design

with yet more batiks

Anywhooooo...if you live nearby (Westerville, Ohio) 

get out and see the show.   Cabin fever...cure!

  (House closed Mondays)

Inniswood Metro Gardens

Next year I hope to have my own

Kwilt Show in the house....