Because I "needed" fabric

gratuitous quilt store photo

We had to hot foot it out of town to escape the numerous mosquito fogging being done in our 'hood. I am highly allergic to it, so we piled in the car for an adventure. My husband always packs a book, chair, and drinks when we do this as he says he never knows where we'll end up when I am in charge of the day!

We started the day at a quilter's garage sale. Oh. My. Gosh! It was held in a garage, and quilting supplies filled the garage, and we got there an hour before closing so the promoters said there was virtually nothing left! I had a field day!! I picked up a cute little plastic box to hold my collections,

Drew set up his chair, got the book poodle and water for the duration.

I collected the following items:

and the person in charge asked each of us to make an offer.
I said $5?
She said okay.

Such a good deal, four packs of needles, bobbin thread, doll pattern, The Angler, fabric and the box.


By now we were hungry so went over to an outdoor French bistro for a salad where Cole was not the only dog sitting patiently by the table. Fortified, I said, next stop to SPAVE (spending + saving)  was Joann's because I had a 25% extra off coupon.

 Husband and poodle set up the chair, book, and water to wait again. I found this stash, all on sale already, the dotty fabric is felt, and I see another dog pin cushion http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/05/softie_scotty_d.html
in my future.
Stamps, zentangle smoothers, crystals, embellishments and a ball for Cole!

After my husband got his time in a bookstore while I did poodle duty, we were off to another adventure. We decided to visit a historic but vibrant nearby town by the name of Frederick MD so I could visit the quilt store pictured at the top.
Well! When we got to town, we discovered they were having  a street festival...

lots of musicians, the stores all open late, lots of people and cool dogs! We had a blast! I continued my spree with Needles and Pins and frugal gal that I am,

only bought these lovely fabrics in the sale room.

Cute coffee cups, companion fabrics in chocolate and my neutral lime green. The fabric on the top is one I coveted in other stores so to find it all  for $6 a yard was awesome!

The stores around here are doing a row by row pattern challenge. The first person to do something like 8 rows and quilt/finish got prizes. I know one woman who won, she visited 8 stores, sewed the 8 rows with their patterns, quilted and finished it... in a week. Not me, I'd still be dithering over fabric choices!
We took a little tea break,

and enjoyed all the main street stores and entertainments. Cole was exhausted of being cooed over and petted. I had three bags of bargains, and Drew had, well, a good time.  Next week I have pictures of Cole and I shopping at an art store! LeeAnna