Conspicuous Consumption

So I know you're wondering how much damage I really did over the weekend. I think the alarming fact is not in how much I bought but in the fact that I freely acknowledge that most of this is doomed to moulder in the stash, never to grow up into a real quilt. The fabric pile is planned for something, the Curved Piecing class that Pat's got over at icantbelieveim.com. She makes it looks so easy to make that Orange Peel. We'll see, I guess. The rest of it...I believe that would be called wishful thinking. Some of it I bought to make gifts for people. I think now I'll just put a bow on the pattern and call that the gift. It's the thought that counts, right?

More quilts this year...

I seem to have taken more photos of quilts this year. It's really surprising too because I also managed to spend alarming amounts of money in minuscule amounts of time. I visited the quilts first. Maybe that's the key...see what other people manage to finish, become convinced of my quilting potential, abuse my credit card in the pursuit of greatness. Really, I spent more time goofing off than shopping this year, but it didn't seem to have much impact on my total haul. Of course, Hancock's of Paducah helped me there. I do not know why I forgot to get a picture of the frenzy that is the back room. I think I was frightened by the jungle sounds and flying fabric. Next year, I'll do my best to keep my wits about me to get a photo of the activity around the flat fold tables. Really, you have to see it to believe it.

The AQS Paducah show

I took more random shots this year than I have in the past, but I still didn't get a great selection to really show the scope of the AQS show crowd, the extreme goodness of the strawberry shortcake, or the funk of the hotel. It's a great show, but could use some new digs. I shopped myself out way before the time to meet up with the gang. I walked up to a park with benches overlooking the river. Thought I might enjoy some peaceful communing with nature. Alas, the British quilters who followed me to my bench did not come for peace. Still, it's a lovely way to watch a barge being "parked" with the excitement of 2 British accents doing play-by-play for me. I'll post some quilt shots tomorrow.

Charity Quilts? We'll see.

I don't know how many of you have ever been to Paducah for the AQS quilt show, but it's kind of a tradition around here that we take a road trip around the end of April. Said road trip takes us through the backroads of Arkansas before we wind around through a couple of states and find our way to the show. A road trip with the girls...fun! I didn't go last year because of the Ireland trip, but I'm on for this year. And then I think about how much fabric I've bought...and how litttle I've used. And I dream a little of Hancocks of Paducah. And I start to think. So here's the new plan...must...use...fabric...quickly. I did a little search for charity quilts last night and it looks like we don't have a local Project Linus chapter but there's one not too far away. So baby quilts it is. Or maybe dog blankets for the Humane Society, a cause near and dear to my heart. I'm still thinking over that. Here's how far I made it. Those are actually strips cut on the left.