Rally in the Valley Shop Hop 2014

Shop hope 2014!  I was not invited along with my usual crown wearing crowd so I made my own plans this year with Tiffany.  Kathy joined us for part of the day but had to work all afternoon so it was mostly just the two of us.  I wore my Grandma Nan's sewing themed earrings and carried her lime green Vera Bradley purse since it matched my Celtic Solstice T-shirt (which finally fits me!).

First stop was Three Dudes.  Love this store and all their Halloween themed decorations!

I bought this panel and some Triangles on a Roll to make one of these skeletons for Mackenzie.

Three Dudes Shop Sample

Here are Tiffany and I after store number one!

 I guess I took no pictures whatsover at store number two--Quilter's Ranch--didn't even realize I was slacking at the time.  I don't even think we saw the shop sample quilt!

Store number 3 is the one closest to my house.  It is a smaller shop, we didn't have the best experience there.  Pretty sure it was the owner that was a crab--she was rude to several of the employees in front of the customers.  All with a smile on her face, I was not impressed.  It was my first bad experience in this store.

The annual ostrich photo.

After a quick salad we headed out to store number four--A Quilter's Oasis.

 

They were demoing the lazy angle ruler and I was pretty sure I had it already.  It was the first thing I checked when I got home, and sure enough I had it!  I have never used it but this gal gave a great demo of all the things you can do with it and I will eventually be getting some use out of it!

A Quilter's Oasis Shop Sample

I also ran into/met my newest quilty friend Terri!  She and I will be roommates at quilt camp.  We are facebook friends who love Bonnie Hunter and she recently joined Nimble Thimbles and signed up for Quilt Camp.  My usual roomy invited her bestie to come this year so I asked Terri to room with me.  So fun to meet her!
Store number five was our last stop for the day.  Scrapbooks, etc.  and the ETC. is fabric.  Really a fun more modern store.  They have really cute little quilts and displays all over.

So far their shop sample was my favorite since they did it more scrappy.

Scrapbooks, Etc. Shop Sample

They were demoing drunkard's path templates and such.  I just made one awhile back so I didn't buy any of that, but if I make another one I might go with something like this one.

Here is my haul (no picture of the stuff Kathy got).  Almost all the fabric was on sale between 20 and 40 % off.  Love finding a good deal and it doesn't matter to me if it isn't this year's fabric.  I did get a few patterns and the mini hex and more ruler.  We had a lot of fun!

This is Tiffany's haul.  She was picking out fabric for her herringbone quilt (PHXMQG is making it in October--I am going to go since I have not been there in almost a year.)

 I did manage to sneak in my Wild and Goosey block today.

 I also got a scrappy border on Mac's Scrappy Mountain Majesties and a backing made for it too, one more to send over to Ros (I am up to four--sheesh!).

 Made some Favorite Vege Soup for some work lunches this week too!

 Trimmed up my Jack-o-lantern.

 And have a few more lozenges made too.  Linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!