Shop Hop Day Two!

We met up this morning at 3 Dudes Quilting to start our shop hop.  Jacki joined us for the first time, crown and all.  She fits right in with this wild group!  Left to right Jacki, Ros, BJ, Lauren and me.  Kathy took all the pictures of us in front of each store.  3 Dudes is twice the size it was last year and I can't believe I don't sneak in more often...they have a great selection of civil war stuff which made Lauren very happy!  All I bought was the demo special below.  I can't wait to try it out.

Next up was Quilter's Ranch...Ros thought she lost her cell phone and so Kathy went on a mission to find it only to discover it was in the car after all!   

Their demo special were these binding clips which most all of us went home with.  Time to replace the barrettes I have been using.

Next up was Zoe's, they had this thing you put on your finger as the demo.  I can't deal with a thimble so I knew that gadget wasn't for me.  Here we are doing the princess wave in front of the store.

  

We then wound our way through the streets on foot to Cutting Edge Quilts.  The Chandler Food Fest or some such thing was going on so parking was about a mile away and it was upwards of 100 degrees as usual....still this was absolutely hands down the friendliest store of the shop hop.  They all holler out hello as we come in the door and are so friendly.  Their demo was of Anita's Arrowhead which is in a book they were selling.  I LOVE that pattern, but have already made the one quilt and will do another sometime.  Others really seemed to be liking it too.

You can see several Anita's Arrowhead patterns here with Gudrun who was doing the demo.  She is a sweetheart too!

 Finally a shot of Kathy with the gals...I didn't buy anything at this store, but it is close to home and I do get in there the most of all the shops.

There is a really cool purple ostrich out front of the shop next door so we all had to pose there too.  SMILE.  

This Women of Courage quilt was hanging behind the longarm (that is what is across the picture) and I love it!

Next we stopped for lunch at Pita Jungle.  We wore our crowns in and people must have thought we were nuts...now and then people would ask what was going on.  I think they thought we were an odd group of bachelorettes out for the day, lol.  Non quilting people were like HUH when we said we are out quilt shop hopping.  Cracked us up!
Next we made it in to a new to the shop hop shop that I have never been in.  They were a scrapbooking store and now are also selling fabric.  A few months ago several people were telling me how this is their favorite fabric store...I was like huh, never realized that had fabric.  So we found our way in.

 There was a nice gal doing a demo for a curved ruler which I considered buying...she asked us how many shops we had left and we told her one and then she mentioned that store closes in a hour...well we all ran to the car and said we would be back (this store is open til 9!).

When we came back I spotted this beauty.  Seriously LOVE it.  It is made out of Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy.  It is to die for.  I actually thought this was the Cog and Wheel pattern (which they had) but upon further study it was not.  I asked if they had the pattern and they did.  Turns out it is Cluck Cluck Sew's Spin Cycle!  Another pattern I have been admiring.  Once I saw it in these fabrics I knew I could finally seriously dig into my stash fabric to make it.  Best of all this pattern doesn't have circles in it but has much the same look.  I am SO excited for this!

 These pictures of are half the quilt as it was hung folded--one of each side.  STUNNING.  Seriously, I love it, can you tell?

So I bought that pattern and two packages of clearance charms in various fabrics.  

 But before all that happened, we hurried out to Quilter's Oasis (which is near the High School I used to teach at when I first moved here).  This store is quite friendly too, they hooked us up with water and snacks (as most of the stores did).

Kathy is really into the twister look and loved this snowman and another reindeer that they had in the store.  Crazy all the things you can do with the twists!  I think the Christmas tree and reindeer are cuter than the witch's hat and snowman, but all are cute!

Didn't buy anything there, they were demoing a cool curved ruler that did lots of sizes.  If I get to doing another one of the circle quilts I might have to get it, or borrow the one Ros bought.

It was a great day with good friends.  I love these gals!  Was nice to make a new friend...she and I hit it off because she too gets (and used to get) crazy migraines.  She gave me a few tips to try next time and I will be trying them!

Valley of the Sun Shop Hop 2012 Picture Heavy!

 First stop was In Stitches!  Kathy and I met up with Ros, Lauren and BJ and hopped the day away.

The Arizona block was featured in different ways throughout the hop.  Loved this potholder rendition.  They had these cute little things (like yoyo makers) to make flowers with.  Several of us bought one and we plan to make flower headbands or purse accents one fine day.  The Tater batting I bought later at Quiltz.

 Next Stop Quilter's Bee.  Here are the four of us, tiaras and all!

 Love this quilt.

 And this one too!

 So much you can do with those whiligig rulers.  I bought the large size Lil' Twister (finally) and the first shop...found it again later (and cheaper) at another shop.  However, this shop had a Marti Mitchell ruler that does the same sort of thing with less waste.  One ruler for lots of different sizes, sigh.  We bought it too.  It is an illness!

Here is the ruler I bought here.

 Then Sun Valley Quilts.  This store was crazy busy and I didn't wind up buying anything. They too had a cute Arizona block.

 Managed to get Kathy in a photo with BJ.

Here is my loot from AZ Quilts.  I fell in love with the kitchen fabric.  Found a few civil war fabrics on clearance for my Hawaii Sunset and had to have some Dimples in orange!

 Cute flag quilt Kathy liked.

 Stopped for lunch at Cheezeheadz.  The owner is from Black River Falls, Wisc...just 40 minutes or so up the road from where I am fun.  The menu had lots of Packer things on it.

 Next up the shoppe out near my sister and mom's.

 Kathy and I each bought a pincushion kit with a tiny Arizona block.  Really cute, hoping I can get mind to look like that!

 Saw more cute Lil Twister type quilts.

Here is my loot from OWQS.  Finally got some potato fabric and had to have some of this fabric with all the different names of quilt blocks on it!  (Also our two pincushion kits)

 We then tootled in to Quiltz.   I was the only one who bought something here and was consequently left behind.

 Really loved this red, white and blue quilt in the corner.

 Fell in love with these little guys too, though I am not going to attempt to make them!

 Arizona block at Quiltz.

 Bernina Connection had a very cool Arizona block...they gave us a paper pieced little AZ flag to put in the center of the block.  I really want to try that!

 More Lil' Twisters...made to look like wreaths!  So very cute!

This is the Modern Quilt Relish pattern I had to have from BC.  I don't make too many modern quilts, but I always have them on my to do list!

 We said goodbye to the crew (til next Saturday) and Kathy and I made one last stop on the way home to 35th Ave. Sew and Vac.

 Bought some Reunion fabric there.

 Kathy found some fat quarters..and this confetti black was from an earlier store for her.  She likes black backgrounds.  I may borrow it, lol.

 BJ brought me some Florabunda fabris and scraps for more bow ties, yay!  I need to do a few more blocks and add one last row.  LOL, soon done with that one!

 

 BJ also delivered my half off kit that I had ordered online (several of us ordered together to take advantage of sharing shipping and getting free fabric if over a hundred dollar order).  This is one of those, I don't really need it but for 40 bucks how can I beat all this fabric and a pattern!  I like it!

We had a nice day, spent too much money (helping out the economy) and can't wait to do it again next weekend!  I have no idea where I am putting all this fabric though seriously.  Time to get sewing!

Pictureless Post

I did a little sewing but no pictures...got the backs pieced for the last two quilt tops that were waiting for backs.  I now have a box all loaded to go to Joanne and a larger quilt for Ros to do.

We are all set to do half the stores for the Valley of the Sun shop hop tomorrow.  Sounds like Ros, Lauren, BJ, Kathy and I this year is the group.  Time marches on and the world keeps turning.  I have had a rough few days again and just gotta keep looking forward.  Have been crazy busy with work and all but really haven't been in the mood to sew.  Hopefully I will be by Sunday.