Going home

Look what I found when I was wondering through a HUGE fabric store in Oregon: sock monkey flannels! No, I did not need any more fabric nor do I need to come up with ideas for new projects, but since when does that hold me back from acquiring more supplies?

My friend Soraya found the socks and a book with tons of stuffed animal patterns to make with them. Oh… I could not stop thinking about my grandson Nicholas playing with those cute toys… Yep, I was hooked.

I also got some minky to make other animals for him (decided against taking photos of them lest the hotel bed would be covered with bits of blue and yellow from the fabrics). Grandchildren are an endless excuse for adding to your fabric stash, much to my husband’s chagrin.

Check out the size of this fabric store… 1.5 acres of fabric, notions, books, and patterns. My visit only lasted two and a half hours because they had to close. Rows upon rows upon rows of gorgeous fabrics. Rulers galore, tons of buttons, trims to the roof. The damage could have been astronomical had I not insisted on bringing the smallest suitcase I had, plus a backpack. What was I thinking? My husband had suggested a larger suitcase which I promptly refused by saying I was only going to be gone for 5 days. DH knows me better, something I thought impossible before. I am convinced…

As I bid goodbye to Portland, Oregon, and try to figure out how to stuff my purchases into ‘sardine cans’, I leave you with a visual impression of my time away from my quilt studio:

                                                  Tea House at Lan Su Chinese Garden

As I go back home, my mind fast forwards to next week when I will host the Wool Lover blog hop. Stop by tomorrow to view the full schedule. In the meantime, time to pack!