Some things just make me smile....

and this is definitely one of those things!

Before coming back to the boat I made a big decision to buy half yard cuts of every Kona color that the Old Country Store had to offer since they have really good prices (they were $5.67/yd but I think they've gone up a little). In total I got 113 different colors. It was a hard decision because I spent about $300.00 but in the end I'm so glad that I did. I cry and complain about the cost of fabric in the US all the time and lately they just seems to keep rising but then I shop overseas and realize that we really do have it good. Here in Australia (and last year in NZ) fabrics are over $20/yd - usually between $22-25/meter. Can you believe it. I understand why so many people here order online from the US and pay the international shipping charges - it's still cheaper. Because of this I decided that I want to have a decent stash on the boat (I'm not really sure my husband is so keen on the idea but he says as long as I use it I can have it.) I decided that solids where the way to go because I can still have my fun shopping overseas and I can purchase small cuts of stuff I love and fill my quilts in with solids. I hope it all works out. I think I'll also be purchasing online so that I have stuff waiting for me at home to bring back on my next trip. I try to support local quilt shops when I can but I also have to watch the pocketbook and $22/m just doesn't calculate. So I'm glad I found the Old Country Store because I can shop online, get good prices, and still support a local shop.

Now I'm off to start cutting into that pile of goodness...

Brighton Beach

 

During our travels over the last few weeks we stopped by Brighton Beach in Melbourne and as I was looking at my photos I couldn't help to think that these little beach huts could really turn into a cool quilt. How could you not love all the colors and originality of them.  I guess I'll have to start sketching out some ideas. Just for kicks I thought that I'd throw in a little fun fact about these. The last one to sell went for $171,000 AUD and have been known to go for over $200,000 AUD. Crazy huh!

Sewing Summit 2012

We have returned to the boat, well sort of, we stopped by it and are traveling around Australia right now. I'm constantly looking for quilt inspiration and I think I have a few ideas??? Anyhow, a few weeks before we left I talked to my husband about the possibility of returning to the States for the Sewing Summit again this year. I had such a great time last year that I just couldn't stand the idea of missing it. Surprisingly enough he said that if I really wanted to, and I had considered what other things I might prefer to do, I can return to the states if everything is in line....God I hope the timing works out and we don't have some big crossing we need to do or are to far from an airport.

In the meantime I got my ticket and am gearing up to go. I actually stayed up until 1:00am Australian time to do mine and my mom's registration and even got the FIRST50 discount for both. I was amazed to read today that within 1 minuted of registration opening 100 people had registered and the conference was sold out within 10 hours...WOW. But seriously it was that much fun last year. I'm so glad I didn't hesitate and wait until I know more about where we'll be in October because it would definitely be too late by then and with demand like this I'm sure someone out there will be happy to take my ticket if I get caught up with the boat. For now I'll be checking out all the blogs of everyone going and getting more excited every day!