Shopping + Samples = Fabric HEAVEN

At market there were plenty of freebies and samples to be given. As a designer, its nice to have the samples in hand to see how the fabric feels and also see if the colors are true to the representation from the internet catalogs. Its also nice to really see what the scale looks like on any given print. I do love the internet, but you can really, only get so much out of a thumbnail image. Speaking of scale- on the far left side of the picture above is the freebie sample of ZaZaZing by Studio E. Wow- that whole line is going to look great paired with military fabrics.

Along with samples, a couple of booths, RJR Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Benartex were a few that had a "cash and carry" section. Can I tell you how much I love trading my cash for fabric to carry???


At the end of the show, folks from our neighboring booth were purging samples, so they wouldn't have to travel them back home. I asked "Would you be throwing out that small pile of fabric swatches?" He said yes, to which I say "Would you mind throwing them our way?" The ladies in the Quiltwoman.com booth, and myself had a field day with their leftovers. Thank you so much!!! You know the old saying, "One man's trash is another group of lady's crack-like addiction!" ~or something like that~ And of course, the samples are the same beautiful high quality prints sold by In The Beginning Fabrics. We split the "leftovers" 3 ways at the booth and I still have plenty.

How great are those fat quarters? The top roll is from Textile Creations. They had a super fun booth with a complete carnival theme. The other fats are so beautifully packaged, too. Those Kaufman Fat Quarters are graded so nicely. They'd look great in the Floating Bubbles Pattern.

Some of the above samples were give at the school-house series. I love school house. You get prizes and learn about all the latest, newest, most interesting things for your shop or your designs. I attended an Andover Schoolhouse and learned at ton about Lonni Rossi, her Geisha designs and her painterly fabrics. I also got a free Lonni Rossi fabric bag to take with me. I've already checked it out, and its about 1 total yard of LR fabric!

Now, I have to tell you- when I was flying home from Pittsburgh, my suitcase was over the 50lb weight limit. I put it on the scale and I heard the bag-check-lady say "5lbs over, $90." OH- Heck no. (Later, a lady in line behind me says she heard "$9" and I have yet to look it up.) So, acting on the notion that I had to pay 90 additional dollars, I pulled my bags to the side and proceeded to decide which pair of jeans to trash and what pair of shoes I could live without. Obviously, I was not parting with the gems in the photos above. Thankfully, I found the Lonni Rossi bag at the bottom of my suitcase and I ended up using it as a carry-on. I didn't have to throw out anything! Sure, my arms were tired from dragging around the GIANT Military Monster purse (complete with camera and laptop) and the HUMONGOUS Lonni Rossi bag- but I'd take it anyday!

Ah. Happiness is ... f.a.b.r.i.c!

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend! ~jen~

Shopping + Samples = Fabric HEAVEN