Sunday Stash #3 - Texan Mini Roadtrip

My final fabric stash from QuiltCon (Haby stash to come soon) includes these gorgeous fat quarters from Cloud 9, an American company who specialise in organic cottons for the home sewist. I loved this stand so much in Austin, I went back for more the following day! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with these yet - can I mix organic cottons with non-organic? Or should I keep them all the same? At least I bought enough that all work together! Incidentally, Cloud 9's beautiful website has some  truly inspiring projects including quilts and bags and they're all free!

After four days of quilt-show joy in Austin, we thought we would go on a mini road-trip around Texas, starting with a couple of very cold days in San Antonio and a visit to the Alamo. This unassuming old building in the centre of downtown San Antonio is where, in 1836, a small Texan army stood up to over 1,000 Mexican soldiers until, completely outnumbered they finally fell on the third day. The battle so outraged Texan settlers and adventurers from the United States (Texas was actually independent at this time and did not belong to the union) that many joined the Texan army to take on the Mexicans. They went on to defeat the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto which ended the Texas revolution.

 

The town of San Antonio is very pretty, and I imagine even more so in the summer, man it was cold! They have this lovely canal circling the centre of town below road level where you can walk along the pathways lined with restaurants and shops - definitely worth a return visit.

We then drove down to Fredericksburg... while we're on about driving, can I just scratch my previous comment about US freeways being easy to navigate... with no road signs until seconds before you turn off, constant toll roads to avoid by driving on perfectly fine roads right next to the tolls, and elevated junctions that put spaghetti junction to shame... we are definitely getting a satnav next time!!

Anyway, where was I... lovely Fredericksburg is a town founded by German settlers in 1846 and which still keeps it German traditions today, with schnitzel and Bratwurst on restaurant menus, and inspiring antique shops full of furniture from the 'old country'.

On our last day, guess what... I found another quilt shop!! I loved One Quilt Place! Now if I'm ever lucky enough to have my own quilt shop, this is what I would want. I love the quilts hanging from the ceilings - so inspiring! They've also used old pieces of furniture such as that gorgeous bed frame to hold traditional fabric ranges, genius!

I especially loved this colourwall of fat quarters, how yummy is that!!


My final fabric purchase of my hols was from this amazing shop, they have the best 1930s fabric range! As I'd already spent far too much, I had to control myself and just went with these to add to my stash.

Linking up with...

Sunday Stash #2

In my second Sunday Stash I'm sharing more goodies bought during my wonderful trip to Texas last month for QuiltCon in Austin.

I've been loving Carolyn Friedlander's prints for a while now, and was so happy to add these bits to my stash. From her Botanics and Architextures ranges, I think these will work well together... again with some white... to make a simple and fresh quilt – maybe this is the fabric to try out some partial seamed hexagons!

 

While standing in line to pay at one of the stalls at QuiltCon, I happened to spot a leaflet about a quilting shop hop around the local area... as if a 4-day show wasn't enough! So much to my husband's delight (!) we went on a mini road trip and found A Quilter's Folly, a lovely bright shop full of beautiful fabrics. Among these I spotted some favourites, ditsy floral feedsack-type prints, and went a little crazy... again!

Having now seen these two collections above toegther, they kind of co-ordinate don't they?! Ahhh, so many ideas, so little time!

I do love these mini florals, and don't only use them in quilting. This is my latest T-T-Teessiders cushion and I think the grey flower looks perfect with the pinky-red lettering and light grey background.

Linking up with...

Sunday Stash #1

I've seen this link up with Molli Sparkles around for a while and thought it would be fun to join in, and also to show off some of my gorgeous purchases at QuiltCon. One range I actually went for was this beauty, Mimosa, don't they look yummy! No idea what I plan to do with them, probably too scared to cut into them just yet... but I can see some foundation pieced blocks with plenty of white...

 

I do however have a plan for these, for years I've been wanting to make an Economy block quilt, and I think these are just perfect! Now just to find the time... 

I bought so much more, but will leave that for another day's treat... today I am linking up with