I just couldn't resist
 

I'm visiting my DD and family this week in the LA area. One morning after dropping my SIL off to work at Disneyland I realized I was on Ball Road. So of course I had to make a stop at M & L Fabrics. Now to figure out how to get it home on the plane.

I've resorted to mailing myself a package more than once... Enjoy your trip and your new goodies!

You can always wrap yourself in fabric, especially if you've got some good stretchy pants! I'm sure you could pass some off as a shawl, and who couldn't use a pair of leg warmers (you could bring them back in style)! And last but not least tie up a hobo bag (minus the stick of course) and tell the airline it's your lunch - everyone knows how easy it is to be satisfied just looking and stroking your fabric.

Are you already maxed out on luggage? If not, get thy self to a thrift store! Is the daughter the same size as you? Maybe you got some clothes you want to give her? Maybe wrap the yardage around you several times and call it a sarong? Get a pillowcase and fill it full and tell them it's your purse? Wrap some more yardage around your head as a turbin. Around your neck as a scarf.

Joyce - great minds think alike!

Aaaah, M&L. Here's my thought. Take your oldest clothes that you are tired of. After you have worn them, donate them to Good Will or something. Leave any beauty products (shampoo, etc) with your DD. That way, you'll have an empty suitcase at the end of your visit that you can fill with fabric!!

Borrow a backpack and tote it home. Luggage is loseable but never a load of material!

Sounds like you had some fun! Good for you!

Ahh! They SAY its a fabric store, but I think there is some sort of magnets PULL in there someplace! I have had to succumb to its charm too! I love that store. 1st time a friend took me there,they still had the flat folds to the CEILING! We shopped awhile, then I had to go eat lunch and regroup! LOLOLOL Hope you had a great time..

Where there is a will there is a way! Have fun with your purchases.

LOL...that is so funny but good thinking ;-)

I did that when I was in Plano, Texas. I went to a thrift store and bought a suitcase. When it came time to check my luggage of course I checked all my clothing and carried on the fabric. The suitcase was full of batiks from www.fabricfanatics. I was overwhelmed when I walked in the door, bought some fabrics and went back the next day after a good nights sleep I was ready to shop.

Love M+L fabric!!!!!!

I live way too close to M & L. Even though I don't need any more fabric, I always find something to buy. Way too dangerous!

When we travel, we always leave room for bringing back extras. But, if we've been extra spendy at his family's place, we have a spare suitcase we trade back & forth with his brother. When he comes here to visit, he and his wife to all their clothes shopping, because the prices are so much cheaper than in Denmark where they live. When we go there, we load up on foods and candy we can't get here, fabric and thread (I can get a 2000 meter spool of GOOD thread for $4 there), and and anything we got as gifts to us or that we bought for others here. We check 1 less bags going over than we have people going, then have 1 each coming home. It works for us!

Since you didn't expect to do this, I'd say either a carry on from a thrift store or shipping it home is your best bet. Flat rate boxes come in many sizes, with the largest being 12x12x5-1/2. Anything you can stuff in there, ships at that flat rate. Since it's fabric and has to be washed anyway, line the box with a plastic bag & cram away!

Package the fabrics and mail them home. When you get home you will have it waiting for you. Almost like reliving your vacation all over again. Enjoy! If mailing I would recommend both insurance and delivery confirmation.

I visit my sister in Oregon every July, and every year I do the same thing. I always end up sending at least one box home, and my luggage is bulging!! LOL

I always send myself a box of fabric when I travel. It's easier than wrestling a heavy suit case on to an airplane. I use one of the boxes from the post office and just bring some packing tape with me. So easy.

I have also been known to ask a store that ships to send my fabric, and have even asked them to include fabric I bought elsewhere. They have all been very accommodating.

I love the priority boxes at the post office -- when we traveled in the US I would pack a box and mail it home. In Alaska, the shops sent the boxes for me (they were WONDERFUL!!!!). In Hawaii I could not have made it home without sending the boxes priority. In addition, it was fun opening the boxes when we got home.

I'd say mail your fabric home the day before you leave.

leave your clothes behind for the next trip then load up your suitcase full of fabric.

I ended up getting an additional suit case, but only brought 1 with me so I didn't have to pay for the additional luggage coming back....the trick was getting it under the allowable poundage allowance ....don't ya just love it

Quit a few years ago my dad went on vacation . Brought back frozen fish and had his clothes sent home by mail.We still laugh about that. Thats sounds like a good plan. That way you have your fabric with you

I have been known to go on trips with my clothes packed in a smaller bag that will nest inside a larger bag so I could have an empty bag for purchases. Or you can always go to walmart and buy a cheap duffle bag to transport the fabric.
Quilted by Vicki

When I travel I always pack cloths that I was planning on donating, but instead donate them in the city I visit that way you have more luggage space for fabric & other items you want to bring back & you don't have to lug home dirty cloths to wash. You can wash all your new fabric!!!!!!

I did that once.
Throw everything out of suit case
that you do not need.

Oh this is so easy - simply WEAR ALL of the clothes you want to keep and pack up the suitcase....

After a visit to M&L you will never be the same again!!!! Decide right now, this very minute that you are mailing a big box home. Then, return to M&L! LOL I have taken guests from all over the world and mailed many boxes!
Enjoy!

my last trip to Orlando, I went to Stein mart and bought two large pieces of Bill Blass hard side luggage in TURQUIOSE - usually about $150-$200 each. Wonderful Stein Mart had them for $90 total!!! I was able to bring home many yards from an estate sale in the Bay Hill neighborhood!! That's where Shaq lives!! I just love my florida jaunts!!

mail it, use the flat rate post office boxes.

I went to goodwill and got a bigger suit case for $10.00. Paying the airline another $25 was less then postage. My DH was happy.

Ha,Ha,Ha! You guys are so funny! I just love seeing all these wonderful suggestions. What a bunch!
Judy

I would find a way. Ship it, buy an extra suitcase, the extra charge for it might be less than shipping. tie to the airplane tail and tell the pilot its your kite tail and has to stay there. You'll find a way

Find a UPS store and mail it home. Especially if you are flying with an airline that charges extra for weight or baggage.

Hello my name is Dawn and I'm a recovering fabriholic---------I flew to Florida years ago to visit. I ended up donating my cloths to bring home all the fabric I just had to have. Cloths are easy to replace but beautiful fabrics are so hard to leave behind.

So glad that you were able to go to M&L ... I love that place but live about an hr and a half away so I try to go only once a year. The first year I went I spent over $500 worth of fabric, I got so much I still have some of it in my stash!

I'm moving to LA in June. Where is this place. I'll start saving my pennies now! I'll set my GPS and pack a lunch.n Are they online?

Here is the address:

3430 W Ball Rd Anaheim, CA 92804
(714) 995-3178

Enjoy ;-)

Prepare yourself for fabric paradise. I only had about an hour before I had to pick up my granddaughter from school but you could easily spend the better part of a day there.

We will be close by there in April - thank goodness we will be travelling in our pick-up/camper!!! Last year, my husband stocked up on alcohol (so much cheaper than here in Oregon) so I think I should be able to stock up on fabric this year!!! I think I will have to go through some patterns and figure out some new projects to buy fabric for - I hate to buy just to buy - I like having a project in mind.