I don't know about most people on the board but my nearest fabric shop is about 50 plus to a small town - 120 miles one way to a major city and the shops there. I quilt as inspiration strikes usually when shops are closed and given gas prices I try to buy large enough pieces to be useful. Jenny Beyer and others state if you LOVE it, get six yards, can't pass it up, three yards, useful filler, one yard. Base stash around theme fabrics and others as fillers. Further, to look at a color wheel and see what colors are and are not represented in your stash.
A trip to town is costly, about 20 a trip as a minimum so I try to buy now with a plan with stocking what colors I don't have. In this process realized I had very, very few theme fabrics or fabrics to build a quilt around but rather had lots and lots of support fabrics.
I have a lot of old calico that are pastels and have been looking for a way to update and make bright enough for quilts for children's hosp, victims of domestic violence, etc.
Would appreciate any advise on this project.