ManiacQuilter2, your advice made me laugh. When I go to quilt shows or shops with someone new I always suggest they wander around before buying anything, unless they are looking for something specific. It is so easy to get caught up and spend a lot of money. (You can assume you know how I know.) A friend and I were at a show and one of the vendors was selling the powder you use on stencils to do the quilting. It cost $7.00 a bag and 2 for $11.00. What a bargain! We could share the purchase and save the money - what a deal! All of a sudden I started laughing and she looked at me like I was having a seizure, and when I could stop laughing long enough I asked her when was she going to use it? She had not even sewn a top together at this point. And so I said, by the time either of us would use it is would be concrete. We put it back and agreed to buy some once we were ready to use it. (At least I have stencils but have never used the powder with them yet.)
Every time we go to a show we get a good laugh at our control I am such a sucker for vendors with all the little gadgets.
We did have a friend go with us once, she bought this wonderful little kit and actually went home that night and made it.