Like alot of you I am really glad that I have the stash that I do. I'm thinking that I will be pieceing the backings as well.
Australian prices are so high but their minnimum wage is alot higher than ours. My BIL who lives over there says that the cost of living is very high but so are the salaries.
I'm ready for the world to slow back down to the slower pace and the better economony but I seriously doubt that it is any time soon. With both of us being retired and on a very fixed income, I guess we will be making do with what we have and thanking God that we have what we do. It is a scarey time for all of us world-wide.

We've been discussing the rise in the price of cotton fabric and batting here since last winter. It is due to a bad cotton crop, worldwide, and increased demand with less suppy. Unfortunately, when the supply increases again eventually, we aren't likely to see prices go back down again. Just like with food costs rising, that's not the way it works!

Nearly everyone thinks walmart fabric is not good fabric. I have no problem with it and it makes beautiful quilts. I'll pay $5 or $6 a yard any day.

About a mo. ago I spent 2 wks. in No. MI. Stopped at every quilt shop I found. The prices were very reasonable, I thought and I'm a tight wad. They ran around 5-6 $. Brought home a pile that took me 2 days to find room for all of it. Our local LQS has good quality for $5. I'm hoping she never finds out what others are charging. Haven't stopped in since I've been home. Perhaps she has gone up. Must stop in and take a look. I feel sorry for those who have no choice. Surely glad I have my little stash. All take care.

thrift store/consignment store.....never mind just cutting up for quilts......might also be good enough to wear as is...I guess this is what our "auntcestors" were faced with too, thus all the wonderful, historical treasures we now copy....

Its true- at the end of the day, the Global financial crisis hasn't hit us badly...yet. They say it will, and there is alot of speculation as to when and how bad. But as it stands right now our min wages are higher than yours.

Having said that - there is still no way in heck I would pay $27 a meter for anything!

As I said before I just bought 1/2 yard Moda for 1.99 US - that is good isn't it? Like really good? Its my first o/s purchase - so usually I spend way more than that....On-line is the way to go I think.

Its very sad times for the small quilt shop, and they do say that because aussies can get stuff heaps cheaper o/s than here - alot of our small businesses are going to close. I can get violin strings in the US for $60..the same set here is $140.

Same for quilting fabric....

My local Mill Ends Fabric shop still has broadcloth for less than $2/yd. I bought some regular quilting fabric still on the bolts for under $5.50/yd. Good brands, too. Derla

Yes you are very lucky you are not in OZ (Australia)....as some of the Thimbleberries are starting prices @ $39.95 a yard & the gorgeous Japanese designs start @ $49.95 a yard...& then there is all the imported US sewing notions...& yes I do actually mean the sewing accessories that are still made in the US....even the quilting magazines that are still printed in the US.....in OZ we pay for all the import charges....reps showing their wares....& then the shops add the overheads on the cost of the fabrics...ie...nice carpet, staff wages, heating, lighting, air conditioning, piped music....etc etc.....so me who is a US female & working in OZ....you quilting gals ain't see nothin of the prices here.

Cheerio, Jane

new arrivals today were $20.00

The rising prices are really hard in this tight economy where many may be lucky to have jobs, but no raises for years. As gas, food, clothing go up, there is little room in budgets for fun stuff....