HA! I just ordered some fabric from keepsake quilting. BUT it is for gifts and will leave the house end of May. What fun!!!!

Martina: Now your just teasing us.

I will be ordering some wide backing for a quilt I am finishing for my daughter. It's a very special quilt because it's to commemorate her graduation from U of Oregon this June. She married young and has been doing working and schooling at the same time. It's been a long hard slog but she managed it. Very proud of her! The quilt is from the medallion quilt along that Jabba and Elizabrat hosted. The quilt itself measures 118 X 118 so four yards of fabric will be required.

I've been thinking about stencils. I don't have any at this point but I do have some stencil plastic. I'm currently working on becoming proficient with my walking foot. I do about 30 minutes every morning.

Emma Wow that's one big quilt! Are you quilting it yourself? The new machine will certainly be needed. :)
I understand what you mean Martina with stencil buying. Just so many great ones out there that it could be a stash in itself. But what fun picking them out.
tkhooper - Chances are the stencils will come for you too. Sounds like your doing it the right way and getting comfortable with the walking foot first. Quilty has several tutorials on FMQ I found really helpful (only been doing it myself this year) when you're to that point.
I had seen a stencil pen somewhere online to make your own with stencil plastic and the thing looked just like the wood carving pen I bought years ago that I haven't used for ages so I went hunting for it and sure enough I still have it. I have the McCall's quilt design book so I will be trying this out and see if it works making my own design stencil. I have bought several stencils (maybe ten) though. I can't draw worth a hoot so free form is totally out of the question for me.
Laurie - sorry to hear your under the weather. Hope you feel better soon.
After my slide from the wagon I'm staying strong (which was only last week come to think about it:() A day at a time I guess.

Emma, sounds like a wonderful gift for a wonderful daughter!
i went to my class at my LQS this morning. NO purchases!! My great niece is coming to the cottage this weekend and wants to make a quilt. More stash will be used.

Mammoth is a good term for the quilt, Emma. My first two finished were Queen sized and since then I scaled down a bit. People will ask me how big I am making the quilt. My answer: I'll let you know when it's done. Doesn't matter what the pattern calls for, my finished size is ALWAYS different. It makes no sense since I measure the blocks and they start with the correct size. Go figure.

Stencils came in already. They got shipped 2-Day delivery for free and I really like the way they were protected. Now to find a place to hang them. I got some big-uns.

We are going camping a little later and I am trying to decide what to take to work on. It's an in-law weekend (or By Law as my sister calls it) and if I don't have something in my hands (other than a glass of wine, and I can't drink for 3 days straight) I might be overcome with the desire to strangle someone. See, it's all self-preservation. lol

Today I resisted impulse fabric and a new ruler. Instead of getting a 6x12" because the one on a MSQC video looked so handy, I decided I could get by on what I had (like a 6X6 or 12X12, among others). Trying move toward buying quilting things as I need them/truly want them and not just when there's an opportunity to get them cheaply.

I went to the show in Salt Lake and just looked and drooled. The quilts on display were so beautifully made. Oh my, what talented projects were there for us to marvel at, absolutely gorgeous creations. There were lots of divisions for judging; I could not be a judge, I loved them all. Each one a creation of beauty in their own right.

I had a chance to play on some long arm machines; there were about 10, give or take, brands to look at and watch demos or experience first hand doodling. I get intimidated very easily with those machines, but I had fun playing on them anyway. I did not buy one! I'm still researching the possibilities. Lots of vendors and demos with everything tempting for us as quilters, wonderful fabric and just plain fun stuff for the hobby of quilting.

I won a $20 gift certificate and spent it on 4 quilt patterned coasters and a wall plaque saying, "NEVER underestimate the power of a woman with a sewing machine". I spent $25.00 on a Quilt Block Puzzle. It has appr. 30 pieces to it and you can create 30 or more quilt blocks with it. Can even be used as a template. My granddaughter spent a good hour with it creating some of the designs that came with it. She is 9.

That's it. I did not spend 100's of dollars. I didn't take my credit card with me. I planned in advance to just experience the show and demos and come home with a trinket or two. I feel really good about getting some control into the spending that has been out of control. Thanks again folks for your help in this quest. Life is sooo good!

Rhonda Lee - good for you! Sounds like you had a wonderful time and did what you promised yourself you were going to. Good job! The few shows I've been to I just bypassed the vendors as the temptation would be too great. But looking at the quilts I could spend hours doing.
Martina - you crack me up. :D Maybe I should take something to work on as I will be visiting my mother in law on Saturday. However I would probably be critiqued on my work and it's rarely positive for an in-law which might precipitate something instead of keeping it at bay.
Pegasus - you're self control is wonderful. There are so many tools etc. for quilting that one could have a room full of them if we bought every one. I kind of enjoy the making do with what I have. Gives me that atta girl feeling.

And speaking of making do I admit I didn't :) I went Joann's this morning - 15% coupon was calling my name but I didn't get any fabric. I am pretty particular of the fabric I choose there as some is very thin but since no more LQS it was still fun to look. I did get myself a June Tailor quarter cut ruler for my mother's day present. Will tell hubby what he got me lol. The 1/2 one I use a lot so will probably do so with the quarter as well.

Martina, Sounds like the camping trip will be an experience. Keep those hands busy. Emma, I remember watching the medallion thread and seeing all the neat quilts being created. Looking forward to seeing your finished project. I am still playing with scraps. Have been working on a ufo and making a selvedge jacket that will fit me. I have made two now and both ended up being too small after I sewed the strips onto the sweatshirt. This time, I got a HUGE XL one and hope the third time will be the charm. Got my TATW quilt back from Charisma yesterday so got it trimmed and will get the binding sewn on in next few days. (The machine side..I do the other side by hand). She did a fabulous job as usual. Will share pics on the UFO thread when it is finished. I will break down one of these days and buy some fleece for a backing for a top I have finished but trying to put that off as long as I can. Rhonda Lee, thanks for the update on the quilt show. I hope that I can go to it next year, even if just for a day. Will still probably have to spend the night there though...long drive down and back. Everyone really seems to be sticking to their guns and not buying fabric unless it is really needed and not in stash. Sorry to rattle on but I discovered something and wanted to share. I did not know that all Fiskars products are guaranteed and since the little clicker that retracts the blade on my rotary cutter was broken, all I had to do was take a picture to show them and send to them. They said they would send a replacement out within two weeks. Wow! So don't toss those broken ones if they are Fiskars!