Tuesday 20 November 2012

There goes the diet!

The fabric diet that is.  I was doing so well too.  Mind you had I been able to get to the Scottish Quilt Show in September the diet would have crashed and burned then.  I reckon I deserve some Brownie points for holding out till now.

Fabric shopping was the last thing on my mind last week until the weather forecasters predicted a nice day on Friday... the first one in ages.   The perfect opportunity to cut loose and take a little road trip.   I met up with Chris on the road and we headed down to Northumberland to visit Stitchin Heaven.

Heavenly it was too........  the bolts on the table are the latest French General line... all of it!  If you live within striking distance I suggest you get your skates on if you want some.  I'm betting it won't be there long.


All four walls are stocked with gorgeous fabrics and lovely patterns.  It was really hard to choose.....


but somehow I managed.   I couldn't let the side down now could I.    How about the lovely bags.....
the snowflake one belongs to Chris and the Christmas tree is mine.   Amazingly we were restrained enough to only need one bag each.   Wonders never cease!


In my bag were this lovely bunch of fat quarters.   I'm sure I get more points for having a plan for all of them... don't I?  Some are destined for the Dear Jane box and the rest of them I'll turn into pretty baskets .  Heaven knows I need a lot of those.


Then..... I saw this and was lost.  There was no saving me.  All common sense went out of the window and Hugs & Kisses Twas The Night Before Christmas went in the bag.   I have always loved this quilt but managed not to buy it.    Told myself it was more for kids than adults.  I've no children... no grandchildren... no nieces or nephews.  Not a child within a million miles of me (slight exaggeration) so it would be silly for me to even think of making this one.      But I love it!!     If you look at the wall behind the counter where our bags are sitting  it's there made up on the wall.    Too cruel!   How much temptation can one woman resist.  Not that much.   Now it's mine and I can't be blamed.......


Next stop was a garden centre for lunch.    By this time Chris and I were quite giddy and totally in touch with our inner children.    There was this really cute Nativity scene..... the animals moved.   We stood with the mum's dad's and little ones and cooo'd over the sheep, donkey and calf.   Then got a fit of giggles at the camel.  The darn thing was giving everyone the come on!   I kid you not the beast was almost leering.  It's certainly the most lecherous looking camel we ever saw.   Not that we bump into many hereabouts.... just as well.   


We just happened to be passing by the door (well almost) of Just Quilting on our way home.  So we had to pop in there too.    Oh dear... !    I do have a plan for this little bunch too.    The neutrals are backgrounds for the baskets and the two Christmas fabrics... well they were just nice.    That cute little May Blossom pattern got in there somehow.... maybe by magic....   


OK.... so I really made a mess of my fabric diet but I'm still doing alright with the Cavewoman one.    I'm tickled pink to tell you that I've now lost 12.7kg  = 28 lbs = 2 stones!!     There is quite a bit less of me than there was a couple of months ago.   Of course I've still a way to go but I'm soldiering on.  I need to be fit to tackle this garden next spring.   

There hasn't been a whole lot of time for sewing lately and what time there has been has been spent on Christmas Secret Stuff.    Still..... I'm almost done.  The packages will be in the post by the end of the week and normal sewing will be resumed.     By the way..... 'MY' quilt is no longer mine.   My mum saw it and decided she liked it too.... so it's going to be her new quilt.  Oh well........

Better get going.... it's past my bedtime.  Early start tomorrow... taking my mum shopping.   Got to have all my wits about me for that.......

Hope you are all having fun....

Till next time...
Josie X

17 comments:

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Sounds like so much fun!! Those bags look pretty wonderful!!

Anonymous said...

wow Josie 2 stones well done and i love all your buys,such gorgeous items there,you have to lash out every now and then or you will go crazy,see you were just saving your sanity,have fun with this lot Josie and enjoy your day with your mum.xx

Diane-crewe said...

leaving fabric behind is just RUDE!! .. so you did the right thing by taking it home xx

Shirley said...

You sound like my kind of shopping companion. For a few seconds I had a feeling that the first photo was your sewing room and that you had a serious fabric stash problem and a cache of sewing machines stashed on the top of the cupboards. Nurture the inner child always is what I say, why should children have all the fun. Congratulations on the proper diet. 2 stone is a major achievement. Tell me your secret.

Kindred Quilts said...

Hi Josie... so glad you shared your new treasures from your shopping expedition! It's always fun to see what others are buying. I think I recognized a few of those fat quarters! Now it will be fun to see those fabrics in projects you make when normal sewing time is resumed!

Q said...

Congrats on your weight loss Josie! when I read your title and then the start of your post and saw the first picture, I immediately thought, wow you bought all those bolts of fabrics? jealous!

so seeing as the bolts are safe, I think your fabric diet is going fine *grin*

Noela said...

Lovely purchases. The HugsnKisses pattern is gorgeous and will look lovely on your wall when you make it. After all we are all kids at heart.
Hugs....

Susan said...

Lovely purchases, no wonder you couldn't resist. At least it won't interfere with your "other" diet!

Sue said...

Woohoo, nothing like a little retail therapy to put you in good spirits.

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

fantastic purchases but I can give you my address if they need to be rehomed :o) congrats on the other diet, well done. hugs

Raewyn said...

Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all! You really really needed that fabric and patterns so were quite within your rights to break your (fabric) diet and get it all! Congratulations on the kilos lost - awesome one!!

Lynda said...

Congratulations! Two stone - that's wonderful. What a responsible shopper you are. Should be very proud of yourself. Nothing like a leering camel to give you a fit of the giggles.

Anthea said...

This is such a funny post Josie!
Whilst you do get points for having purpose for those fabrics, you get even more points for aimless buying... well that's how I think about it anyway!
You have purchased some gorgeous fabrics & I look forward to seeing what you do with them!

rosie said...

Wow, Miss Josie.... two stone! How have you done that... you must have the most amazing self control.... I can't believe I said that after I have just read that post!!!!!! lol..... well done....
You deserve to reward yourself with some yummy fat free material... xx

Wendy said...

Lovely purchases Josie, love your new pattern. You're doing fantastically well on your weight loss, you must be starting to feel great! Hugs Wendy xx

Supergoof said...

Nobody can resist fabric in heaven,....
and when you loose so much weight you really need some 'heavy' fabric that keeps you on the ground,...
;o)
And the bag is so lovely,....

LuAnn said...

What a great shopping trip you had. I just love that Night Before Christmas pattern. It looks like it's a block of the month?