At today's Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, I scored a free ticket to the San Jose Museum of Textiles for stopping by their table. I also received a free fat quarter from Fat Quarter Queen because I didn't have any cash on hand and my piddly purchase didn't justify the fee for swiping my credit card. That was a little embarrassing but I was surprised they didn't just tell they have a minimum.

I spoke to the gals from Peninsula Quilters about getting started with quilting and also chatted with the ladies from Penwag about getting a student registration discount so I can attend some workshops.

The quilts were absolutely amazing and inspiring, but I forgot my camera!

Instead, I now present my new Olfa rotary cutter guide arm, measuring seam allowances and cutting at the same time. The price was about 6 bucks, much less than what I could find online with shipping.

At the suggestion of an avid quilter, I checked out Jeans Impressions, the booth of Jean Brown, a nice lady who demonstrated the Aunt Becky finger shield and sized me for a Needlearts thimble. I overheard other shoppers say they didn't like the metal to metal method, but since I'm just starting out anyway I figured there's no harm in trying. I just have to make something to quilt first!












Since I have major fabric and button anxiety, all I've really been doing lately is collecting instead of making. These fabrics and notions struck my fancy so I brought them home.

Clockwise from back:

Daiwabo Japanese grey cotton with a linen texture and nubby rayon stripe. Bought at the Praire Queens Quilt Shop.

Two silver and gunmetal wire buttons from Fabric Chicks, who always set up a beautiful booth. They also carry unusual, intricate trims, doll making/painting, and wonderful fabric. I bought my brown-gold ribbon and the Australian print cottons from them at the San Mateo shindig recently.

Australian print cotton. So soft, with a great pattern. J R Flamingo also sells absolutely stunning silks and brocades that I have seen no where else, but at relatively painless prices.

Brown owls on black Japanese cotton as a tribute to the owl making spree. Also from J R Flamingo.

Two skeins of trim are viscose/rayon cording used for couching and braiding. The other two are bundles of various furs, strings, and embroidered ruffle. Fiber Goddess

Woodland cotton prints. Twigs and tree bark. Homespun Harbor Ltd.

Vintage lace wrapped on a card.

Various fat quarters. Pink and purple dots on brown. Two beautifully detailed mum prints. Webs on celadon. Kaffe Fasset spots. Cotton. Golden Gate Sewing Center

Looped pink elastic from Plumcute Designs.