Posted on by agilejack

Fabric Shopping and My Final Egg Nog of 2023

I had to work late tonight so I ran some errands early in the afternoon. I had to go to the bank so found a branch on my way to Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, Oregon. I received a gift certificate for fabric from a friend and saw on Instagram that they have the new Kaffe Fassett Collective collection in stock. So it was a no brainer.

I made sure I took some extra cash since I knew I would want more than the gift card would purchase. I actually showed some pretty impressive restraint and with a full collection laid out in front of me I only purchased four pieces of fabric.

I took that photo as soon as I got in the car because I wanted to show a friend what I bought. I got two yards of the green and two yards of the brown and one each of the red and pink.

This design is called Lichen and it’s an old Kaffe design that’s been out of print for years. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it in quilts made by people who have stashes that make me envious and I’ve hoped for years that they would bring it back. So you can imagine how happy I am to have some of this in my possession now.

The cutting table at the store has a little LED light on it that makes the colors in the fabrics just POP!

That fabric design and the colors gives me a physical reaction! I don’t know what it is about color combos and patterns that does that to me. But when I have it, I know I have to buy some fabric!

Hmmm. I’m thinking that brown fabric would work well with some Australian Aboriginal fabrics. Hmmm. That fabric would also look amazing in my living room! I’m having a few ideas… maybe a lamp shade!

And look at this one. Gorgeous in its own right!

I don’t have any plans for this fabric. I would love to have ten yards of each one but that would be ridiculous. It’s entirely possible that I’ll buy more when I have time to give this some thought.

While I was there I took a gander at their Australian Aboriginal fabrics just to make sure there wasn’t anything I was missing. They have a pretty good selection but I’m waiting for more color to arrive!

I’m craving more reds, yellows and greens!

After my late work shift I fed my boys and myself and then forced myself to get up and take a look at the Aboriginal blocks on my design wall. I changed a few things around and am feeling ok about it.

I moved the lower contrast blocks to the corners and edges and I think it looks better and is bothering me much less. I’ve decided I’m not going to make any additional blocks. I’m going to live with what I have since the purpose of this project was to be fast and easy. I’ll leave this on the design wall for a day or two, will probably move a few more things, and will then sew it all together. And I’m ok with that.

I’ve really enjoyed my egg nog and bourbon during the holidays. I usually only allow myself one pint of eggnog for the season. But this year I’ve been enjoying it so much I bought a second pint a few days ago. And tonight I poured my final egg nog of 2023.

It’s really delicious and I’m savoring every sip. But it makes me a little sad to say good bye for twelve months.

And with my late shift today, my hectic December fundraising season comes to a close. People will continue to give at amazing levels through Dec 31, but all I can do now is sit back and watch it all come in and hope it’s enough to reach our revenue goals. December is looking really good so far.

So with New Years Day on Monday, I have another long weekend. I’m playing pickleball tomorrow outdoors with the club. Then I’ll be on the indoor courts with my coach Sunday at 7:30 am. I haven’t played since last Sunday. I’m looking forward to getting out there!

My boss will bring me a tamale dinner with all the fixings on New Years Eve. It’s a tradition that she’s kept up for quite a number of years. It’s a great meal with a LOT of left overs!

Happy New Year to everyone! Thanks for reading along for another year!

67 Replies to “Fabric Shopping and My Final Egg Nog of 2023”

  1. Bonjour Anne j aime beaucoup les tissus aborigènes ils ont des coloris magnifiques et tu sais si bien les mélanger je te souhaite un super réveillon
    Josette de France

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    1. merci Josette; les tissus autochtones sont vraiment spéciaux. J’ai vraiment aimé coudre avec eux. Je suis sûr qu’il y aura une autre courtepointe autochtone en 2024 !

      bonne année!

      Anne

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  2. Wishing you a very happy New Year with a healthy, creative and colourful year ahead. (These wishes are coming from our beautiful Jurassic coast of Dorset UK).
    I so enjoy seeing what you manage to plan and sew in your busy life – you have certainly helped me become more discerning and less bonkers in my enthusiastic buying of fabrics!!
    Patsy

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    1. I’m guessing where you live is pretty gray and dismal this time of year… sort of like life around Portland in these winter months. It would be wonderful to be just a little closer to the coast, although I’m very lucky to be only 80 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

      I’m a little surprised that my sometimes unrestrained fabric buying has helps you be less bonkers in buying fabric! that’s not something I ever thought some one would credit me with!!! hahaha!

      Anne

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  3. It’s hard to describe exactly what I’m thinking, but I think it’s somehow wonderful that you (and I) have lived long enough to love a piece of fabric for decades, and then be able to acquire it. Just thinking of all that rich, accumulated experience with sewing.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. You described it very well! It feels like such a reward. it’s such a simple thing in the whole scope of life, but there’s great satisfaction in getting my hands on something that I’ve wanted so long. And something that is so wonderful! Imagine all of that sewn into something beautiful! It makes it so much more special!

      Anne

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  4. Hi, Anne! I’m in trouble again seeing those resurrected Kaffe fabrics. You described the feeling of excitement over fabric to a tea. What is that, anyway? Endorfins? Let me know if you figure it out first! HAPPY & WONDERFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU! And thank you for sharing your year with us.
    Louise

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    1. Hmm. Maybe it is endorphins. It’s definitely something physical for me! the woman cutting the fabric said she wished that it affected her that way. She said she struggled with colors more. I’m so glad I’m not that way.

      happy new year!!!

      Anne

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    1. If you scroll to the very bottom of the emails from me you’ll see a link to unsubscribe. I can’t un sub you because I don’t have your email address. when you reply to an email it comes to me as a comment on why blog.

      Anne

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  7. You have quite the restraint on fabric purchasing! I would definitely get at least 4 yards of each one, they may sell out🤭…
    I’d get one more thing of eggnog for New Year’s Eve. Happy new year 🎆

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    1. Hahah! I was just thinking I would stop tomorrow and buy one more pint of egg nog for New Years!!! Great minds…

      I’m pretty sure I’ll end up buying more of that fabric. I feel like that brown will have to be a quilt backing at some point in time!

      Anne

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  8. Thanks for all the posts this year. I enjoy reading each of them, and I am looking forward to seeing what you are up to in 2024. And. About those Kaffe fabrics. Last August I came out of retirement to take a part time job at a fabric store, in part so that I could see all the new fabric as it came in. Last week, I had the pleasure of unwrapping those Kaffe bolts when they arrived. They are truly different from the newer designs—in both design and color. I like the selection you made, and I agree that the brown would go nicely with many of the aboriginal pieces you have worked with. I am curious to see what you do with them. Happy New Year!

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  9. Anne you have the BEST fabric taste!! Thanks for the heads up on the lichen, you are right it is one of those special fabrics that you just know will put any project over the top. Should make for exceptional binding as well! Enjoy that last eggnog. Although…bourbon on ice is delightful…

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    1. I don’t have a lot of that bourbon left. I opened the fifth for my first pint of egg nog and I bet I only have 1/3 of the bottle left. and I agree, a little bourbon over ice sounds really good! I almost went out and bought more egg nog today! I might have to stop tomorrow and get some to finish up that bourbon!

      Anne

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  12. Yes! Moving the low contrast to the corners gave it exactly what was needed. I love that KF new red pattern – it makes me salivate 😆. Wow, wow, wow! That is a huge amount of Aboriginal fabric! I am salivating even more!
    Oregon tamales? LOL, I bet they are delicious!
    Enjoy your pickle ball games and 3 day weekend ♥️
    Happy new year again!

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  14. I’m a little jealous that you got to see the new line up close. But really that’s all you bought!? I recently moved to the far northern wilderness and lost immediate access to Kaffe fabrics. I will now have to do all that shopping on line which like you described is nothing like seeing and touching in person.
    Happy New Year to you Bender and Rico.
    Happy pickleballing. I also lost access to a pickleball court. Sad i know. You might ask why i moved then… 8 state parks, quiet, trees, canoe access and lots of free time to quilt!

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    1. I can imagine the colors of KFC fabric pretty well when I see it online but it can be really hard to realize the scale of the prints. So many of them now are really large scale. You don’t get that sense when you see them online.

      Living in the wilderness sounds wonderful! but I would miss my local quilt store that I love so much!

      Anne

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  15. Happy New Year to you and the boys. Your posts are interesting and fun. I love starting my day reading them. Thank you. That Kaffe fabric! Be still my heart! Gorgeous.

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    1. I’m sure I will have to buy more. And I’m sure I’ve seen little pieces of the lichen in your quilts! I’m guessing the scale of this one is larger than the older prints. that seems to be the norm with all their reprints these days.

      happy New year Wanda!

      Anne

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  23. Happy New Year ! Enjoy your blog and am inspired by your fabric and pattern choices . I just put an I Spy quilt on the longarm so more bits out of my stash — onward to 2024 .

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  24. Happy New Year, Anne. Thank you for all the inspiration you provide. I love how you use color and adapt design as you go along. Looking forward to what you create in the new year.

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    1. It’s really gorgeous! I was so happy when I first saw that it was coming back!!! I’ve wanted some for years and have NEVER seen it for sale anywhere… not even at horribly inflated prices.

      Anne

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  29. That Brown Lichen fabric will be wonderful with Aboriginal fabrics! I’m temporarily out of my creativity loop – Afib and now Covid (again) have put me in “drydock”. But I can dream and plan can’t I? Have a Happy New Year, Anne. Keep those wonderful ideas and photos coming our way.

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    1. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with Covid again. I can’t believe how many people I know who have had it over the last couple of months. I have two friends who had to cancel their holiday get-togethers because of it. I hope it’s not as bad as it was before.

      anne

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  30. I’m on board with on on your love of the Lichen design and wondrous colours! I bought 1/4 metre pieces locally, plus a few others from his new range but will be putting in an order fore more yardage!!

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  31. Thanks so much, Anne, for another fun post! I am always happy to see one pop up in my email notifications and enjoy your humor and the sharing of your passions in life. Please know how much you are appreciated! Brenda.

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  32. My only resolution for next year was not to buy any fabric till march and that lasted till I saw your new buys of Kaffe and I am ruined…… I have to have them. Happy new year Anne to you and the boys. I look forward to reading your next posts. Cleox

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    1. I would never set that resolution unless I really wanted to fail!

      that being said… I’m not buying anywhere near as much fabric as I have in the last few years. I’m a little horrified in what I already have. Plus I promised myself that I wouldn’t allow my stash to go beyond the doors of my sewing room!

      Anne

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