If You Give a Quilter a Bargain…

On Tuesday I was running a few errands. Among other things, I ran in to Ben Franklin’s for a strip of velcro. I came home with this. (Plus the strip of velcro.)

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Really, it was not intended! I was supposed to be picking Julia up from school so I was there not even ten minutes. As she cut the velcro strip, the clerk (who knows me well) suggested I might want to take a quick look at the flat fold table because there were lots of new pieces out. Ben Franklin’s always has a table with stacks of fabric folded (taken off the bolt). Frequently there are treasures on that table but you have to spend a bit of time searching. The majority of the fabric found here is traditional or novelty pieces.  Anything on the table is $5.99 per yard, a very good price.

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I immediately spotted a large selection of fabric from the Field Day line by Allison Glass. This is my favorite of all of her lines. It is an older one (2013) and for the most part isn’t readily available. Actually, Allison Glass isn’t available in Grass Valley at all.  When I did the Allison Glass swap last year, I had to drive to the San Jose area to get the fabric (300 miles round trip). I could have ordered it on-line but I really wanted to see the colors together. She covers such a huge span of the rainbow and I wasn’t sure which colors I was going to work with. It was a huge find to see these sitting on the flat fold table!

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I am using these two to make a 241 tote from Anna at Noodlehead. There are a few occasions coming up that I need gifts for. This will be perfect for one of them.

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These two pieces are from the Vantage Point line by Robert Kaufman. Wavy Stripe Retro and Picton Patchwork will both be used for Chemex Cozies that I sell in my Etsy shop. I love both of them. Remember when you were little and got to make those Spin Art paintings? I always imagined that mine would look like the fabric on the right. Never got even close but those were fun to make. Julia still has one of those – maybe I should give it another try.

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Look at the rich colors in this stack. Who doesn’t need a few new blenders in her stash? At $5.99/yard, this was an easy decision.

Here is the hard part. Oh, if only the story ended here. But it doesn’t. You know me, I am nothing but honest.

I bought the yardage from the Field Day collection and purchased the 241 Tote pattern over at Noodlehead the following day. Looking at the requirements, I found I was short one piece of fabric for the tote. Yes, I could probably have found something in my stash that would work, but I knew that stack of Allison Glass treasure was just sitting there at Ben Franklin’s. How could I not return? It was just one more yard…. (I know, I know.)

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So I bought the piece in the center. Perfect. Now I had enough to make the tote.

Guess what? When I pulled that piece out of the stacks of flat folds, you won’t believe what happened. There, in plain sight, was the nearly complete line of Asuka by Dear Stella. Which is just crazy – this line was only released last summer. What a treasure.

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It was amazing – a stack of Dear Stella just sitting there, waiting for me and for only $5.99 per yard!  I love this line – the colors are exquisite. Showing only minimal restraint, I limited myself to the seven pieces you see here.

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The piece on the top is not from the Asuka line. I am not sure which it belongs to, but I like the fact that it adds a pop of green to the palette.  Such a thrilling experience. 😉

I now have a total of three yards of Dear Stella to play with and spent $18.00. (I know, let’s not talk about the total cost of all of my treasures. I am minimizing the impact here.)

Remember the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?  That pretty much covers this whole experience. Velcro, led to the Vantage Point pieces, then to Allison Glass, which took me to Noodlehead, which then looped me back over to Allison Glass and finally took me right on over to Dear Stella. Oh dear, dear, Dear Stella.

Linking to Sunday Stash over at Molli Sparkles and also at Main Crush Monday.

 

37 thoughts on “If You Give a Quilter a Bargain…

    1. Bernie Post author

      Yep, it was quite a spree. Certainly feels good to get top of the line fabric at $5.99 per yard. Doesn’t happen all that often!!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I am thrilled with this latest stash update! We actually don’t get tons of bargains here either. I live in a small rural town with one LQS and Ben Franklin’s. This was such a treat!!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Absolutely, I struck gold! Which is a funny thought since we live in the Gold Rush area of CA. Yep, there’s gold in them hills. 😉

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      The Dear Stella is my favorite find. I am still swooning over it. I actually think I am going to add to that fabric selection (hopefully with pieces from my stash) and make a new quilt for Ray and I. We need a queen size quilt for the bed up in Downieville. Quilting it would be a challenge tho….

      Reply
  1. Tami

    Now THAT’s a good trip to Ben Franklin! So many pretties, and a great bargain, all of it! The 241 tote is on my list. I have fabrics pulled, pattern printed, and I think, everything I need. I just haven’t pulled the trigger to get started, yet. Now, I’m thinking I’ll wait a bit longer and take my inspiration from your experience. I wish we were neighbors and could sew them, together! Enjoy your new stash!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Tami, I sent you an email about the idea of sewing our 241 totes together. Take a peek and let me know what you think! I still need to get the hardware (snaps or whatever) and the interfacing. But I prewashed the fabric today and I am itching to get started!

      Reply
  2. Diane

    Always loved Ben Franklin. They have some wonderful fabric and good buys on it. Sorry to say I don’t have one where I live now. BooHoo

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I am a faithful Ben Franklin’s shopper. I love their fabric selection. Sad that you don’t live near one anymore. 🙁

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I’m glad you liked it Lucy. The whole thing makes me giggle. It was just one thing and on to the next. So funny! Got my fabric prewashed and ready to go for the bag. I am looking forward to getting it started! Thank you for stopping over!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Helen – aren’t those swirls just so cool?! I love them. It was very tempting to buy more as they were available in several different colorways. They are really vibrant!

      Reply
  3. Claudia W

    I haven’t been inside a Ben Franklin in years! Now I know that when I come back to CA to visit, I am coming up there to go to Ben Franklins!
    I love all the fabrics you picked up, such a nice and beautiful variety!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Do you come to CA very often? From where? I love our Ben Franklin’s. Lots of variety but this was an exceptional find!
      Thanks for stopping in. 🙂

      Reply
      1. Claudia W

        I lived south of San Francisco all my life until I decided to retire to Washington at the end of 2014. Since then I have only been back once. As soon as I can get a small RV, I will be traveling more often, and spending more time!

        Reply
        1. Bernie Post author

          Oh, that sounds like a great way to retire!! Let me know if you are ever headed to the Ben Franklin’s in Grass Valley!!

          Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Yep – these are a great addition to my closet full of fabric. I am so excited to get started on something with these – probably the tote will be first. Yay for new pretties!!

      Reply
  4. SarahZ

    Oh. My. Goodness! “Why wouldn’t ya?” My heart seriously quickened when I saw your Asuka! I have never been in a Ben Franklin, only seeing one or the first time a few weeks ago in Havre, MT…not a usual town in my travels. I won’t be not stopping in again, I assure you! Happy fun finds in the name of velcro!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Exactly, why wouldn’t I??? What poor soul could look at those deals and walk by without bringing them home? Not me, nope, not me. 🙂

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Kate, you are absolutely correct. Thinking of it from your point of view, I bought about 8 yards of fabric for $48 where it would have been at least $88 – I needed to save that $50. Yes, very thrifty. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Cathy

    Wow, what a lucky day at Ben Franklin! But what I want to know is were you late picking up Julia??

    Reply
  6. Jayne

    I never knew Ben Franklin had fabric! How crazy! Then again, I haven’t seen a Ben Franklin in many years! I love both pieces of Vantage Point…they look like fun!

    Reply
  7. Sandra

    Oh WOW did you score some beauties Bernie!! Like what are the chances a complete LINE would be in a clearance section? I’ll say you showed restraint, only half a yard of each? And that, in itself, is quite lovely: most quilt shops ask you to buy 1 yard minimum when they put it down to $5-6. Alma Sue’s in Sarasota will cut 1/2 yards no problem. I could have every single one of those fabrics…ahh, you’re making me want to buy new fabric…and I have behaved since I got back home….

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      You know, I really struggled to decide between one yard or 1-2 yard of each. I hope I don’t regret that as I use these? Ah well, I can get pretty darn far on 1/2 yard cuts. ?

      Reply
  8. LeeAnna Paylor

    of course you bought those. Great choice. You spaved!
    Love the blenders especially, and good for you to remember the velcro in the fabric frenzy.
    LeeAnna at not afraid of color

    Reply
  9. JanineMarie

    There is so much yummy quiltiness here, I’ve been drooling on my computer screen. I even checked to see how far I’d have to drive to get to a Ben Franklin. It turns out there are two sort of near me, 45 miles in opposite directions. Takes 45 minutes to get to one and an hour to get to the other. I had no idea. Road trips!

    Reply

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