Sunday, January 12, 2020

Weekly update: Newton's Third Law applied to quilting

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  That's a brief version of Isaac Newton's third law.  I learned this week that it applies to quilting -- at least to my stash.

The guild had the annual Raffle Mania at this week's meeting. That's an opportunity for members to fling no-longer-loved quilt-related stuff and, perhaps, get some new-to-them stuff in return.  It's a bucket raffle where each item has a paper bag where you put tickets for what you'd like to win. If you really want it, put in many tickets.  Members get free raffle tickets based on our attendance (one ticket) and nametag-wearing (one ticket) for the past year and we can buy more tickets for .50 each. Proceeds go to the charity fund.

There were over 100 items put out for sale, mostly in bundles (multiple books; bags of fabric). For my part I took 40+ books, a thread rack, and other notions. I took 61 yards of fabric (I weighed it: 4 yards to a pound) that I bagged by theme (30's, Christmas, etc.) I got 18 free tickets and spent $10 for 20 more tickets.

In return I won 8 books (all discards from the guild library, it turned out), a box of ribbon (why did I put a ticket in that bag?) and a LOT of fabric. I weighed it:  99 yards.  Not so equal but definitely an opposite reaction!



This was the gem.  65 FQs of African prints  (16-1/4 yards) -- some from AQS (dated 2011) and a bundle from Vogie's in Nebraska.  Plus the book Quilt Africa by Pat Parker and Jennie Williamson with great ideas for using these colorful prints.







On Friday I stopped at an estate sale (I was intrigued by the architecture of the condo/townhouse). There wasn't much of anything left but there was a bin with fabric.  I took all the cotton that looked promising and asked the price.  "How about $5?" he said.  Sold!  Back home I measured:  11-3/4 yards.

110-3/4 yards for $15 = .135 (thirteen and a half cents) per yard.  I may not be able to avoid acquiring fabric, but I do try to get bargains!

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I didn't sew very much this week.


Frolic, Part 8 involves sets of units.

The 16-patch/Ohio Star blocks are still on the design wall. I have 16 more to make for a 54" x 60" lap-sized quilt.

Progress is slow on my OMG which are the favors for the Magpies' meet up.  I've finished three out of fifteen. As I get the hang of the pattern I'm getting faster.  I'm not revealing what I'm making but here is some of the stash going into them.





I'm linking up with other quiltmakers:
 Oh Scrap!
  Monday Making
 Design Wall Monday

14 comments:

  1. Weeellllll. . . . . .if you go by weight and count the weight of the books you took, your stash might be "lighter." 😊 13.5c per yard - wow! Good deal.

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  2. You better get sewing Nann! :)

    Thanks for linking your great wins with Oh Scrap!

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  3. Holy Cow! You came home from guild with a hall! I hope you enjoyed it while finding a new home in your stash and quilt book library.

    I like the starry quilt on your design wall!

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  4. you are definitely the queen of bargain fabric nann! those african prints looks mighty tempting...great score! btw i love the gray checkerboard and stars...

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  5. New fabric is such fun. I especially love the African prints.

    Helen

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  6. Great haul on the fabric! Now you need to get busy and sew it all up! Lol! I agree about Newton’s Third Law! I’ve started a through cleaning of my studio and most I have to show at the moment is a bigger mess! But it WILL get better!

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  7. Hi Nann! I was trying to explain Newton's Third Law myself this weekend. In very simple terms actually because it was to a two-year-old. But nevertheless, it still applied! I didn't tell him it was Newton's Third Law either - I thought I'd save giving credit where credit is due for when he's a bit older. HA! What a FUN guild idea with Raffle Mania. HAHA - a box of ribbon - what were you thinking?? Seriously - were you feeling sorry that the bag was empty? NINETY-NINE YARDS of fabric. You realize that is nearly a football field of fabric. WOW - did you SCORE. Can't tell I love football, can you?! Finally, I love the different fabrics you chose for the 16-patch/Ohio Star quilt. Those stars really shine. I posted a message for you over on Gail's website from last week's to-do post (I don't want to repeat it here, if you get notified by email). ~smile~ Roseanne

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  8. That has to be one of the lowest price-per-yard hauls I've seen yet!

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  9. I have a six yard African wax print in the washer as I type, I've started buying them for backings. I'm sure that ribbon will come in for something, if not then there's always the raffle next year.

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  10. I can't imagine anyone wanting to part with that stash of African fabric! It looks like it is all in original packaging.

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  11. The African-inspired fabric - girl, you scored! I love what Wanda over at Exuberant Color does with her fabrics of that type.

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  12. your [post made me laugh :-D
    But winning those African prints - that is pretty awesome!!!
    I am happy to help in case you need a hand hauling it all home :-p

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  13. You certainly brought home a lot of fabric. Wishing you lots of fun using it up, too.

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  14. You definitely get several gold stars for being thrifty with the fabric refresh of your stash. Some out, some in. Have fun playing with your new acquisitions. Love the Ohio Star quilt. I've not see that type of setting before. Very cool.

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