Early Birthday, Late Anniversary, Christmas in July....you get the picture....

This turned out to be a long post...Just got back Sunday evening from a weekend of fun, giggles, oohhs & ahhhs, sounds of  "I want this...Where did you find this...Will there be enough for me...I don't care, I'm buying it anyway...I've never seen this before...Perfect for my _____project..."  and so on....

We went on a 6 quilt shop bus trip over two days....links available on further down...I brought my camera, but was so wrapped up in myself that I didn't even take it out of the case...

But now that I am home, I took advantage of my sheetless bed and white mattress cover and took pictures of my loot!  See pictures further down....

We started Saturday morning at Lone Star Quiltworks in Bryan (all cities in Texas). The pictures in the link are at her new location...she just moved next door within the month and now has a lot more space and a lot more inventory and ideas!

..DH and I got up at 5:00am to get into Bryan, ate breakfast there and was at the shop at 7:30 as ordered (requested).. bus left at 8:15...and hit these shops....

Giddings  -  All Around the Block  (I googled and came up with this blog which had a great post on it)

Victoria  -  Quilter's Patch

New Braunfels - Quilt Haus

Spent the night,,, then the next day..

Lakeway  - Cotton Cupboard

Georgetown - Poppy Quilt 'n Sew

Waco - Tomorrow's Quilts

This was my first quilt hop EVER and I want to bend your ears back talking about it....Great fun! Great shops! Great people!  That Sat & Sun, 7 buses (one from each shop) took off with 40 quilters each, and made a round robin..we had about 1 1/2 hrs at each shop and stopped early enough to eat, relax in our motel rooms and get a good nights sleep before the next day....

and here is what I came home with ....don't ask me what came from where, I can't keep everything straight! 

I also bought pins and pins, and more pins, but these I wanted to showcase..I needed a new cutter so indulged myself...

Have you ever tried threading a needle on a moving bus?  One of the girls gave a testimonial about this needle threader, so I got one...I think a couple of others did the same thing...It has been around for awhile, as most of you know, but I hesitated until I heard about someone else's experience....It is great!  So good for these ole eyes...

I have been hearing about Heat Press for awhile and was able to find a couple of packages...hopefully it will help me use/get rid of a lot of larger batting pieces that I have...

I am a sucker for wood...when I saw this I had to have it...and it was the last big one in the shop...I think I might have barely gotten ahead of someone else who's eye was on it..she ended up with a smaller one...I didn't advertise I bought it..they even put it in a box, wrapped in bubble wrap for me...that's how much money I spent there!

My first layer cake.....I may just sew several together and make two quilts.....

This is the only book I bought...the fonts are great (has a disc inside) and I saw an ABC quilt made from it.....so CUTE!

I added to my collection of browns.....some from sale racks....

Fell in love with the tear drops.... humm, it does look familar...I wonder....well, if I have more, it is still a great piece of design.  This is one of my stripes I bought this trip... and I know I have a little of the orange left from my mystery quilt I am now quilting, but love the color and it goes so well with its' companions.....

A sale item which I would have bought full price...love it!  and more stripes....

And I added more to my red, white & black collection..with another stripe...don't you love those circles!!

...and I might also add the cell fabric to my w/b/r group...depends on how the blue/aqua fits in...

And finally, my only kit I bought....got the packet, read the pattern instructions, and realized I needed a smiggen more parts...Luckily I was able to run back into the store and get them before we left....

Always read before you leave......if possible....

Now, if I just don't goof in the cutting.....

So I am pooped!  My wallet is flat!  And I am happy!