ROAD TRIP INSPIRATIONS

Took advantage of the spring like weather we experienced the last few days, caught up on shopping errands one day and took a road trip to a winter fair here in Montana yesterday.  While exploring the small town we went to I ran across a quaint little quilt shop and of course had to go in.  I have to admit I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to fabric.  Had to remind myself that I am not stockpiling anymore fabric as I overheard my husband and shop keeper having this conversation.  Shopkeeper "they say men who die with the most toys wins, but a woman who dies with the most fabric wins"  Husband's reply "we're winning!!!".   I hate to admit it but he is right, however,  I couldn't leave without something, so I bought a few yards of fabric to use making some "boy" things.  My husband and I are expecting our 16th grandchild, a boy, in a couple of months and we are excited about it, we haven't had a new boy for awhile.  I have come to the conclusion that even though I can buy for these kids, it's just not in my nature to not make them things as well.  With my new fabric as well utilizing what I had in my stash I spent the afternoon making a few things every mother needs for their newborn.

Receiving blankets, bibs and burp clothes, one can't have too many with a newborn.  In the past I have used Velcro closures on bibs, but today decided to add snaps.

I like putting snaps on things and have been doing so for many, many years.  I don't attach snaps the traditional way, but have had better success than most doing it my way.  My Grandfather made me a handy little tool to use for snaps 40 some years ago and I have used it on hundreds, maybe thousands of snaps over the years.  After putting snaps on all the flannel shirts I made for Christmas it became obvious that my little tool was finally wearing out, so I asked my husband to make me a new one.  I used the new one today for the first time and it worked just as well as the old.

I came across another good use for some fabric scraps as well,

a bib to match Dad's new shirt !!!

 

I have another day or two of sewing before these items go into the mail, as I expect the little one will arrive before I do and Mom and Dad will need these things when they bring him home.

 

I spent quite a bit of time in that quilt shop and while there a young lady came in to purchase a quilting magazine, because she had quilted the quilt on the cover.  I was excited to learn she did long-arm quilting, so I had the conversation with her about quilting a t-shirt quilt.  She does live 100 miles away, so I may have to look for someone closer, but I didn't leave without her number.

 

I have once again began a new project before finishing existing ones, but I am waiting for some more t-shirts for the quilt and am in no immediate hurry to finish the window treatment I need to finish, or those are the excuses I have given myself today.