Saturday, March 4, 2017

We shopped til we dropped


I was hoping to have some art created since this is supposed to be a mixed media and altered book blog.  Unfortunately, I am still not up to par, so I'll show some things I bought while recently out and about.

I should know better than to shop with my shop-aholic friend Kathy, who wanted to go to the new JoAnn's to shop for fabric and ribbon, along with a few embellishments and beads.

Some of you may remember I have a $60.00 (USD) annual craft budget and I had already spent $15.21 (USD, before taxes) back in early January.  Kathy and I had no coupons on this day, so everything had to be on sale, or I paid full price.  My total was $26.92 (USD), including tax.   That means I've spent over $43.00 and it's only mid February.  In my defense, some of that was fabric and (very expensive) ribbon I purchased for Kathy's upcoming birthday. 

One nice thing was, Kathy and I shared a large bag of TH washi tape.  I would never have been able to afford it otherwise.  The tags were already on my desk, because I purchased those at the dollar store earlier in the week.  I fear I went overboard buying those Idea-ology images, but they were already pre-cut, and I knew they would save lots of time when I needed an image quickly, but didn't want to fussy cut it.  

The brads and the "found relatives" were impulse buys, egged on by Kathy, who also bought one of each.

To the right of the thread are some loose brads. Kathy and I split a package of them.

Other than the cookie cutters which I hope to use for art, not baking cookies, everything else was fabric.

Both Kathy and I went ga-ga over the Paris inspired fabric, so I bought a half yard for her and a half yard for me.  I also bought her a 1/4 yard of lace and 2 yards of very expensive trim that was not on sale.

The cat fabric is not my style, but for some reason it called to me, so I bought a half yard, as I did the birds.

I also bought Kathy a half yard of this coffee fabric.  She wants to cut hers into individual pieces/designs for a fabric coffee journal she is making, and I got enough to create a fabric book cover in case I ever get enough pages to fill it.  

Again, I got a bit carried away photographing this fabric, but it's because I'm in love with it.  One nice thing is I think I have enough thread to last the rest of the year, but I may have to fall back on some that is not variegated.

Thanks for taking this trip with me.  I must NOT buy anything else till the end of the year, or I will go over my craft budget.   So, I hope you will encourage me to use what I purchased, rather than just looking at it (and stroking it).

21 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Ooooooooh, what lovely goodies you bought, great stuff! Love all the fabrics and trims, makes me want to hop over and play! You have BIG fun playing with your goodies and a fun weekend, hops you feel better soon, hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

wow, that is an early blitz on your budget! I could never be so restrained (as you know!) but I look forward to seeing some great projects using it all during the year ahead. Love the Paris themed fabric. Sadly, I would just stroke it!!

froebelsternchen said...

I love what you purchased - and you did right on it. That's for sure enough inspirational stuff to get you busy with it the whole year long ! Well done Elizabeth!
We must nourish ourselves now and then...
you inspire me to hop to a german online craft store and at least go imaginary shopping there...lol.
The fabrics are so beautiful and all the other stuff you got is for sure also wonderful to use!
Once again: WELL DONE Elizabeth!
Get well soooon!
Happy weekend!

pearshapedcrafting said...

That's quite a big saving and surely it doesn't count as part of your budget if you bought things for Kathy! The fabrics look fabulous and I think those fussy cut images will prove themselves to be a good buy! I had a little shop at the lovely craft shop we have near the caravan yesterday! Going to a workshop with my friends Sarah an Helen next week and I will get back some money I paid out way back last December so I may just 'fall by the wayside' again! Get well soon! Hugs, Chrisx

kaybee said...

Nothing like a good shopping trip to lift the spirit! Hope you are feeling a lot better and I looking forward to seeing what you do with all your goodies!

kathyinozarks said...

I haven't done a shopping trip like this in a couple years now-and it is always a fun day indeed.
I do more shopping online now, but a good day out with a good friend is the best
enjoy

Nancy said...

Oh what a fun excursion! You found some wonderful things, and bargains to boot. Love the TH vintage images, and it will save you time when you're ready to use them. The coffee fabric- great. And I hand it to you, you hit all the departments in the store from baking/decorating to paper to fabric and thread. Well done! Had to laugh at your comment on the quilt with "half-square triangles"- it sure is a confusing term. "Pieced square" is probably a better one as it's just a square made from two right triangles. How it ever got the other name I don't know, but that's the general term for those "pieced squares". Enjoy your loot.

chrissie said...

A lot of goodies and I am sure you will using them. Always worth spending the money if you enjoy what you buy

Love Chrissie xx

Divers and Sundry said...

Wow, you certainly found some finds! I look forward to seeing what you do with them. I'm not an artist, but I love looking in shops like that with all the variety of cool stuff :)

Janet said...

I agree, gifts should not have to come out of your craft budget! I knew you were on a budget, but not how much. Good grief woman, you should call your yourself the "frugal crafter" and give lessons on stretching money 'til it screams! Impressive.

Meggymay said...

Oh wow, what a fabulous selection of goodies. the materials I can see why they had to be taken home with you. I saw that you bought gifts as well and like the others suggest maybe they shouldn't come from your budget.
I'm sure you will be having a lot of fun using the new goodies in the coming months and I look forward to seeing what you make.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

Wow- you did shop till you dropped Elizabeth. I think you got some fun supplies. I love those TH cut out photos of the people. How cool. I haven't seen them before. And your fabric is great. Not sure which piece if my favorite as they are all so different. But you can do a lot with those pieces for certain. Glad to hear you are at least feeling well enough to step out for awhile and hope you are really back on your feet ASAP. No more trip to Joanne's I guess, but you can stay busy for quite awhile. :) Hugs-Erika

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, you got some real bargains, that's a really low price for the Tim Holz stuff, the dancers look wonderful :-). The washi tapes and fabrics have great designs on them, especially the kitty cat one, it's prrrr-fect (grin!). Have fun! I :-)

CJ Kennedy said...

What a great haul! Me thinks you need a bigger boat (budget) (-;

sheila 77 said...

Oh that was great fun. You did go to town. But these are necessary buys for us as artists, right? I adore the last piece of fabric, I could use lots of tiny bits of it - although it might be too good to cut, that sometimes (often) happens. And of course you had to buy the Idea-ology images because they were precut, we must save time where we can. The "found relatives" were fun too, I often wonder if anyone recognises any of these people. OK, so I could go on and on admiring each piece, and I will go back and have another look.
Hope you are feeling a lot, lot better.
love
Sheila

Cindy McMath said...

Can't wait to see what you make with all these goodies Elizabeth. Just love the bird fabric! My favourite colours.

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

How fun -- I want to go shopping with you!! That Paris fabric is wonderful. I want to see what you make from it too. I never go to Joann's and rarely to Michael's (since I go to Scrap and the...er....dump....) but I might have to go check things out....

Rita said...

Presents shouldn't count in the craft budget...even when you are making them. Either that or you should have a separate gift making budget for the year. ;) Enjoy the goodies!!

Anonymous said...

Can't imagine why you bought that coffee fabric, ha ha. Great haul - maybe you can find some freebies to augment your budget at the end of a church fair or something. But I suspect you will find a way. Fancy cut images are kind of cool, especially if you are like me and hate to do it. xox

Linda Kunsman said...

oh wow what a super stash of products you hauled in!!! I am in love with the Paris fabric especially but love all that you brought home. I know I'm going to see lots of fabulous projects with all these goodies. What fun!

Dianne said...

I can see why you couldn't resist these items...so cute! i too am a push over for fabric! it's just better for me to stay away from that store- lol! you will use it all, I am quite sure... ;)