Embroidered Collage

I had fun picking up some new supplies at QSDS, both through the Vendor's Mall, stores set up in one row of hotel rooms, and the mini-Bazaar of stuff that teachers and students brought to sell.  The Mall was mostly high-end less common goodies, as you would expect at a seminar like this, with a local quilt shop added in for all the utilitarian bits and pieces.

I acquired one of the fancy Stef Francis inspiration packs I'd been seriously considering getting online for some time now.  This way I didn't have to pay shipping!  I also picked up some extra cocoons and such.  One bazaar table had some paper packs so I added a grab bag of Japanese papers, and then wasn't able to look at it until I got home because the bag was so full that I knew I'd never be able to get it all back in.

Mostly I bought fat-quarters of fabric, including a couple variegated hand-dyeds.  Primarily these are international imports from St. Theresa's Textiles.  I was most intrigued by the ones in the family of the the purple and peach piece to the right, because they are not entirely cottons.  Instead they are some sort of mixed thread brocade, with subtle patterns woven in, including small counted areas to fill with cross-stitch.  I indulged in a batik with cats, although I'm not sure I'll ever use it.  I agonized over stroking the marbled fabrics, which were $12 a fat quarter, but so beautiful, and finally decided to get a blue and purple one that I could pull many small jewels from.

My prize fabric purchase was a beautiful packet of surface designed fabrics by Els van Baarle being sold at the Contemporary Cloth booth.  The best part was that the owner let us look through the plastic bags holding these sample packets and pick which one we liked based on what was inside.  During most of my browsing I had a water themed one tucked under my arm but when I opened this packet up I switched immediately and handed over my $40.  Two of the fabrics are beautifully patterned sheers, then there's a large piece of a slightly nubbly purple done with patterns that I feel I can really use, and it is topped off with this wonderful textured pink silk that I just want to pet and never cut. 

I actually didn't spend all the money I had brought to purchase toys.  Because of the way I'm working right now, with the potential of paint and such going over the fabrics, it doesn't seem worth it to spend the extra money for the gorgeous stuff when I can have more freedom with the slightly cheaper stuff.  But I did have fun looking!