Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sneak Attack!

I didn't think that reading a local shop's emailed newsletter would start me off on a quilt shopping binge, but that's exactly what happened here tonight.  It's not even a shop that's close enough for me to shop at--rarely, anyway.  Well, I guess I COULD, but I just don't head over in that direction very often.  In any event, the shop owner is celebrating her birthday later this month and mentioned a quilt pattern called Cake Walk, and in the background was a photo of a really cute quilt.

Have I never seen this quilt before?  It's not exactly new, but I guess if I ever saw it, I wasn't in the right mood to feel I couldn't live without making it, but apparently that's exactly how I felt tonight.


I do love Lori Holt's stuff, and after a bit of searching, I found the pattern on Etsy in Lori's own shop.  Along with another pattern.  And have you seen that new feature Etsy has where they post photos of what OTHER customers with similar tastes went on to buy?  Killer.  And I don't really think I mean that in a good sense; I mean that it's death to the budget.

Okay, admittedly I DID purchase a gift for a friend while I was in there punching keys on the computer, and I feel pretty good about that so far . . . .  That could change, though, if I decide I can't give it up once it arrives.

Then I started to worry about Thimbleberries.  Did you know Lynette Jensen is dialing back in about a year and probably won't be producing as much?  If I don't have enough Thimbleberries neutrals to go with all the other fabric I've amassed over the years, what WILL I do?  So that led to another search and another dent in my budget.

Sadly for the local shop that started the whole thing, I don't think I'll be going there for the owner's birthday event.  I don't really have any money left for it.

One of my goals for 2013 was to be more conscious about my purchases, and I can't quite decide if I was tonight or not.  I have very good reasons for buying what I did, but I think I could probably have lived quite nicely without it.  So here it is, only 1/24th of the way into the new year and I don't think I'm doing very good so far.  Then again, I still have 23/24th of the year left to get better and make up for this weak moment.  Glass half full.

So, how are you doing with your goals?

7 comments:

Nonnie said...

I have so passed my goal for the next 3 months at least. I just don't know what happened. I don't need the items but I had to have them. What is wrong with me? I say nothing is. Being a quilter definitely has not taught me budgeting that is for sure. . I wouldn't have it any other way. :0)

JoAnne said...

I made that cake quilt! Here is a link to my blog entry about it. It is really fun. There are some other variations out there with one or two of the cakestands having cupcakes instead of cakes, too.
http://thepatrioticquilter.blogspot.com/2011/12/at-last-reveal.html

Teresa in Music City said...

I SO know what you mean! I'm trying to be more "responsible" with my spending too, but it's really hard to do! I find that I have to avoid a lot of looking around because I am so inspired by all the new patterns and fabrics out there. I went shop hopping with some friends yesterday, and I did exercise some definite will power, only buying what I just couldn't live without, instead of what I loved and wanted. But I would have been better off if I'd just not gone - there's no way I don't bring home fabric from a trip like that! It's a constant battle!!!

Marie said...

I live about 40 miles south of Lynette's studio -- we were Christmas shopping in Hutchinson and the shop was having a "sale" so I figured something was up ... the usual samples etc were not on display either .... nor was she wandering around!

Sinta Renee said...

You are so funny Kim! I thought I would also make an effort to think before I buy this year. Fortunately I have Cake Walk already... even cut out of Me & My Sisters fabrics! There was a blogger that made it and substituted one of the blocks for a cake stand with cupcakes under a dome... it was really cute like that.

CathyK said...

I am afraid I am in the same boat. I said I was NOT going to purchase anymore fabric or kits until I finished the kits I currently have and put a dent in my millions of towers, layer cakes, charms etc. I am NOT doing well on this goal! I think I have a problem...

Rabid Quilter from California said...

Well, you sure made ME look! I know this pattern because I subscribe to Lori's blog but I forgot about it. Of course, I had to go to her blog and find out how I could buy it. . . thanks a bunch. . . I'll add it to my "someday" pile of wonderful patterns!
LOVE your blog!