Stash enhancement

I'm home again from the SCQ Retreat in Perth, a lovely city in a beautiful spot, where the weather Gods were kind to us providing sunshine and blue skies for our stay. It was good - to meet old friends, make some new ones, do a little stitching, eat too much, drink a little wine, laugh a lot, watch some demonstrations, learn some techniques, be inspired by other's work, ride a train, see some sights, cruise the Swan River, relax, chat, and go shopping.

I can report that three buses of quilting women did much to help the local economy, however I was reasonably self controlled and did not shop like those who needed to post their many purchases ahead of them because they would not fit in their case, but this pile of lovely stuff is the booty with which I came home. There are about 30 fat quarters in that lot, plus some yardage, and some hand dyed felt as well as wonderful Oliver Twist embroidery threads. Some were gifts from suppliers or the retreat organisers and the remainder purchased at very reduced costs - for example with the spools of threads, it was buy one get one free and most of the fabric was great value at $2 a fat quarter for a bundle of ten. The book called Textile Artistry came from a second hand book shop in Fremantle and cost $10 - edited by the late Valerie Campbell-Harding, it was produced by the British Embroiderer's Guild in 1996 and is full of useful information and great ideas. It was a very lucky find amongst some very ordinary craft books on a shelf in the back corner of the shop.

Now to put it all to good use........