For Christmas, my hubby received a gift card from Rebecca to Harbor Freight… if you don’t know…that’s a tool store! It’s a MAN’S store! They have just about everything a man could want and then some!!! They aren’t super great tools like DeWalt and Porter Cable and Milwaukee, but for some things, it’s a nice store to find things. That gift card was itching to be used and until the end of the year, there was a 25% off coupon for most items in the store. W-e-l-l…. you know what that meant… a trip to that store! Right? Yep, you guessed it!! (It’s the same town as the Antique stores!)
W-e-l-l… it just so happens that my Aunt Bonnie told me about a store in the same town that was selling off their fabrics for $2.00/yard! The store is called Sandi’s Sewing Senter and “it’s a WOMAN’S store!” It’s on the square in Marion, Illinois, and I was itching to see what they had. I thought for $2.00/yard, it was probably cheap fabrics, but I could only be sure if I went and saw for myself.
Sandi’s closed at 5:00 this evening and Harbor Freight closed at 8:00, so guess where we got to go first???
The fabrics were in the back and as I made my way toward them, I could already see they were “calling my name” so to speak! I did find a few… well, more than a few…
Turns out the man who does the sewing machine repair has been diagnosed with colon and liver cancer and he is trying to sell off some of the fabrics to make it easier for his wife. (Personally, between you and me, I’d love to get in there and organize his fabrics…) There were some on bolts and plenty more just flat folds. Here are a few pictures of their store.
My hubby and he got to talking while I did some damage shopping, I mean! There were Benartex, Kona Bay, Windham, Northcott, etc fabrics… These are the good ones, if you didn’t know. I ended up buying 22 yards of 13 different pieces. I have plenty to start off the New Year. Let me show you what I found…
I looked at some of the bolt ends and the prices varied from $11.98 to $15.99! SCORE! I could have gotten more, but decided to stop with these 13 prints. Would you like to see what I bought? It was a pretty full bag…
Sneak peek into the bag…
Aren’t they colorful?
I’m ready for Spring!!
Here are a few close ups of them…
I love the little black dots in the yellow fabric. I’m not usually a fan of yellow fabrics, but this one is very pretty!
Anyone thinking “Civil War” dresses???
One more look at my stack…
There was no one in the store while we were there, so my hubby and the owner did lots of talking, exchanging stories and encouraging one another. He took our name down and we did the same with him. It was a nice visit and if you feel so inclined, Greg could use some extra prayers!
Oh..and my hubby ended up with a bag and a box from Harbor Freight, but I won’t share his stash! :o) We were just 2 happy campers with smiles on our faces driving home!!!
I have some reader pictures to share tomorrow…so be sure and come back!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oooh, I would have enjoyed shopping there, too, Jeanne! You got some wonderful prints! (Ten Ping suggests that that tiny pink print would be just perfect for HER!! LOL)
I went to a fabric store today, too, but just looked, didn’t buy. I used an amazing amount of restraint and self-control. Of course, Ron was with me…. 😉
Hi Charlotte,
He had s whole section of Christmas fabrics too!!!
My hubby wants to go back to Harbor Freight on Jan 1st to use another 25% off coupon…I might have to see if the sewing place will be open too!!!
My hubby was the one encouraging me to buy as much as I wanted…probably because we were going to Harbor Freight next!!!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
How pretty all those fabrics look together, Jeanne! They look like a breath of fresh air with all this rainy, windy weather we have been having! I guess you could say, that I too, would like to straighten up all those fabrics at the store, but I guess it’s hard for them and probably after straightening them up, people would get them all mixed up again. I love the pretty quilted pieces on display! What fun it must have been to look through all the fabrics without others around! Greg will be getting some prayers from me!
Guess who is going to Harbor Freight today? My hubby! It seems to be the “go to place” for men who are handy!
Hi Linda ,
I went into my sewing room first thing this morning to see if those fabrics were just as pretty as they were last night…they were!!!
My hubby got a new flyer in the mail today with another 25% off coupon for the 31st thru the 1st…he just smiled!!!
I hope your hubby found just what he wanted!
Blessings, Jeanne
What gorgeous fabrics! I see many fabrics the American Girls would like. Maybe some for the “Little Women?”The fabric store looks like a fun store too! Just up your alley! Prayers for Greg too.
It sounds like you and George both had a fun shopping day.
My husband went to Harbor Freight two days ago. Definitely a man’s store. Honey Poodle and I sat out in the car listening to music! Ha ha.
Hi Paula,
I’m glad you like my fabric choices…it was a lot of fun shopping last night…
Women and fabric…men and tools!!! Two things that will always be!!!
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Paula, I’ve heard that Harbor Freight also has some organizing things that work great in sewing rooms! Maybe take a look next time??? (I’m ashamed to say, I’ve never been in Harbor Freight, even though there’s one a couple of miles from me!! Tsk tsk!)
Love the eye candy stack of fabrics! Beautiful. My favorite is right in the middle. Looks like a dark blue/gray with golden flowers/suns. That would make a lovely dress for the bigger girls. So sad to hear about the store owner. Will be thinking of him. Hope the store is able to stay open. It looks like it is a popular place even though it was quiet yesterday.
More plumbing woes for us. Try as he could the plumber couldn’t get the end cap off of the sink sewer drain line. Cast iron of course. So, after much ado with Google, blow torch etc., we think we will cut it and reattach with plastic. Still thinking today. And wouldn’t you know, I was outside under the deck moving things around from the garage to be able to get to the pipes, when I discovered that our outdoor water faucet was leaking a lot. Yet another household problem to add to all of the other recent things. Frozen waterline. Right at the connection we put in years ago when it developed a pinhole. Got it loose, but couldn’t remove the connector because the house has shifted since then. Earthquake country. So, only thing we could do was cut the waterline and put in a plug or no water inside as there is no shut off. So, no water faucets anywhere in the yard now. Fixing it will be a chore for later on. I think I would much rather have gone to the fabric store and other person definitely Harbor Freight. 🙂
Hi Joy,
Yes, that blue fabric with the yellow flowers is very pretty. There’s a tiny dot of pink in it too…
Oh, my goodness Joy…you really are having home troubles!!! I’m so sorry that everything is happening to you…sure wish my hubby loved closer to you…he’d be so happy to help you out…
I saw another Giggi dumpling on the forum… *sigh*
I hope things get better soon….
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what fun you had! My favorite fabric is the pink one with little flowers. You placed a coin on top of it. I think you have your stash of fabrics for the Spring and Summer.
I bet your dollies were happy when you got home with all of the pretty fabrics. I bet each one was hinting that you should make a dress for her. I bet you got a ton of dolly hugs (laugh).
I definitely will remember the fabric store owner in my prayers.
Three days until 2019! Wow!
Hi Dorothy,
Yes, that sweet pink fabric us really a pretty one… and yes. I think I have a great head start on the year.
Where did this year go??? I cant believe it’s almost over…
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
When I looked at your stack and compared it to the mixed up situation in the store, I really wanted you to go back and organize for him as a lovely get well gift. People would buy so much more if the store looked more like the contents of your bag.
I agree with Joy about the blue and gold Civil War fabric, which would work well for fall and winter. I’d love to see you make something lovely with that.
It’s so nice to think that you’ll be going back in only a few days.
Someone here talked about an eye problem that sounds like mine. Do you remember what day that was?
Many thanks.
Hi Marilyn,
I’ve been thinking about doing that for him…it would help them out and I’d get to see every single piece of fabric in that place!! :o)
Suzette had cataract surgery recently and
I commented that I thought I was going to have surgery for mine…ugh…
I’ll try to look back and see if it was someone else..
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I am so far behind in reading your blog that I have no hope of remembering everything I wanted to comment on. I’ve covered three days in the last 15 minutes. My hubby got me a nice new printer for Christmas. He was in my study one day while I was printing out patterns and noticed my printer took forever. So he bought me a new one. I didn’t think I needed one but I now know I did. I was as behind in printing out patterns as I am in reading your blog and I’m sure it had to do with my slow printer. So I’ve been doing that off and on for the past two days.
I just had to tell you for sure that I love the old tractor you bought. My hubby would be blown away if I could find him something like that. He loves old tractors. I often buy him old tractor calendars for his shop.
Now to the important stuff. Seeing your wonderful fabric purchases made my fingers start twitching. I’ve been trying to tidy up some things after Christmas and have a few things of the housekeeping variety yet to go before I can get back in my sewing room. I don’t take down my Christmas things until after Epiphany. My hubby’s birthday is January 6. My birthday is the start of the twelve days of Christmas and his is the final day. So, I have about ten days left before I have to start putting away Christmas. I hope I can get some sewing done during that time. I have some matching t-shirts to embroider for my granddaughter and her three Build-A-Bear bears (she reminded me there were three so I guess that’s a heads up) before her birthday party on 1/5. Her birthday is New Year’s Eve so it’s hopeless to have her party that day so we get the holidays over with and then celebrate her.
I will try to do better at reading you blog so my comments are more timely. Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas.
Hi Barbara,
Woohoo…a new printer is a great gift!! High 5 to your hubby!!
You sound like you have plenty to keep you busy for a really long time… I need to make a plan for the future… I can at least figure out who’s going to be up first in 2019!!
I did have a wonderful Christmas and even though yours was busy, I hope it was nice!
Blessings, Jeanne
6th & 7th from the top in the last photo are my favorite. I got to browse JoAnn’s Fabrics at my leisure. I found a un-used gift card in a purse I pulled from a box, and our state has a law there’s no expiration on gift cards. I bought thread at half price, fleece for dog coats and booties and some cottons which seemed to be yelling my name. My surprise purchase was some pillow case fabric in a yellow and cream floral, which seems perfect for a Caroline dress.
We have had so many gatherings for the holidays and company but it has all been fun. I’m moving slow but getting more done now. I had my knee replaced on Dec 6 and it is going to be a good thing. The first week and a half were a blurr but now each day it is stronger and better. The PT guy comes to the house which is great and I did the stairs a couple times. Whoopie!
The fabric is a wonderful collection and won’t it be fun to open the door and grab one of those pretty prints ! Your idea of helping him is just something your kind heart would do. Maybe he would let you choose some fabric for your work?
I must get back to dolly repair… I heard myself telling people ” after the first of the year”…. and now it is here.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!