Sunday Stash #254 – NYC

I’m back, baby cakes! And como no (“of course”) I brought some fabric with me! Over the past twenty-five days, Mr. Sparkles and I went on an around the world holiday celebrating our 37/50th birthdays. We visited New York City, then took the Queen Mary 2 trans-Atlantic crossing to Southampton, England, where we immediately transited to Lisbon, then spent our final week in Madrid. For now I won’t put you through the slideshow experience, but you may need to buckle up in the future for a quick around-the-grounds. Otherwise, darlings, you can investigate the #mollisparkles3750 on Instagram to see some of the immediate highlights. If that leaves you wet for more, come over and I’ll drown us with caprioskas and stories that will surely titillate. You know I’m good for it!

While in NYC, the first place I headed was to see Charles at Candy’s Quilting. I really didn’t need anything except some fabric company, but of course I left with the four half yard cuts of the above and below. The top pastel number is so unlike me, but Spring had me in a tizzy so what are you gonna do? It’s from a FreeSpirit collection by Margot Elena called Library of Flowers: Stories and Songbirds. I’m always on the look out for interesting orange fabrics that don’t read Halloween, and these pomegranates from FreeSpirit definitely fit the bill. I can’t wait to serve them up randomly, or even as a fussy cut sampler platter.

After plucking those two from the crowd, things got a bit more Molli-Sparkles-traditional with this sparkling C+S Basics Netorious delight from Alexia Marcela Abegg. I couldn’t remember if I had any in my stash already or not, but really, with that shimmy-shimmy-shake would it even matter? Not one bit, so I just bought some more! It’s like a sugar-frosted waffle cone that I just want to lick! Finally, I added another black-and-white to the collection (someday there will be a whole b/w quilt, I swear!) This industrial chic fabric is called Loft Life – Lamps designed by Hoodie Crescent for Stof Fabrics. It’s ripe for some fussy cuts, which brings me to our next little soiree …

At this stage I must confess, we may have had a few drinks before stumbling into Gotham Quilts to pick up these pieces. This was my first trip to NYC since the relocation of Gotham Quilts and while the space was greater, I didn’t find much fabric I didn’t already have. (You know you’re doing well when you have a bigger selection than the fabric shop!) However, while Mr. Sparkles camped out in the boyfriend chair, and I rummaged through the fat quarter piles–unsolicited feedback alert, but Go-Q, I don’t like how you have these arranged–I did find two surprising pieces. Without selvages, I have no idea what either of them are (help!) but those faces! I just want to fussy cut my heart out and put it on a sleeve because of these two. These are some illustration wins, and kudos to the surface designer!

And that was all the fabric in NYC! I knew I had the international portions coming up so I didn’t want to spoil the luggage potential too soon. Plus as you’ll soon discover over the next two weeks, Lisbon and Madrid really knocked it out of the sewing room!