Wednesday 28 May 2008

Quick post.

A few of you have enquired about the warehouse I go to. Unfortunately a couple of the ladies who have asked about it are coming up as no-reply so I can't answer directly. It is called Abakhan Fabrics and is on the coast road near Mostyn, North Wales. They have a website and give directions on there. This is a great place to go if you are a fabric junkie - especially for dressmaking. Sometimes their selection of quilting fabrics is terrible but lately they have had some really nice fabrics. I bought a piece last week - I measured it when I got home and it was almost 3 yards long and cost me £3.04. I have said before that sometimes the fabric has a fault in it - a small rip etc. Out of the 3 yard piece there was just a tiny section measuring about 4 inches square that I could not use so really good value.


Well I had a great trip on Sunday to the car boot sale. Not a sewing machine in sight but I bought loads of books as I read a lot and have trouble keeping myself supplied - lol ! I was on the lookout for anything I could use for quilting and got these


3 100% cotton shirts which I will have great delight in chopping up.


I got these 2 nice thimbles - picture is lousy sorry. I don't collect thimbles but took a shine to these.


And the bargain of the day was these




The pink is a Laura Ashley print and measures 46 by 68 inches and cost me 50p ( about $1 ) and the green is also a Laura Ashley print and is actually a pair of curtains. Each curtain is about 80 inches long and 50 inches wide. For these I paid a pound ( $2 ). Less than a loaf of bread - lol ! Not quite sure what they will be yet but I was really pleased to get them. They are pretty fabrics in excellent condition. I also bought a great little wall shelf which I will sand down and re-paint. There is another sale on Sunday in a differnt place so we may venture there too. The kids refuse to come as they say it is a load of old rubbish. Admittedly a lot of it is - I've chucked out better stuff than some people were selling - lol ! I'll be on the lookout again - you never know what you'll find.




Talking of finding stuff I came across these this week - a few abandoned Dear Jane blocks. I made about 60 and changed my mind about colours. The others got made into a quilt top but these are unloved and abandoned. I may just have a play with these....The picture actually makes them look nicer than what they are - they are very wishy-washy !
Not a lot of quilting done this week as I have been making cushion covers for a lady I know. I have been cursing the person who invented zips - lol ! Can't wait to do them then I can get back to the interesting stuff. :-)

23 comments:

Mad about Craft said...

I intend to go to Aberkhan fabrics tomorrow on my way to the North Welsh coast with DD, SofM and my God-daughter.

I hope there are some good things to be had!!!

Unknown said...

Great buys Andrea, always good when you can find a bargin.

julieQ said...

Love your dear jane blocks. Looks like you had wonderful success shopping!

Jeanne said...

Great shopping trip! Those Dear Jane blocks are too pretty to be abandoned. How about making them into a tote bag or a table runner or wallhanging? *s*

Anonymous said...

Hi Andrea,
Thanks for telling me where Abakan is. I did ask a couple of people last time I was over there and no-one could direct me. I will go there this time as I will have a hire car.
Your Dear Jane blocks are too good not to do something with. A table runner is an excellent idea for them.
I know I've said it before, but your work is truly beautiful.
Thanks for sharing
Cheers,
Jenny

Ali Honey said...

You got some bargains there, great buying......and keep looking for that machine!

Belvie said...

Great bargains!!

Wish your fabric store was easily accessible from this side of that "big pond". I can find lots of quilting fabrics in my area, but good garment fabrics are very hard to find.

Helen in the UK said...

You had some GREAT finds!! Always makes sense to snap up a bargain and figure out what to do with it later ... often after it has 'matured' in the stash for a while :)

Andrea said...

Hi Andrea! you´ve made Beautiful Blocks! your blog is fantastic!

Floss said...

You are such a good bargain finder when it comes to fabric. I think your little Jane blocks look lovely, maybe they could be a small dolls quilt, or even better made into a bag :)

Tonje said...

The Laura Ashley fabrics are lovely. I love car boot sales too...

Lynda said...

Love the Laura Ashley fabrics! I am so old that I can remember when Laura Ashley sold 'patchwork pieces' of fabrics which were just off-cuts from the garments they made. Think I have used all mine up. Shame!

quiltygal said...

Dont you just love it when you get a bargain like that I love going to the op-shops. I am going to have a connection with you soon my eldest daughter has decided to go to Wales to live!! her boyfriend has been over here for two yrs on a working hol & she is going back with him this has all happened very quickly 3weeks ago... we are just waiting for her British passport to come through and she will be off. She is going to a VERY small village in the Tregaron area.
Claire in Aus
ps I am having my first giveaway so come visit

meggie said...

I love those little blocks. I am sure you will find some nice plan for them.
I love Garage sales, boot sales etc. I have found a lot of great fabric that way.

chrisanne said...

Thanks so much for the details of the warehouse look forward to visiting it in a few weeks

Mad about Craft said...

Well! I did good at Aberkhan Fabrics, 34 metres of fabric and I could have bought more. The choice was good yesterday.

Rhonda said...

That warehouse sounds great but it's too far for me to drive or fly.....LOL
Love the dear jane's!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

I like the thimbles and your Dear Jane Blocks are pretty.

Chocolate Cat said...

What a great trip to the boot sale, you picked up some great bargains!

Unknown said...

I am not surprised that your "children" don´t want to go with you to the sale :) Great buyings you did.

*karendianne. said...

I'll be watching to see what you decide to do with those little blocks.

Fun find with the fabrics, too. Very happy ones, too.

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All good stuff here! :O)

Cathi said...

You did really well at that warehouse. The Laura Ashley prints are very pretty!
What about putting the little Jane Stickle blocks into a table runner. With some sashing, they'd look wonderful!