There are two reasons I visit a quilt shop.
To buy fabric for a design already planned and printed or just to visit (generally its with a friend) In the past few days I have had such an opportunity.
The Kaffe Fassett fabrics are from the Quilted Skein in La Grange Texas, A shop full of the most delightful fabrics and yarn.
I bought for a purpose. The 'paperweight by Rowan ' fabrics are a staple in my stash and to find so many in one place was a bonus. I always buy 'companion' fabrics at the same time. However, I've a list on my computer of fabrics that need to go into my stash and most of the fabrics above were there, missing are three fabrics I've samples of, but haven't come across yet.
I keep a record of where I bought the fabric using a business card in the stash and scanned for reference on my computer.
I, personally design on the spot. A legacy from my years as a fashion designer.
Take this fabric for instance. The large green space would host an appliqué bird of multi color, I have two yards to make rather a large quilt.

The background fabric gives a wonderful opportunity for quilting, I will outline some of the images and be creative in some of the others. I bought 3 companion fabrics for appliqué and borders.
These fabrics are from Echino Textiles, and for my Aussie friends I discovered this morning that Victorian Textiles carry these.
I bought these fabrics from Las Colchas Quilt shop in San Antonio.
I loved this shop, situated in an old kit house its brimming with ideas, examples and fabulous fabrics.
The owners and staff were delightful, just everything you want during a visit to a quilt store.
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