I love the vendor's mall at a quilt show and I take the opportunity to splurge and treat myself to all the goodies I've been wanting, without paying shipping! Here are the latest notions and treats I picked up. I'll go into more detail after I read them/use them/create with them and share my thoughts and reviews in later posts.
I have been waiting for the book The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting Long-Arm and Sit-Down to be released for quite some time but I decided to wait after I saw a copy in a booth because it was over $40! However, I ended up going back for it at the last minute because it was the only copy and I'm going to have time to read it this weekend. It's a significant book with so much great information that will be very applicable to my situation. I really haven't read too much about sit-down quilting so I'm looking forward to some great tips and designs. (Once I was home I saw that the book is on sale at Connecting Threads and even with dollar exchange and shipping, it would have saved me about $15. Well, I guess my impatience cost me a few bucks but then again, no waiting! ;)
Retro Clean is a product used for laundering vintage textiles. I have been gearing up to do some quilting on my mother's linen tablecloth (à la Kelly Cline; you can see her in action HERE) and this product gently removes the stains and yellowing one often finds on older fabrics. After regular washing you simply soak the item in a solution of Retro Clean for up to 48 hours then wash and rinse again. You can find a tutorial and more information HERE. I can't wait to see how the table cloth turns out!
I was excited to find the Foxglove Cottage straw needles I had on my list. These are favourites of Joanna Figueroa (you can watch a video of all her favourite notions HERE). I'm always looking for great hand needles to make the binding process easy and more enjoyable. Both Joanna and Kimberly Jolly say these glide through the fabric! The pack of Size 11 needles in the cute tube were less than $5 bucks.
This container of pins was just what I've been looking for. They are similar to regular flat-head flower quilting pins but they are numbered. What a super way to keep track of my blocks as I piece them and rows as they get joined. No more post-it notes wasted! The whole container was $15 and there are plenty of pins numbered from 1-10. The packaging suggests you can also use a permanent marker to add letters or more numbers as well. The vendor said there was another set coming out with more numbers and/or letters (can't remember exactly).

When I got my last order from Missouri Star Quilt Company they added in a Mini Wacky Web template. (You can see the quilt Jenny Doan makes with it HERE.) It was great to receive the free template but there are special foundation papers that need to be used in conjunction with the shape. I didn't know about those and thus, didn't order any and figured I wouldn't be able to use the Wacky Web. I was very surprised to find the papers at one booth and pleased I didn't need to wait until my next M*QC order. I think it's a cool quilt pattern and I might try a smaller version one day. At least now I have the tools ready to go when I am.
My final purchase was the number 6 Moda Frivols tin I've had on my wish list. I have only had one tin so far because they are just soooo expensive here. While I love the concept and products, up to $65 is a lot for basically 42- 7x7" squares of fabric. I only bought the first one because it was on clearance. I don't think the product has taken off here in Canada. That being said, I really loved the Strawberry Fields Revisited Fig Tree & Co. fabric line (again, Joanna Figueroa!) and when I saw that the quilt pattern include was that of a Churn Dash block, I had to have it. That style of quilt has also been on my one-day-to-do list so this was a perfect combination for me! I haven't even opened the tin yet because that is the best part - finding out what little bonus frivol is included and delighting in the luscious prints in the squares of fabric! Yes, this one was a naughty indulgence but I was brave and tried to negotiate the price and she ended up throwing in the M*QC papers I shared above. That made it a little less painful to pay so much for that tin!

I had a great day at the show and was completely wowed by the gorgeous quilts I saw. I always feel inspired (and somewhat inadequate!) when I see the work other quilters are doing. It amazes me how creative and talented people are!