Saturday, April 02, 2011

Admission

I wasn't going to blog about this, or even admit this out loud to anyone, but when I pondered it some more, I figured it might be an inspiration to others like me.

I applique a lot. I buy a lot of thread. I'm *always* looking for perfect colors to have handy for those nights when I get home late and sit down to applique and unwind for a few minutes before bedtime. A couple of weeks ago, I spent an hour searching through tons of thread here looking for a particular color. I ended up using a spool I had on hand, but it wasn't perfect. I had to be really careful to hide those stitches, and the block took longer to needle turn than it would have with the perfect color thread.

Perfect. I used that word several times in the paragraph above. No, I'm not perfect. But when I get a color stuck in my head, then I'm on a quest to find it. I've even put aside an applique project until I could accomplish said goal. I've changed fabrics because I couldn't find the perfect thread. I'm stubborn about certain things. If you don't know me, you're laughing. If you do know me, you've just said, "Yep, she is." It's okay. You can say it. You won't hurt my feelings. I admit it!

My first go-to place for anything quilt related is the Fat Quarter Shop. Everyone who knows me knows that. Kimberly and her staff are most accommodating in my quests. If it's out there, they'll find it for me. That's only one of the reasons why I love them so much. Their whole business is based on customer service and satisfaction. Being as busy as I am with little time to actually get out to 3D stores, I truly appreciate having the FQS only a button poke away!

But I digress....

I was getting very sleepy but still was scrolling through pages and pages of thread on the FQS site when (gasp) THIS popped up! I literally almost fell out of my chair. An extremely dear friend had just discussed this a week or so before, and I sort of decided then that I would think about getting myself one for my 60th birthday later this summer.

O.M.G. - do you realize how hard it was to type "60th birthday"? Surely, that must be incorrect! Let's see. 2011 minus 1951 equals - sheesh, my calculator must be wrong. That can't possibly be right!

But I digress again....

Wait, let me stop for a moment to quit hyperventilating.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, better now.

Anyway, I thought about it for several days. And then I thought about it some more. Then I put it in my cart. Then I took it out.

Then I finally poked the button.

Then I had a panic attack for about a nanosecond, and then started smiling. I went to bed smiling. I woke up smiling. And when I checked my emails the next day, there was a notification that it had shipped.

I never track shipping. Never. But on this order, I watched that puppy slowly move halfway across the country. A couple of days later when I saw it had been dropped on my doorstep, I got hung up at work and had to make a few stops on the way home, all the while just biting at the bit to get my hands on that package!

It was worth the wait. When I opened that box, I gasped out loud again!



I sat there for a few minutes just taking it all in.

Then I opened the case. And my mouth fell open.



And I just sat there for the longest time just looking. Then I took that picture to capture it all in pristine condition.

Honestly, I sat there for a good hour just looking and smiling and smiling.

And you know what? That perfect thread I was looking for? It was right there!

An awfully long post, but I'll sum it up this way.

1. If you're an appliquer, try this Aurifil Mako 50 wt. cotton. Trust me. You won't know it's not silk when you're stitching.

2. If you buy a lot of thread like I do, this is perfect. There I've used that word again.

3. If you're constantly looking for thread at quilt shows, stop. You now have nearly every color you'll ever need again in your whole life.

4. If Kimberly runs out of these cases, she'll get one for you. She's perfect like that!

Good thing thread doesn't have to go on Judy's stash reports!!

35 comments:

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Good 4 You! Happy Birthday!

laurie said...

Except for neutral piecing thread, and quilting thread, you will never have to buy thread again. Good for you

julieQ said...

Oooo, that IS pretty!! Very pretty...love it!

Cathy said...

I think the thread set is a wonderful gift to yourself, and an investment in your art.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh wow! I can imagine you sitting and smiling~ I would be too! Hope you get lots of enjoyment out of your new threads! :-)

Jen said...

I completely understand. We dont' have a lot of money for fabric at our house - so when we were on a mini-vacation recently, and my hubby gave me a little money and told me to go to the quilt shop, he was floored that I spent $30 on three spools of Aurifil. He just didn't get it... but I sure did! I was so excited! Congrats on the huge score, and on your special birthday!

JudyT said...

Dang, now I have to restart thinking your 60th present! lol Early Happy Birthday and have fun with your new treasure.

Baskets Of Quilts said...

Very pretty! Happy early birthday!

Gretchen said...

You are the BEST! I love your posts and I love the fact that thread can make you smile:) I would be smiling too. There is miles and miles of creativity all in that little case. Enjoy!

Sharon said...

I love auriful for applique. I've even picked out silk thread because I just didn't like how it looked on a small piece I was working on. Good for you, you'll always have the right color on hand!

Carol said...

What a fantastic birthday gift to yourself! Good for you! ENJOY! I'm going to be 60 this year too...YIKES! How did that happen?

carol fun said...

What loveliness! And what a perfect birthday gift. I know this is will keep you smiling for a long time. Love that thread and totally agree that FQS is the best! Happy Birthday!

Jocelyn said...

woo-hoo what an amazing birthday present for yourself!! I've never used this line of thread before, but I hear all kinds of wonderful things about it. Enjoy!

anniem said...

You forgot to add...it shipped free. Maybe you even get the next few shipments free. Good for you , you only turn 60 once. I'll live vicariously through you 'cause that sure is a wonderous sight that you have there. Happy early bday

Darling Jill Quilts said...

Oh I gasped when I clicked the link! Good for you for splurging on yourself!!!

Now, my question.... Do you WORK for Aurifil??? bwhahahaha

Enjoy it!! But I *know* that you already are!

Loretta said...

I love this thread in my long arm because it blends so well and I rarely have any problems with it breaking as I'm quilting. Good for you to get this case of thread early!
And if it's any consolation, I'll be the same age as you for 2 weeks, before you take over the lead again.

Deb said...

OMG It's beautiful I can see why you're still smiling. Happy early birthday. I thought that 50 was a really tough age for me. Didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to celebrate or even acknowledge that it existed, but we all get older anyway...which is a shame. Quilters should get to live FOREVER.

Mimi said...

That was definitely the best gift you could have given yourself!!

Anonymous said...

Well Vicky, good for you! You deserve it. You work hard and you just plain ol' deserve it. And, I have seen your needleturn in person, and you NEED good materials. I'm very happy for you! I can't talk, I just spent about $300 give or take on a boat load of Valdani for my birthday last month.

Pam said...

That's the grownup version of a brand new jumbo box of crayons. Enjoy!

Darlene said...

OMG, that's perfect!!! Every appliquer should own one. I have a birthday in July but it's not a special birthday - sigh!

Enjoy, Vicky, you deserve it.

Yvette said...

You deserve it! Happy Birthday!!!!!

Now I have to resist one for myself. Maybe on my birthday!

Laura said...

Yummy thread! Like a candy store for quilters.

Barbara said...

What a beautiful present to give yourself. You could look at your upcoming birthday a few ways. I think the best way is you are 1 year closer to retirement so that you can enjoy your stash that you have worked so hard to build up! Enjoy your thread, you worked hard for it!

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous. This is my dream. Can I wait until my birthday? Mother's Day sounds much better. Did I say I was jealous,however, with that said...I am so very, very happy for you. What a great Birthday for you. Sally King

Anonymous said...

Better than a box of chocolates I say! Happy Birthday to you!!

Amy said...

What a cool birthday present! Would be great to have all of those threads at your disposal.

Unknown said...

Oh. My. I'm just in awe. WOW. Rarely am I truly jealous but I have to say I am now!
I just adore Aurifil for piecing and applique work, it is just so smooth.
The only problem I have had is the variegation is much too long for quilting. I ended up picking out a large section and switching to a shorter variation King Tut.

SewCalGal said...

Excellent purchase. I am confident you will love it. Definitely inspirational post, as now I want one too!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Glenda in Florida said...

I totally understand! About 10 years ago, I was living overseas and it was hard to find nice thread. I placed an on-line order for every color of Mettler--the large spool for all that came in one, and the regular size for all the others. On the order form, under comments, you were supposed to list the color that you wanted--instead I wrote that I wanted every color except for about a half dozen that I already had. Then, I followed up with an e-mail, to be sure they understood that yes, indeed, I was ordering about 160 spools of thread. AND...I save all my empty spools until I replace them, so I still have every color. It might be time to get a new color chart though, and make sure one didn't walk off, and I have a hole in my supply without knowing. I think you and I might be related!

Brenda said...

I've had mine for a couple of years and have never regretted the purchase.

Quilter Kathy said...

Oh my gosh...you lucky duck! What a great present...happy birthday!

Perry said...

I agree with badlandsqults, Good for you!!! Happy Birthday early. Oh, and when you reach that day, you can buy another present for yourself, because when you turn 60 you can say your memory is bad and you don't remember buying yourself anything, lol. This is just the perfect thing for you I think! And it doesn't get counted, right

kathyk said...

Vicky

I am so glad you got yourself that great thread gift for your 60th:) I am going to be 60 in May and like you I can barely get that out at times! I wanted to lose 60 lbs for my 60th, well that is on hold, but I am still trying:) I am thinking of buying myself a Featherweight in my birth year:)

Take care and that case looks awesome and you deserve it:) With the price of gas just think of the money you are saving:) lol

KathyK

Becky said...

Great way to celebrate your birthday!!! Have a great day!!!! Love Aurifil thread.