Miss Allison Takes Me Shopping

Oh my.  I am so excited for today that I could almost burst.  My dear friend, Allison, asked me a couple of weeks ago if I wanted to go to the Moda Warehouse with her for a shopping trip.  Well of course I do and I feel oh so honored to have been asked.  She's picking me up between 6:30 and 7 this morning so I really need to go get ready.

We arrive before it opens and get a chance to just visit for a few minutes before we notice that they have unlocked the doors.  Allison is so excited to be here this early and I am thankful to have been agreeable to the early morning hours.  It is oh so worth it to see her eyes sparkle.  Our first stop is the sample room where she tells me that she used to be able to buy these on the discount table but hasn't seen them there recently.  Dang, that would be fun.  From there we take a gander at the quilts on display in the outer atrium.  How beautiful they all are.  We stop in the little notions room for a glance at a small portion of what is available and then onto the warehouse.  As we are walking down the final hallway, Allison stops at an office where a friend of hers tells her that she will be thrilled with the selection.  Woohoo.  Let's go.



Oh My -- this is the first thing I see.  This is going to be such fun.  We grab carts and get started.

As we are shopping, we discover other quilting friends and stop to say hi to Deb and LouJane.  We then head for the discount area where I spot, much to Allison's surprise and squeal of delight, samples being sold.  She and I both start grabbing like crazy and soon Deb is doing the same.  We separate then and go about our shopping.  As we enter the notions warehouse, they are coming out and we stop and talk again.  Carts are getting fuller.  They are all going to retreat this weekend and I am just a wee bit envious.  I know, I know, I only have a couple of weeks to go.

I find so many wonderful treasures in the notions room.  Honestly.  I should take a picture of all the goodies but our carts at checkout will just have to do.

After the notions room, I head back into the fabric warehouse to pick up some backings as they have batiks on sale for such a good price.  I have never ever purchased fabric by the bolt before.  It's kinda fun.  I also find the backing for this years mystery quilt so I head for the checkouts with four bolts.  It's definitely time to go.  Oh my.  I check out first so that Allison can get a subtotal and after some confusion and about half an hour of hearing things ring up, we are on our way with a very full van.  We are finished much earlier than Allison is used to since we got such an early start so I offer to treat for lunch and she agrees.  Velvet Taco -- we are coming for you.

It's a great lunch and time spent with a treasured friend.  Too soon it has to end and we are on the way back to the house to unload my goodies.  Allison stays around for quite awhile and we have an absolutely grand visit.  Thank you, my friend, for such a wonderful day.  I truly appreciate it.