4th Annual Piggy Bank Savings Challenge

This was my 2nd year participating with the Piggy Bank Savings Challenge hosted by Val at Val's Quilting Studio. 

Last year, I saved $88.48 between August 1st and July 5th. 

(Here is the post where I shared the total & here is how I spent it.)

This year I managed to save $92.52.

(It would have been more, but I took some big, heavy blankets that are hard on my washing machine to the laundromat with a few of the quarters I had tucked away.)

Looking at the funds I saved, it is tempting to splurge on pretty fabrics for a new project.

However, my main crafty goal this year has been to finish some UFOs.

(If you missed the post with the priorities for this year, it is here.)

So, I am going to buy a couple of yards of interfacing that I need for two UFOs and put the rest of the money towards a student loan.

If you would like to see how everyone else did that signed up for the challenge, you may find the links here. 

And if you think you might like to join the fun next year, 

sign ups begin on July 13th for the 

5th Annual Piggy Bank Savings = Money for Quilting Challenge on Val's blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee

Row by Row Experience 2016 - 4 Shops Visited

I am afraid it did not take me long to spend the money I stashed away during the Piggy Bank Savings. If you remember, I planned to split the money I saved with my husband. However, he insisted I should keep it and use the full amount on my Row by Row shopping. Don't tell anyone, but I think he likes me. ;) 


If you are interested, sign-ups for the 4th Annual Piggy Bank Savings = Money for Quilting Challenge are open until August 1st at Val's Quilting Studio.

Last year I found myself intrigued by blog posts and Facebook posts about the Row by Row Experience. Although this annual event began in 2011, last year was the first time I heard about it. (As I am not a big quilter, this is not shocking.)

This year, I decided to collect a few rows and give it a try. My first stop was at Sewn Loverly in Wilsonville, Oregon. I picked up the kit for their row. And, I fell in love with the license plates, so I had to get one. 

While I was there, I picked up some buttons. (I see the white buttons and think, "Snowmen!") I already used one of the ladybugs on my CQJP 2016 February block. I also splurged on 3 fat quarters.

I have also visited A Common Thread in Tigard, Oregon. They had 2 kits and I could not decide between the village scene and the stack of cups. So... I bought both. These are both panels to be colored in. They had fabric marker sets on sale, too. However, I will be ironing wax paper on the back of mine and coloring them in with crayons - a technique I learned through this tutorial. The shop did recommend spraying the fabric with water and ironing it before coloring and sewing it into the quilt top.

Again, I had to get the license plate. I also fell in love with two of the Row by Row fabrics - one with license plates and one that reads Home Sweet Home. I bought a fat quarter of each and a half yard of a twiggy looking fabric that I look forward to using in a crazy quilt block.

On Saturday, my husband took me to 2 quilt shops. First, we stopped at Quilting Delights in Happy Valley, Oregon. I only planned to pick up the pattern, but their kit was laser cut and I just could not resist! (It even includes two heart-shaped buttons for the doorknobs. Too cute!)

I could not resist their license plate, either. (I'm weak, what can I say... They are so cute.)

Next we stopped at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe & Mercantile in West Linn, Oregon. I absolutely love their row and really wanted to buy the kit. However, I am hoping to make a quilt for our home and my husband is not a big fan of pastel colors. So, I am toying with a few ideas for this one. Do you see those tiny little hexies? One of the quilts hanging between the campers is made with them. The fabric I purchased (beneath the hexies and the pattern) has an iron-on adhesive to stabilize the appliqued pieces.

I love this license plate, too. And, if you know me at all, you know I love snowmen. I could not pass up a fat quarter of this darling snowman print.

I would love to know if you are collecting Row by Row patterns. If so, which shop has your favorite row? 

(Please note: I am not affiliated with any of the shops mentioned in this post.)

Piggy Bank Savings Challenge

Last July I decided to join the Piggy Bank Savings = Money for Quilting Challenge hosted by Val at Val's Quilting Studio.

Between August 1, 2015 and July 6th, 2016 I managed to save $88.48. It is more than I would have saved without the challenge. It would have been more if I had not fallen out of my cash only habit for a few months. 

My hubby and I decided to split the amount we saved. I think my half is going to be invested in a few kits for the Row by Row Experience 2016. (My husband even volunteered to visit some quilt shops with me - without me asking. That's love there!)

Thank you for hosting the challenge Val!

Piggy Bank Savings Challenge

While visiting the blog Tanya Quilts in Colorado last week, I learned about the annual "Piggy Bank Savings = Money for Quilting Challenge" at Val's Quilting Studio.

I decided it was time to empty out our "piggy bank" (a.k.a. sun tea pitcher) and sign up for the 3rd annual challenge. If you are interested in joining the fun, you have until August 1st to sign up. You may find all of the details here on Val's blog.

After discussing the challenge with my hubby and discussing a couple of goals for the money we would be saving through July 6th of 2016, I think we decided we would split the money we saved. My half would be used for crazy quilting supplies. His half would be used for golf (or possibly brewing supplies.) He said, "One of them sounds fun!" I agreed.

It would be fun to pinch pennies together!

Renee