Sunday Stash: Sometimes It’s Just Worth It

Look what showed up in my stash yesterday…. Do you recognize it?

Nummers, by Emma Jones for Ikea

To say that it just “showed up” in my stash might be glossing over a few of the more onerous details of the acquisition.

It was a very physically and emotionally taxing experience.

Imagine…. 100 degree heat, 2 hours in the car, a long, exhausting hike all the way through the entire IKEA showroom with 5 children ages 7 and under in tow.

Say what?!?!?!  Yes, I took 5 children to Ikea just to get a piece of fabric.

But I had no choice in the matter.  After my friend Bianca posted these pictures in our Late Night Quilters Facebook group, I just had to have it.  Immediately.  

Bianca’s quilt… This is the back. Isn’t it amazing?!

Here’s the front of Bianca’s quilt. It’s so clean, colorful and lovely.

I’d seen the fabric several times before on blogs and facebook groups.  But something about Bianca’s quilt made me lose a little of my self control (ok, well, I admit,  I never really have been known for self-control).

You know how it is… I couldn’t sleep until this fabric had a home in my sewing room.   I admit, I am freakin’ crazy. But I dragged my friend Michelle with me, and she agreed wholeheartedly that the fabric was worth the long, arduous journey.

Once we arrived, I thought we could just quickly run through the store directly to the textile wall, and pick up our treasure.  But I always forget just how massive that store is!  It’s beyond massive, it’s gargantuan. And of course, there was a little twist of fate in our future that I had no way of anticipating.

We walked into the crisp, cool, icy white Swedish interior to see a large sign posted.

The childcare wonderland we had been gushing about to our kids for the last hour was closed do to “unforeseeable circumstances”.

Apparently a child lost his pull-up and all its contents in the foam pit, and the entire play area was being overhauled by a HAZMAT team.

But this little hitch didn’t stop us.

Did we turn around and get back in the car?   No way.

Did we at least go back and pull out a couple of strollers?  Huh. uh. Waste of time.

We hiked up our big girl panties and pressed on.

We passed right by the shopping carts at a mad trot, screaming to the children behind us, “Move, Move, Move!!”

As we advanced into the showroom, the children scattered like mice, zooming off into the nooks and crannies of the teeny tiny Swedish dummy rooms throughout the store.  After we found them tucked into various beds and hiding in mini wardrobes, we gathered them back together, and threatened to cancel the rest of summer unless they stayed together and held hands the rest of the way.

When we realized that they really were the ones who held all the power in the situation, and that our future with this lovely fabric depended on their cooperation, without blinking an eye, Michelle and I made the ultimate sacrifice.

We promised them a trip to Chucky Cheese on the way home.  Gasp. Choke.

When we finally found the fabric wall (at the very end of the store, past miles of tiny couches, pressed wood cabinets, oblong white lamps and kitchen utensils) we were so frustrated and exhausted that we had lost any ability to reason or make good decisions.

I picked up the bolt and madly clutched it to my chest.  Another shopper approached me and kindly asked, “Are you done cutting your piece?”

The kids tore at my clothes and whined.  I was oblivious.  I gave her the Bruce Willis crazy horse eye look, and she put her hands up and slowly backed away.

I’m just kidding.  I did offer the lady a fat quarter.  hee hee hee (no really, I offered her as much as she wanted, and she wisely passed it up.)

So here it is.  The whole bolt.  Mine.

The whole enchilada

The kids really were angels considering what we were asking of them.  They take the promise of Chucky Cheese very seriously.

Three of our shopping assistants

And Michelle and I held up our end of the bargain.  We did let them spend the rest of the afternoon eating crappy pizza and carrying around cups filled with shiny, filthy tokens.

And we had a peaceful, silent car ride all the way home.

I was dead-tired last night.  No late night quilting for me.

But sometimes, it’s just worth it.

P.S. I’m linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.