Every year I look forward to finding out the dates for the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Fabric Fair. This is an event put on by the women’s auxiliary to raise money each year selling donated craft & sewing items. They set up in a big old grocery store building and are usually only open for four days. Day one is always a crazy frenzy, but also the best time to find treasure. My mom, sister and I arrived a little over an hour early to stand in line (I’d say there was already about 20-30 people ahead of us) Then once they open the doors everyone rushes in to fill up bags (everything is priced, its not fill a bag) or carts (there are only a few carts and I wish there wasn’t any, because of space) and its great fun rooting through everything.
I didn’t go to the fabric area first this time, it was just so crowded. I really only ended up with a few small pieces of fabric this year, and nothing that would make your jaw drop. However I found some neat things in the quilting room and tucked in on the projects table.
The worst part about the fabric fair is the check out lines, they take so long. I am sure we waited over an hour to check out. While they have several lanes to check out, all your items have to be gone through and added up. I’m pretty sure a better system could be devised but this is how its always been, so I just expect the long check out lines.
The empty photos are from later in the afternoon and the next morning. I went back to pick up supplies for the next crafternoon project, and while it is nice and empty-its also very picked over after day one. I did hear talk about the prices being raised, and I will say I noticed some of the fabrics & yarn had been raised since the previous years, but it is still a good bargain!
The last photo I found on the newspaper’s website and gives you a peek at the checkout lines when they were actually starting to die down. I’d say this was about noon and the doors had opened at 9. I know because of where I see my sister and mom in line. You can spot the back of me too in the upper left hand side with a teal blue sweater on and my big mushroom bag slung over my shoulder. This was after I had already checked out once, and wanted to make a second look through everything now that it wasn’t as crowded.