I found a cute kit last night to take to sewing retreat in October. It's a "clothespin bag" in the shape of a little girl's dress. They used this pattern --
http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?code=354137And then the local shop put together retro style 1950s fabrics. The photo on the pattern front shows red, white & blue. The local shop kept the size/scale of the child's print fabrics, but the base of the light color fabric is cream. Instead of red accent fabric, it's more of a coral. Instead of the true blue, it's more teal or turquoise. Their display sample was in jeweltone colors that I liked better, but this is ok and if it's as fun to make as it looks, I can make more in other fabrics. I certainly have enough cotton prints in the house.
I also bought a purse pattern I've looked at a few times, a wedge-shaped ruler I've been trying to find for several months (this was the 5th shop I'd looked), and a brand new Linda Lee pattern that I'd been planning to order online and was thrilled to be able to buy locally.
It's a little unstructured jacket. They had a sample in the trunk show which was too small for me, but several other people tried on and it was very flattering. I think it will be nice for work as the weather gets cooler, an alternate to a cardigan sweater.
The shop's owner and staff went way over and above what I expected for a free program. I felt obligated to purchase some stuff to make it worth their staying late and being open especially for our group.
I was really glad to be able to buy things that I had already planned to buy elsewhere, plus the impulse buy of that too-cute kit. I've been checking around this morning and their prices were comparable with what I would have paid online, I didn't have to pay for shipping or wait, plus they gave us a 20% discount.
I do not like to shop, so this was a good experience for me.