Friday, September 5, 2014

My Own Personal Quilt Shop Hop

This was my own personal shop hop so it might seem kinda boring to you, but wowsers was it exciting for me. About 10 seconds before we left on our trip my husband told me to find a quilt store in every state we intended to drive through. Gasp! Hello? These things take time and planning you know!
Nobody comes out of a quilt store empty handed....
So I did the best I could and of course, not having the time to properly plan things out, I ended up missing out on a state or two. Such a shame. It was the timing! Quilt shops close by 5 or 5:30 pm. and rarely open before 9:30 or 10 am. I missed getting to a quilt store in Wyoming by a mere 30 minutes. Oklahoma was a mess of commitments made with family so by the time I found a quilt store close enough to check out, my options were extremely limited. The one I finally made it to had permanently closed its doors, which made me want to kick them. Oklahoma, you seriously need more quilt stores! hehe I had to make do with a vintage quilt block bought from an antique store. Maybe I can make a throw pillow out of it in memory of our trip?
Love the shirting fabrics
Quilt shops listed in order of attendance--not how wonderful they might or might not be:
1.  Quilters Corner in Deer Lodge, Montana:  A fun stop because the guys were doing the car museum thing so I actually had time to kill. Sadly it wasn't really my kind of store. Too much wild animal, lodgey type stuff so I made do with some beautiful batiks.

2.  The Quilt Rack in North Platte, Nebraska:  A bit more out of the way than my husband liked, but a great store. Well worth the stop. My eyes about popped out of my head from all the fatquarters that were readily available and stacked literally everywhere. I loved the mix of civil war fabrics, florals, geometrics etc. and I could have spent hours looking for treasure. There was one bolt of fabric that caught my eye on the way out the door... it haunted me for hours. Why oh why didn't I get a piece of that fabric?

3.  Prairie Point Junction in Cozad, Nebraska:  A gem of a store. You lucky, lucky quilters. It totally felt like coming home and I flitted around the store with a big ol' smile on my face. When I spied some Kim Diel fabric lurking under the cutting table, the lady in the shop cut me a couple fat quarters without even wincing. I bought some amazing Clover applique pins there too.

4.  Material Girls in Witchita, Kansas:  A store I've wanted to go into since forever. (Jacquie Gering was always raving about it on her blog.) I don't see how 'moi' could possibly be considered a modern quilter, but I love blending some new fabrics into the mix just to see what happens. This store has a really fun vibe, making you want to grab up a little of everything. Very open layout (which is inviting) plus the gals working the cash register were super friendly. Points for that.

5.  Ladybugz Quilt & Co. in Montrose, Colorado:  I wish this store was right down the street from me. It's so not fair. What a great balance of different lines, colors and styles of fabric! I ignored the apron and bag patterns that my cousin was swooning over and went straight to the good stuff. It's stores like this that help keep us quilter people checking back in on a regular basis.

6.  Sew Many Quilts in Bend, Oregon:  When I lived in the area many years ago, it was my absolute favorite store. While still a wonderful store (and I mean that sincerely), I did find that my tastes have changed a bit in the convening time. I'm still very drawn to several lines of fabric they carry but I didn't feel like I was about ready to hyperventilate from all the good choices. Sadly, it's the competition that probably makes this store feel less special than it used to. Wouldn't we all love to have 5 or 6 quilt stores in a 35 mile radius? Okay, I'd personally settle for 3.

7.  BJ's Quilt Basket in Bend, Oregon:  I didn't 'get' this store years ago and honestly felt a bit intimidated once I was inside, no particular reason why that I could figure out. This time I gleefully wandered around the store picking up random bits of interesting fabric. I do so appreciate finding unique bits of fabric to add into my stash! And I really wish my travel weary family hadn't been waiting for me right outside in the car. I could have used some more time without feeling rushed. Or not. My wallet was starting to feel very empty.

8.  Stitchin' Post in Sisters, Oregon:  An icon. Something for everyone and obviously they were all looking. I had two ladies practically push me out of the way while I was drooling over the fatquarter table. Seriously, I was quilting while they were still in kindergarten! You do not want to mess with a quilter attempting to make agonizing choices over wonderful pieces of fabric. Also, the merchandise stocked by the cash register is extremely distracting, practically mesmerizing if you want to know the truth. I might or might not have left in a fugue state just trying to resist temptation.

9.  Something to Crow About in Springfield, Oregon:  Yep--four stops just in Oregon! A little extra because my birthday was September 1st so my husband was spoiling me. What can I say about this store except that it's simply fabulous. I've been going there every chance I get for years. Someday I'm probably going to unload the reproduction/ civil war bolts right onto the cutting table and ask them to cut me a piece of every single one. It's just that good. And they gave me a percentage off for my birthday too! Love that store....

Obviously there's a lot of fabric to buy online these days, but I guessing some of us are very tactile people at heart. I love seeing, feeling, absorbing, even smelling fabrics. Yummmm...  It gets me revved up like nobodies business.*wink  And while I felt a bit guilty for buying more fabric in a three week period than I ever had before, it was an amazing experience. And now, I more fully appreciate the best of the local quilt stores available to us in our area: Woven Threads in Chelan, Washington. It definitely holds it own amongst the others with a great balance of lines and styles of fabric offered. We can't always find the exact color or print we're specifically looking for, but we can usually find a great substitute. It's so very important to keep on supporting our local businesses isn't it? I'll tell you what, I'll do my small part to help keep the local quilt store open (so hopefully you can pop in on it someday during your travels) and you just promise to keep doing the same with yours. lol

24 comments:

  1. what a way to make any trip even better...great eclectic mix to add to your stash... thanks to you I've been eyeballing all the bright greens I see...about ready to take the plunge...

    the antique piece would make a throw pillow...or become the center of a little quilt...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel as if I've just been on a virtual shop hop! Thank you so much for taking the time to share all the details. I've never been to any of those shops (or most of those states!) So I am seriously enjoying them via you. I love your commentary, the way the heart of a quilter spills out of your mouth is magical. So glad to have you home and sharing again! And even more glad you got to enjoy this wonderful adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. For some reason I am feeling the urgent need to go fabric shopping! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! What a wonderful trip!!! Your husband, like mine, is a doll to let you check out all those quilt shops!!!! I've never been to any of those shops so thanks for a great tour and sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know the staff in quilt shops want to have a life outside the store but for us travelers, we wish they would open at 8:30 am and close at 7:30 pm or so. Same with antique shops.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, you were in my neighborhood. I hope you enjoyed Nebraska. The Quilt Rack is about 100 miles from where I live and is a great shop. I live about 50 miles from Prairie Point Junction and call it the happy quilt shop. The store is inviting with wonderful samples, fabrics and great lighting. The staff is kind and helpful and I am so glad to be able to call the friends.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like my kind of shop hop/trip! It makes me sad that so many great shops have closed. There is no substitute to seeing fabric in person and the ideas, help, friendship and inspiration ... The LQS is an important place!! I'm glad you got to enjoy so many on your trip :0)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks so much for taking time to visit us at Prairie Point Junction in Cozad, Nebraska. We have a great time here, so glad that you enjoyed your experience. We'd love to have you stop in again if your travels take you past our door.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You took me with you on your shop hop. In July I went to central Ohio to visit family. They are not quilters but graciously took me to several we found on the internet in the area. How frustrating to find that all but one, in Marysville, was closed :(. The one I did find open was to northern in style for this southern girl. I am more into bright and colorful fabrics. I did stumble upon one on the way north to Amish country where I found a stencil that worked great on a baby quilt I was working on. Fabric to dark and drab for my taste though. So happy you shared your hop with us. As Ellen said, I feel the need to go buy fabric. :) Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kudos to your hubby for being willing. What fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great trip and a great husband!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fun trip and lots of inspiring goodies to keep you busy. Happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ah, so sweet of your hubby. Lovely finds too! I wish I had known you were so close, although I know you had family waiting for you. I'm not that far from Sisters or bend. Happy belated birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great birthday gift. I can tell from the photo you had a wonderful time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Some lovely purchases there - and thanks for the tour!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kisses and hugs to your wonderful patient hubby!! Mine tolerates me going into one store, but paces up and down to the point I feel bad.
    Your tastes do change over time, so don't feel bad about going off a store. I know my fabric choices today are very different from those I made a few years back, and every store has its own "feel".
    I also totally agree with you. Every time I try to shop online I fail. I can't see the colours properly, and like you, I love to feel things. I just can't get inspired. I also love the smell of a fabric shop. It must be a faint odour from the dyes or chemicals used in the preparation process, but I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lol, We're planning a road trip and I've been looking up quilt shops to see along the way. It wont be as many as you were able to visit though. I loved reading all your fun descriptions of the shops.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds so wonderful I hope to make some stops on a trip later this month. Now I can hardly wait!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a fabulous trip! You did so well with all those shops.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Short notice aside, how nice that your husband would invite you to do that! It sounds like you found some great shops! Makes me want to go on a road trip!!! cheers

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the vintage quilt block and I’d say its a lovely alternative to new fabric. Yes! You definitely have to make it into a mini something as a trip reminder.

    Anyway judging by your montage you didn’t miss out on adding to your stash at all! Fabulous.

    And Happy Birthday for September 1st. (All the best people are born in September!)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a splendid man you are married to. You made some great purchases. Happy Belated birthday and I have to agree with the previous poster (All the best people are born in September!)

    ReplyDelete
  23. What an awesome roadtrip and a very understanding husband!!! Happy Birthday!!!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting! I love getting comments and always try to respond via email. Please leave an email in the comment to ensure a return reply! {Many of you are popping up as Anonymous for some reason, so I have no idea who it is.} Regardless, I appreciate all the comments and read every single one.