Thursday, September 30, 2010

Where are they???

Wow I just loved hearing how each of you started on your fabulous quilting journey. It makes my heart sing to know that every one of you has a special story.

And how fun is it to find new and exciting places to shop? Do you have a favorite quilt store that makes your credit card jump out of your wallet??

When you walk into your favorite shop, do you just want to stand there and breathe in all the loveliness??

Do you map out places on vacation trips, just to be sure that you will pass a quilt shop along the way?

What draws you to visit a quilt shop? The newest fabrics?

Friendliness of the staff?

Inspiration from their samples?

And tell me, please tell me, where is the furthest quilt shop you have ever visited? A different state? Country???

We want to hear about the BEST quilt shops you have ever visited! After all, we may be in your neck of the woods one day :-)

Happy Quilting!

29 comments:

Cheryl said...

My favorite local quilt shop is HeartFelt in Winter Haven,Fl. because of the friendliness and the beautiful fabrics,the one far away was Tha Needles Quilt Shop in Wellsboro ,PA.
I have to say my most favorite of all is The Suwannee Quilt Shop in Trenton, Fl. That shop is fantistic ! They even have a cafe to enjoy while there and the fabrics run through several rooms with antiques in each room ,the whole shop is at the old Coke Cola Company located in the very small country town of Trenton .

Susan said...

I see Cheryl already beat me to the plug for my all time favorite quilt shop, Needles Quilt Shop, but I'm lucky enough to have it less than 5 minutes from my home!

Joanne Lendaro said...

the best quilt shop I've EVER seen is Always in Stitches, in Noblesville, Indiana. They had bolts and bolts of fabric, a great selection in the clearance, yarn, classes, machines and a good staff. But my all time favorite was Fennell's in Altanta, Indiana. Barb, the owner was wonderful. Helpful and sweet as could be. It was her shop and BOM that got me started quilting. Barb always took the time to help me as a beginner with anything that I needed. Unfortunately as many small shops was hard hit by the economy hers was as well and is no longer around. That was back in Indiana. We relocated to New Hampshire and now my shop of choice is Four Pines in Claremont, NH. AGAIN, a small shop with a large personality. Great post!

Phyllis in Minnesota said...

I haven't met many quilt shops that arent' my most favorite at that time! Two that stand out are Grubers in St. Cloud, Mn. and Bear Patch in White Bear Lake, Mn. Both are large, great variety including wool, embroidery, etc. and have very friendly knowledgeable staff.

Unknown said...

I'm a very frugal quilter...I shop Goodwill when possible. Here in Ontario there are a few shops near me...but Fabricland in Oshawa carries higher end quilting fabrics that I shop whenever there is a sale...

Darlene said...

My favorite local shop is The Olde World Quilt Shoppe and fortunately is 65 miles away from me. LOL Yes, my credit card does a little jig when I visit the store. LOL

I had an opportunity to visit 21 quilt stores in Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin a few years ago and I could go on and on about several well established fabulous shops. :-)

Allie said...

Well, my favorite quilt shop is an hour away - it's HUGE and always has hundreds of bolts marked down, I could stay there all day! The one I bought my embroidery machines from is 4 hours away, in Canada, but they're closed now *sob*. They were lovely!
I would dearly love to go to Linderella's Quilt Works..oh yum...

Staci said...

Creations in Kerville, TX. The Quilt Basket and the Quilter's Market in Tucson, AZ.

Dangerous territory!

Loris said...

My favorite quilt shop is Quilter's Cupboard in Atascadero, Ca. It is about 30 miles from my home...which, actually, most things are.
The quilt shop I have visited furthest from my home was in Knight's Quilt shop in Maine. I love Maine :-) must visit there again!

Rita said...

We plan our vacations around baseball parks and quilt shops, that way everyone is happy. My favorite shop is The Olde World Quilt Shoppe near Phoenix, AZ. When I walked into this shop, I told myself, if I were to ever open a shop, it would look just like this. I live in NJ, so I've only been to the shop once, but it sure left an impression on my mind.

My second favorite would have to be Common Threads in Texas. It's a wonderful shop in a darling town. When I travel, I have used my Quilt Sampler Magazines to find the best shops in the area I'll be visiting.

nono said...

My favorite quilt shop (so far) is Olde City Quilts in Burlington, NJ. The 1st time I walked in it took my breath away, so many things to look at.

Kelly Ann said...

Is Cotton Patch Quilt Shop your local shop? That's my friend Laura's shop...she's the best...

Jennwith4 said...

Don't have a favorite yet but I love visiting them! The furthest one was in shipshwana, Indiana while visiting inlaws.

Crispy said...

We don't have really great quilt shops, though we have 4 of them. I try to spread my money around equally though. The furthest I've been is to Michigan, but nothing really fantastic in the area I was at. My favorite one in Seattle is no longer there In The Beginning, they went to strictly quilt patterns....which I don't think are all that great.

Crispy

Midlife Mom said...

Thank you for you kind comments this morning about my decorating!

I travel with my Hubby a lot on business and always make it a point to check out any and every quilt shop that is in the area. I guess I would have to say that the best one I have been in is Keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire. They have everything and lots of kits all cut out which I like. They also have a catalog that comes out regularly, you probably get it!

busyascanbe said...

I love the bottom quilt!

DoanLegacy said...

Beautiful and wonderful quilt shops and the pieces come together they are gorgeous!

Wendy said...

All my favourite shops are miles away but a few times a year I make a trip to them. Two Thimbles in Bellingham WA and Folk Tales in Lyndon WA are 2 of my favs. It's the samples that make my wallet shiver, shops need good displays and samples to make me purchase. The farthest shop I've visited is in Maui.

Barb said...

There is a shop in Hilo, Hawaii that has like a factory warehouse with tons of fabric called Got Fabric...just wonderful.

Micki said...

My favorite shop is online...The Fat Quarter Shop...just love, love, love it!
Micki

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

Loved hearing about your start in quilting - WOW - 25 years! Amazing! We try to find quilt shops whenever we go on vacation - and my favorite part is usually the samples, and then just drooling over fabric and patterns! And, I'm just so grateful for the pre-coordinated fabric lines! Thanks for the fun posts!

Becky said...

I've been to Quilter's Garden, too. It's south of Atlanta. A very different quilt shop.

The quilt shops that I love seem to take me to another place. I get so absorbed in the fabrics, the colors, the texture, the samples, --- that I forget where I am. I love a shop that knows my name:)

an encourager said...

A quilt shop in Alaska was by far the farthest I have ever gone to see a quilt shop (okay... and the other sights). Still, my favorite shop is our own http://www.strawberry-patches.com/. I love strolling the aisles of fun and beauty. And yep... my credit card does have to come out and join me! :)

Citra said...

I don't think there is any quilt shop in my country, but there are many fabric shops !!
you could even find old collection of nani iro, hokkoh premium collection, benartex, or anything in less than half the original price in US. All I have to do is digging and digging the those pile of stash :)

Thank you for the follow, I follow you back

Citra @ innocentia

Sharrieboberry said...

My favorite quilt shop is Kaleidoscope Quilt Shop in Whitesboro TX. I visit it every year during the North Texas quilt shop hop. Lovely fabrics and even lovlier ladies. Super nice people is what makes my favorite shop my favorite.

They are many shops near me here in Dallas but the friendliness level is hit and miss. Oh, I'll visit for a bit of fabric, but I do not feel the customer loyalty to them. And thank goodness for online shopping!

QuiltSue said...

I think I win for the furthest away as I'm in the UK. My favourite is Knights in Maine which I visited 2 years ago and I liked Keepsake too, but they don't exactly encourage overseas buyers to shop online with them.

Khris said...

ohh my I travelled from Australia to the States and drove from west to east over 10,000 miles stopping along the way at many quilt stores. It was fantastic. Hugs Khris

Carrie P. said...

I do scout out quilt shops when I take a trip. My hubby is so good to take me to them too. I don't ask him to go to far out of our way but he would. We have a lot of great ones in NC.

Gene Black said...

I suppose Wilson's Fabric in Boaz, Alabama is my favorite "local" store.

I have traveled to Mexico and bought fabric. (not exactly a quilt store, but I bought quilting fabric there.)