Favorite quilt shop/shops?

**FarmerSue** · 07-07-2006, 09:32 AM

Where is your favorite quilt shop/shops? What do you love about it? My dream is to open one in a little old farm house we own down the highway from our new house. When I get the Quilt Sampler Magazine I can just sit and drool for hours at all the displays and creativity. I love reading how each owner got started. I have several back issues that I use to spark creativity. Someday I would love to hand over my issues to a travel adgent (NOT FOR KEEPS) and ask them to organize a trip for my mom and I. We would NEVER forget it!!!!! Only a four small things in the way..........three little kids and no money.

**BTK** · 07-07-2006, 09:41 AM

There are two that I like to go to. One that's closest to me and my favorite shop which is farther away. The one closest to me I go to because it's closest to me. The lady there does fine, but she's very non-personable and doesn't really like to give out advice much. I feel like when I'm asking her questions, she's afraid to let loose of the "trade secrets". But, they sell machines and lots of nice fabrics that are really expensive. If I"m looking for somethign that I can't find anywhere else, I knwo I'll find it there.

The one I love is about 30 minutes from my house. they don't sell machines, just lots of fabrics. LOTS of fabrics, and their prices are better than the shop closest to my house. Two ladies own it and they're always working on things when they're there. Cutting fabric, sewing thigns together, etc. They have a whole network of people they can put you in touch with if you need help in any way, and it's free. Really nice.

I thinik the thing that makes me like the second shop the most is their attitude and the way they approach what they're doing. They love it and it shows, and they don't mind people asking questions and for help.

**Jeanna** · 08-11-2006, 12:42 PM

My town has 3 quilt shops and I love everyone of them. They are all so different. The place I want to visit is named Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC. They say that although she carries just about every kind of material imaginable, that she has somewhere between 5000 and 8000 bolts of just quilting material.
I told my husband last night that when we go to the state fair in Oct. there was going to be a detour coming or going.

**frugal1** · 08-11-2006, 05:27 PM

Mary Jo's is unbelievable and overwhelming. I would love to spend a day in there! (Of course lots of $$ would help.) The quilting fabrics alone take a while to see them all and the prices are much cheaper than any quilt store I have ever been in.

**FarmerSue** · 08-19-2006, 10:57 AM

Oh Jeanna that sounds great!!!! You are so lucky to live where you do. I'm stranded out here in the sticks! I can't imagine seeing all that fabric at once! Someday I'll surprise my mom with a quilt shop trip that we won't forget!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 09-15-2006, 08:20 AM

I have 3 shops within driving distance of my home but all are run by very uptight and snippy women. When asked about what type of quilts I was working on and I explained it was a "Britches Quilt" made out of the old legs of blue jeans I was discarded with, "Oh, you can't make quilts out of old clothes."
Well I beg to differ with her but my Amish friends do. And the ladies of Gees Bend do. So I left and haven't darkend their door again. I like haunting throught clothes and seeing what intresting materials and patterns I can find and convert over. Maybe not as fancy but the thrill of the hunt and watching something come together from something eles.
I love to go to qulit shows and sales and get the chance yearly as their are 2 big ones in Sarasota every year. One is a big auction and quilts come from all over the country its in January and I look forward to that Saturday all by myself sitting and watching what they bring. Some well over $1,000.00 each.
I also enjoy going to the fairs and taking notes about different ones and trying them.
Currently have 4 different ones in mind and partially started. Been gathering the makings for over a year and am ready to work them up.

Laurie in BRadenton

**frugal1** · 09-15-2006, 10:45 AM

I know what you mean Laurie in Bradenton!! I live in between 2 quilt shops, and one is very snooty and could care less if they helped you if you aren't in their group. The other is the opposite, makes you feel at home,no pressure to buy,and super helpful. Guess which one is going out of business?!! I dislike that store so much that I am not even going to their sale. Glad that I feel that way. Don't want to buy anything or be tempted now any way!

**KatieInLa2** · 09-15-2006, 10:58 AM

My favorite two quilt shops are www.materialgirlquiltsonline.com

www.stitchinheaven.com

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 09-15-2006, 01:04 PM

Just out of curiousity does anyone eles cut out pics in mags to copy?
I've got a folder full.

Laurie in Bradenton

**marym** · 09-15-2006, 04:05 PM

Here is mine!
http://www.hayloftfabrics.com/
I could spend hours just looking.
Laurie, yes I have lots of pics and plan on quilting alot this winter. I have tons of scraps so I will be making some scrappy quilts.

**kymom** · 09-15-2006, 11:26 PM

Laurie in Bradenton I too cut out pictures and ideas. I just found a giant stack of books to cut out more! My husband has gotten me a fileing cabnit to fill up lol And I make quilts from old clothes.I even redo old clothes into new clothes. We only have one quilt shop kind of close and the women there are nasty! They treated me like I was trash and I just put my stuff down and never came back.

**TripleT** · 09-30-2006, 03:48 PM

Hi

I have one local quilt store, it's about 5 or 10 minutes drive away. However the store is being sold, so I have no idea what will happen there.

I go to this store because it is so close, but it doesn't have a lot of the fabrics that I prefer. The prices are also not bad (can get a lot better from internet sales). I've been going to the store for about 5 years so they generally leave me to it - which I like. What I don't like is that they change the products around all the time, each time I go, things are in different places - I find that really disorientating. They also try and get to me subscribe to their classes (which are held during the week day). I can't go to them because I'm working.

What I do like is when their sales assistants are selling a product they talk about their own experiences, what they have liked and disliked about other products they have used, and why they would recommend the product they are selling (because they use it - and they think it is the best). I prefer the genuine approach, I wouldn't want a quilt store to sell me something that the owner wouldn't personnaly use themselves.

My other opportunity to shop comes once a year with a regional quilt show. The show has too parts; the display and judging section, and the vendor section. There are heaps of vendors selling bits and pieces, and of course LOTS of fabric. I tend to go to these shows with a mission. Sometimes I take my "wish list" of things I would like to buy, but I also with that list I incude the prices of what it might cost at the LQS. I compare prices to see if it is worth it to buy at the show. I also take fabric swatches, so that I don't end out wasting my money by buying something that really won't work with a particular colour scheme. I love this show so much, that I take the day off work to go.

Hope that helps

**crisp** · 10-03-2006, 03:56 AM

you ladies are so lucky, I have just started quilting and have joined a local class , well I say local its about 20km away ,and some travel futher than me .
Our nearest quilt shop is in a town called Renne which is about two hours by car on the motorway , I have heard it is very expensive but I think the class is organising a trip at christmas , I cant wait there are so many things I want to buy .