Quilt Shops Galore

We were headed to Ontario for the Road to California evening preview. But we had plenty of time to visit three quilt shops on the way. Each had its own flavor, but my favorite was the first: Temecula Quilt Co. It’s not a large shop, and it’s located in a mall, which is not particularly charming. And if you know me, you truly might wonder what I liked about the shop, because it’s focus is traditional quilts, and I make art quilts. But I was bowled over by the owner’s creativity, as was everyone else. We couldn’t stop talking about the great displays, the quilts, and the unique accessories. Every where you looked, there was something to admire.

And here’s the most creative idea I saw in any shop we visited or maybe that I’ve ever seen. The hanging device is made from yardsticks which also act as a frame for the quilts. Clever!

Shop number two was Needle in a Fabric Stash, also located in a mall. Everyone was pretty excited because it was next to a coffee and pastry shop, so we could get refreshments when we were done shopping and looking around.

While it wasn’t the only focus, this shop had a lot of modern fabrics. I didn’t know there were so many available. Quite a few in our group were excited by the selection and did some serious buying. This was the first shop with a “modern fabric” selection.

And last but not least, Primitive Gatherings, a very large well-known shop, with a strong on-line presence. This shop’s focus is wools (think folk art appliqué), home spuns, reproduction, and Japanese fabrics. It’s a great shop with lots to see, but I didn’t buy a thing, just like the last shop. But other people made up for it. Primitive Gatherings had more kits than any shop I’ve ever seen. This is one of the things I’ve always liked about quilting and what makes it so popular across a broad spectrum. There are so many techniques and styles, that there is something for everyone.

Note the giant rotary cutter and tape measure. Really Cool.