I Heart My Local Quilt Shop(s)

In case you missed it, yesterday was "Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day."



I visited five, count them FIVE Local Quilt Shops (LQS) yesterday!

Since I was delivering DH to the Denver airport yesterday morning, I was more than halfway to my first stop:  Quilters' Stash in Windsor, Colorado.  These ladies were ready to celebrate!

Look at this mouth-watering selection of precuts!  And click on the photo so you can see that fun vest Lovely Clerk (I forgot to write down her name, but really, she was so nice!) is wearing:

Here is their motto:

Good idea, isn't it?  I scored a sale quilt kit, but I can't share it as it will be a birthday prezzie for someone I know reads my blog!

Only 30-or-so minutes north of Windsor is Ft. Collins, home of Colorado State University.  And Fig Leaf Furniture and Quilting.  That's right, the quilt shop shares space with a furniture store.

See?  I'm not making this up!

P.S., if you haven't been able to find Robert Kaufman's Essen Linen/Cotton, they have it at Fig Leaf.

As soon as I left the city limits of Ft. Collins, the wind began to blow.  I had a hard time keeping Hal (DH's Scion) on the road!

Next stop was Harriet's Treadle Arts in Wheat Ridge.  While I have to admit this store doesn't specialize in my style of fabric, years ago Harriet graciously gifted my sons with several wool quilt bats for them to try in their 4-H quilts.  So I'll always be a loyal customer.  On display in the back room are several of Harriet's own antique quilts, like this lovely:

My last stop in Denver was the Creative Needle in Littleton (south Denver).  Creative Needle has greatly expanded their selection of solid-color fabrics, so if you need a solid in an unusual color, take a gander at their Great Wall 'o' Solids:

My photo only shows a small part of their selection, the shop is small and I couldn't get far enough away to show the entire wall.

By now, it was getting dark, so I hit the freeway for a fast trip toward home and a quick stop-off in Monument at Crafty Laine.  Here is my "I <3 My LQS" contest photo:

Some special girls in my life really like the apron in this photo, so I asked Angie to right quick cut me some fabric, and I'll whip up the apron in three sizes this weekend.  Just in time for the DD and GDs to make Valentine cookies!

BTW, if you're on Facebook, please go to this post and vote for me in the "I Love My Local Quilt Shop Day Fan Contest."  I've promised to share the fabric goodness if I win!


From the desk of your

Get Ready: Thursday is Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day

It's almost here!  Tomorrow is "Local Quilt Shop Day!"

While we have a wonderful selection of quilt shops in Colorado, only five are "officially" participating.  They include Harriet's Treadle Arts in Wheat Ridge, Creative Needle in Littleton (aside:  this is where I bought my Julki!), Quilter's Stash in Windsor, The Fig Leaf in Ft. Collins, and Crafty Laine in Monument.

Now, not to discourage you from visiting our other great shops, but only by submitting a photo of one of the "officially participating" shops can you win the $500 giveaway from I <3 my Local Quilt Shop!

The closest participating shop to me is Crafty Laine, only about 30 minutes away.

So on Saturday, friend Mary and I ducked out of the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild meeting to dash over to Crafty Laine and snap a photo.  (I am not photogenic.  I need My Little Sailor and his Photoshop skills!)

Crafty Laine is not "just" a quilt shop.  In fact, they rather specialize in contemporary fashion sewing.  The owner, Angie, set up a lovely "sewing studio" for new sewists, and those who don't own a sewing machine.  While we visited, a lively class for young beginners was being taught in the studio.  By the laughter emanating from around the cutting table, I would say a good time was had by all!  (PS, it was a "Teen and Tween Valentine Workshop."  Go to the Crafty Laine Facebook page to see photos of their cute projects..)

Plus, the shop is just across the street from one of my favorite "lunching" places -- Wisdom Tea House!  'Cuz, you know, I think it's important to do what you're good at.  And I'm good at going out to lunch!

Be sure to go to this link to look up your closest participating Local Quilt Shop, and if possible, visit them tomorrow!

From the desk of your

We have a Winner!

And, surprise!  The winner is international!

Using the Random Number Generator, our winner is #25, Amy, of Amy's Crafty Shenanigans!  I'm so pleased to read that Amy is a member of the London (UK) Modern Quilt Guild.

Amy wrote:

Congratulations, Amy!  The Farmgirl's Garden kit will be on its way to you as soon as I receive your postal address!


From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday

432 Half Square Triangles later:

This is my first Quiltmaker's Magazine "Scrap Squad" assignment.  I foolishly decided to make a queen-sized sample, requiring 72 blocks.  Each block has six HSTs.

Whew.

I have all the blocks pieced, but not quite sewn together.  I'm using leftovers from an old Moda University project made of "Chocolat" by Three Sisters for Moda.  I did buy the background fabric, when I decided one part at least needed to be consistent.

I'm planning to gift this one to my nephew in Idaho.  Only 54 more blocks to go!

Linking to Design Wall Monday.

And less than 24 hours to enter the 52 quilts "400 followers" celebratory giveaway.  Visit this post and comment for your chance to win this quilt kit!



From the desk of your