“What are you hunting for?” you might wonder. Quilt Shops, of course! I just returned from a business trip to California, but while I was there, I took an extra day to explore all the quilt shops I could find. And I found some beautiful quilt shops! Let me tell you how I plan for a quilt shop trip and then share with you my central California quilt shop journey.
I am not much of a planner for most things, but if I have the opportunity to travel, I put on my planner hat and get busy planning so I can see the most quilt shops possible in the limited time I have. Once I know my destination, I use three sources to find quilt shops in the area.
• Source #1: My copy of the “Quilter’s Travel Companion” book (although I need to get the latest one.) Even though it is old, it is a good start. I look through it to find the quilt stores that are close to the area where I will be staying as well as the quilt stores that may be near the route I will be traveling. Then I copy the addresses (and phone numbers) of those stores into Microsoft Mappoint to help me determine the best route for visiting those stores. And yes, I always take my computer so I have access to those maps.
• Source #2: The Internet site called Mapmuse.com located at http://bam.mapmuse.com/build-a-map/map/quilt-shops-near-ruth-ann. This site lets you identify the location you are visiting in the U.S. and look for quilt stores near that area. I also add those addresses (and don’t forget the phone numbers) into Mappoint. So now I have a pretty good idea of where the stores are located so I can pick and choose which stores I want to visit. Mappoint will then create a route for you. The night before I leave on my quilt store journey, I look at the map I have created, then program all the stores I want to visit into my GPS so that once I leave my hotel in the morning, it is smooth sailing from one quilt store to another!
• Source #3: Quilt shop owners and employees in the quilt shops I visit. I love visiting with quilters as I travel and I let them know that I am traveling through and took a day to visit quilt shops. They are always happy that I stopped at their store and are happy to share with me what other quilt stores are in their area. Quilters are the nicest people!
Tip #1: To make the best use of your time when going on a quilt store journey, use the phone numbers you have collected for each quilt store and call a day or two ahead of time to make sure they are still in business. This is a “lessons learned” for me as well. There were two quilt stores on my route that had gone out of business.
My quilt shop day began in Redondo Beach where there are two very nice quilt and fabric stores. One is called “Luella’s Quilt Basket”and the other is “The Cotton Shop.” My day ended at “The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop” in Buellton.
• Luella’s Quilt Basket ranks right at the top of my list for favorite quilt stores ever. Here are a couple of pictures.
Luella's Quilt Basket from the Outside
Luella's Quilt Shop - View 1
Luella's Quilt Shop - View 2
They have so many patterns with finished samples hanging on the walls. Their selection of fabrics is spectacular. The ladies that work there were helpful and friendly and were very interested to show me their latest “must haves.” Have you heard of “Texture Magic?” It is a fabric that shrinks 30% in all directions. It lets you texturize your fabric using only your steam iron. It is made by Superior Threads and here is a link so you can check it out: http://www.superiorthreads.com.
A New Quilter's Product Called Texture Magic by Superior Threads
While I was in the store, I called home just to check in. When talking with my granddaughter, I told her I was at a quilt store. She asked me if I could bring her some California fabric. Luella’s had the perfect fabric.
California Fabric by Hoffman
Some other fabrics I bought because I might need them were:
Clowning Around by Robert Kaufman
Backyard Safari by Johnny Karwan for Clothworks
I love appliqué, so I bought two patterns from Sand & Sun Designs by Nancy Hammond, “Hoppy Bunnies” and “Barnyard Friends.”
Hoppy Bunnies & Barnyard Friends by Nancy Hammond of Sand & Sun Designs
Just a lovely quilt store that I encourage all quilters to explore if they get the chance!
• The Cotton Shop is a lovely store that, I’m sure, has a couple thousand bolts of quilter’s cotton along with most everything a person that sews might want/need. I am a great fan of fabric panels. My favorite kind of quilting is appliqué and I love doing landscape type quilting. Panels often have just the right piece of fabric I am looking for. I also make lots of baby quilts, so panels are also great for that. Here are a couple of panels that I bought.
Playtime with Sue & Bill by Little Qults for Henry Glass & Co.
Cute Chicken Panel by Debi Hron for Timeless Treasures Fabrics
Here is one that will make a lovely baby quilt.
30's Quilt Collection by Exclusively Quilters
Then here are a couple of pieces that I couldn’t live without. The first one is for my sister June and the other because I love sunrise, sunset and sky fabrics!
I call this one Rick-Rack Bliss and is made by Timeless Treasures
Nature Scapes by Hoffman California Int'l Fabrics
• The Quilter’s Studio in Newbury Park was my next stop. It was a very nice shop with lots of samples hanging on the walls. It had an abundance of nice fabrics that included batiks, reproductions, and lots of cotton prints in all shades of the rainbow. I bought two landscape panels that will compliment my landscape panel stash beautifully. The lady I visited with in the store told me about two other quilt shops that I should be sure to visit since I was in the area. I hope you stop in to see The Quilter’s Studio if you are driving through. It is definitely worth your time! Here are some snapshots of the panels I bought.
Lavendar Hills by Michael Miller
Summer Day by Michael Miller
I also love fish fabric which is something that my daughter Jess started me on a couple years ago. I have since made two beautiful fish quilts, one of which was for her college graduation in May, 2008. Here is a piece I believe might be a center panel for another fish quilt.
Paradise Reef by Michael Miller
• Quilt Ventura was my next destination. My mother and I are both into chicken fabric and I bought a very nice panel that will make up into a lovely wall hanging.
French Country Roosters by Barb Tourtillotte for Clothworks
• The Treasure Hunt in Carpinteria is a lovely quilt and gift store. It had lots of fabrics, especially beautiful batiks. This shop also has a room filled with beautiful yarns for those of us that also like to crochet and knit. There was also a small room set up for cross-stitchers with patterns and floss. I bought this panel that I think will make a nice baby quilt. It might be a good candidate for a crayon quilt!
Bluework by RJR Fabrics
Bluework by RJR Fabrics
• The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop was the last quilt shop on my quilt shop tour since I was visiting my Uncle David who lives in Solvang nearby. It is filled with lots of patterns and beautiful fabrics. They had lots of fat quarters, half yards and full yards of fabric pre-cut for the buyer’s convenience. I bought a pincushion there that is shaped like a water lily. It will make a nice gift for one of my quilty friends for Christmas. You will not be disappointed if you take time to visit this shop if you get the chance.
Lily Pad Pin Cushion
Tip #2: There were two quilt shops that I had on my route that were no longer in business, Blue Island Quilter in Santa Barbara and Stitcherz in Camarillo. But because I didn’t call ahead, I visited both places only to find new businesses residing at the addresses that used to be these shops. So again, I encourage you to use the phone numbers you collected while planning your trip to be sure that the quilt stores are still in business. And of course, it is nice to have a phone number in case you get lost while looking for the store so you can call for directions! So, to emphasize this important tip, I mention it again.
Tip #3: Take pictures of the outside of the quilt store, and inside too if the quilt store owner gives you permission. This is a lessons learned for me. As I put this blog together, I found that I wish I had taken pictures of each quilt store.
A Wonderful, Fun Trip – All in all, I had a great time on this California quilt journey. I sometimes travel to San Francisco and am looking forward to doing a similar quilt journey at my next opportunity. The one thing I miss on trips like this is someone to share it with me. Quilting is soothing to the soul anytime, but is even a greater experience if shared with another quilter!
