New Year of Quilting

Finally had some time to spend in front of the sewing machine last weekend. Holidays and work have not been cooperating and I have not been doing much quilting. I did manage to finish a couple of projects that had been started some time ago.

The first one was a kit that I picked up on the appreciation sale that the shops in the Des Moines area had last fall. It is called Windows on the East, and yes, it has inset seams. I did the windows a different way than the pattern showed. The directions seem confusing to me, so I just decided to wing it. I think that it turned out OK

I think that will be able to do the quilting on this top as it is small. I need to get it done though if I want to show it at the guild quilt show in April.

I finished a second top that I had started last summer. It is from the book Livin' Large by Heather Mulder Peterson. This is the link to her books http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/books-and-patterns/. I had to finish the applique and was hung up on how to do the rick rack. I didn't want to just sew down the middle because then it would roll up when the quilt was washed. I finally used free-motion sewing with a matching thread. It worked out quite nicely.

This top is going to my local quilter. I just don't have the time to quilt all of the tops that I make.

The top is on my design wall, which is actually a queen sized piece of quilted flannel that is attached to nails in the wall near the ceiling by using binder clips. I just fold up the wall when I don't need the whole thing, or stretch it out to full length when I need it. For the pictures the quilts a small enough that they just stick to the wall, if they are bigger, sometimes I have to pin them up.

I just finished all the blocks that were given away by the shops in the Northwest section of the 2010 Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop. I need to add one more to make 12 block in order to have a number that will work better for making a top. I want to see if I can make a block by just using scraps from the other 11 blocks.

Day 9

Day 9

Today is a really short day, 5 hours. I have 10 shops to see today, so I need to get cracking.

First shop is Calla Lily Quilt Shop and Gifts. This shop has some great samples. A sample block of the month quilt makes me sorry that I do not live closer to the cities. Nice selection of fabrics and patterns. (Due to operator error, I do not have a picture of the shop, but I have a nice photo of the parking lot)

Next is Four Seasons Quilts in Plymouth. This shop has a very nice selection of Christmas fabrics. Good sized shop with a nice mix of fabrics. This shop has a large selection of fabrics for blending. Many nice samples.

The Snugglebug, A Quilt Shop in Plymouth is next. This shop has a large selection of batiks and a very nice sale area. This shop always has a good selection of fat quarters. This shop also has a person at the door to stamp passports and answer questions. Lots of brights and a nice selection of patterns.

If you need an oriental fabric, the Blue Bamboo is your shop. They also have a large selection of batiks. This shop is in a very confined space and is set up for mail order sales, so don't expect a lot of room to lay out fabrics to try color combination. Some brights, but mostly any kind of oriental fabric that you can think of. Some kits and fat quarter bundles. Not many sample quilts to look at.

The next stop is Heavenly Patchwork Quilt Shop in Waconia. This is a nice drive past the University of Minnesota Arboretum and orchard. This shop is part of a fall shop hop and stopping at the apple house on the way back to the cities is a real treat. This is a smaller shop. A nice selection of books and patterns and a good mix of fabrics. Many nice samples for inspiration. This shop was kind of quiet when I was there.

Back toward the metro area and to the next stop, The Sampler in Chanhassen. This shop has lots of brights and batiks. They have a large quilt made using the shop hop fabrics, along with a few other fabrics, that is a map of Minnesota! It is something to see. My hat is off to the maker of this quilt! This shop also has a good pattern and book selection. They carry the Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

Next on the list is Eagle Creek Quilt Shop. This shop in an old train station. Lots of reproduction fabrics and country colors. This shop has a lot of nice samples and has numerous special events during the year. Look for the shop cat, she has her own little four poster bed.

Before U Quilt in Savage is the next shop on my list. I have seen the same couple in the last 2 shops, I bet that they think that I am following them. This is a shop that is new to me. It is a smaller shop, but a nice selection of fabrics. I find a Christmas panel that I like. This shop has dogs, what fun. I will have to stop again.

Fabric Town is in Apple Valley. This shop has a well rounded selection of fabrics. I find a couple of blue and yellow reproduction fabrics that I don't have yet. This shop was out of charms, but will send me mine when they reorder. The charms that the Metro area shops have been giving out are very nice. They will make a nice momento of the trip. This shop completes the metro section of the hop. Only two more to go.

The final stop of the day is at Quilters Haven in Rosemont. I have been at this shop several times in the past. The owners are very friendly and helpful. The shop is in an older house next door to an antique shop. They have quite a few purse and tote samples. The stairs are steep, so be careful. Nice selection of juvenile fabrics.

Well, that ends the day. The rest of the shop will have to wait for Thursday afternoon and for the weekend. I will need to plan the most efficient routes to be able to get to all of the shops before the end of the hop!

Day 6

Day 6

Today I need to try to stick to the plan of 8 shops a day or I am going to get into trouble with completing all 91 shops before the end of the hop.

First shop is Quilted Ladybug. First for all of you using GPS, try using US-10 instead of highway 10 in the address you put in the system. It works, don't ask me why. This shop has many batiks, brights and some really nice samples in the classroom area. Numerous Kits and a lot of the Pieced Tree patterns. All of the shops on this trip have been carrying the Holly Taylor Northwoods designs. Off to a great start, forgot to get a picture!

Next shop is Pelican Rapids, The Fabric Stash Quilt Shop. The town has numerous decorated pelicans and is holding a quilt show in the shops in town, Try to stop to see a few. Find an openback thimble (sorry, the next to last one). A small shop, limits on selection. You can get your machines looked at here as well as shop for fabric.

I make an unscheduled detour here. My son and fiancée and her family are vacationing at Star Lake and so I stop for a rest. I t was nice to meet everyone and stand up for a while. Sounded like everyone was having a lot of fun! Looked like a nice little resort that they were staying at.

On to Bay Window Quilt Shop in Perham. It is easy to see why this shop was picked by Better Homes and Gardens, it is a very nice shop. Lots of selection of fabrics, patterns, classes. There a lot of great sample quilts and quilted items and the shop is really organized. This shop has some of everything, batiks, Orientals, reproductions, various designers, brights, baby: you name it and it is probably in Perham. Lower level here, too. Bad news, road construction again.

Quilter's Cottage in Fergus Falls is next on the list. This shop has an interesting arrangement, it is one of several shops in a larger building. Good selection, nice sale area. Lots of samples and staff is very helpful. A little hard to find.

Alexandria has 2 shops. The first one I go to is the Common Threads Quilt Shop. Parking is in the rear of the shop. The shop is on the small size, but has a good selection. Staff commented to another shopper that a shop hopper has just coming in, getting her passport stamped and leaving. Come on now folks, how rude is that! At least take the time to look at the shop, even if you don't buy anything. The next time that I do something like this (if ever!), I am going to use a hand held dictation recorder to record my thoughts and some of the fabric that I see. Quicker than writing notes.

The second shop is Stichin' Post. As you can see from the sign, it also had dolls. This shop has a more limited inventory, but still a lot of nice fabric. Staff is friendly and helpful.

Next to last stop is Sweetwater Cotton shop in Paynesville. This shop is very small, but still has a number of nice sample and a limited selection of fabrics. Did find a reproduction fabric in blue that I purchased. For the 2nd time today, I forget the picture. Another senior moment, I guess

Last shop of the day is Flying Goose Quilt Shop in New London. This shop stays open later on Thursday evenings. I would like to suggest this as an idea for the shop hop next time. Most of the hops that I have been on in the past have one evening during the hop (usually Thursday) when the shops stay open late. This would allow more people who work during the day to have a chance to make it to some of the shops. This shop is very deceiving, it looks small from the outside, but is quite large on the inside. Lots of selection, well organized, good samples. An enjoyable place to shop.

Well, I made the 8 for the day. Thanks for the folks at Flying Goose for being open late! Need to plan for the day tomorrow. Decide on the best use of time to hit the most shops!

Sorry about the delay in posting to the blog. I had a lot of trouble with the wireless internet in the hotels not working properly.

Day 4

Day 4

I did not make it to Tower in time to hit the shop here, so spent the night and 'opened' the North Country Quilts in the morning. All of the fabrics are nicely displayed, with lots of samples. Some of the fabrics are ones that I have seen no where else. Antique atmosphere in this old store on the main street. Owner has supplies for hand quilting and I am able to pick up an English thimble for a very reasonable price. Now I can take some handwork with me on my travels and won't have to worry all the time about losing my one and only thimble that fits.

After a very long drive, the next shop that I arrive at is Quilter's Corner in International Falls. Avery nice shop, large and the fabrics and samples are well displayed, More of Shelley's tablerunners. Lots of nice fabrics and patterns on sale. Nice selection of Christmas fabrics. This shop's Quilt Minnesota sample is quite nice. I know that this shop is a long drive, but come on shop hoppers, the quest is part of the fun. Don't always pick the low-hanging fruit!

The land begins to flatten out and I am seeing fewer trees and more farm fields with wheat (I think) and sunflowers. Driving past a field of sunflowers traveling west, the yellow is so bright it is almost blinding. ( The flowers face to the east.) Quilt S'more in Roseau has recently moved to a cottage style home. I am really sorry, that for some crazy reason, I do not have a picture. There were quilts hanging on the porch rail of the house and it looked so cozy. The fabrics are very well displayed and there are quite a few samples to see. Lots of room. Well worth the drive!

Sorry, no picture.

Cloud 9 Quilt Shoppe in Thief River Falls is next. Easy to find on a main street, this is a small shop. Still, I run into someone with Iowa ties. Mix of fabrics, small selection, due to the size of the shop. Friendly and helpful.

Day 2

Day 2

Day 2 started in Sturgeon Lake at Seams Like Home. The shop is in a little mall next to an Earnie's restaurant. Had lunch and started hopping again. This shop has a little of everything. Cute samples. You put a pin on the map to show where you are from. Nice start to the day. Today (Sunday) will be a short day, shops are only open 12-5.

Next stop is Timeless Treasures of McGregor. The GPS trys to get me lost, but to no avail. Thank god for cell phones. The shop is very nice; open, airy with lots of nice displays. Nice sample quilt. The owner commented that she hoped that the other shops would bring their sample quilts to the meeting that will be held after the shop hop, so all of the other shops can see the quilts too.

On to Floodwood, and Hingeley Road Quilting. The shop is east of town, in the country. This shop is probably the biggest in size and selection that I have been at so far. Lots of charm packs and jelly rolls. A room of Holly Taylor fabrics and another of baby prints. Lots of sample and patterns, lots of batiks and a wide ranging selection of fabrics. Kits available, especially, for charms. This shop is big, with lots of display area for fabric and quilts.

Duluth is next. First to Quilter's Coop, where I find the bowling themed fabric that a friend has asked me to look for. I had started to despair that I would never find any. On Sunday this shop still had quite a bit of the shop hop fabric. Lots of samples of the Quilted Tree patterns. Quite a few novelty fabrics and a nice selection of sale items. Everyone here was very friendly and helpful!

Kelly J's New Home Sewing Center is next. This is north of Duluth. Anyone who has a quilting shop and a tack shop on the same farm, gets my vote! This is a rustic looking shop, but don't let that fool you. Lots of samples, including some neat ideas for bags made using the shop hop fabrics. This shop also has some cool buttons. Wide range of types of fabric.

I decide to spend the night in Duluth, and plan for the next day's trip. I am getting behind if I plan to get to all of the shops. Will probably have to do some clean-up on the final weekend. It is fun to see all of the samples and to get some great ideas.

Day 1

First 'official' day of my shop hop. Started the day off with a trip of of the beaten path. I visited a Fabric Warehouse in Brooklyn Park. I have never seen anything like it. There were rolls and bolts of fabric stacked to the ceiling in a warehouse size building. There was everything from Cottons to silks, quilting fabric, bridal fabrics, upholstery and trims of all kinds. It was the most amazing thing. Way too much to take in with one short visit.

The first store on today's trip is Fat Quarter Quilting, LLC in Coon Rapids. I have been at this store before on other shop hops. It is in a shopping center and has a nice selection of brights, florals and batiks. A demonstration of yo-yos was available on Saturday, the day I attended. Hit the first of several bus tours that I was to see on Saturday. Large selection of sale fabrics.

Nest was Rosebud's Cottage in North Saint Paul. This shop is the one you want if you want country colors, wools and country designs. The shop is small, but has a large classroom in the back. Lots of samples are available to view. Staff is very friendly.

The Quilted Shingle in Oakdale has a large selection of batiks and brights as well as novelty fabrics. This shop also has a large selection of table runners by Pieced Tree patterns. Shelly Robson in Forest City, Iowa is the designer. This shop also has a nice selection of oriental fabrics.

Charlotte's Quilting Web in Stillwater was the next stop. This shop has a large selection of sale fabrics. Nice selection of samples for inspiration. The shop has a wide selection of fabrics, so a little something for everyone. I stopped for lunch at this shopping center,

On the way out of the metro area, I stopped at Bear Patch Quilting. This shop is quite large and has a wide selection of fabric. Lots of samples are available for inspection. The staff was inspecting a new sample quilt while I was there. The shop also has lots of patterns, so be sure to take some time to see everything.

My trip leaves the metro area of the Twin Cities at this point. Next stop is in Rush City. This little shop has quite a range of fabrics. I was able to find a coordinating fabric for a piece that I had purchased previously about a year ago. I bought the original fabric in Des Moines, so was happy to get another piece of that line. Refreshments and a coupon for future purchases. I also picked up a nice piece of rayon on sale

Mora was the next stop. The Homestead Quilt and Gift shop is in a barn. Lots of samples, including clothing and clothing patterns. When I was in Kauai, earlier this year, the owner of the shop on the island lamented the fact that no one was making clothing out of some of the beautiful prints available. She reported that when she had been in Houston the year before, she had worn clothing made from Hawaiian fabrics and had received many comments. So many of the fabrics would look great in clothes, but I guess that sewing clothing can be intimidating. Nice gift shop in the 'hay mow' of the barn. Check it out.

The last shop of the day was in Hinkley, at the Quilted Lighthouse. I arrived as a little boy was changing the sign from open to closed. I was still able to visit this airy and open shop. (thanks!) Lots of nice samples, including the quilt made with the Quilt Minnesota fabrics. It has been great fun to see all of the ideas for using the shop hop fabrics. Go to the shop hop web site www.quiltminnesota.com to see the fabric and a list of all of the shops. Unfortunately, I was already hearing at some of the shops that they were running out of fabric.

End of Day 0

The last two shops for this day are next.

Colorful Quilts and Textiles is in St Paul. This shop has a fantastic collection of batiks. It also has lots of specialty fabrics, including silks. I picked up a kit for a purse made of silk squares. It looks very rich. I suppose that I may have to fight my daughters for it if mine is as cute as the sample. No reproductions fabric here. Lots of specialty battings as well.



The last shop of the day was one that was new to me. I have been on several previous shop hops in the Cities over the past several years, so I know a lot of the shops. Silver Lane Quilting is a shop in NewBrighton. It has a nice selection of fabrics. Everyone was very friendly. I was able to find a couple of new 30's repros for my stash. The shop was easy to find.


I decided to quit for the day and meet up with my son. I wish now that I have hit a couple more shops, because I find that I am falling behind with all the driving to be done to get to the shops in the northern parts of the state.