Quilt Shop: Let's Quilt

If you read yesterday's post, then you already know I went on a marathon trip to the other side of my world to drop off my camera for repair at the one and only Nikon-authorized repair shop in the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately it is in Portland rather than Seattle, but it was still a trek over there.  (Sniff.  Whaaaaaaa.  I miss my camera.  I won't get it back for about two weeks.)

To soothe my soul, I decided I needed a quilt shop fix.  There were several I could have chosen along the way, but I settled on this one:

And if you read yesterday's post, then you already know I didn't find it right away.  The shop moved in January from Oregon City to its new location in West Linn, Oregon.  I was using my navigation system to find it, and I ended up in the parking lot of a supermarket in Oregon City.  I drove all around looking for it and finally called the shop again.  The owner gave me great directions without using any street names, and I was able to drive right to it.  It's a little tricky to find because it is in the lower level of a small shopping center, and you actually have to go around to the back of the building to find it.  Once there, there is plenty of parking and good signage to get you back to the main road when you are finished buying out the place browsing.

Here's how it looks from the front.

Yes, that is the photographer's reflection in the door, but that isn't her car.  Not that you care.  Anyway, I couldn't have received a warmer welcome upon walking through the door.  The owner greeted me with a hug and explained her move to the new location.  She said a car had driven into her store--yes, you read that right--into her store, literally.  Quite a bit of damage was done.  Nevertheless, she stuck it out for another five years at the old location.  She said it never felt right again after that, and she finally decided to move.  It turned out to be the right decision for her.  

It was her 60th birthday on the day I visited, and she had a birthday sale going on.  She was just as sweet as could be and kept referring to me as "darling" and "sugar".  Sometimes that sort of thing will put me off, but I couldn't help liking her right from the get-go.  Here is how the store looks as you come through the front door.  Oh yes, and be prepared for a warm greeting from her pug, Bella.  (Wouldn't it be great to have a job where you could bring your dog or your cat to work?) 

There was a nice classroom area off to the left, and the store was brightly lit with natural light from its many windows.  (Yes, I did blot out those ladies sitting there.  I didn't have their permission to post their pictures, and I don't want to post images of strangers if I can help it.  That is the owner with her back to us.  She told me her name, and I've forgotten it already.  I'm terrible with names.  And my memory sucks.)

She had lots of pretty fabrics.  The back wall was lined with fabrics wall to wall and floor to ceiling.  She had an excellent selection of batiks, calicoes, reproduction prints, whimsical designs, florals, and pretty much something for everybody.

Here is just one of the sections of polka dots.  Oh my.  I could go crazy for polka dots.

There were a lot of embroidered patterns, and I already have about 3/4 of these.  Obviously, we are of like minds when it comes to embroidery and polka dots.

There was also a good selection of supplies for those of you who like wool and primitive quilts.  Very cute stuff.

And need I say more?  Check out the cat with the fiddle in this little doodad below.  I'm surprised this didn't come home with me.

There were lots of cute quilts hanging around the store, including this elephant quilt.  Can you see that the ears are three dimensional?  It was impossibly cute.  The owner explained that she will be having a workshop with the designer in October.  It's very tempting.  I'm going to look at the information on her website, and I just might sign up.  (Updated to say that the artist for this quilt is Patti Hyder, but there is no pattern name that I'm aware of.  The workshop runs from 10/5/13 through 10/6/13 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days.  Admission includes a trunk show on 10/4/13.)  One of the things I've been wanting to do is to take more classes and potentially go on some retreats.  I've avoided it in the past, but I'm thinking I'd like to do more of it now that life has devolved and become less complicated.

Also, she had the quilted snow ladies I've been working on made up into a quilt.  The woman who made this quilt was sitting in the classroom.  All of the ladies in the store were extremely friendly.  It felt as if I'd walked into a group of old friends and that I was one of them.  Anyway...she was the one who told me about the new product for transferring embroidery designs, and she liked it so much that she persuaded me to buy it.

But before I get to that, I just wanted to say that I like the setting block she used with her quilted snow ladies.  She told me its name is "Snowball" and that it is available on EQ.  I'm checking it out as I write this.  (When I opened EQ, I discovered there was an update I needed to install.)  Okay, well I didn't find it, but it isn't hard to see what it is.  Basically, a nine-patch with hourglasses.  Anybody know what this is?  She also used it in a smaller size in the cornerstones of the quilt, so it would be good to figure out the name of the block as EQ has it.

Sorry for the blurry shot.  I'm reduced to my iPhone camera until my other camera is repaired.  (Sniff.  Whaaaaaaaa.  I miss my camera.  Oh yes, I told you that already.  Never mind.)

So the product is Sticky Fabri-Solvy from Sulky.

I've heard of this product before, but you know how it is.  There are so many products, and one can spend a lot of money on products that don't work.  The woman in the store was so happy with the results.  She either has made or was making several of the embroidery patterns I've done.  Clearly, we were of similar tastes, and so I trusted her judgment.  It comes in all sizes, but I bought the kind that comes in 8 1/2 x 11 sheets.  From what I understand, you simply copy the design onto the stabilizer, iron it onto your fabric, and voila!  Transfer made.  No light box required.

But don't take my word for it because I haven't tried it yet.  However, reader Patrica sent me a link to the tutorial she created on her blog, Dogwood Lane Rambles.  Thanks, Patrica!  Patrica has tried it and was happy with the results as well.  You might want to read the comments that accompany her blog post, because one of her readers did have a problem with her specific printer and ink.  In any case, I'm excited to give this a try now.  Oh yes, and the woman in the store pointed out that the designs for the Vintage Tin quilt are larger than the 8 1/2 x 11 sheets will allow, but she just copied it in parts and then pieced it together.  I'll be sure and let you know what I think once I have tried it.

So, let's see...what else did I purchase?  Because you know I didn't walk out empty-handed.  And how could I when things were on sale?  I mean, wouldn't that just be insanity?  I could get locked up or something!  Sheesh.

So I had to have this little book, 101 Fabulous Small Quilts, doll quilt lover that I am.  It has a lot of traditional patterns, and it's loaded with inspiration.

  

Also, I fell in love with this fabric, and I picked up two yards.  It's called Feed Sack by Sarah Morgan for Blue Hill Fabrics.  

This would have been cute with my Line Dancing quilt.  But, really, it's sort of like getting a zillion fabrics in one!  Here's a link to the whole collection.

So, in case you hadn't noticed, I really liked this shop, and I will definitely go back.  There was a wonderful selection of fabrics, patterns, notions, and books, as well as cute things for the home.  And I don't think I've ever been greeted any more warmly than I was by the women in the store.  The owner was warm and friendly, and it spilled over into all the other women who were there as well.  I give this shop the coveted five out of five rotary cutter rating.

If you find yourself in West Linn, Oregon, definitely put this quilt shop on your must-do list.

*Disclaimer:  Cat Patches accepts no advertising, nor any sponsorships.  The opinions expressed on this blog are based on the personal impressions and perceptions of the author. They are formed  on the basis of one short visit, on one day, and may or may not reflect the experience of others visiting on a different day.  They are no more descriptive than a single snapshot image can be, and nothing written in a review of a quilt shop should be construed as objective fact.  The reviews are strictly the author's subjective opinion and should not be interpreted as anything more.