Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Organization Tips

Oh I wish I had some organization tips to give people who read my blog. There is only one thing that comes to mind right now.
1. A place for everything and everything in it's place.
2. Keep like things together in one place. (i.e.: All rotary cutters in a box, basket, or use a hanging shoe rack and keep them in a specific pocket.

I will try to come up with some more.

Anyone out there who has tips please share them with me and I will post them in a special side bar.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Shop Hop

This got on my blog empty. Too funny.

Last Saturday (9/12) I continued on to a shop in Burlington, KY. It is called Cabin Arts and is in two buildings right next to each other. You will never believe it but a couple from Dry Ridge arrived just after I did. Reunion.

The shop is lovely and has a good variety of fabrics and patterns. I certainly hope they are included in the Tri State Shop Hop again next year.

After getting lost in Lawrenceburg, IN and getting lost again I finally found the main street and there was the quilt shop. The city has changed so much with the casinos pouring money into their city and county budget that they have totally remade the main thorough fare. The Quilt Bug is a shop I have been in before but they have changed their store greatly. Good quality fabric and several patterns that I need to return and check out.

With my car not being real cooperative I thought about not stopping at another shop, but Best Friends Quilt Shop in Cincinnati yelled my name and I couldn't pass by. The have expanded their store front to double the size. Everything is nicely presented and they appear to be building up the number of quality fabrics that they are going to display. I saw a couple of wonderful patterns for Christmas that are in kit form. Once my quilting budget grows a little I will have to go back.

Saturday, 9/19 I continued on my journey. But first I stopped at Seam Sew Easy for the Breakfast Club class. The pattern is called Belgium Waffles and it is exciting to work on. I almost finished one placemat. I also discovered that some of the jelly rolls in my stash are not quality fabric. I will have to use a fusable on the back of the other strips in order to have a nice placemat. Nancy reminded me at noon that I had to get hopping so I left with the promise to come back and work more on the placemat's.

After a very long journey through the corn and soy bean fields of western Ohio and eastern Indiana I ended up at Pohlar Fabrics in Libery, IN. It is right across from the dock on Brooksville Reservour that I used to fish from with my 2nd husband. I remember the fishing with joy; the husband is in the divorced pool again.

Guess who I ran into at Pohlar Fabrics? My buddy from the Kentucky shops. She was all finished with her hopping, but came back to Pohlar Fabrics to pick up some more fabric. We had a nice talk and she encouraged me to take my time at Appalachian Quilts in Fairborn, OH.

Next a longer trip through the fields and I ended up in Trenton, OH. I didn't run into any other shop hoppers I know, but I had a lovely time with my friends at Valley Quilt Shop.

Next was the trip up to Dayton, Ohio. My first stop was at Sew-A-Lot, then Appalachina Quilts and finally at Sulfur Grove Quilt Shop. I will add comments latter.

More next posting. Have a great day, Karen

Monday, September 14, 2009

Shop Hop and Retreat

Saturday I spent the afternoon driving from one quilt shop to another following the Tri-State Shop Hop bunny path. I was able to visit 7 of the twelve shops. What a drive.

My first stop was Sew-Ezy Sewing Studio in Sharonville, OH. They had a demonstration of a quilt as you go process that I really like. I pickup up the pattern and fabric bag and the gave out a goody bag. There was a pattern that I will have to go back for. It was like trick or treat. Along with water and pretzels they included a coupon for a local restaurant and a body shop. The restaurant is one of my favorites and very close to where I work.

Next stop was Aunt Ruth's Quilt Shop in Sharonville, OH. I had been in this shop before and was glad for a return visit. They are super friendly and have a great selection of fabrics. They have recently moved to a new location and have more room for their class studio. I have attended their 2nd Saturday night sew for all and really enjoyed the interaction.

Glendale, OH was my next stop at Stitches. This is the store that I originally had my first quilting classes at. They were in Fairield, OH, but relocated to a lovely shopping center. While I was there I saw a jacket that would be perfect for me after being altered to a vest. I recently completed my CCW and need vests to cover the holster. (Yes along with everything else I am proficient with firearms.)

After the first three shops I had a long drive to Dry Ridge, KY. The Quilt Box is located in a very old farm house on a working farm. They even have a pond that husbands can fish as long as they release any catch they make. I was enchanted with the shop and while talking to the husband of the owner he mentioned Japanese fabrics. These are regular quilting fabrics with traditional quilt motifs. Not the usual Japanese pagodas and kimono dressed women. I overheard two staff members talking about how several patrons have purchased this fabric to make clothing. I will definitely have to go back.

I will continue this later.