Yesterday I went with four of my besties on a quilting field trip to explore three quilt shops, a yarn shop, and sprinkled with a few antiques along the way. With Cynthia as our trusty driver we headed north to a new quilt shop, Box Car Quilts in Crossroads, Texas. What a surprise, with owner, Laura,
there to greet us we walked in. Laura is one of the rare people that has the "eye" for not only fabric and quilts, but antiques and innovative decorating. Her store is open, fresh, and very inviting, filled with so many finished quilts and projects sprinkled with antiques. Her knowledge of quilts, quilting, and antiques is a wonderful blend. When you first walk in the store a display of shiny Featherweights catches your eye immediately. Most of my friends are Featherweight enthusiast and had to contain ourselves to not taking another "Black Beauty" home. After we all found our goodies we headed to shop number two.
On to Whitesboro, Texas and Kaleidoscope Quits a shop that we have visited before on our field trips and always worth the stop. As a group of quilt enthusiasts we always separate, each looking for our own treasures. With so many new grandchildren and great grandchildren born this year or soon to arrive, several of us were interested in baby quilts. I had recently discovered the Double Slice Layer Cake quilt and was looking for layer cakes. I need/want to make five new quilts for my recent great grandsons. No boy appropriate layer cakes here but I did find a kit that would make a nice baby/child's quilt.
We made a quick trip next door into the yarn shop and found a few more treasures. New socks, crochet hook and cute little Dick and Jane bag for my crocheting supplies. It was time for a rest break and lunch, so off to the nearest coffee shop.
The next stop was Lewisville, Texas and Quilt Country. Another new to me quilt shop with a tremendous array of fabrics and excellent customer service. I have noticed that in each of the shops we visited, they are all selling more and more precuts. I have always love precuts, mostly fat quarters and charm squares and now I'm venturing into layer cakes. Quilt Country didn't disappoint and they use a lot of Villa Rosa Design patterns with kits in all sizes. Here I found a great layer cake to make the Double Slice Layer quilt and also purchased another child's Villa Rosa pattern amd fabric kit.
Time to head home and as I reviewed my purchases and with a layer cake in my stash at home I think I have enough fabric for five new boy quilts.
Time to get to the sewing machine.
Hugs and stitches
Betty Lou
