Hi everyone, I haven't posted much since I joined last year--been too busy trying to absorb all the knowledge here and work on my mostly small projects. A few months ago, I happened to pick up a flyer at my LQS for the Southern California Quilters' Run, which made no sense to me at first. Eventually, after asking a lot of questions, I decided it made more sense to do both parts to get a shot at winning the best prizes.
So I bribed my mom (who kept telling me how crazy I was) in San Diego to let me spend the night, ran off a lot of information from MapQuest and headed off solo to Palm Springs on Friday a little before 7am. Since our home has been a "hospice" for several QI's the past 5 years, it's been awhile since we've taken any trips, so this also was like a mini-vacation for me. I had forgotten how starkly beautiful the desert was, although the mountains were shrouded in the cloudy remnants of Claudette that have raised the humidity to definitely un-California levels. I have to admit at times (since I wasn't using the a/c in order to save gas), I was starting to agree with my mother! But I had a shopping list--I'm making a memory quilt of for my mom's birthday in November of printed photographs appliquéd onto 16 blocks of themed fabric, and I figured I should be able to make a good dent in it visiting 12 stores--none of which I had ever gone to before.
I pulled into Creative Expressions 5 minutes after 9, a little nervous about what I was getting into. I had seen them at 2 local quilt shows, but was still floored by the selection of fabric, especially already cut FQs and yards of batiks. I kicked myself then--and many other times over those two days since I had just bought all 16 batiks needed for the darks in a log cabin quilt. Luckily, I was able to cross off some of my list after visiting the goodies table (the best on the run). I definitely will go back if I'm anywhere near the area!
Next was Everything Nice in Calimesa, with a surprisingly large selection (with most of the state flower fabrics including the California one I needed!) for a small store and friendly staff.
Woerth Stitching in Temecula was the next stop--although I wasn't able to find anything specific, it wasn't because of lack of fabrics! Since it's right off the I-15, this will be a regular stop on visits down to my mom. I didn't have time to do the store justice since lunch was calling, so I definitely need to go back.
The temperature dropped quite a bit as I headed into Fallbrook and made my way to the coast to Sew Much Better in Oceanside. I was able to cross off another fabric and I actually won a prize--two pattern books! One was a Bernina project book for sewing cushions and the other an Elinor Peace Bailey booklet on wearable doll patterns. This will be another regular stop, right off the I-5.
I headed down to Sowing Sisters in Carlsbad, more sowing than fabric. The staff tried very hard to help me find material, but unfortunately I left empty handed.
Then back inland to Amidon in Poway--another good selection of fabric, but in too isolated an area to me to make it back. The last stop was Patchwork Plus in El Cajon where I briefly met Carl as he was headed out to a Padres game. The store was really organized well with lots of space. By then, I have to admit I was getting tired, so I headed to a Baskin Robbins to pick up some Jamoca ice cream and made it to my mom's around 6pm--11 hours and 320 miles later. After a show and tell of all the freebies I got (I had to hide the fabric for her quilt), I had an early bedtime of 9:30--and slept well that night!
Saturday was a lot easier--I didn't leave until 8:30. The first stop was Leah's in Mission Viejo--another awesome selection of fabrics right off I-5. Not only did I get another on my list, but also picked up a few FQs of sky and grass backgrounds for a paper-pieced house I forgot I had to do by the end of August.
Next was Leah's in Orange where I ended up finding 2 more backgrounds. This was the best organized of any of the stores with actual labels on the shelves and a great assortment of cat fabrics for future reference.
Then I visited the Calico House in Yorba Linda and the Calico Corner in La Habra and realized one problem with the concept of quilt shop hopping--when a deadline is looming, it's really difficult to spend enough time to really get a good idea of what each LQS is all about. Partly because of that, and partly because I was hungry, I can't remember anything about either of the stores:-(
After stopping at Baskin Robbins for "lunch", I felt much better and headed to the last shop, which was the most memorable--Timeless Quilts in Anaheim. The flyer described it as being in a "beautifully restored 1924 craftsman home" so I was interested in at least seeing the premises. But it turned out to be the most fun of all--as I walked through the door, I was immediately adorned with a strand of flapper-like beads. Roaring 20's type music was playing and I was given a ticket to play a game in the classroom. Now THAT was really crazy--the staff were having a lot of fun with the music and the era. Although I didn't find anything on my list, I ended up spending more money there than anywhere else-and it was on material I "wanted" rather than "needed"! There was a surprising amount of fabric stashed in each room of the house. And since it's only about 30 miles away, it may be a regular shopping trip.
I ended up home, after 6 hours and 150 miles (for a 2 day total of 17 hours and 470 miles). I managed to get all on my list except for one fabric. I dragged my DH to look at all the free gifts--8 coordinated charm squares, hand needles and threader, 3 FQs, 2 fat eighths, 2 gift certificates/coupons, a wooden ruler, a yard stick, a band-aid dispenser, measuring tape, a pen, beads and the 2 pattern books. Plus I'm entered into 11 in-store drawings!
I've already mapped out this Friday's route to the northern shops, a lot closer to home. I still need one background, plus I'm going to look for the 4 light fabrics I need for the log cabin quilt. Hopefully by next year, I will have joined a guild because it seemed a little silly to be meeting people 150 miles away that were driving from the same town as me?
debbe in torrance [Lurk mode back on]