OT-Hotels/Motels in Des Moines Area

If you're going to be at the Val Air Ballroom, you're pretty close to Valley Junction, and there are two quilt shops there. I think one is Quit Block and the other is Quit Junction. They're within a couple of blocks of each other.

As far as hotels, I'm not really familiar with West Des Moines, but there are a couple in the downtown area, and it's a fairly easy drive to the Val Air. We've stayed at the Renaissance and the Marriott, and both were fine. I understand the Suites of 800 Locust are really nice, but they're a little more expensive I think.

I don't know how long you're going to be there, but there's also a fantastic restaurant downtown called Splash if you like seafood.

Thank you so much for the suggestions! joan

Hi Kate, Yep that is the shop I'm associated with, so I hesitate to mention it. I don't own any flame proof panties ;-). I'd be happy to provide info about it privately if anyone needs it.

I have been to a couple of fabric/quilt shops in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area that were the complete opposite of each other. The one I liked is The Country Sampler. The women in there were warm and friendly and very helpful. They laughed at me when I got excited over finding a fabric that I had been looking for since a trip to Florida the year before. They were just wonderful. They didn't follow us around as if we were going to walk out with fabric without paying for it. They answered all our questions and were very knowledgeable. It was a very pleasant experience to shop there. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in Council Bluffs.

Then the other shop in Council Bluffs, well, I'm not going to judge them on a one time thing because my friend out there says that they aren't too bad when you go during business hours and not at closing. But the time we went they were closing and the woman just looked at us as if we were dirt and barely acknowledged us when we tried to talk to her. I would have gone back the next day if she hadn't been so snotty. But first impressions are often the one that become the deciding factor on whether one goes back or not. I haven't been back so far but maybe I'll give them another chance the next time I'm out there.

I guess what I'm saying is, if I'm treated nicely, the people who work there talk to me and try to help me, don't follow me around like I'm going to steal something and just seem enjoy what they are doing, to me that is "friendly".

Hi Joan, To me, a friendly shop is one where you are greeted by staff, and offered help if you want it. A kind smile, interest in projects I've brought in with me (if applicable), staff willing to just chat. It all adds up to a sense of friendlyness in my book.

I never expect anyone to fall all over themselves tending to my every need. I do expect to be acknowleged when I walk into a shop, and it's nice to be thanked when you make a purchase, no matter how large or small it is. Lisa

Being 'recognized' as a repeat customer means a lot. We have 3 LQS intown. One I have only been in twice so it is NOT counted here. The others I have been in repeatedly.....even had monthly OZ mags that I picked up there----they haven't recognized me as a repeat customer......the other, I go in and the first I hear is "how are you doing?" and they MEAN it. It isn't just an aside, I see you, statement. ((Yes, they do ask their other customers the same question)) They also bring a chair if I need it (usually when they are cutting the fabric--will even bring a glass of water if I'm looking a bit peaked by then) and if I go in looking for a certain fabric they aren't above bringing it to the cutting table so I don't wear myself out. I had to 'ask' for a chair at the other place and it seemed to be a 'pain' for them to bring one....I don't go there very often anymore.......only if I really NEED a certain fabric and the other place doesn't have it...and I can't wait for it to be ordered. This is a good question....hope you get a lot of answers.

Butterfly (yes, I now get my Oz mag at this place ; )

If we change the header we might get more answers ; )

I don't get to any one shop enough to be remembered. I live pretty far from most. The one close shop is small and not really my style fabrics so I don't get in there often. It is tough for me to describe the welcome feeling some shops give. You know it when it happens though.

I will always remember the palm springs shop gal as being really nice to my 11 and 13 yo kids once years ago. Others complain they are not friendly there. Taria

Butterfly wrote:

I am down to teaching at only one shop because it's the friendliest. One thing is that the employees are treated well so they seem in a frame of mind to then treat the customers well. The employees know everything so if you have a question on a class or wonder if something can be ordered they can help you. If they don't know the answer they find it out and they return calls. I have had them call me many times with a question from a potential student and the shop calls with the question and are willing to call the student with the answer or give me the number to do so. I always return the call and am often told that they called the shop just a few minutes ago. The employees smile when people walk in and say "hello" and they are good at knowing the regulars. They also are very good at oohing and aahing when projects are brought in.

marcella

I have 2 LQS's I go to and they both know me and ask how I'm doing and if I'm alone they ask after the kids - both shops are amused by my kids wanting to help choose fabric and as they know I make sure they have clean hands before we enter the shop it's ok with them. both know I'm a single mom now and stopped asking after my "dh" after I told them about it. One of the two knows me by name but that's cause she's in the same guild as I am and she also knows I now design for the distributor.

Both enjoy it when I bring a project into the shop as they know it will be "something else"

I also have a QS in Amsterdam that know me by name cause we shared a class together and we meet at the EQC every year and have a good laugh. in that respect NL is a small country.