Loose Tensions Quilt Shop Hop

Yesterday the Loose Tensions Quilting quilt group went on a road trip to quilt shops in our area. We started our day at 8 am. I drove our van, and we all fit, as only six of us were able to go. The farthest one we went to was about 68 miles from here.

First we went to Monticello, to J.T. Hadherway. It is a drug store, gift shop, and quilt shop. They have a whole room in the back with some awesome fabric! I didn’t buy anything there, and I didn’t take any pictures like I was going to. (Senior moment?) Don’t know what I was thinking! Oh, you are wondering about the name of the store? Sure, I’ll tell you! Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there was (is) a lady who wanted to open up a cute little store. Evidently, her husband wasn’t too keen on the idea, and it must have taken a little convincing. Well, her name, or initials were J T. Yep, you guessed it. J.T. Had. Her. Way! It is just the cutest store.

Next we went to Cascade to Spools N Jewels, but not before making our usual ‘Oh, oh, I think we went the wrong direction’ snafu. Oh well, what’s a leisurely ‘10 miles in the wrong direction’ ride among quilting friends? GPS? Kate was our GPS, but I think her batteries were low. I suspected we were going the wrong way (with my NO SENSE OF DIRECTION), and Ronelle made a quick phone call to a friend of hers who lives in Monticello, and she quickly confirmed that, ‘Honey, you all are going the wrong way!!!!’. Well, that’s what steering wheels are for, right? The last time I went to Spools N Jewels (they also sell beading for jewelry making), they were in a different location, and a lot smaller. This shop is awesome!                                                 This display was right inside the store to the left. Check out the tin walls!                                           …and ceiling! The woodwork and display cases were amazing!                                                                            This was only the front 3/4’s of the store.  I was a bad, BAD girl! I spent more on these three items than my sweet hubby gave me to spend. I figured I would come home with most of the money I left with, because I’m a thrift store shopper, remember?  This was only the second quilt shop, and we still had two more to go, and lunch to eat! 

My first attraction was the Aster Manor Jelly Roll, then I found the Jelly Roll Inspirations book.  I thought if I made a quilt from that book, I would need to have enough coordinating background fabric, so I bought three yards of fabric. It looks good enough to eat!                                                                    Next we drove to Dyersville to Vintage Threads. I bought this little charm pack pattern, called State Fair. (My attempt at taking photos of each and every quilt shop failed miserably!)                                                                      After we left Vintage Threads, we went to Country Junction to have lunch and celebrate Leslie’s birthday.  Leslie opened her birthday gifts, then we laughed and laughed until we were all in pain, when Leslie and Ronelle pulled a phone prank on Leslie’s poor husband Bill. I guess that will be the last time he tells Leslie to have fun, and stay out of jail!

Next (and last) in line was The Quiltmaker’s Shoppe in Manchester.  I was a bad girl there too. I bought these two ‘Frolic’ charm packs, and two fat quarters.                                        They were also having a book sale. Buy one book and get the second one of less or equal value free, so I bought this Debbie Mumm book, and the Happy Hour pattern I have looked at the Happy Hour pattern for a long time, and never bought it, so thought was the perfect opportunity.                                                               It was a pretty nice day. It was cold, and partly cloudy, but the sun did come out more in the afternoon. We made quite a trail on the map, because we went back to Monticello to drop Polly off at her car, via Delhi, and Hopkinton.  Once we got back to Monticello, we took the same track home as we started with that morning. It was about 6 pm when we arrived back home.                            We were all pretty amazed at what wonderful quilt shops we had so close to us. We also all agreed that we would need to make this trip again (when we all had more money). It was a lovely day spent with good friends. It was also our last quilting day until September….unless we decide to make an unscheduled day sometime!  We missed the girls that were unable to go, but don’t worry girls….we can go again!

We didn’t do our normal fat quarter exchange, because I had ordered mine on eBay, and it didn’t arrive in time. We also had three girls missing, so I made an executive decision and said we would just exchange when we got back together in September. HOWEVER, when I got home, what was in my mailbox? My exchange fabric, and an unexpected keychain from the seller’s shop. I also made another decision.  Girls, IT SUCKS TO BE YOU, because you AIN’T getting any of this gorgeous fabric, because I am KEEPING it! I’ll just have to find something else before September!                                              Ps….is it just me, or why, for the last week or so, have I had to constantly enter my password at least TWICE to sign into blogger?

I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday, and Mother’s Day!

Be blessed,                                                   Michelle