Quilt Shops

Today my girlfriends and I went on a road trip. We visited two quilt shops; Lone Star Quiltworks in Bryan, Texas and A Cowgirl Quilt Shop near Jewett, Texas. 

Needless to say, we had a blast and purchased some great fabrics. Lone Star Quiltworks had excellent displays all around the store and it was well lighted.

After that we had lunch which revived us so we headed off the Jewett.

Kathy, our driver was, as Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman" once said, an excellent driver.

We made it to A Cowgirl Quilt Shop in time to do a little shopping. Brenda, the shop owner is a very friendly lady who has some great fabrics.  She will be participating in the Heart of Texas Shop Hop in January 2014. 

Check out

A Cowgirl Quilt Shop & Lone Star Quiltworks  

now.

I'd show you the fabrics I bought but I'm too busy drooling over them....hehehehe

 

A Day At The Fair

I had a chance to go to our annual state fair in Dallas. The day was slightly overcast, cool and it was Senior Day, which means anyone 55 or older got in free.  I knew that getting older had its perks!!

 Below is the quilt sponsored by the Texas Agriculture Department. Every other year they choose a theme, post instructions, send out fabric and judge the blocks to be sewn into a great quilt. I did not participate this year but love seeing what other talented ladies produced.

I've included a few of the blocks, in close-up, that were my favorites.

Glimpses of Talent

Last week the girls and I traveled to Tyler, TX for their annual quilt show.

Some of us have been members of the guild there but not for awhile.  But we love looking at all the talented ladies' work.

 A lot of applique` and quilting went into this quilt.

 Ditto!

 Isn't this a great Dear Jane quilt ....... personally, I'd never be able to complete one of these ...... I'm always to busy running away from critters.

 This Slampler quilt is one of my favorites. I love the color choices.

 Love this one, too. Machine embroidery with pieced blocks ...... love it!

 This one is great, as well. Looks complicated but it isn't.  It's just a matter of combining to types of blocks and great placement.

 Look at the quilting on this whole-cloth beauty.  In a word ..... WOW!

 I'm a big fan of Log Cabin designs and this diamond log is an eye catcher.

 I know I've seen this kit somewhere ....... love the color choices for this one.

 Very interesting and look at all those HSTs around the borders.

This quilt shows a great way to snazz up the border by adding applique`.

After the quilt show, we visited A Nimble Thimble , one of our favorite quilt stores. If you're ever in Tyler, check our the shop or visit their website. Click on the link I've provided and take a gander.

Road Trip!

It all started at Common Threads back in February. I was minding my own business when I ran across a brochure about a bus tour of 8 quilt shops (better known to us quilters as a "shop hop").  I thought little of it but my friend Jerri waved the thing in front of my face and talked about all the way back home.  At the time Jerri was very ill but still in high spirits.  We further discussed the trip and broached the idea to the other girls.  Everyone looked at their calendars to decide if their schedules would allow the trip.  I was free and signed up before a certain first deadline while the others made their decisions.  Needless to say, I was the only one who was able to make it.

My new friend, JoAnn and I had a blast teasing one another about shopping for certain colors and limiting ourselves or should I say pacing ourselves throughout the trip.  At one point on the bus, I turned around to talk to a seatmate and see two familiar faces (friends from a neighboring town). Yippee Skippy, more spending mates!!!!!

We had a fabulous 2 day road trip and visited 8 gorgeous quilt shops with the friendliest ladies you'd ever want to meet.  If you are a quilt-a-holic like I am, you might enjoy the following quilt shops:

Sitichin' Heaven - Quitman (online shop is excellent as well and lots of BOTMs)

Suzy's Quilt Shop - Garland (great Aunt Gracie selections and plenty BOTMs)

The Quilt Asylum - McKinney (WOW)

Pass Time Fabrics - Gainesville (plenty of fat quarters and great displays)

Blue Ribbon Quilt Shoppe - Wylie (great displays and fabric selections)

Cabbage Rose Quilting - Ft. Worth (solids, western and moda...oh my)

Quilt Among Friends - Arlington (florals galore)

Common Threads - Waxahachie (Civil War, Batiks, Tone-on-Tone and great BOTMs)