Most of you think I did pretty well on the shopping front at S&C...........I make the most of an opportunity............most of the fabrics I have never got to see for real before............so it was great to be able to see and buy................
&&&
where I live you can really only get DMC threads which is great but you need to have a bit of a supply of everything else............the only shops I get to are about 1.5 hours away and ok but not brilliant...........none of my favourite shops.............I may get there 4-6 times a year...............
&&&
I have some bloggy friends who I know every week or 2 get to go to a lovely quilting shop/s...........or meet up on a Saturday and have coffee and do some fabric shopping.......(so jealous)......but the reality is I would never get to do this........not unless I have a serious life change........and that isn't happening.............
what I want to know is what do you get to do...............
&&&
How far is it to your nearest quilting shop????
&&&
Do you have several close by to choose from????
&&&
How often do you get there????
&&&
Do you just go when you "need" something or do you call in whenever it takes your fancy??
&&&
Do you shop like I do and stock up when you get a chance???
take care til next time............Chookyblue...........
57 comments:
Hello Chookyblue
I am abit like you I stock up for rain days. Although I have a quilt shop only 5 mins down the road.
There is some pluses and negatives for living in town and country. Take care
Big Hugs
Bec
Ps When your up my wayI'll have a coffee waiting for you.
I normally only fabric shop when I need something specific, or if there's a really good sale. We have a fabric shop in town (half an hour away) and a quilt shop about half an hour away. Then Amish Country has more quilt shops and that's about 45 minutes away. I rarely go there though as it's always so busy with tourists.
Hi Chookyblue, North & South of where I live is about 1 1/2 hours drive to find a craft shop. We do have a teddy bear shop with a few basic bits. I usually go for a 'splurge' 6 times a year,and I like to stock up when I do! We occasionally plan a trip(north)with my mum & sister, but if we go south to the city we just pop in if we have time, & if we can put up with the 'big smoke' any longer!
Good questions!! Well I don't have a patchwork shop nearby me. The closest is at least 1/2 - 3/4 of an hour away (I guess that is reasonably close). So I only go when I am needing backings, borders or fabrics for a new project. I don't go out for coffees or regular things like that either, just live a quiet life at home. I shop online and love that the online community is so supportive and giving too. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with is all x Janelle
The closest free fabric shop is a 5min walk away. It's at my mothers place. She collected fabrics all her life (still is) and my sister and I are really happy she did. The nearest quiltshop is 13km away from my home. I don't go there very often though. I also buy fabric at the weekly market in town. Holland is a small country, so no long drives to the next town. And finaly, I like fabric shopping online.
I am very lucky living in Melbourne and you know where I get my fabric from! I think online shops is the way to go for girls in situations where there are no shops nearby!
We're pretty lucky here. I'm half an hour from town - but in town every day for work. We have 2 patchwork shops in town and Spotlight. I tend to pop in quite regularly. There are also other patchwork shops within an hour's radius of town, but I rarely get to go to them. It is such a luxury to be able to just "pop in" and get that reel of thread or bit of interfacing when you need. I still tend to "stock up" when there are specials on. I haven't really done much on line shopping as a result.
I have a shop nearby where I buy all my wadding from, however they don't stock the Kaffe's I love to buy so I travel to a shop an hour away twice a year, or buy online from America mainly xo
Good questions!
I am really lucky - I live very close to Quiltsmith, Remnants Warehouse and Logans in Sydney. They are all only 20mins or less from my house, and I have been known to visit them all in the one day (!). That said - I still do a lot of my fabric shopping online.
I don't belong to a quilting group, but I did discover this morning that one of the ladies in my gym class runs a quilting group near my work, so I think I will have to look into that. It would be lovely to have people to share an afternoon of stitching and coffee with
I have a quilt shop about an hour away from where I live... it's great for pellon, wadding, threads, and occasionally some fabric there... but mostly... my fabric is purchased online. LPS stocks stuff she likes and doesn't stray too far our of her comfort zone. Although, I may have convinced her to consider getting Rosie's range of fabrics in!!!
I am spoilt with two quilt shops in town plus spotlight and Lincraft for all the other stuff....but I still love to go and visit the "big guns' in Melbourne !!! Hoping to manage it very soon in fact !
Hi Chooky,
There's only 1 quilting shop in my town, and, I get there daily as I work there, but before working there I called in once a week to see what was new, and if anything took my fancy. Now I just buy fabric if I have a specific project in mind or if I ABSOLUTELY love it(I must love alot lol) I do get to 2 sewing nights a week, Wed & Fri, we'd love for you to join us :), having said that when we shift in Jan I will have the choice of 3 quilting shops all within a 20 minute drive but no social sewing nights to go to :(
I enjoyed seeing what you had purchased. Most of it was new to me, except the black sheep fabric. We have sheep on teatowels, clothes, souveniers type things here in NZ a lot.
Fabric shopping for me is very close and easy . I have a lot of choice of shops. It is the price that makes it difficult.( we don't have a Spotlight ) We pay so much for cotton fabric now( compared with you and especially compared with the USA...they wouldn't believe what we pay. )( I know ladies who live in Iceland or on the Ilse of man pay a lot too. )
I am a sensible shopper and mostly buy what I need for a project but allow myself some buying on a whim when at shows. Sometimes I will buy a fabric just because I think it is fabulous and know that you miss if you don't get it there and then. My other justification is I don't wast any fabric ....use even small scraps up and I always finish what I start( even if it means reworking something or taking it apart for a second go ) The other thing I think is good is buying fabric which I then make into gifts.
It's an interesting topic. Some ladies say I should buy on line and from USA cause it's cheaper - BUT then our local shops would go out of business and I wouldn't want that. My final comment would be I support the shop(s) that gives me the best customer service!
I have a shop just around the corner from me, but the fabric they stock is not the style I generally use. The shops I like are all about 30min away in every direction, so I usually go on a "as needed" basis. I also make a lot of my bigger purchases online, especially when the Aussie dollar is up against the USD.
Okay, here is what I do...when we were in Korea...the land where fabric is born...I went to the fabric market at least once every two weeks. I would spend around $100 each time. Fabric there was about $2.50 a yard. Yes, I am for real. We were there for two years. I have a lot of fabric! heehee
Now that we are back in the States I go once or twice a month to one of the two quilt stores by me. Sometimes I go in with a plan but mostly I go when I feel the need for some fabric therapy. Just recently I went and got a huge stack of Christmassy fat quarters to make a few things for my swap person.
Ahhhhhhh fabric shopping, it does a body good!!!
hugs!
dawn
Everything is within 10-15mins drive here in Christchurch Chooky so really we just take it for granted and go shopping if we need something. If I am around town and I haven't been into the quilt shop for awhile I may pop in and have a chat to the girls but don't always buy. I think DH would much prefer us to live a distance from everything though.
Well I suppose I am spoilt here with a store 20 mins away, Spotlight 15mins away and more shops within an hours drive. However I buy most of my stuff online. The only time I go to the local shop is when I need something specific but it is only small and I can't afford to buy all my fabric from there. I buy most of my fabric from the US.
Hi Donna,
I do have a large stash built up now as I buy fabric for a rainy day( perhaps I am thinking that I might need enough should we have a storm the required Noah's Ark might be necessary LOL) However, I do have a local quilt store very close if I run out of something- Oddly enough, it is not the one I go to the most often. A friend and I have our favorite fabric shops and we have a good time exploring in their clearance racks. I only buy fabric on sale unless it is something that I am looking for that is for a specific project. Mostly these days I can make my quilts from my stash- I may need batting and sometimes backing. I am also fortunate in that fabric is relatively reasonable in price here in North America- I can still find fabric for around 5 dollars a meter - I rarely pay more than 8.50 a meter. Some of us are collectors and love fabric. I am such a person...
Warmest regards,
Anna
I have a quiltshop in my new sewingroom. It feels like it :)
So my goal now is to use from that and just go to the quiltshop when I really need something.
I have one quiltshop in my town. Earlier I visited it several times in the week to chat with my best friends who worked there. But now when that shop is closed and another is having it, I am very seldom in that shop, just when I need to buy somehting I need.
And I have several other quiltshops nearby (1-2 hours driving).
Oh Chooky so many questions. We have three fabric shops in town but only two sell quilting fabric. One of them is a mix of quilting and dress fab and the other is quilting and sbooking but neither have a huge range but I always manage to find something. I try very hard not to go unless I need to because you can be guaranteed that as soon as I walk through those doors the old credit card starts to hyperventilate. Every now and then I do go to other fabric shops, the nearest being about 1 hour away but only if I really need to and I do buy some fabrics online.
To get to decent shops it is really a 2hr trip...one at Singleton isn't too bad though (45mins). It would be lovely to live close by somewhere & do classes etc, but I shop when I can & stock up!
I'm about an hour away these days from anything I call a LQS. Not long ago I went to Melbourne - have even ventured as far afield as the USA - really no furhter away than my computer - so naturally I hae to stock up, just in case!
Hugs - Lurline♥
well...I read all those beautifull answers from your friends and I dare , very ashamed :(, to answer your questions, too .
1.I don't have a fabric shop ( especially for patchwork) in my ...country! We do have several fabric shops in each town, but their products are not appropriate for patchwork ( fashion, house, etc. )anyway I use some of them for other projects than patchwork.
2. I am obliged to buy online...now, due to new duty taxes regulation of my country I preffer to buy from Europe than USA - where we all know is much cheaper- and from here I always look for sale fabrics - price motivation, too -. I buy online when something got really close to my heart...so, not very often, but I do. Generally my stash consider pieces from the "vintage" shops, that are whashed and recicled and so could appear something beautifull around here.
3. I would be heavenly happy if I could spend at little one hour a week in a quilt shop near house...heavenly! But the nearest is hundreds of km away in next country.
4. The only distraction that I got from buying at home is shopping some thread for stitcheries ( not DMC but something closer)or some wools for knitting., or some lace. These are still convenient.
Well, do you ladies, understand now what a happy life you have ?? :)
Mine is happy too, because I can read more about you, about your creations and I love when I see what you bring home from shopping. It's like I was shopping with you , too. :))
Keep going!
Donna, I have always lived away from craft/quilt shops, previously more than 1 hour when I lived down the coast (Newcastle being the closest) and now about 35 mins from Nundle. Consequently I have always stocked up on all kinds of threads, fabric, patterns and yarns. Now, at the age of 58, I have more than an adequate supply, and it is always soooooooooo tempting to buy more!!! But some of my craft products will outlive me now.
I try to support the shops half an hour away, especially for sewing supplies but the ones I love are too far away so I visit about every three months. A lot of the fabrics I get are online because of availability.
Hi Donna,
well soon I will be just like you and miles and miles; 2-3 hrs drive; from any nearby quilt shop, and then I am not quite sure what the closest is actually like having not been there before, so I guess you just need to be quite planned about what you do, and the ability to be spontaneous is not quite there! I am so used to being able to "pop in" to the local shop, of which there are 3 very handy, within 5 mins of my work, so things are gonna be very different for me. Where there is a will there is a way huh!
Any where any how I say!!!!! I oftn pop into a few favourite shops and never seem to come away empty handed but i must admit I am much more restrained than I used to be-that is unless I go to the Stitches and Craft Show!!!!!
I'm very spoiled actually. I'm within ten minutes of 5 fabric suppliers - two very excellent quilt shops, a craft shop, Spotlight and Textile Traders. I must confess to avoiding going unless I really need something or the sale is stupendous - I have a big stash and it's beginning to weigh on me and I just don't enjoy buying fabric anymore - too much guilt... but I will on occasion wander in to my most excellent quilt shop and just look around. They have so many quilts on display that it's like a mini-quilt show. That's a great pick-me-up and helps motivate me to keep at it... if only blogging didn't take so much time! It's like a vortex that makes time disappear!
Living in a smallish country town, we have one fabric shop that has some quilting fabrics and we're about an hour from Townsville where there are quite a few, however we don't get there all that often...petrol prices and all!! I've found the internet is great...sometimes tooooo convenient, but I can get what I need or browse for new things just as easily.
I enjoy our 'every second Saturday' Quilters Guild meetings...so much talent in one little space....I love it when we have weekend workshops...motivates me to do more!!!
If you're ever up north, there's a pot on the stove and scones on for ya!
;o) Wendy B
Hey Donna! While I'm a bit spoilt and have three quilting shops here in Toowoomba, I know how you feel, having lived in Bourke for some time when I'd stock up at Spotlight in Dubbo several times a year. I pop into my home-away-from-home Quilters Angel usually at least once a week, mostly just to say g'day to the gals. I'm trying to be good and only buy fabric for specific projects as I need them - but some seem to follow me home! I did stock up on Aviary fabrics during a sale earlier in the year! :0) Happy stitching! Bear Hugs! KRIS
Oops! Forgot to say Quilters Angel is on my way home from work - very dangerous but convenient! :0) BH! KRIS
I am blessed in that I have 2 excellent local quilt shops and I live in a small town, then about 10 minutes away is a great bargain hunting fabric shop, be it quilting, bridal, uphostery, whatever.
I like to drop in and browse for ideas, but at 73 I am down to only buying what I need to either do a project or finish a project, I still have a whole wall of fabrics to chose from, grin.
What am I doing now? Involved in about 12 embroidery boms as well as a couple of applique boms.
Barb in western NC, USA
I live in suburbia, but I don't like shopping much, so I do the stock up thing like you. (Fabric, habby etc even food!)I love to stay at home. I live "close" to a bunch of quilt shops, but I drive past them to get to my favourite 3/4 of an hour away.
mmmmm questions...well Chooky; We don't have what I call a "good" patchwork shop here where I live. We have Spotlight which can have a spark or two that jumps out at you, but when it comes to downright divine fabrics...no! Then we have a Sewing Centre that has patchwork fabrics..but...most of what's on the shelf has been there for a long, long time, so....doesn't interest me....... plus; I wasn't treated very nicely there by the current owners, so I've promptly forgotten that they exist.
I used to stock up with a lot of fabric at Shows and when I visited my Mum in Sydney, but now I buy on-line quite a bit, use from my stash and am definately only buying what I want for the current project at hand, or as a small special treat. Our group also goes to the Newcastle Stitches and Craft Show on a bus every Feburary and I love that day out..just for fun.
Don't do the coffee and shopping unless I am in Sydney with my sister....then its a real treat.
Have a happy day.
Hugs..Judith
Hello to you..
Oh how I wish I had a shop just near me...
But I have to confess.. I have a shop about 5 swedish miles from my house.. but still havent been there... uuughh... tooo bad.
Next shop is in the south of Sweden.. very very far away from me...
SOOO.... I do my shopping on the internet..:o)))
And I still havent been to a real quiltshop!!!! But within just a week Im going to Norway...travel 80 Swedish miles one way... crazy I know... and guess what.. I will stock up on ... I dont know... but at least I will have fun.. I just sorry everything is very expensive .. so I guess it wont be bought that much!!! :o) That s how I shop!!! :o)
I understand you... The only 3 (recent) shops in my country are 2,5 hours driving away from where I live, and I can't go there often, so, when I can go, I look like a mad women, trying to see everything and deciding where to spend my money... so, on line shopping is the nearest shop I have! It's not the same as a real shop, but it's what I can get!
My favourite local quiltshop is about a 10 minutes drive from my house. Some weeks I will be there for 3 to 4 times. Not only yo buy fabrics, but to visit quilts clubs and I’ve become an unpaid assistant, designing quilts and making samples for the shop. I also often help to cut fabrics and make kits and help clients during sales and markets.
Another quiltshop in town opened only recently, but I’ve not been visiting, because it almost feels like cheating...LOL!
Before my LQS was opened less than 2 years ago, I had to drive about 75 km to visit a real nice quiltshop.
I'm definitely like you and stock up when I get the chance... Our local shop, 70km's away, is alright and I shouldn't complain but you just can't beat those fairs where you get to see all of the latest and greatest there is on offer... I've loved all of your goodies, very inspiring..
Jodie :)
There are two shops I can go to and I only go there if i really NEED to. I use the internet to order and stock up.
Hi Chooky....we have nothing in town...we do have a couple of shops in Dubbo, half an hour away.....because of my work commitments it is hard for me to get to Dubbo so.....I do a lot of shopping online...
Firstly, Chook, I LOVED seeing all your goodies from Stitches - brilliant!!! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't regularly have my FIX at the patchwork shop. I tend to go whenever it takes my fancy, when I am stressed, when I want some eye candy, when I have some spending money and especially on PAY DAY!!! I think Emma is always pleased to see me!!! Sometimes I even go when I need something. I am lucky to have 2 beautiful shops to choose from and also my beautiful Coffee Shop where Ric Rac and I meet up on Saturdays. I'll stop boasting now, but all I can say is "thank god for the internet"
Probably a good thing I don't live close to one, but the internet is a dangerous place!! I may have been spending there this morning. I was very excited in Sydney and did a lot of shopping! Actually just got off the phone to Mum who wasin Spotlight - I just directed her around thestore to pick up some esentials.
Luckily for me there are 2 chain fabric stores within 15 minutes of home and another one about 30 minutes away. There are also 3 quilt stores within a 30 to 45 minute drive. This is lucky for me but not so good for the budget. I shop only when I need something specific and only when that item is on sale which in the chain stores is quite often. For items like interfacing, batting, neutral color thread - those I stock up on when they are on sale. I shop online only when looking for a specific fabric that I can't find at the local shops. I like to feel the fabric before I buy.
Happy shopping.
I'm a little spoiled in that it is only a few steps to my closest shop - I have to resist the temptation to treat it as my private stash. Still it is impossible to stock everything so I shop at other Adelaide shops and online with other Aussie shops who stock what I don't!
I just love getting parcels!
Wow i am very lucky. I have Mrs Martins Quilt Shop very close,and Foothills,Fabric and threads a short drive, and i havent even been in the car 5 minutes. I also have down off the hills lots more patchwork shops.
I only buy when i want to make something, but i have a lot of unfinished gifts to finish.
I am in the lucky position of having access to lots of shops - There are 7 or 8 that I can think of which I could get to with in half an hour and more with a little bit more travelling. As well as that I have a Spotlight about three kilometres away. I don't tend to buy fabric there but it does seem to be the only place locally for things like zips and haberdashery. I do try to go to the local sewing machine shop for threads. So where do I shop? Well, generally I like to visit them all every few months or so but I don't tend to buy much - except if there something on special. The problem is that I have more than enough to chose from at home and I am trying to use some of it up. I also do internet shop - expecially when I see things like free shipping and good prices. When I went to Melbourne recently we visited 11 shops - and really I only bought what I thought I needed. However it was lovely to see what is being stocked elsewhere. So in short I shop everywhere but try to shop out of my stash if possible.
Hi There The closest shop to me is a place that sells end of runs and cancelled orders etc, another small one on the other side of the highway,about 20 mins drive,Then go the other direction about 30 mins or so just over the border to Fantasia Fabric in Tweed Heads. This is also a discount type fabric shop. I tend to buy for a project or will just buy if I really like it.Have a reasonable stash but always seem to have to get something to go with that.!
Pam.
OMG! Serious drool all over the keyboard!
All our local QS have taken their tents & fled. Apparently not enough custom to keep them alive, which is very sad.
Our closest is not one I have ever visited. Eyeproblems do not make for easy travel...
Yes we have the big Sp.... chain, but not the same somehow??
I live close to around 4 shops 1 of which is Spotlight and I don't get much of my fabric etc purchase s from them. I shop a fair bit online from Aussie websites and from America when the exchange rate is good, so I don't think you are missing out too much. I think you get better treatment shopping online too and its nice to receive parcels in the mail. Quite often the shops don't have what I'm looking for either and so at least I can search around on the web for what I need and at any time of the day and the range is much more extensive to choose from. I work too so I don't get a lot of time to browse the shops either. Especially when you have family members in tow!!!!!!! I have lived in a rural area too for about 20 years and there wasn't much available so I can relate to what you go through and before the internet it was much worse.
So we can at least all be thankful for the internet and PayPal today.
Forgot to add I have a huuuuuuuuge fabric stash too so I don't really need to add to it but we all know how that works ha ha. My huge stash comes from living in a rural for so many years that you need to stock up on supplies so I did that too and now I think I need a Warehouse. I don't get to shop and coffee with friends as they all live in the rural area I left and they are not all quilters either plus it is hard to do when you work. But I belong to a couple of craft groups and that is nice. Lots of food, fun, chatting and sometimes some craft. So hope that answers some of your questions.
Hi Chooky,
wow that an awesome response you had. I have a little patchwork store only 20 minutes away and I do try to support local. However, I am finding that I have met some great bloggers through blogland who also have their own shops so I am finding often, I buy directly over the internet so still feel like I am supporting the small guy. It is just as exciting getting a parcel in the post, and something different from the local store. Every quilt show or local produce market I am at.
I am incredibly spoiled here in Western Washington (Olympia, about an hour drive south of Seattle). I have about 10 quilt shops within 30 minutes drive of my home. And they are all different, specializing in the tastes of the owner.
My very favorite shop is Ruby Street Quiltworks in Tumwater about 5 miles away. It has all the wonderful modern designer stuff and colors I adore and fun projects that are not just quilts.
WE also have Bayside Quilts here in town, about 1/4 mile from home. It is a very close second favorite, and is followed by Shibori Dragon in Lakewood, about 30 minutes away.
I shop in fits and spurts. When the money is there lol And when I have time. I work just way too much. But it evens out as I don't have much time for sewing either.
We have three quilts shops in our town, within five miles, and a great big one 22 miles away. But, all the fabric stores have closed, except Joann fabrics. I try to stock up when I have coupons or sales, but it honestly is just entertainment to pop in and see what's new.
I consider myself very lucky my friend Lorraine owns Hettie Patch which is about 10 minutes away. I just drop in for coffee.
I am so fortunate -- I can walk to the closest quilt shop. There is a Hancock's about 2 miles from me and a JoAnn's about 5 miles away.
Another shop is about 7 miles away, so I'm really close to lots of places to spend my money!!
I have just done a post on this, had too much to say on the subject! Bec xxx OhSewBusy
I'm pretty lucky. There are 4 quilt shops in my area. (There used to be 5 but one, with bad service, just shut down) The closest one is really not to my taste but it's great for popping in on a lunch hour for that 1 needed thing. My favourite shop is actually in another town about 1 1/2 hours away. I get there probably once a year.
I have a fairly reasonable stash that fills its allocated space so, these days, I tend to go into the shops for something specific. (Though I often come out with more than planned. :)
Post a Comment