What a wonderful day it was for our June 13, 2009, Shop Hop! Kudos to Michaele J. and Kerry D. for their work organizing this trip! Thanks, also, to the four shops which welcomed us so nicely. Most of us thought we would go back to visit these shops on our own. We just wish the discounts (up to 15% on regularly-priced items and fabric) offered to us on this shopping trip would still be in effect!
The first shop was A Sewing Basket in Salado. The owner, Betty Moodt, sent a check ahead of time to Michaele to provide us with a continental breakfast during the bus trip. That was a great way to start our day!
This shop has lots of western, batik, oriental, and Christmas fabric already for sale. They had quilting nightshirts and extensive color wall. They also had Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett fabrics. While we were there, their "Second Saturday Samplers Quilt Block of the Month group met...the classroom was nearly full of enthusiastic participants.
A Sewing Basket is located at 560 N. Main St., Ste 6, Salado, TX 76571. Their hours are 9:30 - 5:30, Monday through Saturday, and 12 - 4:30 on Sunday. Phone numbers are 1-877-244-0450 and 254-947-5423. Email is <sewbskt@vvm.com>; website is <www.thesewingbasket.com>.
The Sewing Basket offers several classes, including the "Christmas Tree Watercolor" on July 18 from 10-4 (see quilt above, left). Their patriotic fabric (above, right) and thread offerings (below, left) were extensive. Our phrase for the day seemed to be, "Stimulate the economy!" Several of the shops had a flyer for their "Fall Frolic Shop Hop" which lasts three days, September 10-12. Information is available at www.fallfrolicshophop.net.
The next stop was Poppy Quilt 'N Sew in Georgetown. This shop had full-spectrum lighting to give shoppers a look a true colors. It was really amazing! They had many oriental, Fairy Frost, batik, specialty (dogs, cats, all sports), poppy, western, Fossil Ferns, and Aunt Gracie's fabric for sale. They offered Presencia 3-ply thread and recommended the 60 wt. for quilting. Anita Brockell is the owner; she offered each one of us a free fat quarter as we checked out.
Poppy Quilt 'N Sew is located at 4106 Williams Drive (RM 2338), Suite 102, Georgetown, TX 78628. Phone: 512-863-6108. Website: www.poppyquiltnsew.com. Email: <poppyquiltnsew@gmail.com>.
Sales staff were numerous here, just as they were at A Sewing Basket, and they all said that creating the quilt (right) was "lots of fun." It looked complicated to us, but Anne P. bought the template set. Georgia T. was planning ahead and bought the pattern for the Christmas package quilt below. It was created with paper piecing.
Lots of ladies seemed to be looking for Christmas fabric. This particular shop had a good variety out for sale. They also had a sale wall with many bolts of fabric.
A wonderful box lunch with wraps, chips, and cookies was offered as we rode between the second and third shops. Our driver always was quick to offer cooled water bottles throughout the whole day. Those of us who "shopped and dropped" were able to return to the bus early and rest...what a luxury!
The third shop was Ready to Sew Bernina, 2800 E. Whitestone #225, Cedar Park, TX 78613. Their email is <readytosew@yahoo.com>, and the website is www.readytosewbernina.com. Here we were offered 15% off, so those of us with Bernina sewing machines were very lucky!
At this shop, we also picked up the Main Street Quilt and Thread Guild program information. On July 28, they are holding a garage sale at the Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main Street. Intriguing! Any fabric left over was to be donated to the Linus Project (like our Care Quilts).
Below, Kerry seemed to be holding the door open today...great hostessing!. Below, right, we thought of needed Habitat quilts when we saw this Rosebud Cottage quilt.
Ready to Sew Bernina, owned by Ronna Hammel, offered a good variety of fabric and patterns for wearables, too. Sales fabrics were bountiful, and refreshments were available in their classroom.
Left, Flo F. was delighted when her Cedar Park friend, Lorelle came to see her. Lorelle was accompanied by her daughter.
The fourth (and last) shop stop was at the Honey Bee Quilt Store, 9308 Anderson Mill Road, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78729. This shop advertizes in our newsletter and is listed on our "Links" page. Phone: 512-257-1269; website: www.honeybeequiltstore.com. (Their website is very complete with many offerings and even includes a map of their location on the "contact us" page.) We soon learned that the owner is an Aggie, so it was like "coming home" for this last shop. Below, right, we really did have a pretty bus and a gracious driver!
Just inside the door, to the left, were Christmas panels were Advent Calendars, already packaged with backings; many were sold!
Right, an interested sample of a "yellow brick road quilt." Below, left, a baby quilt in flannel which reminded us the Care Quilts are needed now. Below, right, many quilts were displayed around the area where refreshments were offered.
The owner was forced to give her demonstration of "Fun & Done" template use and sewing technique several times. She ran out of those templates and promised several of us that she would ship free of charge to those who purchased one...and we took her up on that promise!
Again, we thought of using these templates for Care Quilts. Fun & Done so easy! Below, right, she demonstrated how to seam two blocks together and fold over the backing to finish the seam.
Below, left a Fun & Done quilt. Below, right, the owner demonstrated the use of Clearly Perfect Angles...something else to "ooh and ahh" about!
Sales were brisk at ALL shops!
We had safe and comfortable traveling...ALL of us grateful to Michaele and Kerry and our driver! The final gift was that we were back at Wells Fargo by 6 p.m., in plenty of time for those who lived far away to get home before dark! YES!!!
