Thursday, October 6, 2011

A Few More Shops . . . .

So here are a few more shops I was lucky enough to visit on my Shop Hop around Wisconsin.

J.J. Stitches in Sun Prairie.



This store was loaded with fabric, mainly reproduction fabric, but they had other fabric too.


I can't imagine walking in with a pattern and not being able to find the fabric I needed to make it.



The store was decorated nicely, neat as a pin, and the help welcoming and helpful.

I also stopped here,



Mill House Quilts in Waunakee. This building is an historic old mill and still has the original large plank flooring inside. They carried all types of fabric, there was plenty of room with great lighting.

I arrived at the store around 4:30, plenty of time to browse before their closing time of 5, or so I thought. When I walked in the greeting by the staff was chilly, and someone followed me all over the store wanting to know if they could help me with anything. I got the impression they were wanting to help me with anything that would get me out of the store by 5. I was out of the store before closing time. It's a nice store, not a destination store like the other shops I hit, but if you're driving by it's worth the stop. Just don't stop if it's close to closing time.

Now this shop, you can't get in and out in 30 minutes so don't even try.

The Country Sampler is in Spring Green.


Their main focus is reproduction prints and patterns, but really they are so much more.

It's hard to describe, but this shop has a way of taking any pattern and selecting fabric so different that you hardly recognize it when you look at the pattern and at their completed quilt. They mainly go for soft and muted combinations, everything was just breathtaking and inspiring. Take a look at their kits online for a better idea of what I'm trying to describe, you will be amazed.

They have the ability to do what I'm always hoping to do, take a pattern and make it completely their own and different and better! They also had fabric by designers and makers that I had not seen in other shops.

The staff was amazing, finding each completed project for the kits (there were kits everywhere!) sometimes twice, locating patterns, all the while trying to fill their online orders, which were extensive. They were working hard but didn't make me feel like I was in the way or taking up too much of their time. I hear this store has an amazing Christmas Open House, what I wouldn't give to be able to go!!

I also stopped here.





The Quilter's Compass in Monticello. A very nice quilt shop, a nice variety of fabric, great lighting and a helpful staff. They do a huge online business, but with free shipping anywhere in the US for orders of $35 or more, it's easy to see why.

So that's my Wisconsin Shop hop, be sure to check out each store's online shop, and if you buy a kit from the Country Sampler, drop me a note, I would love to know what you picked out.

Finally, awhile back I talked about a Red and White Quilt Show being sponsored by the Temecula Quilt Company. It's the reason I started my Red and White Tribute quilt. My project wasn't done in time to make the show, but some other folks did an amazing job with their projects. Click here to see their show. Congratulations to all the amazing quilters, the pictures are stunning, that sure would have been something to see in person.

Added Later: Here's a link to Elizabeth's blog, OccasionalPiece. Not only did she attend the show, which lasts the whole month of October by the way, she had two projects in the show! More great pictures, don't miss them!!


14 comments:

  1. Fun to read about your shop hop. I hit Mill House Quilts in the middle of the day, and you're right--they're lovely and friendly without a deadline.

    I went to the Temecula Red White show on the first day and it was terrific. I even ate a hot dog and everything (you can see the write-up on my blog). I clicked on your link and it went somewhere else--intentional?

    Fun to read this post!

    Elizabeth E.
    occasionalpiece.wordpress.com

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  2. Oh...so much fun and I'm so jealous! A couple of those shops are on my to-do list hopefully in my near future. I want to see pictures of your purchases. Thanks for sharing

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  3. Love the tour. I had an experience like you did at Mill House Quilts. I walked into a quilt shop around 3:45. The minute I closed the door, the lady at the register sternly told me they were closing in 5 minutes!! So I breezed through the store, and walked out, never to return. What a chilly greeting. Oh btw, the shop closed.

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  4. How fun! I enjoyed reading about your shop hop. Some of the stores I have visited in my travels do not allow photos to be taken, and that really annoys me...so I especially enjoyed your photos!

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  5. Fun shop hop! I've had the pleasure of visiting JJ Stitches and Country Sampler and they are both wonderful, wonderful shops! Also visited Mill House Quilts but we were in and out so quickly that I don't remember much about it.

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  6. Loved the photos of the shops, pity you got such a chilly welcome at one of them...

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  7. Thanks so much for the shop pictures. I've been to JJs and Mill House, and am aching to go to Country Sampler. What a whirlwind for you; I'll bet you had a blast!

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  8. Hi Thelma I am Country Sampler mail order customer and have just ordered a kit from them from Jeanne's blog ...a blue and white postage stamp...blues are the colour lacking in my stash...can't wait to receive it.....I loved your pics, I'm in Australia so it was a real treat! Thanks

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  9. I just wrote a whole long comment, so hope this won't be a duplicate! I have a hard time getting a comment to post.

    I love the shops you visited - I live within an hour of Primitive Gatherings and JJ Stitches, and they are my favorite shops. Country Sampler is wonderful, too, but is about two hours away, so I don't get there very often. I love their kits - they are so pretty I hate to take them apart to start sewing. I didn't know about the shop in Monticello, so thanks for mentioning it. Now I have a new shop to hit on my next road trip that way. If you're ever in the area again, please email me. I'd love to meet you in person at one of the shops. I've been reading your blog for awhile and think we'd have lots to chat about (while shopping, of course!) My bucket list also includes a retreat at Primitive Gatherings - is that on your bucket list now, too?

    Kathy at http://troublesomecreekquilts.blogspot.com/

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  10. Thanks for shop tours. I enjoyed it. They look awesome and very inspiring.

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  11. Thanks for the head's up about Country Sampler! I just spent 1/2 hour on their website. Fantastic! I'm 3000 miles away, but the internet sure does make the world small.

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  12. I checked out the quilt kits you mentioned from your visit to Country Sampler. Very pretty!

    How nice they're online!

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  13. I've always had a good experience at Mill House. Sorry yours wasn't as good. The owner Diane is very nice. I am part of a quilting group that meets there monthly, so I might be biased.

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  14. Thanks for all the shop tours...fun! I have been to the Temecula Quilt shop...it is not too far from where I live...it's a cute store...but small...I loved all the displays of red and white quilts...wonderful!

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