Inspiration Overload - and Friendship...

"Graceful Baltimore" by A Graceful Stitch

On Friday, I went shopping with my friend, Kathy D. in Wisconsin. She picked me up and together we traveled to Menasha and Appleton to check out three quilt shops I'd never visited before.

I tried to take photographs of the interiors of the shops, but my images just didn't do them justice, so I'm going to share a few pictures of some of my favorites of their shop samples. I'll tell you that each shop was just exploding with inspiration!

"Noah's Arc" in Wool Applique'

The first shop Kathy took me to was one of her personal favorites, and I can certainly see why. It's called Primitive Gatherings and it's on Racine Street in Menasha. (Here's a link to their website to whet your appetite!)

It's a one story converted home with additional inspiration in the basement. I took more than a few laps around the shop (up and down) before I could even begin to decide what I had to purchase from them! I told Kathy that if she had trouble finding me, I'd probably be sitting in a corner crying in confusion over all the fabulous things they had to offer. I'll show you my purchases later in the week. I can tell you, I had a ball in their shop.

The Noah's Arc hanging (above) is just one of the gorgeous wool pieces they had on display. In the end, I did join one of the monthly block of the month groups, too. It's the Jacqueline's Album Quilt BOM (here). I know. Like I need another project, but this one was just too cool to pass up!

Nick and Lisa Bongean (the owners) have created a gorgeous shop, and Lisa designs many of the pieces that adorn the walls. I'll visit their again in the future (online and in person!).

"Spoolin' Around" by Gingham Girls

Next, we went to Going To Pieces Quilt Company on Northland Avenue in Appleton, WI. Owned by Mary Klein and Joanne Mjos, this shop had a completely different feel and lines and designs different from the primitives, wools and reproduction fabrics at the first shop.

Remember, I told you I was going to start making nine-patch blocks from my project scraps? Well, I know how I'm going to assemble them after seeing this pattern called "Spoolin' Around"! Isn't it great? Alas, they have no website that I can steer you to.

"Provence Flannel" by Marcus Brothers @ Going To Pieces Quilt Shop

I went back to the table more than once, but resisted the temptation to pick up this flannel fabric kit called "Provence Flannel". The pattern is free from Marcus Brothers and I love the fabrics that were used to create this quilt. It's soft, colorful and it really spoke to me. (Even though I kept trying to put my hands over my ears!) I may yet call the shop and have them ship the kit to Florida.

Quilted Clock @ Going To Pieces Quilt Company

How's this for a perfect way to tell the time in your studio? I saw it on the wall at Going To Pieces and just had to share it with you! The numbers are machine embroidered and the rest is pieced, quilted and bound. It has enough substance to stay rigid as a clock. So cool!

"Hot Cross Buns" by Schnibbles @ Primitive Gatherings

The third shop was Keep Me In Stitches on Richmond Street in Appleton. It's just around the corner from Going To Pieces, but their shop had yet another completely different atmosphere! They don't have a website either, so I can't steer you to a site so you can see more.

Kathy and I had a ball shopping, ate a great lunch near the river in Menasha, and thoroughly enjoyed catching up with each other. (Congratulations to her newly-graduated son who just got a new job in the computer field in Appleton!)

We're already looking forward to the next time I visit Wisconsin so we can get together for another day of shopping! Thanks for driving, Kathy...and for your ongoing friendship. You're a true inspiration, my friend.