QUILT SHOP HOPPING!!!

Went on a quilt shop hop with my quilting peeps!  8 women, 7 shops, 2 days, 2 cars, 445 miles,3 GPS units and one birthday.  This was our own personal shop hop where we picked the shops and route.

DAY 1:

3 shops,1 birthday girl, 1 lunch, dinner and hotel stop.

Our first shop was our local Sew Crazy Fabric Shop.  Bonnie has an awesome shop and is now carrying my IcanQuilt Reversible Candlemat Pattern! Thanks Bonnie!  I guess I was still half asleep because I forgot to take a picture of Bonnie's sign :(   And, thanks for having a beautiful and local shop for our fabric addictions.

Next up was Tiger Lily Quilt Company (Donna Papaleo, owner) in Utica, NY....a really sweet shop, much easier to find now that they have moved their location.  I got some nice threads and a pretty pink and brown batik  there.

NOTE:  Click on any picture for a larger view.

Lunch was Italian at Paolo's & Lilianas little restaurant right next to The Tiger Lily.  We were treated to some great entertainment and wonderful food there.

The owners (back there in the kitchen) want us to come back for dancing next month AND we can bring our own wine and beer!  We may be tempted!

Our last stop of the day was Fieldstone House, in Sidney Center, NY.  A shop CHOCK FULL of fabrics in every inch of the space!  Check out the inside pictures.

This is only a portion of the store, there were more rooms and tons more upstairs.  I think we were there almost 3 hours.

Jodi is smiling "cause she's pretty sure she is in FABRIC HEAVEN.

We checked into The Hampton Inn in Oneonta, NY.  It was awesome!!  I would stay there again in a heartbeat! The staff was the best and they had a wonderful complimentary breakfast in the morning.

Our restaurant of choice was Appleby's and OMG we had the best waiter in the place.  He didn't lack for charm...the manager came over several times to chat and took our picture.  Renee, our birthday girl had a complimentary birthday shooter dessert, complete with candle and round of Happy Birthday song from the staff.

Cindy and Barb

Marion, Jodi and Sue

Mary S., Mary D. and the birthday girl, Renee(oops, closed *eyes)

Birthday girl, what big *eyes you have...LOL!

Back to the hotel for birthday celebrations continued with cheese and wine and popcorn and cookies and...well you get the idea. We all gathered in one room and took turns spreading out our lovely fabric finds!

DAY 2:  4 shops, 1 lunch, 1 dinner stop

Our first stop of the day was Quilted Crow Fabric and Quilt Shop in Sanitaria Springs, NY, and OMG it was just the sweetest shop!  Lots of small quilted projects, mats galore and the fabrics were wonderful!  We were in awe of Peg's shop.  Check out her blog too!  Quilted Crow is now carrying my IcanQuilt Reversible Candlemat Pattern...woots!!!  Thanks, Peg!! :)

Quilted Crow...a cabin full of fabric..a sweet classroom is upstairs.  YES, that IS snow, everyone is anxious for spring there too!

Next we headed west to Binghamton, NY, Creative Threads, a small shop...I bought some nice threads.  A quick lunch at a Subway...then on to close-by Grandmother's Thimble in Vestal, NY.  A really nice selection of fabrics there, I bought some lovely browns and blues.  Oh yeah, and they had sewing machines that cost as much as a car!  McStevie was impressed with that statement....not.

Our last quilt shop stop was Pucky Huddle Delight in Candor, NY (heading back toward home now) and, the delight part was definitely right on!  The mother/daughter team of Jen and Julie were very delightful!  This shop was a winner!  If you are looking for batiks, the whole front of the shop is all batiks and they were beautiful!  See some pics below.  Jen and Julie were a bit shy to have their picture taken, but they delighted us by taking ours.  Yes, snow still on the roof...bleh.

Left side of shop batiks

Right side of shop batiks

Me and the "sister quilting peeps" at Pucky Huddle Delight

There were two huge rooms to the left and right of the cutting station you see in the back. They had a wonderful selection! I'm sure we will be back!

We started north and stopped for dinner...where you say? Of course at our new hangout...another Appleby's...this one in Cortland, NY.  Another great meal.

Next stop, Adams Center, NY home safely, thanks to my trusty, rusty side-kick navigator Mary S, thanks Mary!.  Here is a pic of the trunk of my car with bunches of bags! 

All of my goodies spread out to admire the next morning!

What a great time! Best get in the cave sewing soon!  Woots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love teachers!

I love teachers!

Many of my family members (daughter, daughter-in-law, nieces, and more) are teachers.

I love to sew things just for teachers and am always on the lookout for “teacher fabrics”.  Here are some of the fabrics I currently have in my stock.  Click on the picture for a larger view.

Below are a few of the items I have made for teachers thus far.  I have other ideas for projects and would love any input you may have, especially if you are a teacher, so don’t hesitate to give me a comment on your idea.  Also, I love to do custom orders, so if there is something I can make for you, please use my contact form!

 

towel/potholder sets

(plastic bag holder)

You’ll find these in my Sewhappydesigns artfire shop. Link here.

Kitchen Makeover is Coming!

We ordered the cupboards today! A sample of a cupboard is pictured below. They are Maple wood with a Paprika Chocolate Glaze. Doesn't that sound divine? Can't you see me in my favorite Martha Stewart apron, mouthing the words YUMMO like Rachel Ray and doing my little "BAM" routine from Emeril? Oh Ya, I am KICKIN IT UP A NOTCH! Actually, SEVERAL notches.
OMG OMG I am getting sew excited. We have lived in this house for over 15 years now and we have done all kinds of makeovers from new bathrooms to new siding, saving the most expensive item for LAST. I have struggled with this non-functional kitchen with the pitiful few cupboards for what seems like an eternity.

Yippee, no more drawer that goes off it's hinges when you pull it out just right. No more throwing Tupperware in the corner cupboard and closing it quick to be sure nothing shoots back. Ya, the stuff I really want, the stuff that takes up lots of space, is back in the corner where you can't even see it and have to reach in blindly to "feel" for the right piece...ugh. And, NO more little dinky cupboard to hold ALL my pots and pans. Think I'm kidding? See below.
I got new Rachel Ray cookware (see her trademark orange handles?) last Christmas and I really hated to cram them all in my little non-functional cupboard...eech...I hope Rachel will forgive me. :)
We have picked out something we like for quartz counter-tops and need to look at some back-splashes. We are ordering the cupboards, counter-tops and back-splash at White's Lumber in Watertown. We are working with Lisa, a most patient and informative kitchen planner, as well as just a really sweet person. We have done lots of work on our home and we wouldn't have anyone but Scott Phelps General Contracting for that. He and his crew are the best and we recommend them highly.

Tomorrow we are gonna venture out into the world of new appliances. Our refrigerator is over 15 years old. Do you think appliances have changed much? I'll be sure to keep you posted on the makeover in the weeks to come. Won't be right away though, cupboards take 4-5 weeks to come in. Meantime, I'll be sitting on my hands and praying that it all comes together.