National Visit A Local Quilt Shop Day

JANUARY 24TH IS VISIT A LOCAL QUILT SHOP DAY!

Yesterday marked Visit a Local Quilt Shop Day across the country. Now, being a person who frequents quilt shops you would think I had a heads up - but I found out in an email blast from a quilt shop several hundred miles away! Not having planned well enough to make the hour drive to my favorite shop I turned the day into "Visit a New To Me Quilt Shop Day" and I was pleased as punch that I did! 

Yesterday the littlest d2d darling and I made our way to Thread Bear Fabrics in Cumming, GA. It's a far more manageable drive - and there's a Zaxby's across the parking lot - everyone comes out a winner! The first thing I noticed when we walked up was a sign that said "check out more fabric next door" - which could only mean great things for me! 

So here we go, little d2d and I opened the door and WOW, just WOW. There is literally fabric EVERYWHERE. As the little one said "There's so much they have to lock it up so it doesn't fall on you".... 

I could have spent the entire day sorting through their huge selection - but little d2d had a mission - a pillowcase for a princess party next weekend! We made a few selections in storefront #1 and then moved to the second where I am glad to report we found the perfect princess selection for the party! 

I've also got my eyes on these great animal themed fabrics! The colors are so bright and vibrant and the playful coordinating fabrics are perfect!! 

All in all it was a VERY successful "Visit A Local Quilt Shop" day for me! I am thrilled to have found this wonderful, local shop. The ladies working at the shop were sweet. They didn't have the typical "cringe" when I walked in with my three year old! The selection is HUGE, so my advice is come in with a PLAN or come in with a large amount of money because you won't have a problem spending it here!

How about you? Where did you go? Please leave a link to your favorite shops! Have fabric?? d2d will (and does) travel! 

the secret to a scrumptious stash

anyone who works with fabric will tell you - the secret's in the stash! i grew up a quilters daughter. my Mom kept fabric stashed just about anywhere - first it started in a small box, then an extra drawer...once we all moved off to college and then homes of our own the stash quickly expanded. closets, cabinets, dressers filled to the brim with her stash! it often made me giggle when i would ask my Mom why I rarely saw things move from her stash - but she treats her fabric stash like a pet - she keeps it safe and gives it plenty of attention, as she says "petting the fabric" even if it's not on her immediate list of projects. so as my fabric stash began to grow i learned to bite my tongue at my Mom's stash and work on creative uses for mine.

but where to buy your stash? here's a list of a few online resources that i frequent when purchasing fabrics for my stash!

http://www.skyerevefabrics.com/

http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

www.xogigifabrics.com

but what i truly love is to visit local fabric and quilt shops!

GEORGIA -

A large shop filled with reasonably priced selections. red hen carries both traditional quilting fabrics, novelties and fabrics for every holiday and event. they have a wonderful "cheap chicken" back room of sale fabrics and have a new sale all the time! Oh and did I mention they have a play area for the kids?
http://www.redhenfabrics.com/

This is NOT your traditional shop. they carry end of bolt pieces for $3 a yard. it's hit or miss - but when they run their 40% off sale I stop in DAILY!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Designer-Fabric-Outlet/200138900043784?fref=ts

ILLINOIS-

Whenever I am back in Illinois I stop in to visit this shop...the owner made an amazing impression on me the first time I visited the shop when she showed me a fun bolt of "ILLINOIS" fabric she had purchased at a discount from the designer and shared that discount with her shoppers! she always has the newest lines
http://www.quiltinjoy.com/

One of the few shops in the North Shore area of Chicago, Quilters Heaven is in a quaint old home in Northbrook. The top floor includes their sale walls and novelty selections - where I spend most of my time! And if you're a quilter - the long arm machine is there and ALWAYS running!
http://www.quiltersheaveninc.com/

MISSOURI

I happened upon this shop on a trip to Hannibal, MO. At first glance it looks like a historic building with some fabric tossed inside. Upon further investigation you will find room after room of delicious fabrics. The staff is helpful, friendly and always ready to talk about a project idea! If you're in the area, make sure to check it out in the downtown area!
http://www.hickorystickquiltshop.com

FLORIDA

The d2d family often visits the St Augustine area in Florida. It's a wonderful Florida alternative vacation location. And if you happen to get a few moments away - make sure to visit this little shop.
http://magrietasquiltshop.com/

I would LOVE to hear about your favorite stash building spots - both online and brick+mortar!!

It's Never To Late To Start Something New......

I suppose it's about time that I join the blogging world. So here goes nothing! I began dragons2daisies (d2d) with my good friend and neighbor Brandis. We had decided we needed an "outlet" from our lives at stay at home Moms. She makes cards and I sew. We thought it would be "fun" and "cool" to have an excuse to get together to craft and to ditch our families (seven kids, two husbands all together) on an occasional weekend and do a craft fair....Well that was many years ago..and since then Brandis and I have moved from our Illinois neighborhoods to homes literally across the country (Utah and Georgia).

So now here we are....3 years later....Brandis has launched her card making page and I have entirely taken over d2d - revamping and changing it from an occasional "craft getaway" to a work at home mom "job". Today is the first day of my blogging life. Hang in there with me while I learn the ins and outs of all of this! THANK YOU! ~Sarah