Saturday, June 26, 2010

Quilt Shops Near And Far

While on vacation, I was fortunate enough to find a quilt shop located in the mountains of Colorado. So while my husband headed to the hardware store to grab a few things we needed, he dropped me off at this wonderful shop.

Oh, what a wonderful little shop this was. This was located in Woodland Park Colorado and I had such a grand time shopping here. I purchased lots of fabrics that I usually don't find any of its kind back home. I wanted the more woodsie --colorado feel prints....and I found several I had to have.

This was one of the prints I purchased that day. I loved how the mountains are nestled in an Aspen grove, with that clear beautiful blue Colorado sky....this, by the way, is just what the beautiful Aspens look like in the fall, and I purchased a couple of yards of this fabric. I almost did not get it because it is a lot brighter than most of anything I usually purchase. If it had not been for the print alone, I would have passed it up.

Little did I know what I'd really end up doing with this fabric and after I got home, realized I should have purchased more. I remembered another print that was a rather unusual coloring of pine cones and quickly regretted not purchasing any of that print as well. I called the lovely lady who runs this quaint little quilt shop and she is sending me more of this fabric plus the pine cone fabric I wanted. I am so excited, it is so nice to run into people far from home that are so willing to help a customer who was just passing through and not a regular or local.

Now...back to the fabrics. I decided I wanted to make a quilt out of this fabric. My plan is to cut about 8-9 inch blocks of this print, and pair it with other fabrics in a 9 patch block. The only problem is, I am not too good at choosing fabrics to match something I already have. In fact, I am terrible at it. But I knew of a local quilt shop that has a wonderful employee who has a knack for that type of thing. I knew I had to see Leo, the quilt teacher from last years quilt class.

I walked into the store and announced to Leo that I had purchased this fabric while on vacation....after a few tsk-tsks and a shame on you look from Leo, he laughed and snatched the fabric from my hands and went dashing through the store. I had to laugh at myself...because I knew he was working his magic!

Here is the collection of fabrics I ended up with....well, Leo ended up with.....I just spent my money!

First, he went to what he calls the "home depot" section in the quilt shop.....What's the matter? Your local quilt shop does not have that section??? Okay, let me explain.

The home depot section is the section where all the wood grains, bark, bricks, stones, rocks, grasses and the like fabrics are housed. He quickly picked this fabric on the right for the outer border of the quilt.....ummm.....notice how it matches the bark on the trees...I'd never come up with that in a million years. Next, came the black for a small inside border next to the white bark fabric, and then the yellow for the larger inside border. Again, I'd never picked these off the shelves on my own.....never.

The blue and the white will make up the nine patches. He kept telling me to pick a blue that matched the blue in the fabric I purchased out of town....I did not see a thing that matched.....well, he just plucked this off the shelf and asked what the heck was wrong with this??? All I could say was, "well, since you put it like that, nothing!" He told me the nine patches made out of the white and blue would take on a cloud-sky effect once paired with the other blocks....we'll see......

No matter, I like what he chose for this quilt. At least I think it looks good on paper....ummm...I mean on the table. I hope when it is cut, pieced and quilted I still feel the same way. I just love it that my local quilt shop has such talented men working there and I know without a doubt if I ask for help, then it is more than help I will get. We have several quilt shops in our city, but all the others have women working there, and well....sorry gals, the men in this one shop are so much better at pairing fabrics in my opinion than the gals at all the others.

How lucky I am to have a local quilt shop run entirely by men who have a great eye for fabric combinations. And how lucky I was to find a quilt shop while on vacation and the ladies there were happy to send more fabric my way.

Now, for all you quilters out there? What is your opinion??? Do you like the color combination? Can you see the finished quilt and do you think it will all work together well? I still think it is a tad brighter than what I am used to, but hopefully it will work in the end.

25 comments:

  1. looks fantastic...Leo does have a gift for colour. good luck sewing it all together!

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  2. I like it, and don't worry about being brighter than you'd normally go, once this is all together and quilted, you are going to love it!

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  3. Yes, Yes,Yes, this IS going to be lovely. If it's too bright for you (which I doubt) just pack it up and send it along to ME!!! :)

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  4. Don't know Leo, but I love him already! He's got a good eye and I bet he dresses dapper and smells good! He nailed it. bp graves

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  5. I think he did a fantastic job! It will look great.

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  6. Here's to the LEOs in our lives---mine's called Caro, and since she lives here, her knowledge and talents are always available.

    I cannot think that you don't intend that splendid quilt, with all its color and inspiration and perfect combination of the PLACE---for the bed right beneath that wonderful wood-framed mirror you made lately.

    I cannot tell the print of the valances over the bed, but that quilt would be stunning in that room, with the greenery visible out the window.

    Can't wait to see it, but like my Mammaw always said, "You can't HURRY a quilt."

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  7. I am not a quilter YET but I love the colors and think that my 'vision' of what it will be is quite nice. NEAT to see it coming together!

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  8. This is going to be a very interesting quilt. Occasionally it's great to step out of your comfort zone and do something that challenges your usual quilt style. (For me that would be doing something in pastels..)

    How brilliant are the fabrics your quilt guy matched up? Have fun making this quilt.

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  9. He did an amazing job, Suzanne...
    You are going to so enjoy making this quilt..
    xo bj

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  10. I don't quilt but I think that this is going to be a wonderful quilt. Interesting colors! Be sure you post it when you finish it.

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  11. Based on what I saw in your sewing room, you have your own quilt shop. I really, really like this. I can see why "he" picked the rest that you needed. Goes perfectly with it. I am sure that would have been my choice without him.

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  12. Oh, LV ~ you crack me up!!!!! Now...when are you making a quilt did you say?????

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  13. I am sending you two bloggy awards. Check it out!
    http://permanentposies.com/?p=613

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  14. Looks great together! Can't wait to see it finished!

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  15. What a cute hubs! Love the quilt fabrics ... anxious to see what you do with it.

    Have a lovely & safe 4th ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  16. Oh yeah, Leo has a great eye! Those are beautiful together!

    I always look for quilt and yarn shops when away from home, scrapbooking stores too for stamps and embellishments. (Hubby is lucky I don't collect elephants!)

    I once hit the jackpot in Las Vegas...no, not playing any games...I visited 6 quilt stores within 45 minutes of the strip! LOL!

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  17. Hi! I just found your blog and truly enjoyed reading all about your doxies. I have four weenies myself and love to include them on my blog. Please check it out. Here's some advice....I think you might need to add just one more!

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  18. Suzanne, I'm not a quilter, but I ❤ all of your fabrics, especially the one you purchased on vacation. Of course, the perfect compliment fabric would be a BLUE!

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  19. wow it is going to be beautiful!!!! and as someone else said...if'n you end up not liking it...i'd be happy to care for it =)

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  20. yikes where did my comment go? ack....i will say it again I think the quilt will be beautiful!!!

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  21. Great fabrics!!! Even though you said that these aren't colors you'd normally work with...working out of the box are sometimes our favorite quilt projects. Good luck with your fabrics and have a great time sewing them together. Kisses to the pups!!

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  22. I am not a quilter but I LOVE the color combination.

    Di

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  23. I can't wait to see the quillt. Your fabric selection is wonderful. What lovely fabrics. So glad you have helpful people at your local quilt store. The right fabrics sure make a difference. Happy quilting.

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  24. It's bright. I love the fabric combination and the story that goes with it. Lane

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  25. Have you made this quilt yet? I really want to see it when it is finished. And I want to know the name of that aspen fabric, and where to buy some. I have a quilt in my head that that fabric would be just perfect for.

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Sometimes someone says something really small, and it's like it fits into this empty space in your heart!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughts here, they really mean a lot to me!

Suzanne

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