Lucky Quilter that I am, DH woke up this morning and said, "let's get to some of your shops today!"
As fabriholics know, there are these opportunities that pop up from time to time called Shop Hops. I've never participated before, but got the bug to do so this time - and so far it's tremendous fun! In a Shop Hop, a number of shops are designated - this time there are 8 throughout the state - from Morris Plains to the North, to Forked River and Swedesboro to the South.
One receives a "pass port" from one shop and this is stamped at each shop you visit. If you make it to all the participating shops there are amazing prizes in a drawing, and there are also drawings at each shop as well.
It's possible to buy specific packs of fabric and a pattern from each of the 8 shops to make a quilt - needing, I think, all the 8 packs to complete. I didn't opt for that - for a couple of reasons, including the fact that I don't know if I'll actually get to all the shops, and, I wasn't crazy about the pattern.
I do wish to accumulate a charm from each shop we visit.
The day we picked up my passport from The Little Shop, I immediately grabbed up the next to last kit called Tea Time. Our guest room is tea pot themed and this little wall hanging would be just the thing!
After breakfast we set out for Swedesboro - wasn't a bad day for a drive - in and out of small showers, but the temperatures were great.
Needles & Pins, 1438 Kings Hwy., Swedesboro NJ is a fabulous find! My senses went into over-drive! One of the main things I was hoping to find was a pattern/idea for using up my considerable stash of "homespun" and Larry and I found a gorgeous quilt displayed using black homespun and all the many plaids, of which I have tons. It was beautifully machine quilted in variegated thread. Couldn't be more perfect! I took a couple of pictures with my phone of the completed quilt, since the pattern does not show it looking like the one the shop featured. Got the black homespun, and the thread and I am so ready to go with that!
The charm for N & P is a rooster...also purchased the pin holder there.
Another plus for N & P is the staff...they were so friendly, helpful and warm with the crush of Shop Hop shoppers, I can only assume this would easily be one of the friendliest shops ever.
To check them out click here N&P
Next up: lunch at the Bistro in Haddonfield. Going to the Bistro is like going home - we love the owners and they always welcome us with open arms.
After a yummy lunch - with iced chamomile tea (!) we walked down the street to The Little Shop. Next item on my list of "needs" was a white fabric with small black dots...this to border the tea cup wall hanging. Score! The charm from the little shop is a little Disney-type Castle.
Insert here that it has taken me about a month to get back to finish this post....sorry!
From the Little Shop we headed out for Pennington Quilt Works. I bought several pieces of great fabric in the sale room, even buying the whole last-of-bolt of one beauty (50% off), and got an exciting Moda pattern for using up Christmas fabrics (30% off). I got their charm, and this was one of the shops that put in their free pattern, Hexagon Swirl, without my asking. Of the 7 shops we eventually visited, only 4 did that.
Leaving Pennington, Larry decided we should go on to Mt. Holly before going home. I didn't argue! The Village Quilter is a nice little shop, chock full of great fabric...but I was a bit overwhelmed by then - wanting/needing to think more clearly about what I actually "need" and what I just lust after! So I only bought my first "Thangles" and we picked up a couple of NJ tea towels to take on our next international tour. We were happy to get their pattern "Zen Plus" because it was one of our favorites so far.
Next day, being the last day of the Hop, Larry was up for driving to Howell NJ to shop at the Mouse Creek Quilt Shop. I could have spent a full day at Mouse Creek! It's a huge shop, with lots of fabric, kits, patterns, you name it, and it is so sunny and airy it gives your mind room to imagine! I know I picked up a couple of panels for wall hangings...one of a tea pot...to go with the new tea cup wall hanging! This shop is one I want to revisit - again, and again.
We made the decision to go further north to Fabric Inspirations in Manalapan Twp....and boy, we were glad we did! Couldn't get more helpful, friendly staff....one lady spent quite a bit of time with me giving helpful advice on my new embroidery machine and guiding me toward the best interfacing products for my next project (hankies) and for other projects.
When we were about to depart, and starving (!) the staff also recommended a little Italian restaurant in the shopping center for lunch. Again, glad we went! They featured pizza slices with salad toppings...no sauce, no cheese, just a salad of your choice...we had the tossed salad. It was really yummy!
Although we knew that the 8th shop, Aardvark, Morris Plains, was out of the question, we did opt to get to Forked River to visit Quilting Possibilities....another nice shop, about medium sized....and a great sale room! If I weren't so tired, and slightly overwhelmed again, I might have left with many more bundles! I'd like to visit them again.
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| Garnered 7 of the 8 charms! |
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| Tea Cup Quilted Wall Hanaging |
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| Embroidered detail for the corners |
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| Used many tea related sayings around the border. |
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| A mini-tea cup motif from the sewing program on my new Viking. |
