We had a fantastic large fabric shop about 35 minutes away. Opposite direction, much smaller but top quality. Both closed several years ago. JoAnn Fabric, now closed, did not offer the top lines, but at least we could see the fabric. Hobby Lobby has basics, and that is the only option. I found a quilt shop less than an hour away, very limited, cramped, and not polite.
Online is how I buy linen, most times not what I expected. Can only imagine with all the prints and patterns offered for general fabrics, how the monitor's color will fool the eye. Scanning bolts on display and folded fat quarters led my eyes to colors and patterns easily. Online single or small group photos from one mfg at a time would take days.
This color of a warm pink has not looked good with any of my limited fabrics. So I chose a dark brown linen, not really happy about it, but how many pieces would I need to order to get a backing that would work?
The painting of the kitchen cabinets was finished today, the minor carpentry will be done by Scott in a few weeks. I can get those charts ready to sell now, and other projects won't be nearly as time consuming.
Should my next project be one of the berries I recently purchased, the Nash humbug, a small sampler?
This is my favorite flower basket this year. It's glorious and I wish I had bought two. Lots of impatiens in pots this year, found a new greenhouse and their annuals are spectacular.
Hope you're doing well.
Thanks for visiting.
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16 comments:
That hanging basket is breathtaking! I absolutely love it.
I still haven’t bought any annuals for crocks, tubs, etc. I tried to do some yardwork today and just too da** cold and then it started to sprinkle. Tomorrow is not looking much better 😡
I call my sister-in-law who is a quilter...(and she shops in "real" quilt shops in the southern part of the state - far away from Nod....) We have 1 quilt shop in town (combo quilt and needlework shop actually). The owner is very nice but her tastes are just very different than mine in both the quilting and needlework departments. I can't remember the last time I found any backing fabric (or, come to think of it, any linen) that I liked. And besides my sil, once a year I get to go to Country Sampler and they have an abundant and amazing selection of both fabric and line...and floss...and patterns...and... and.... Gorgeous basket...like Lauren, I've not bought anything (haven't gone anywhere to be tempted) but we're only in the 40's for highs - horrible winds and rain to boot - and have dipped below freezing 2 nights in the past 5 days. (LOVE your creeping jenny!!!!! I had some that came back for a few years only, despite having planted it every year...and the past several years, it's not come back at all. Boo hoo....)
Oh...PS...what I started out to say is that I really like the brown fabric with the stitched piece!!!
Marly, your basket is absolutely beautiful! I can understand why you’re wishing you had bought another. Luckily, I have a wonderful quilt shop in our town. It’s one of the few shops we have! Your heart is so cute. I do like the brown linen but I hope you can find something that‘s perfect to you! Cherie in WI
I usually get my fabrics from estate & yard sales. Most quilters/crafters often have huge stashes. I'm even lucky to have a recently opened crafters thrift store which is full of fabrics a & some needlework items that have been donated.
I had 2 quilt shops that closed which I loved to go to. Their fabric was much nicer than Joann's, but now all I have is Hobby Lobby myself or go an hour away to another quilt shop...but they have the same selection of fabric as Hobby Lobby. It is a small shop with not much fabric. Am so glad I have a small stash of fabric that I still can choose from. Janice
There is a nice quilt store in Canfield OH. Quality fabrics and a sale “barn”.
What a beautiful hanging basket! I don't like buy fabrics on line, so I will need to find a replacement for JoAnn's (not that I really sew all that much these days, but you never know!). The only linen I have bought on line is from 123 Stitch and I've been happy with that. No really good cross stitch shop near me.
There is a quilt shop in Shiloh, Ohio called Country Fabrics. It is off the beaten path, but they have huge selection of quilt cottons.
I think it's more reliable ordering quilt fabric on-line than needlework linen, especially hand-dyed linen. I rarely hear people say what they got is nothing like what was shown, at least for quilt fabrics. I'm fortunate to have several quilt shops in my area - within about an hour drive. A couple of the even carry a decent selection of needlework patterns and threads, not so much on the linen though. I've ordered a couple of times from Fat Quarter Shop, very happy with what I got and their service. 123 Stitch is also carrying quilt fabrics now, but I've not ordered fabric from them, only needlework items. Other sources I've used are quilt guild show sales, garage/estate sales, etc.
I suggest borrowing or buying a quilt magazine, there are ads for quite a few on-line fabric shops. And there are people who sell fabric on Etsy & eBay, both can be good for discontinued lines. Quite a few people haunt the thrift shops for 100% cotton shirts, especially plaids, to use as quilt fabric but I've not done that yet. And then there's Hobby Lobby, if you can ignore their supporting terrorists (buying looted artifacts for their "museum") and being against women wanting full control of their health and future.
I will definitely miss Joann, even though my shopping therapy sessions there had fallen off dramatically after I retired. Not so much for their quilting and crafting things, but for garment fabrics (not that they had much other than some form of polyester), patterns, and notions. A big FU to Gordon Brothers private equity firm that caused Joann's demise!!!
On to happier things! Those flowers are gorgeous! And I like the brown with the pinks. Sometimes a coordinating fabric works better than trying to match.
Your flower basket is stunning!
I buy fabric at a Mennonite fabric store about an hour's drive away. I try to limit myself to driving out once a season only, and stock up. So a lot of my finishing sits and waits until I can get out there and do a big purchase. They are very friendly and helpful and as well as a huge selection of bolts of fabric, they have many pre-cut fat quarters I can use.
The closest needlework shop to me is in Cape May, and that's a 2-hour drive, and they have fairly limited selections of linen to cut and sell. Fortunately I don't use linen to back my finishes, it's too expensive.
I miss the Joann that was near me. I refuse to shop at Hobby Lobby due to ethical reasons.
Your basket is gorgeous and did not see anything like this in our country. Would have bought for sure two of these baskets!
My quilt shops are more than a hour drive away as is any shop to buy linen and charts for stitching. Don't do much patchwork anymore and my stash is big enough for the years to come.
Love how your heart turned out and if you would use something else than this brown linen.
Take care, Truus from Holland
Your basket of petunias is gorgeous, so is your creeping Charlie. I have dug some and put in pots for some greenery on my deck. Take care, we're all okay. Had to turn the heat on this morning. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend. Blessings, Charlotte in Va.
That annual basket is glorious...two might not have been enough for me.... love
your stitched finish with the brown. Glad the heavy work on the kitchen is
behind you... have a relaxing Memorial Day weekend.
The brown linen will look great on the back Marly! wOw! That basket!!!
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