Mini Shop-Hop

 I had wonderful day yesterday with my quilting posse. We went on a mini shop-hop to Dahlonega, Cumming and Jasper. Starting in Dahlonega with the Common Thread shop. They have a nice selection of traditional and contemporary fabrics in a bright, well organized shop. If you want to see how the shop is set up and where things are, there is a great Youtube video: the Common Thread in Dahlonega Georgia. Actually, they have 29 videos there! Go and take a look.  Type in www.youtube.com, then type in the common thread in Dahlonega  GA.

                                        

Here is a look at some of the offerings in the shop from the balcony.

I spent my time in the sale room, picking out backings for a couple of the quilts I made in Texas. Hopefully, I will ba able to quilt them once I get my back fixed!

Next, we travelled to Cumming and my favorite shop, Thread Bear Fabrics. This shop occupies two store fronts and has so much fabric it is a quilter's nirvana. Janet, the owner,  has the passion for fabric that die hard quilters share and it shows in the mere volume of fabric variety in her two stores. I snapped a few pictures  for you so you'll understand what I am talking about.

Here is our driver and my buddy Gail, following the mask rule and picking out her fabric choices. We go to this shop frequently, so have a good idea where each type of fabric  is located.

On the ceiling are many of the panels they offer. Janet knows where every panel, and fabric is!

More fabric and notions

Some people would get overwhelmed with the stacks and shelves,  but I think of it as the thrill of the hunt. I love looking in all the boxes and examining all the shelves.

With my other quilty friend Audrey at the check out in the distance, I was perusing  the batik rows for another backing fabric.

So many to choose from. I found the perfect selection and had the owner's husband and store partner Randy cut it for me in the other half of the shop. In his half, they have wide backing, the sale area, fat quarters and fabric arranged by manufacturer.

I could set up a machine and a cot and live here!

Visit the website at www.threadbearfabrics.com

You won't be disappointed.

Off to Jasper over lovely country roads studded with quirky shops and houses varying from ramshackle to glorious. It was a pleasant drive, ending at the Pickens County Mercantile and Quilt Shoppe. This is a fairly small space, located in the old railway depot. Three area are well organized with fabric, yarn and embroidery supplies and a classroom. We spent our time searching for the fabrics to finish projects at home. I got the backing for two more quilts there.

                                                            

                                                   

                                                  The store is in this quaint building.

Need thread, floss, yarn, needles, notions and more? No problem here

Looking into the fabric room of the shop.

They have a  great selection of reproduction, contemporary and blender fabrics. Fabrics by collection, batiks, flannels and pre-cuts.

Look at the rainbow selection of yarn!

Some of the flannel and woodsy fabrics on offer.

The website is www.pickenscountymercantile.com

If you're a quilter and in the area, it is well worth stopping there.

Back at home, I had to lie down for a while. I have been doing a lot of porch sitting and contemplating my future lately. I spent a couple of hours outside last night, enjoying the quiet and thinking about life. Maybe there is a good thing to come from this injury. I'm forced to slow down for a while. Not for too long, I hope. The itch to quilt is strong and I need to scratch it!