Alabama and Mississippi Quilt Shops

This weekend, I'm driving to Lafayette, Louisiana (my hometown) to spend a couple of days with my Dad. This is the first time in a very long time that I'll not have "my boys" with me. I'm thinking it would be fun to visit a shop or two on my long drive from Atlanta. I usually drive I85 to Montgomery, then Mobile, through Mississippi to Slidell, Baton Rouge then Lafayette, but will probably return the other way going through Meridian and Birmingham. Can anyone suggest a quilt shop that you have visited or know of that would make for a good break during my drive? I do plan on visiting Ginger's Needleworks in Lafayette while I'm there. It also looks like another quilt shop has opened in the last couple of years, too. 

Shop Hop - Tiny Stitches

After a great lunch at Williams Bros. Bar-b-que directly across the street from Little Quilts, we continued our "hopping" to Tiny Stitches .  When I read in the Shop Hop passport that their theme was"Read Me A Story", I knew I would like their decor. Maetha, the shop owner, was in character as the Princess from the Princess and the Pea. We were given the block directions to make their Shop Hop Quilt plus a bit of fabric,  a charm and the pattern to make a pincushion.

   

After getting our passports stamped and registering for their door-prize, we were treated to chocolate chip cookies (my favorite) and lemonade. Yum:)

Melinda, who works and teaches at the shop is also a blogger. I have enjoyed her blog Creations by Melinda for several years. It was a pleasure talking with her. She even showed me a new way to do some applique. She referred to it as Eleanor Burn's method. It looks like a technique that I will like.

Here is another version of Pat Wys' Strawberry Pie pattern. Isn't it awesome? This pattern is like Yellow Brick Road, Sassy Sixteen or Turning Twenty. It looks so very different depending on fabric choices.

 

I found some neat fabric at Tiny Stitches. These indigo prints should help with the shortage of  dark blues for my blue and white Strawberry Pie. The blacks and whites are again for a future project. The fusible interfacing is to try the Eleanor Burn's method of applique.

Welcome to Patchwork Cottage

       

On my way home from work today, I made a detour. A new quilt shop, Patchwork Cottage, opened on the first of February. What a treat it was to visit this brand new shop!  It is in a portion of a previous shop, Stitch 'N Quilt. Many happy memories were made at S'NQ with our Stitchin' Sisters group, classes, sew-in's and events. Joan and Ladye, the owners of S'NQ, retired in December.

 Mita Chatterjee is the new owner of Patchwork Cottage. Mita is taking her love of quilting and reflecting it in her shop. It will be a pleasure to watch her transform her shop. Mita graciously allowed me to take pictures for my blog. Here is Mita ringing up sales for her customers. One of my favorite quilters, Sandy Stites, is working with Mita in the shop. Sandy has worked at several quilt shops. She is a valuable addition to Mita's staff.

Immediately, when walking into the shop, this fabric was displayed. It's the new line Rebel Roses by Heather Mulder Peterson for Henry Glass. Just last night, I was admiring this fabric on Heather's blog Trends and Traditions

Hanging over the shelves was a completed top from Bonnie Hunter's lastest mystery quilt, Double Delight. According to Sandy, this top was pieced by another local quilter, Peggy McIntyre.

Here are some shop photos. I love the sofa in the back of the shop to sit and look at books, magazines, patterns and fabric.

I couldn't resist signing up for the $5.00 block of the month. It began last Sunday. The blocks will be beige and black with an additional different color each month. The design for the finishing kit was placed next to the block. I love sampler quilts. This will be a fun one.

I did come home with one little purchase in this colorful bag. One of the Moda mini Honey Bun Bake shop boxes convinced me to take it home. The Honey Bun is by Three Sisters in their new line Aviary.

Thank you Mita! It will indeed a pleasure visiting your shop. It will be fun seeing it take shape.