Fabric shopping in NY

row by row pattern from Mission Rose Quilt shop

The row by row patterns are so cute this year! This one is at Mission Rose Quilting in Syracuse.
I met the most fun women who work there, and it would be a fave store if I lived in the area.
At a shop called Calico Gals, I found much to want and the following two signs, this one on the door. It's so true!

As I looked at this door, and started my happy dance of shopping, the one that quilt stores cause, I entered and looking out saw my menfolk set up camp. Cole with his bowl of water, Drew with his guitar. Then must have sensed it would be a fun shop.

you can order this from them.
At Tiger Lily we sat outside the quilt store and had lunch. Drew and I had a sandwich and Cole had his special poodle-with-issues-food. Of course I found some items to look at, ahem, while the men relaxed on the breezy porch and chatted with the cafe owner about the area.

It's a great set up, wish all quilt stores had this! Well, Cole was so tired of the car, and not being allowed to shop himself as he wanted to look for poodle fabric, that when it was time to move on he just.said.no.

I'm good.
We got all the way to the car, opened the doors, saying goodbye!
We had to walk all the way back, and convince him we were going to a village to walk around next.
Then we had to pull him along with the leash, Drew picking him up about 10 feet from the car and putting him inside. On to Clinton NY...

This hotel owner is also not afraid of color. I loved looking up and seeing all the colorful chairs. Then turned a corner to see this hotel

And again, color is good!!
We walked all around the town so that I could enjoy the architecture and history. I love that so much, and am only sorry that Cole is now too old to walk much. In the olden days he used to be up for walking any number of miles. He still wants to walk, but s l o w l y. I love seeing lots of homes like this

I walk around tree lined streets on old sidewalks in these villages and imagine myself living there when they were new. What would life have been like? I can't get enough. This house in particular reminded me of a book I recently re-read. It was my favorite book as a young'un. I must have read it 12 times. I found a library copy and read it again, Jessamy by Barbara Sleigh. 
I loved it again as an adult. It involved time travel which would be a dream for me. 
This trip was full of quilting, parks and lakes, village walks, shopping with lovely pictures all still to come. 
I also visited with an art quilting friend who was studying at Quilting by the Lake, Nina Marie Sayer.

I had an awful time with the GPS finding the group and had pulled my hair back out of frustration grrrr so this is not my best look, but it does represent renewed friendships, the joy of learning, and connections across the miles. 

It's not easy to figure out logistics in order to set up a visit but it's so worth it. Nina Marie hosts the link party Off the Wall Fridays for art quilters. She has a great website, follow the aforementioned link, to learn from her. 

That's it for today... stay tuned for more fun pictures... oh wait! Did you think I would cop to all the fabric, pattern, bead purchases made on this trip?? No way Josina! 
We'll let that be a surprise to Drew when the bill comes. 


(He won't be surprised)