Canmore Quilt Shop

So I've had a few days up here in Banff, loving every minute of it. Just outside Banff (about 15 minute drive) is a town called Canmore. This town has a very well known quilt shop, which I have never been to and on this trip I was not going to miss out.
With two friends of mine (who have never been into a quilt shop let alone sewn anything!) we went out on a day trip.

The Sugar Pine Quilt Shop is located 737 Tenth Street, at 7th Avenue Canmore. They have parking available in a small parking lot next to the shop. The quilt shop is located upstairs however downstairs they do stock wool and some other fabrics. If you are looking for a kit with the rockies them this is the shop to visit (I picked up a few for myself while I was there). They have a great selection of fabrics from traditional to batiks, childrens and flannels. Great displays are on show throughout the shop. The staff are very friendly and I did get to the meet the owners while I was there. I did have the opportunity to buy some Canadian Maple Leaf Flannel and Ice Hockey Fabric. They do have classes with some good teachers (they have Gloria Loughman there this year). If you are ever in the Canadian Rockies area make sure you go and have a look. 

 

 

 

Quilt Shop Tour - Calgary, Canada

While I'm up here in Canada I thought why not take advantage of it and go and check out the quilt shops here in Calgary. I was wondering how they differ from the shops both in Australia and the USA. Traveling both in Salt Lake City and here in Calgary I was wondering how did we cope without a GPS, I got lost several times but that GSP works so well it got me back on track.

My first shop that I visited was Along Came Quilting: Unit 12, 1220-59 Avenue S.E Calgary. 

Once again the outside of this shop is very plain but when you walk through the doors you are warmly welcomed and greeted with the fabric. They have a good selection of Batiks, novelties (I bought some hockey fabric), Japanese fabrics, Taupe fabrics and more. They have kits lining the walls of the shop and sample quilts. The staff were helpful. Sorry no photos of the inside of the shop (I forgot to ask)

Next shop on my list was the Sewing Room #148, 8228 Macleod Trail, S.E. Calgary. 

They state that this is the largest quilt store in Canada and yes they have a lot of fabric. However I have to say that after visiting this store it really did show me, yes you can have the most fabric, but it doesn't make you the best store. They did have a good selection across the board of fabrics but it is a bit overwhelming and I feel that I would have trouble trying to put fabric together for a quilt. They sell Bernina Sewing Machines (oh how we love Bernina!). They have many kits available with quilts lining the walls of the shop. With the selection of fabric which this store has, you would not have trouble finding what you want here. The staff member who served me was lovely and very friendly. I just so much wanted to like this store but it just didn't do it for me, I love quilt shops in old buildings, it gives character to a store unfortunately this shop was in a warehouse type building. 

  

Next on my list was Out of Hand: 12-6449 Crowchild Trail SW Calgary

This shop from the front looked good, but walking through the doors, oh my. This shop is too small for the amount of fabric that it has. Trying to get up and down the small aisle is hard, do not bring children into this shop (or a pram) They have a good display of wool, both plain colours and marbled. The fabric is located in shelves but there is a lot of fabric in front of the bottom row which makes it hard to see it all. They do have alot of fabric, and also have dress making fabrics. There are patterns throughout the shop. I did buy some food ribbon here (they have a good selection of decorative ribbons) and something special for Jan (who loves Motorbikes).

My next shop on the list had to be my favourite shop. Traditional Pastimes: 7 Parkdale Cres. NW Calgary.

I did find it a bit hard to find this shop, you don't think that the street is really a street as there is parking located in it, when you drive in it is up the back right corner hand side. This shop is not only friendly but well set out to see all the fabric with several quilts on display throughout the shop. They have a good range of civil war fabric, I did see some William Morris there, Kaffe Fassett and Lecien Fabrics. I was fortunate to have a good chat to the owner and her daughter while in the shop and they showed me their classroom which is located downstairs (and large) with the longarm quilting machine they have (oh how I wish we had one in the shop!). This is a definite must see shop if you are in Calgary - the pick of the shops located there)

  

 

  

Last shop on the list was Freckles Quilt Shop: 13A - 728 Northmount Drive NW Calgary.

It is located in the shopping centre there, I drove past not knowing where it was. This shop was unfortunately a bit disappointing after visiting the last shop (which was so good!) The shop is large however with not a very big collection of fabric. They do have their own range of patterns which were cute, and these patterns are available as kits. They do have a nice window display but unfortunately this was the last shop on my list and I was excited to be heading up to Banff so I didn't stop too long.

Next stop Banff!

Arrived in Canada

So they let me back into Canada which is a good thing, in a previous life (before quilting) I worked as a chef and lived in Canada for several years. I haven't been back for a while and as I was in the Salt Lake City I thought why not head up to Calagary and Banff. Today I spend time checking out the quilt shops in Calgary (I will post about these shop in the next few days) and then I drove up to Banff. Here are a couple of photos on the way up. When I see the ski jumps which were build for the Olympics I know I'm on the right road. More later.

 

Quilt Shop Tour - Salt Lake City

For my final day in Salt Lake City I went and hired a car for the day to go and see some of the quilt shops in and around Salt Lake City.

First stop was Piper's Quilts: 1944 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City.

This shop is not that far from the centre of Salt Lake City so it was only natural that this was my first port of call. It is a small shop which is packed full of goodies. There are a lot of patterns for children’s clothing/shoes, some very cute pincushions - which they have sample of and they not only stock fabric but also wool. I did pick up some Cuddle from Shannon Fabrics here, they have a small collection of this fabric which I have been told is great for the back of quilts. It is opposite the post office (if you need to send stuff home!) The staff were really friendly and helpful with my questions. I just had to take a photo of this sign that is in their parking lot (around the back which is accessible via the front and back of the shop).

          

Next on my list was Whimsy Cottage: 1875 Murray Holladay Rd, Holladay.

It is located next to the MacDonald’s. The outside of this shop does not do justice to what you will find inside the shop. When I opened the door to go inside I was not expecting what I saw. The inside of the shop is really nice, clean and crisp, a good selection of fabrics which include brights/funky, batiks and Japanese fabrics to name just a couple. They have several quilts up on their walls which are available as kits and have a large selection of the Australian Designers Melly and Me (and many samples of these fantastic stuff toys).  I know this shop was left off the list for the "official" quilt show tour and I do feel it was definitely worth a visit as I did enjoy visiting. Across the road (at the cross roads on the same side but across the street) is a Bagel Shop - Einstein's Bagels I think it is called. Make sure you go there and get some Bagels they were really good. Here are some photos from Whimsy Cottage:

The outside of the shop - never judge a book by it's cover!

 

Onto Elaine's Quilt Block: 6970 S 3000 E Cottonwood Height

Located at the foot of the mountains, their shop was great. They have a large selection of fabrics spread out over 2 levels. I headed straight downstairs when I got in to check out their children’s fabric, and got some cute Owl fabric here. As you go down the stairs they have a display of quilts which are available as kits. On their main level there is a selection of batiks, civil war fabrics and others. A great selection of fabric, very nice staff, and a very friendly little 4 legged friend! A big car part of the back of the shop. Sorry not photos inside the shop - I forgot as I was too busy checking out the fabrics!

Next on the list was Quilt Ect: 11 East Main St, Sandy

This shop has a very large selection of fabric, beautifully set out to view it all. They have a large selection of fabric in this store and even though it is a big inventory it is very easy to view it all and isn't overwhelming. They have a good selection of patterns and books, make sure you check out their large classroom as they have quilts lining the walls. In the shop they have many quilts which are available as kits. The shops fabric range is amazing, from batiks, to Japanese, kids fabrics, to civil war/Americana to name just a few. The staff are friendly and more than happy to assist. I had to buy some of the Americana fabric while I was there - a large panel and fabric to match and when I get the time will make the quilt. This shop is definitely worth the visit.

  

    

  

The last shop on my shop hop in Salt Lake City was Thimbles and Threads: 12215 South 900 East Draper. 

This shop is located in the historic district of Draper. I had this shop on my list as it is the building was built in 1910 by Utah Egg and was originally used as a poultry and egg distribution centre - our shop being located in an old building we have restrictions as to how we can display fabric/quilts in our shop so I always love to visit shops that are in old buildings to see how they display everything. The staff here were super friendly, had a great long chat to them. Their fabric range were good - they stock fabric from Studio E, Andover, Marcus Brothers Moda, Northcott to just name a few. They have on display a whole wall of their Block of the Month projects which I thought was really well done. It clearly showed you the blocks and the progress of them. They have a classroom and giftware down on their second level. This was a fun shop to visit, and a nice way to end my tour.

 

  

I did have three other shops on my shop list however I ran out of time, but if you do have time make sure you go and check them out.

Material Girls: 1645 Towne Centre Dr #4 South, Jordon

They stock a large range of fun funky fabrics such as Amy Bulter.

Pine Needles: 1100 West 7800 South, West Jordon

The Village Quilt Shop at Gardner Village: 1100 West 7800 South, West Jordon

So that is it for Salt Lake City, tomorrow I am heading off to Calgary Canada, it has been 7 years since I last lived in Canada and can't wait.

New Products From Quilt Market Part 2

More new products which will be arrive soon to Berrima Patchwork, Below a small selection of the many newly designed and released products which I was fortunate to view at the International Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City these past few days.

Next is a new pattern supplier for us. Marlous Designs. Marlous Carter is the designer of these fantastic patterns several which use jelly rolls. She also has a new book coming out with CT Publishing - Wonky Block Quilts due out the end of this month. The pinwheel quilt in the first picture is a quilt that I have purchased some Bali Pops and will be making up a kit for. Marlous also designs bag patterns - I am hoping to make one when I get back, they look great in the bali/batik fabrics

  

Many of you will know that we stock a large selection of patterns from Bareroots. Barri Sue has created several new patterns, there is cup "wrap" holders which are very cute and come in several different designs. She has also created a new  embroidered quilt.

    

 

 

A new bag supplier that we will now be purchasing pattern from is called Square Rose. These bags have a distinct Asian feel to them, and are easy to make. One of the bags has a zipper in the top which is super easy to put in. Another of the bags features a weaved fabric bottom - there are several different ways you can create this effect.

  

  

 

That is just a preview of what is going to be arriving in the next couple of weeks into the shop.