Yesterday, my friend Edith picked me up for a road trip adventure to Western Massachusetts to visit four quilt shops taking part in the "Row by Row Experience 2016." Edith's goal was to stop at the four furthest shops in our state. Six shops had collaborated on a wonderful design with coordinated rows from each shop. It was a very clever idea! I wish I had thought to take a photo of one of the samples hanging in the shops, but unfortunately that didn't occur to me.
We arrived at our first stop, A Notion to Quilt , in Shelburne, MA, by 11:30. What an awesome shop! Room after room of fabric, patterns, and notions delighted the quilter's eye and there were quilt samples everywhere. One room had a section of wool applique kits, wool pieces, embroidery designs, and a large selection of embroidery threads. Oh! My! I purchased a patterns, a little display stand, and the materials to make a small wool felt applique piece. If this shop wasn't so far away, I'd probably be spending all of my time there.
Next, we took a slight detour to see the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls. All of the photos featured in this post were taken there with my iPhone.
The Bridge of Flowers is a 400-foot former trolley line bridge which spans the Deerfield River. You can read more about it here. We had lunch on the Buckland side of the bridge, and there were many shops which would have been fun to explore if we had had more time.
Our second quilt shop stop was Karen's Quilting Corner in Williamstown, Ma where I picked up two patterns and two yards of a lush, deep blue batik fabric. Edith also brought home two yards of it as well.
By now it was getting late, so we made two quick stops at Pumpkin Patch Quilt Shop in Lee and Brookside Quiltworks in S. Egremont. In fact, we made it to Brookside Quilters with only fifteen minutes until closing! This was the only shop where I purchased a row kit as I'm still working on my 2015 quilt and just starting to quilt my 2014 quilt!!! Their row will look cute as a stand-alone piece.
We arrived back in Weymouth by 8:30 after a very fun, very long day!
As soon as I saw the first picture I knew exactly where you were without reading a word! My mother and aunt were gardeners at the BOF for many years (my aunt was the "head gardener for many many years). My grandfather is listed on the donor sign at the bridge. We eat at the West End Pub when we return to the area (my parents are buried in Shelburne).
ReplyDeleteYour photos, as always, are breathtaking Janice.
Thank you, Tracey. Oh, how I wish I had had my " real" camera and more time to photograph this lovely place. I'd also like to go back and photograph the Mohawk Trail in autumn; it must be spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWe did eat at the West End Pub. :-()
Think of all the money you are saving by not living any closer to that wonderful quilt shop! What a fun trip; it is nice to make memories with friends.
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