- The holidays are over and you could be either satisfied, filled with regret, and/or just happy to be alive (or all three?).
- If you traveled, you could be behind on laundry, sending Christmas cards, taking down holiday decorations, etc.
- If you were making gifts for others and unable to sew much on your own projects, you could be way behind your goals.
- In some places, the weather could be gloomy and yucky.
- If you spent too much, you could be budgeting yourself, especially on fabric (Move over Greece, here comes quilting "austerity!").
ROAD TRIP!
Yep, when I need a close and quick fix, I head for my favorite quilt haunt in southeast lower Michigan...Jennifer's Quilt Shop in Pinckney, Michigan.
But if I want to get the Hell out of the state, but not go TOO far, I head to The Door Mouse in Bettsville, Ohio. It is especially fun to make the trip with friends who have never been before and watch their eyes bug out.
It is, literally out in the middle of NOWHERE, east and slightly south of Toledo, Ohio. When you get out of the car and scan the horizon, this is what you see...
...absolutely NUTTIN' for MILES AND MILES!! I mean, facing a vintage barn surrounded by corn fields, it's hard to believe what is hidden inside.
Blues...
Greens...
Purples...
Pinks to the right, Reds to the left...
Yellows...
Oranges...
Neutrals...
Batiks on both sides...
Oh my goodness, the reproduction SECTION...
(you have to just dig in and root around to see all the bolts, they are stacked 3 rows deep in some places...excuse me why I wipe the drool from my chin)
...30's fabrics...
It is a 2+ story barn, the second story mostly containing abundant samples, but on the front end there is a loft containing Christmas florals, some of their kid collection and novelties, fruits and veg, and the most flannel I have ever seen in my life!
I LOVE this view from the loft...
Some of their novelties, fruits, veg (there's a whole, long row of them downstairs as well)...
...Christmas florals...
And flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...flannels...
...and more flannels...
There are also "modern" fabrics, patterns, books, bundles, kits, classes (the classroom in impressively huge, but there was a class in session so I didn't take pictures...).
When you enter, you are greeted by samples of the season and a cute bathroom (it is a bit of a drive)...this time there were Valentine quilts and car quilts (maybe commemorating the Detroit Auto Show?), and Irish fabrics ready to get you in a St. Patrick's Day mood (with enough time to do a project before the green beer appears).
They have gifts, bag patterns and samples of all kinds, and a very pleasant and efficient staff.
They have about 14,000 bolts.
The store has been in existence for 32 years and is owned by Mary Ann Sorg. The barn is old and original ("there were actually cows...right here...at one time"), but it has been lovingly restored and maintained. Moo-moo, I approve!
This is the best place I have found to buy the tone-on-tone fabrics I like to use in my applique.
The one drawback would be the closest eatery between the store and Bettsville. There's a restaurant a few miles away in the opposite direction, toward Fostoria, that is better.
Hang in there...January will be over before you know it!
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
Thank you for the question about prices, Kathie. They are good! I primarily bought tone-on-tone greens and purples yesterday, with a couple of cuts from a current music fabric line. Some of the older bolts were $8.00/yard with nothing that I selected over $10.50. Most were around $9 and $9.50 per yard.
I stayed out of the repro section yesterday (can you believe it, Kathie?!?), so I can't be specific about that. One of my companions was in the repro section QUITE A WHILE, and she was like a hungry dog in a fresh bone pile! She was rooting around and finding the usual lines from mainstream companies, some older things she had not seen in a while, and some things she had not ever seen before from smaller companies.
The trip is worth it for the shirting selection alone.
Oh, I bet I could do some damage in there! There used to be a shop in rural Iowa much like that - out in the country in the middle of nowhere, with fabrics stacked - it was impossible to see it all unless you went on a major digging expedition!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have to go there for a 6 month's holiday...........
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! You should write for the Travel Channel! :o)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so glad you posted this, because we are making a driving trip from Seattle to Maine in April, and this is right on our way!!! Woohoo! This is going on my list! :o) Thanks!
Whoa!! OK. I seriously was drooling, and then I was laughing out loud as I scrolled through photo after photo after photo of flannels. :D THat is so awesome. I will be looking for a reason to go to Ohio. . .
ReplyDeleteok so its a must stop next time I am driving thru the state????
ReplyDeletehow are the prices????
reproduction section looks amazing!!!!
Kathie
I love the Door Mouse! I was just thinking last week that maybe I needed to take a trip there soon. I find it so funny that it is such a treasure trove of fabric literally in the middle of NOWHERE. lol
ReplyDeleteIt is a shocking thing to walk in for the first time, even if you have been warned. :-)
Wow! I'm looking up Bettsville, Ohio on the map now to see how long my road trip from Kansas City would be.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting in the car! It's only 5 hours from here!
ReplyDeleteTeresa, thank you so much for this post!! I live in Wisconsin, but travel to Ann Arbor several times a year. I an VERY familiar!! with the Ann Arbor Sewing Center and I also have been to the Quilt Patch in Tecumseh. These two are on my list for my next trip :)
ReplyDeleteOMG, this place reminds me of Sew Elegant in Port Huron but even more so. I need to map this out and take a road trip. It looks just amazing.
ReplyDeleteOh holy Hannah! It is a dream photo section for sure! I think it would be nice if a tornado dropped that in my back yard.. yep it could be my storage shed and I'd be quite happy.. ooooh happiness.
ReplyDeleteWe have something similar near - StoneHouse - and old dutch fieldstone barn and absolutely crammed with fabric - hard to find things. This is much better laid out and lighted. And thank you for starting with the blues!
ReplyDeleteWow! I need a place like this close to me on the Wet Coast anywhere between Seattle and Vancouver, BC - I would think I died and had gone to heaven! I'm going to check out their online catalog right now.
ReplyDeleteOh my, this place would totally mess up my budget! Nice, drooling photos...
ReplyDeleteOh, Terri, try the Fabric Depot in Portland. Not as huge, but great prices and good selection.
Girlfriend, that shop in Bettsville is quilters' heaven!!!!! You are SO lucky to have two nice shops within striking distance!!! I do believe that road trip would be a bit much for me. Bettsville, huh? I'm gonna find that on the map just in case we're wandering anywhere near there int he future.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I have been to that place when I lived in Michigan and just loved it. Makes me almost want to make a special trip back but since I live in GA and am moving to FL in two months I don't think that is going to happen. I also loved a shop in Port Huron that had tons of stuff. Not quite as good as the Doormouse but still fun. Wish I could find such great places where I live now!
ReplyDeletewonderful place, wonder if she has flannels? just kidding, I would have to take out a home loan if left in there too long- lol
ReplyDeleteSWOON is the only word that I can say...talk about "knock your socks off" choices....Julierose
ReplyDeleteTime to take Virginia on a road trip...thanks for the info...We both miss you but keep up w/you through this blog...Happy New Year Teresa!
ReplyDeleteVirginia's Daughter
I cannot begin to tell you how very happy I am that this place is nowhere near me. It would be way too dangerous to my wallet. What a gorgeous selection. And yes, there was drool.
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! I didn't believe you and get a bib. I had to change my shirt and wipe down my keyboard before I could comment! :0 I went on Map Quest and printed out a map and directions. It's an 8 1/2 hour trip for me, but dog gone it, I'm going there this summer. I doubt I'll have to twist my friends' arms to convince them. Thanks for the photo tour!
ReplyDeleteOh my!Oh my! Oh my! I could go in there and wander around in pure fabric joy for hours! I'm so jealous! I wish there something like that near me!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! Thank you for the eye candy. Joanne
ReplyDeleteWow fabric overload!!!!! Is there such a place??? Incredible!!!
ReplyDeletewhoa!!! what a place to shop!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! Heaven on earth! The only thing more perfect would be a Bed and Breakfast across the road for us weary Canadian travelers. Road Trip!
ReplyDeletenice holiday :D haha
ReplyDeleteCould someone open a motel next door? I'd need more than 1 day.
ReplyDeleteI can't get my chin up off the ground! :-)
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!! I am on a fabric diet this year, trying to sew my fabric stash thinner, I have run out of room on my shelves already that is the reason why. But my oh my. IF I go home, back to Michigan, this year, I HAVE to stop here for sure!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I am in trouble!!! I always need neutrals and they are so hard to find sometimes. OH MYYYYY!
ReplyDelete..........sigh......dreamy eyed...........sigh..
ReplyDeleteAmazing!!! I'm jealous. I'm still trying to find a fabric store that's to die for down here. I haven't given up yet...
ReplyDeleteWow! What a barn! I would be afraid to go there. I might spend my life savings there. I have not seen so much fabric since I went to a quilt store in Bend, Oregon. I think that particular store has closed, but it had a lot of fabric. Your store by far is so much larger. How can a store have that much fabric out in the middle of nowhere? They must do a land office business. Thanks for the photo visit.
ReplyDeleteHoly Moly! That's a lot of fabric. I can say, I've never seen so much in one place at once.
ReplyDelete