Extra Special Fabric in Guthrie OK

During my visit to the United States this summer I got to go to several really fun quilt shops.  I have come to believe that quilters enjoy shopping for fabric almost as much as they like sewing.  I know that I personally make it a point to go to at least one (if not more) quilt shops in the areas that we are visiting whenever possible.  I love getting to meet local quilters to swap stories, techniques, and ideas.

One of the amazing shops that I visited during our vacation was in Guthrie Oklahoma.  My husband and I were there overnight to belatedly celebrate our wedding anniversary.  We stayed at a little B&B, enjoyed some dinner theater down in OK city, and then visited Guthrie before we started back to go rescue the Grandparents from the babies.  



 Because my husband was in a generous anniversary mood, I got to go visit the Extra Special fabric shop around the corner from our B&B in historic down town Guthrie.  It's nestled along side of several antique stores, thrift shops, cafes, and home decor stores.

Extra Special Fabric was amazingly fun and really lives up to its name.  I love going to shops that really reflect the area and Extra Special Fabric specializes in western and southwest themed fabrics.  They had everything you could possibly think of related to western fabric ranging from allover bluebonnet florals, to bandanna prints, and lots of cowboy and western novelty prints too.



The ladies in the shop were great and made me feel like an old friend come for a visit and not an out of town tourist buying a few fat quarters.



Speaking of, here is one side of their fat quarter station.  I love fat quarters and bought several western and patriotic FQs for my stash.  I also visited the sale table right behind this, and am still kicking myself for not buying a few yards of the arrow fabric that was on sale for a future quilt back.

I loved that they had lots of samples up on the walls of their aprons and quilt kits.  You could buy a ready made apron or get the fabric and make one yourself.  I love shops that have items that non-sewers can purchase.  This way, when I take friends (or husbands) who don't ooh and aah over fabric bolts with me, they can feel involved and have a good time too.



Here's a lovely little Texas wall quilt sample.  Very patriotic and cute.



And, the most important chair in the whole shop.  The husband chair.  Side table, fan, and magazines.  Very smart ladies :) I'm sure many a husband has relaxed in this chair so his lovely wife can fabric shop.



This was one of the most exciting parts of the shop for me.  The SCRAP BIN! I love scraps, I hoard them, and I love finding shops that sell them at reasonable rates.  Let's just say the the halfway empty state of this basket is due to me buying around two one-gallon bags stuffed to near overload with scraps. 



I had a wonderful time talking and shopping at Extra Special Fabrics and can honestly say that if you are in the area, this shop is a must visit.  Thank you ladies for being kind and patient with all my photo taking and question.  See you next time :) 


Who else has found special fabric shops while on holiday?

  

I found a German Quilt shop!

 I know that their are probably many great quilt shops in Germany, but I've lived here for a few years and have had a really hard time finding a dedicated German Quilt Shop in my area. I've been to many lovely fabric stores, but a patchwork store is so much more. A quilt store caters to the fabrics, notions, and supplies that quilters look for, and it is a great place to get new ideas, meet other quilters, and get advice on your projects.

This is why I'm so excited to share my trip to the Im Patchworkhimmel shop in Grünstadt, Germany with everyone today. The folks at the Im Patchworkhimmel shop kindly allowed me to photograph their store so that I could share the quilty goodness with all of you!

From the first moment I stepped into the shop I was so impressed with how organized and well lit it was.  I love a shop that has plenty of natural light so that I can accurately see the fabric colors, and I love a shop that organizes it's fabrics by type and color.  I was also very very happy that they have parking right in front of the store!  Those of you who live in Europe know that parking here can be a real problem, and I'm super thrilled that I didn't have to scour the area for a spot.

I also love a shop that has seasonal displays of fabric groupings and products.  Look at these bold colors; it makes me want to decorate for Spring! And, if you're searching for a great new pattern to go with the fabric, they have a selection of really nice patchwork books in both German and a few in English too.

Speaking of seasonal items, this shop also carries a German quilt magazine that the owner, Astrid Reck, is Editor of.  It has many great seasonal patterns in it, and some of the samples are displayed in the shop.

This cute little bunny table runner is in the current issue of the Patchwork Ideen magazine.  I was so in love with the brown bunny toile displayed next to this runner, and the little log cabin chickens are just too cute.

  

They also had this gorgeous Spring colored storm sea quilt made by Lieselotte Neurohr, who works in the shop and let me take her picture in front of her creation, on display with their other Easter and spring supplies.  This quilt was made with batik fat quarters and is also in the magazine.  Lieselotte graciously gave me a tour of the shop and helped me find some awesome fabric for my current project.   

Did I mention that the fabric that they carry here goes on . . . 

and on . . .

and on :-)

They also answered a question that I have been asking since first moving to Germany.  Are there any German quilt fabric designers out there?  The answer is yes.  Here is some fabric by the German fabric designer, Brigitte Heitland, for Moda.  It's called Zen Chic.

Now, I know that I've gushed uncontrollably about the fabrics and the store, but I also want everyone to know that this in not just a quilt fabric store.  The folks there have all the notions that you need to make many types of quilt projects.  Rotary cutters, rulers, paper piecing, needles, fat quarters, and batting; just to name a few.  They also offer classes in their back room.  Classes are a great way to acquire new skills and meet other local quilters.

I had such a great time talking and shopping.  I found some wonderful fabric and batting for my current project and I'm so thrilled that I was able to support a local quilt shop.  Thank you Astrid and Lieselotte.  I'll be back :-)