In an effort to continue catching up, my next two posts will be about quilt shops I got to visit while in Florida over the holidays. See, my parents just moved to Florida from Arizona. I like to scope out the quilt shops where they move to so that I know what to shop for when I'm down there. My favorite place in Tucson was The Quilter's Market. I loved their selection of brights and batiks. Well, Florida is another great place to shop for brights and batiks!
One of my first stops was Three Crafty Ladies quilt shop on Sanibel Island. What a cool shop!
It is located on Sanibel Island in Forida. It was about a 15- to 20-min drive from my mom and dad's new place. Awesome. Doesn't that nice, warm sunshine look inviting?
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was all the shop samples. I think it's fun to shop in towns other than your own, because the style of the quilters can be so different. I took lots of photos of the samples, and the owner said it was okay for me to. But please remember, she asked, these are copyrighted patterns and to respect the copyright. :-) I loved all the pattern, color, and quilting on this one!
I always love ribbon. These are some fun ribbons you don't see every day in Michigan!
The interesting thing about this quilt shop is that it was much more than a quilt shop. They had so many different craft supplies for being such a small shop. For example, look at all these cross stitch patterns they had.
Papa Pea and Aunt Pea came with me to the shop. Papa Pea and I were both sort of enamoured with these two cross stitches.
Toward the back of the store they had all these beads and jewelry making supplies.
A little further back, there were artist supplies, like paints, paint brushes, sponges, glues, paint sticks, and all sorts of really good stuff.
Even a nice collection of shells for decorating!
Here was a little Christmas card someone had made from shells she had painted.
Another very Florida quilt top!
They had an amazing selection of batiks. Here is a shot of just one aisle of batik fabrics.
Second shelf.
Top row of opposite side.
Second row....It was like being in a rainbow. And can you see the ribbons and trims in the lower left-hand corner of this shot?
Bottom shelf. Love the purples.
Pretty little displays were all over the shop.
Papa Pea started admiring the cutting table. I've been sort of complaining about how wobbly my table is and how there is no functional storage underneath it. He saw this and asked if he should build me something like this. I said, "Um, YEAH!" But only about half as long. My studio wouldn't support one this long. I liked how it had a piece of glass that sat down in it so you could take the cutting mat off and do other projects, like painting, and easily clean off the table. I also loved all the storage underneath. (There were open shelves on both sides.) So, we took measurements, and I've made some sketches. I think I'd add a couple of drawers across the top as well.
I really liked these recessed panels on the end, too. Makes it look like a fine piece of furniture. But after further consideration, I think I'd put pegboard here, from which to hang rulers. What do you think?
These batiks were really pretty. Unfortunately, they aren't in the store any more. They found their way back to Michigan with me. :-)
I took this photo for my friend, Jackie, who LOVES sea turtles. This was a pretty shop sample!
You are probably aware that there are always issues with the manatees dying in Florida. This quilt was a nice tribute to the gentle manatee.
There were some interesting mermaid quilts, too.
Pretty cool, huh?
Oh, and I liked these colorful shells. That border fabric was pretty awesome, I thought!
This was a really fun place to shop. Totally worth a little extra effort to get there (i.e., a $6 toll to get across the bridge). I would really encourage you to stop there and check it out. There was a very sweet gal at the shop who told me she had just bought it from the previous owners. She was taking ownership in a couple of days. It was December 30, I think when we were there, and she took ownership on January 1. I will definitely be seeing her again!
If you want to keep up with their shop, here's how you can:
You can check out their blog here: http://threecraftyladies.blogspot.com/
You can Like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Three-Crafty-Ladies-LLC/282643711784215?sk=wall
After all that shopping, we were hungry and thirsty. We went out for lunch and decided since we were in paradise, we would order froo-froo drinks. Yum.
I ordered this chicken with a cilantro sauce. OMG, it was so good! And next to it are mashed potatoes with corn and shredded cheese, with more cilantro sauce on it. Definitely not on my diet but soooo good!
Papa Pea and Aunt Pea had the fish tacos and black bean soup. That was pretty good, too.
It was a good day. I'm ready to go back. Anyone up for a field trip?
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Wow! That shop is awesome. Too much to comment on all I liked. I did love that Christmas tree with the shells and the fish quilt in the next picture! Doesn't look like you stayed on any diet! Don't blame you. Looks yummy. I'm so envious. I want a cutting table like that too! You'll have to post pictures if Papa Pea makes it for you. Great post!
Posted by: carolld | January 16, 2012 at 06:51 PM
Love the pics of the quilt shop! I would love to go there!
I love the cutting table also. Let us know if Papa Pea makes you one!
Hugs,
Donna
Posted by: Donna | January 16, 2012 at 08:44 PM
What a great shop! I also vote for pegboard on the sides.
Posted by: Lynn | January 16, 2012 at 08:51 PM
love your tour!! I am always up for a field trip!!
Posted by: Brooke | January 16, 2012 at 09:08 PM
LOVE the seashell Christmas tree, the little fish quilt, and especially the 3-seashell wall hanging!
Your chicken looks really good but the fish tacos? Umm, No, I'll pass. But I will take the red drink!
Posted by: sisLH | January 16, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Florida is a fun place! That shop looked very cool! And loved the lunch! And when you are on vacation, a fun, froo froo drink is always correct!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | January 17, 2012 at 09:10 AM
Do they have a retreat space?
BTW, tell papa pea that I'll take the prototype he builds, y'know, so he can work out the kinks on the first one and build you a perfect one...
Posted by: Doris | January 17, 2012 at 01:14 PM
Now, Gramma Pea is wishing she would have gone too! That's probably the day she was with all the grandbaby peas, if I remember correctly. So next time you visit Florida..... :-)
Sure enjoyed the tour, though.
Posted by: PegVan | January 17, 2012 at 02:11 PM
I'm so glad you liked that shop as much as I did. I had to buy some batiks there too! I'm feeling a little homesick for Florida now . . .
Posted by: Deb | January 18, 2012 at 01:29 PM
Hi Stephanie, I just made my way over to see this post. Love it and would loved to have been there with you!! Wish I could have a cutting table like that, too. Yes, I'd change the end to be functional. I've been to Florida once in my life...to Satellite Beach in 2010...not sure how far away your parents are from there. Glad that you had a fun trip!
Posted by: Deb | January 18, 2012 at 08:41 PM
This is one of the reasons I love Sanibel so much! The non-commercial shops! Those quilts are simply amazing!
Posted by: Beach Livin | January 20, 2012 at 04:08 PM