I know... two posts in two days!
But if I don't do this now... it will be January before I remember again. Actually, I'm writing this Wednesday night so that it will post Thursday night while I'm at work.
It's that time of year. Ho ho ho!
Maybe that should be Ho ho huh?
Where was I?
That's right... Wisconsin! Madison. Spring Green. Sun Prairie. Madison. Menasha. Waunakee. Spring Green. And then back to Madison.
I got around a little bit while I was there.
The reason for my trip was to go have some fun. Seriously, it was that simple. I went to have some fun, learn something new and spend some time with other ladies who like to make things. When I got the newsletter announcing the dates and teachers for the 2009 Boxwood and Berries Retreat at Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin... I didn't have to think twice.
Sign me up!
The retreat itself started on Tuesday evening but being the clever girl that I am, I knew I would need a little bit of time to do some shopping and some visiting while in the area. So I flew in on Sunday afternoon, rented a car and spent a couple of days in and around Madison, Wisconsin.
On Monday morning, I drove to Country Sampler in Wisconsin. I did this for two reasons... two really good reasons, both are a little self-serving... okay, one of them is VERY self-serving.
Reason #1. Since I knew I would be driving back to Madison late on Saturday night, I wanted to be familiar with the trip so that I wouldn't get lost. And it would be helpful to know about how long it would take to get back to Madison, the map estimates aren't always accurate. I also wanted to make sure I knew how to find the Bed & Breakfast where I would be staying. Good reason, right? Practical. Shows foresight. Good planning.
Reason #2. I wanted to get to Country Sampler early so I could shop while it was still quiet.
I am so transparent.
If you have ever been to Country Sampler, you know how wonderful it is. If you haven't had the opportunity to go, it is well worth the trip. It is one of my favorite shops and it never disappoints. Jeanne and her staff think of everything ~ and they are nice to boot!
One word of warning to those of you who have never been ~ beware of the kits! Jeanne does amazing kits. The quilts they make are fabulous ~ they look old and antique the moment you finish it. The problem is that you find yourself thinking you really need to buy two kits ~ one to make and one to just keep on the shelf to admire because the packaging of Country Sampler kits is so wonderful!
And just so you know... the pictures don't do it justice.
After spending a couple of hours in the shop ~ and remembering to find the B&B ~ I headed back to Madison. For another car. With a bigger trunk.
After lunch at Panera, I drove to Sun Prairie to pester Julie Hendricksen at JJ Stitches.
Two fabulous quilt shops within an hour or so of each other.
Life isn't fair. Unless you live near Madison, Wisconsin.
JJ Stitches has lots of fabric and almost all of it is either reproduction or has an old, antique sort of feel to it, including 30s style reproductions. In addition to her own beautiful Windham collection, Gathered Over Time, Julie has fabric from Jo Morton, Renee Nanemann, Jeanne Horton's Worn & Loved, just about every Windham collection, Judie Rothermel, lots of Moda and on and on. It's the kind of shop where you could easily pick a hundred fabrics for a scrap quilt and still feel like you'd left out a hundred more other wonderful fabrics.
I'm so glad I was by myself and didn't have to worry about passengers. All the space in the trunk and in the backseat was mine! And I used it!
On Monday night, I had dinner with friends. Monique, Sue and Joyce drove up from Rockford, Illinois and Katie came over from I-don't-remember-where-but-it-was-a-little-ways-away for dinner. Katie knows Monique, Sue and Joyce really well... she just tolerates me. We had a wonderful dinner and an even better evening just talking, laughing and visiting.
Yes, Monique is "that" Monique of Open Gate Quilts... inventor of my favorite flying geese ruler, current cover girl for American Patchwork & Quilting ~ January/February 2010 issue ~ and soon to be fabric designer... but shhhh on that for now.
On Tuesday morning, I drove to Menasha, its about 2 hours northeast of Madison. I went through Oshkosh and no, I didn't get any overalls.
What's in Menasha?
Primitive Gatherings ~ Lisa Bongean.
I've never been there before but I love Lisa's books and her style so I really wanted to make the trip to her shop. It was worth it!
I have to tell you that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get a picture of the outside of the shop. The parking lot was completely full when I arrived and it was only pure luck that I managed to catch it without a dozen cars parked in front. It's a popular place!
This is what you see when you walk in the front door.
This is the view towards the front of the shop ~ that's the front door on the far left.
The shop has lots of kits for stitcheries, needle punch, wool penny rugs, primitive-style quilts and reproduction-style quilts. Lots and lots of gorgeous kits! There is also a lot of fabric including Lisa's beautiful line of homespun plaids and stripes, Japanese fabrics and lots of reproductions ~ including Jo Morton, Windham, Judie Rothermel, etc. And did I mention wool?
If you live in California or are planning to go to Road to California in January, 2010, Lisa and Nick will be vending at the show this year.
On the way back to Spring Green ~ check-in time was late afternoon ~ I drove through Waunakee and stopped at Mill House Quilts. Can you believe I didn't think to take pictures until I was half-way to Country Sampler? I got so busy visiting with a couple of ladies in the shop that I forgot about everything else. And I ran into Sharon from California who I had met at Primitive Gatherings, she was also on her way to Boxwood and Berries.
That's it for now... tomorrow I'll tell you about Maggie Bonanomi, Stacy Nash and the Blackbird Designs girls.
Wool. A book of days. Cross-stitching. Boxwood wreaths. Feather trees. Applique. Scarves. Wine-tasting. Tea-tasting. Whittling. Shopping.
And maybe even a funny joke that I liked so much I copied it from the back of the bathroom door in the shop.
Until tomorrow...
Thats for sharing...I live in Minneapolis and try to do a few quilting road trips a year and haven't gotten east to WI yet, now I've got great ideas!
Posted by: badlands quilts | December 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Country Sampler and JJ Stitches = Bliss! Huge Sigh! Two very favorite shops of mine.
Posted by: Darlene | December 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Ohmigosh! Looks like a road trip is in my future! I've been to JJ's but now I "need" to visit the others. Thanks for posting the tempting pics!
Posted by: Joyce | December 03, 2009 at 09:22 PM
can someone adopt me so I can come and live in America and go on road trips like that-pretty please
Posted by: suzanne | December 04, 2009 at 03:18 AM
OMG Carrie what an absolutely incredible trip. What fantastic shops! That is definitely scrap quilters heaven! Glad you had a car big enough for all your goodies!
Posted by: Carol | December 04, 2009 at 04:12 AM
Wow, what a fun and awesome trip. I love to go to the quilt shops when we travel. The ones you visited looked incredible!
Posted by: Jocelyn | December 04, 2009 at 06:40 AM
Lucky girl!!! I am on Country Sampler's mailing list and the shop and kits look amazing!!!
Posted by: Lori | December 04, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Country Sampler is my favorite quilt shop... and well worth the 2+ hours drive to get there. Jeanne and her staff always know how to treat their customers like royalty.
I've only been to Mill House once... and would love to return. I need to take a road trip to the Madison area and visit JJ Stitches. Thanks so much for sharing... I'm looking forward to your next posting.
Posted by: Laurie in Iowa | December 04, 2009 at 07:10 AM
What I wouldn't give to take a road trip with you, Carrie! You know all the best shops!
Posted by: Lisa D. | December 04, 2009 at 07:54 AM
I definitely need to go to Wisconsin!
Posted by: sherri | December 04, 2009 at 04:31 PM
I would have been in total heaven, and to think you had the whole car???? geeeeesh!!
Love reading your blogs and you better post the rest of the story soon, can't wait to read about it. Oh and yes, you were away from the popcorn!!! whooo hoooo!!!
Posted by: lovetostitch | December 04, 2009 at 08:24 PM
Weeee!!! Such fun, I need to go to Wisconsin!
Posted by: Marianne | December 05, 2009 at 08:12 AM