Inspirations galore........and more!!!

Life has been very hectic lately. I have oodles of things to share but sometimes I am short on time. Today's post is all about where I was at this time just two weeks ago. I was here at Inspirations Quilt Shop ...............

The shop is located in Hills, Iowa, a small town just six miles south of Iowa City. I was able to visit the shop because I was in Iowa City with my mom for some doctor appointments at University of Iowa hospitals. My sister, Judy, lives in Iowa City, so we were staying with her for a few days. It's no fun to just visit doctors, though, so we took a "day-out" and visited Inspirations and more.
Since I knew we would have a "free day" between appointments, I thought it might be fun to meet some of my Seasons BOM Yahoo group members. It was a "spur of the moment" idea and so it didn't work for some of you that live near Iowa City. But, it worked for Jeanie and it was a delight to meet her and her husband, Larry........

Jeanie has MS but that doesn't stop her from quilting. It does make transportation difficult sometimes but just a week before we met, her husband retired and was able to be her chauffeur. I am so glad because we enjoyed chatting, shopping and then had lunch together! My mother and sister joined us right after our lunch. Our lunch will be shared in my next post. I took so many photos on our "day out" and it will take three posts just to share all the fun that was had on this day.
I'll start back at the beginning........the moment I opened the shop door and stepped inside, I looked to the left and saw this..............

I love a good wall full of fabric! LOL!

And there was more, a wall of red and then green fabrics...........

And when I turned around, I saw this..........

oh, how I do love 30's prints and cheery fabrics!

I recently fell in "fabric love" with batiks and this wall of fabrics really called my name and so I added a few to my batik stash........

I have a "thing" for chickens and I liked this sign and the fabrics, too..........

I'm not sure there is any fabric that I don't like. Or any quilt for that matter. LOL!

This quilt was one of many lovely samples..............

Just look at the long wall of rich gold and brown fabrics..........

And in the middle of all those walls of fabric, I found more fun fabrics.  I was drawn to these fabrics because they reminded me of fabrics I used in the 70's for the miniature sofa and chair sets that I made. I almost bought some of these.........

There were cute displays throughout the shop..........

Oh, so much fabric "goodness"!!!................

I liked the bear on this shelf but,to be honest, I loved the shelf even more

and wished that I could find one like it for my kitchen!  :-)

In one of the displays, my mom saw this book.........

She looked at and set it down, then looked at it again. She loves to make small projects and decided she had to have the book. I took a long look at it after we got home and this is a great book. It is full of sooooooo many cute little projects for gifts and favors!

These fabrics "caught my eye" because of the sheep that I saw on them...........

I bought three fat quarters in this line and who knows what I will make with them, but one day they will become a project and you'll see it here on my blog. I also bought some flannels after I saw this display.........

I bought two fat quarter bundles.......a blue "boy bundle" and a pink "girl bundle" that I plan to use for a couple of donation quilts that will go to the Crisis Nursery in our area.
Tucked among many of the fabrics and displays are lots of signs like these that are on the wall that lead up to the classroom..........

And this is the classroom..............

I have never seen such a fabulous classroom in any quilt shop that I have ever visited. This space is just incredible! There's a possibility that I may teach a class here so stay tuned for info on that. I do love my quilting and I love to share so call me.........

Yes, that sign was pretty much my favorite, although I liked ".....and sew on" ..........

and I shared this one a few days ago, but it's worthy of an encore. If you are a quilter, it really is a silly question, isn't it?

So, when it's time to pay for your purchases, there are stools where you can rest from the hard work of choosing fabrics and patterns.............

I rested here, and so did my mom. When you look up, this beautiful batik quilt is hanging on the wall. Enlarge this photo (double-click) and check out the awesome machine quilting.

Last but not least.........who is the owner of this lovely shop? It's Nancy Lackendar, on the left and that's staff member, Jo, on the right.

And "staff member-in-waiting" is Nancy's sweet little granddaughter.....

Shopping was almost done, but there was one line of fabric, that made my heart "pitter-patter" and I had to have it. Nope, it's not those pretty fabrics in the bassinet. It's some of the lovely fabric in the black bookcase.............

It's called "Lately arrived from London" by Barbara Brackman for Moda. I saw it and knew it would make a perfect wall quilt for my living room. I have never bought an entire line of any fabric. Ever! I had some extra spending money with me, thanks to my husband, and these fabrics just had to come home with me. When I got home, I took a bettter picture ........

This quilt project is going to be my "New Year gift to me". I can already see the design in my head and really want to start the project. Other things are calling my name, though, so I tucked it away and it will be a nice treat after Christmas.
With our shopping done, it was time for lunch, so Jeannie and her husband and I headed toward the back of the shop.............

and then through the doors you see in this photo...........

for a delicious lunch at "Morning Glory Bakery". And after I take a break for my lunch today, I'll be back to tell you about our lunch at the bakery. While I'm away, you can check out the website for Inspirations Quilt Shop here. Great shop, friendly staff, awesome fabrics!

Back soon..........

Sandi