Day Two - Sat July 16
We woke later than we had planned, and decided to have a proper breakfast in Redlands. Found to a lovely restaurant. We were there early enough to not have to stand in line for a table. The food was good -the bakery had great choices.
Redlands is another example of a cute California town. The University and surrounding farmlands makes it very appealing.
Along the shops there were trees, with lights to shine at night, and there were speakers with fun music to listen to while walking - then bopping down the street. (and this is someone who does not usually enjoy listening to music).
#6 Cotton Gin Fabric www.cottonginfabric.com
After breakfast we walked to the Redlands store. It is small but full of a variety of projects and fabric. Not sure if I captured it, but their displayed had projects in attractive subdued color palettes. They also had displays of panel fabric made by the store across the street. It was nice they were getting folks to shop at other places too.
On the way back to the car we took a different route and walked by these umbrellas. -
it's a thing there to attract non-Quilt Shop Run shoppers.
On to more stores
I wished this store was nearer to where we live. It's very small, but has such nice people working there, and lovely collection of fabric and class offerings.
The temperature was pounding now. The car handles were hot to touch. The Quilter's Faire was cool though, but jammed with people so the lines for cutting and paying were too long too. So I didn't buy anything at this nice store.
The streets in the desert have sand and cactus for decoration.
Monica's is my husband's favorite shop I think. He chatted with the owner for a bit.
We have been there three times now on each of the quilt shop runs we have done. One side has a huge selection of beads and jewelry fixings, the other a nice selection of fabric. Have to pay with cash though if under some amount ($20 or $30?) so I haven't gotten anything there the other times. But this time DH had cash so I got a few pieces of fabric.
On to the next stores
This little shop has a room with fabric and then another that I think they use usually for classes. But in the community spirit they had places for local guilds to show off their opportunity quilts and to sell tickets too. The ladies were enjoying each others company and the event so was a nice stop.
I had been to this store when the owners first purchased the shop - great to see it now doubled in size! (I came to the area after the first quilt run to visit the quilt shops in Temecula area - another thing I apparently did not share on the blog. : ( Sorry. it was a fun day for me though.
The former sewing machine repair shop was now full of happy visiting customers and locals. They also had a list of local places to eat, and maps to the other quilt shops in the area. Very community minded. I like that.
It was getting near closing time for the shops, but we thought we'd be able to make it to Fallbrook shop.
And we made it in time for this shop. It is located on a hill and the shop is very narrow but long. There are little rooms with different types of fabric and projects so it's a nice place to visit.
The quilt shops on the run were then closed. Although the town of Fallbrook has always given me the impression of being nice, we couldn't find an acceptable place to stay overnight, so we drove down to Escondido and took a chance on another Best Western.... It was a good choice. Roomy, clean and up to date.
Carpet photos.
The hotel gave us a list of local restaurants. We picked up the coupon at the desk and went to the top pick.
D - Ate in the patio of a (chain restaurant) Brigantines in Escondido. Very lovely to eat in the attractive outdoor patio.
Our free appetizer - a nice way to start the meal...
DH had bacon wrapped shrimp.
The restaurant theme is seafood, so instead of chicken, I got a nice shrimp salad.
Such a pleasant meal and location! Ended the day by sharing a piece of mud pie!
I do like these wall mounted hair dryers.... Dried my hair so quickly too!
We heard in the news how the covid cases had increased by 30% - again not sure of the starting date of part of the USA affected.
Day Three - Sun July 17
Had breakfast at the hotel. (so the previous hotels were just understaffed) Instead of scooping up food they had breakfast sandwiches in little bags, and muffins sealed in bags, etc. so no one would be breathing on the food. Yogurt, Breakfast sandwiches, Coffee
On to the hills for the next shop:
#12 Inspirations Quilt Shop inspired2quilt.com
This little shop is behind another shop and up a little hill. It's on the second story but you cross a walkway so easy to get to it. The store has been redone and is bright and light with newly painted shelves and display walls. In the back of the shop, the owner's husband was stamping the passports and giving out the pattern and fat quarters. It has a nice feel.
After shopping, we went to Bate's Nut Farm for some nuts and dates - DH's first time there! I had taken DS there with and without my Father for pumpkin picking and hayrides. It was way fancier than I remembered it....
Our next stop was:
#13 Quilt in a Day www.quiltinaday.com
Known for Eleanor's television show and her easy and efficient quilt patterns, the shop has a great selection of batiks and other fabrics. While shopping and waiting for people to get their passport stamped I overheard a conversation about how one lady who worked in a lawyers office was set to go back to work in the office. But her manager told her to keep the office computer at home as they expected to close the offices down again. They had a temporary office set up for her to use in the days they would be open... I think the increase in cases was up by 75 or 120% by that day.
The shop had many signs telling us that masks were required - and they had lockboxes set up for people to pick up purchased ordered online in the front of the store.
I had pick some fabric to get, but when the cutter's mask was below her nose, I just left it and the store without a purchase. : (
We passed our home to go to the last shop.
This is my 'home' shop. Always wonderful selections, and the owner has/had great demos and events to attend. So nice to go there in person, but we were rather tired so I didn't buy anything there this time. Only turned in our cards for the prize drawings. : )
During Covid instead of in person events, they have had Monday night facebook live events to sell product - I've attended a few. So nice to see people I recognize there. I've done a few of their sew alongs too - the one in September was $3 two days ago - now I checked and it is up to $6. Oh well. I hope when things really open again the demos for the Strip Club patterns are still free. It was always such a treat to go to the early morning demos in the store... and to shop afterwards.
We got BBQ to carry in for dinner at home once we returned.
Here are the nice fat quarters I received on this quilt shop run:
And here are the yards I purchased at the shops!
So this is an example of a little trip in Southern California. It was very nice, as little trips go.
I said at the beginning of the Round Up Week 28 posts, how the previous trip was at the beginning of the Covid shut in. I had hoped this would be at the end, but it is not.
Masking is now being strongly encouraged for everyone in my part of the world.
Those of us who are vaccinated are now doing it to protect the ones who have not taken advantage of getting the free, effective, and safe vaccine.
I hope a new variant will not be formed and our vaccines still keep us safe.
When my DH first moved to California and experienced his first earthquake. He told me he had just made a huge yawn and then the ground shook. For the tiniest of moments he thought his yawn had caused the earthquake.
So having the Covid cases increase so much at the end of our March 2020 Quilt Shop Run, and then now the Delta Covid cases increase at the end of our July 2021 Quilt Shop Run; I, for the tiniest of moments, thought our going out again was not a good sign....
But we all need to get vaccinated and mask up to ease our way thru these Covid-19 times.
For how another couple spent a wonderful holiday - they are English living in France - please click on these links. I want to be where she lives! And I sure wish I could be as clever with words too.
July 2021 SoCal Quilt Shop Run.
