![\"redwork](\"https:\/\/silverthimble.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/redwork-cats-and-dogs.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhen I asked the local quilters what quilt shop was their favorite, I got back the response, “3 Dudes” from more than one of them so I had to make it out to Phoenix to visit that shop. (www.3dudesquilting.com) \u00a0Thanks to my son’s navigation, we made it across Maricopa County from Mesa, through Tempe, and into Phoenix.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The displays of quilts inside 3 Dudes was incredible! \u00a0If there was wall space, it was covered with a quilt. \u00a0This is a photo taken from inside the shop. \u00a0I just loved the quilt on the right.<\/p>\n My purchases from 3 Dudes Quilting included 1.5 yards of this fabric from In The Beginning Fabrics by Jason Yenter called, Southwest Beauties and this pattern called, Spicy Spiral Table Runner by School House Quilts.<\/p>\n Once we were back in Mesa, I dropped my son off at my parents’ and ventured out on my own to two local shops: \u00a0Mulqueen’s (www.sewshop.com)\u00a0and ETC (scrapbooks-etc.com).<\/p>\n Mulqueen’s was a bit hard to find but definitely worth it. \u00a0All fabrics at Mulqueen’s are $6.95 per yard and they stock all of the Kona solids.<\/p>\n I found the gold fabric below (Who comes to Zinnia’s Garden by Jacqueline Paton for Red Rooster Fabrics) at Mulqueen’s and the green fabric below (Dimples by Gail Kessler) at ETC. \u00a0I will be combining these two purchases with fabrics that I already have at home to make the placemat and tablerunner set from the pattern, Trading Post by Elizabeth Anne Quilt Designs. \u00a0I purchased the pattern on line from Southwest Decoratives in Albequerque, NM.<\/p>\n I found this southwest inspired batik at Mulqueen’s and yes, batiks are also $6.95 per yard! I have plans to turn this piece of yardage into some sort of bag\/tote.<\/p>\n ETC is actually a giant fabric and scrapbooking store. \u00a0Along with the fabric above, I purchased a purple coloured scrapbook album for scrapbooking our daughter’s wedding pictures.<\/p>\n And finally, no trip to Mesa would be complete without a stop at the Marketplace. \u00a0(mesamarket.com) \u00a0At the market, I purchased the following fabrics from a quilt fabric vendor.<\/p>\n I bought several yards of La Celebracion designed by Greta Lynn for Kanvas Studio to use as backing for my Mexican Tiles quilt top.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I also purchased these southwest themed fat quarters. \u00a0Fabric designs in the southwest theme\/style are getting harder to find so when I saw these, I thought I should be picking them up to add to my collection back home. On Saturday, January 18, my Mom and I joined up with the quilting group from my Mom’s park to attend, Quilt Fiesta!–the Tucson Quilters Guild 36th Annual Quilt Show. \u00a0Of course I did not leave the vendor’s area empty handed.<\/p>\n I purchased these fabrics from Desert Stitchin (www.desertstitchin.com). \u00a0I plan to use these fabrics to make the GE Designs’ pattern, Strip Stacks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have a love for the Giant Saguaro Cactus and I was on the hunt for a pattern to make my own Saguaro quilt. \u00a0Although I saw several Saguaro inspired quilt patterns, only one had the simple clean lines I was looking for. \u00a0This pattern is part of a row quilt called, Coyote Country by Hummingbird Quilt Studio.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I recently spent some time in Arizona visiting family. \u00a0I had the use of a rental car so I visited some quilt shops in the area. \u00a0Although there are 14 shops that are members of the Maricopa County Independent Quilt … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>I am now home from vacation and anxious to get started on making quilts from these patterns and fabrics!<\/p>\n