Does your car sport a bumper sticker that reads “I Brake for Quilt Shops”? If you’re like me, a road trip isn’t complete until you’ve visited all the quilt shops along the way! Whether it’s a day trip up to southwestern Washington, a weekend jaunt to Central Oregon, or a trek halfway across the country, we quilters love the challenge of discovering one-of-a-kind shops away from home. We are excited here at MPS to present our series of blog posts we are calling “The Traveling Quilter” to showcase unique shops both near and far.
A recent visit to my daughter in Missouri brought the opportunity to check out the Missouri Star Quilt Company in the tiny town of Hamilton. What a fun destination they’ve created along the main street with thirteen shops each with their own flavor—one just for batiks, one for solids, even one for backings! And the fun “Man’s Land” (complete with recliners and big screen TVs) is the perfect hang-out for your non-quilter traveling companions. We spent an afternoon in Hamilton, but could have happily returned the next day for another pleasant afternoon. About 3,000 quilters travel to Missouri Star in a month! Are you one of them? Or would you like to be?
When I visit a shop that’s new to me I like to find out two things: what makes this shop unique, and, of course, where is a good spot for lunch? I often ask the sales clerks and even other customers for their input! For our trip to Missouri Star, I have no doubt that what makes it unique is the environment they’ve created and the total shopping experience which is unlike any other. As for a good lunch spot, we found a cute little hamburger joint called J’s Burger Dive, just steps away from the shops.
Do your summer plans include a road trip with quilt shop visits? We’d love to highlight them in upcoming posts. As for me, my next road trip will take me to Idaho and Utah. Can’t wait to share with you the fun shops I’ll visit!
Submitted by Barbara S.
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Early in my relationship with Jennifer we would take drives to see her sisters and their families. The carrot at the end of the stick was the quilt shop(s) along the way. If you have a companion that needs to sit at the non quilter section know there is the also a spot in most trips for I will drive past a quilt shop and stop for you.
Man’s Land sounds like the perfect place for my travelling companion. He’d love it!
Missouri Star Quilting Company is certainly on my ‘bucket list’. Stopping at quilt shops while traveling enhances the travel experience. Our family car always stops for quilt and fly fishing shops!