Late November might seem a strange choice for a road trip but with a busy fall, not to mention the Quilt Show, it just took this long for a couple of quilt shop hoppers to find the time to hit the road again in their quest to visit as many local quilt shops as possible. This time, the follow up on our summer road trip took us to the Fundy Shore to visit shops we had heard about and that one, or both of us, had yet to visit.
It is quite a drive from the city so we hit the road early, heading for Comeauville and Panier d’Art, about 40 minutes or so from Digby. However, a little bird set us straight (thank you, Peggy – you rock!) and told us to head for Foodland first. Yes, Foodland! Well, not exactly Foodland but to the other half of the same building, to Clarence’s Shopping Mart at 10029 Hwy #1 in Clare – just a few minutes past Panier d’Art. With everything from Christmas decor, clothes and shoes, the store has a lot to offer, but in the far left corner – paydirt! There is a lovely little fabric shop, offering quilting cottons, a wall of notions and craft supplies. There is a good mix of basic blenders, flannels and current fabric lines at very reasonable prices. The staff are helpful and generous with the fabric cuts – additional incentive to pick up some fabric for the stash.
| Tip: Show your Guild membership card for a 15% discount on fabric cuts. Sale Alert: From December 1st to 4th, their annual Customer Appreciation Sale provides a 25% discount on everything in the store – including their only sale on quilting notions. |
Just a short hop down the road is Panier d’Art, at 464 Hwy 1 in Saulnierville. You’ll find the store in the back through the basement door. You’re immediately surrounded with fabric bolts with a large section for flannels, another for new fabrics and yet another for their patterns and remaining fabric lines. They have a room full of sewing machines and equipment that also houses over 500 bolts of sale fabrics for $9.99 or less. Classroom space is in a separate building. Owner Anne Comeau and her staff were great – in fact, one of us is headed back there soon to pick up a new sewing machine!
Then off to Quilts by the Bay, near Digby. Owner Debra Howard’s large shop is filled with lovely fabrics, artfully arranged with quilts on display, a gallery of quilt patterns, lots of thread to choose from, and ready made quilts destined for buyers far and wide. It was a busy place – the longarm was stitching away, fabric cuts being prepared for the next Friday Frenzy and one quilter in particular (yes, me!) was busy pulling bolts trying to find just the right one.
With time still to spare, and after a quick lunch, we headed back to Granville Ferry to visit The Wooden Spool. This was a first visit to Granville Ferry but it was easy to find, driving along Hwy 1 through Annapolis Royal to 4830 Hwy 1. The shop has been open for about three years. It’s a lovely shop, bright and airy, with a good mix of traditional and contemporary fabrics. There are lots of books on display and a wide variety of fabric panels.
They even carry spray bottles of I Hate Quilting, rumoured to be better than Best Press (…we shall see…)
We headed home happy, with some new fabric treasures and a new appreciation for what this province has to offer in quilt shops. If you haven’t explored the Fundy shore recently, these four shops – and the great scenery – make it worth the trip.
Weather permitting, we hope to explore more in the coming months. If you are heading out and happen to encounter a quilt shop new to you, let us know and take a photo or two, so we can spread the word. On line shopping is here to stay but it is always a treat to get out and actually see and feel the fabric you’re buying. Till next trip..
Colleen and Jan
