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Sew Inspired, Simsbury, CT
When I taught recently in Connecticut, my contact told me there was a great quilt shop…since I’m watching my pennies, I had thought I wouldn’t stop in so as to avoid temptation. Hah! And I’m so glad I did stop in…what a treasure of a shop! Here’s a photo of what you see as you walk in the door of Sew Inspired!!!!
To backtrack a bit, the shop is located inside a small complex known as Fiddler’s Green, on the main drag in downtown Simsbury (well, I think it is the main drag!). Here’s the entrance to the complex:
And the entrance to the store:
Once you get inside, it just gets better and better. The staff is friendly and helpful, and I had a great time talking to Viv and Sandy. Here is a close up of the glorious array of batiks:
And over on the left are Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassetts, notions, patterns, friendly staff, great lighting… in the back is a class room to die for: great and adjustable chairs, the best lighting I’ve ever seen overhead, a big window for real daylight and a view of what is going on outside….
There is a good selection of notions and, better yet, art quilting supplies!
Then it continues, downstairs. The shop opened 3 1/2 years ago in the lower level. They’ve grown so much they expanded upstairs, and the lower area is now studio-for-rent space with 8×8 foot designs walls, a longarm (for rent also), a separate room for co-owner who does quilting-for-hire on her Gammill, and an office area. They also have a die-cutting machine, again available for rent…..Can you say DREAM STORE?
The design wall area:
The for-rent longarm:
The store is also an authorized HandiQuilter dealer, and recently added a sit-down HQSixteen to the upstairs classroom….drool!
Clearly, I could not escape unscathed….here is my haul –and this was from two visits… I resisted the Goergia O’Keefe morning glory prints, an Alexander Henry that I lusted after when it was first printed 6 years ago… now that it is back out I had to indulge! Plus the three on the right are from Alewives Fabrics, in Damariscotta Mills, Maine (I’m teaching there in July, stopped to drop off patterns for sale, and had to add to the loot.)
Finally, I took my aching, throbbing feet (this was after the night lecture and the full day teaching) next door to the Japanese restaurant which had impeccable service and my favorite, Chicken Katsu, for dinner:
What more could you want…good fabric, good staff (in both the store and the restaurant) and good food? The store is just northwest of Hartford; if you’re anywhere in the vicinity, it is WELL worth a stop!
April 1st, 2009 at 8:56 am
What a beautiful store! What an amazing place to teach. You lucky girl!
April 1st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
What a find. That is a full service shop but way to far away for me to use. Think they would like to open another one in AL?
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Fabulous shoppe! Love the variety, sometimes I stop at shops and they have the same selection that our shop here has so I opt to spend my money here instead to support them but it is great when you find something with the unusual.
I just saw another article with your group quilt in it. Was it in the AQS magazine? Congrats again! You are showing up everywhere this month!
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Wondered when you mentioned being in Simsbury if you had discovered Sew Inspired. They are really a great place to shop. Luckily I am about half an hour away.
Alewives is also a favorite. Than one I visit only once a year when we vacation in that area.
Love both shops. Denise
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Wonderful shop! I love those design walls. And all the fun stuff to rent. What a dream store!
April 13th, 2009 at 11:04 am
What a delightful trip!! I am glad you shared this.. how could you NOT be inspired and ready to ‘run’ after all this!
Felt like I was with you…
April 13th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
OK, so now I’m covetous AND hungry!