Sunday, 7 March 2004

Here are a couple more quilt pictures from the Williamsburg Festival. I like this one because while it is somewhat more traditional than the two I posted about previously, it's still very ambitious and the use of color is great. I feel like there's a chance that I could I actually make (even if I would never have come up with the design) a quilt like this, unlike with the others.

Wow, that first quilt really *glows*. I like the other one too - thanks for sharing!

      Quilty comment by Melissa on 8 March 2004

I'm so sorry you were disappointed with Jo-Ann's. That is my favorite fabric store. It seems like the employees are always very nice and helpful - at least in the Lincoln, Nebraska store where I shop. Could you post a picture of the fabric you need? Maybe my store still has some and I can send it to you?...

I love your blog, by the way. I am a quilting newbie and I look forward to your posts. :)

      Quilty comment by Carrie B. on 8 March 2004

One other thing I realized recently about this quilt -- all of the blocks are the same pattern, just colored differently with fabrics. I think that's a great idea -- take a block with lots of pieces and use it repeatedly, but color each one differently.

Oh... there are so many quilts I want to make!

Carrie -- thanks much for the offer. Next time I'm taking pictures in the quilting area I'll snap a picture of that fabric. But, if you happen to be in your local store -- it's from the "Threads from the Heartland" kit and is called "red print" in the kit. I need a fat quarter, could probably even get by with a fat eighth.

      Quilty comment by Lyn/Uncorked on 8 March 2004

I like the top quilt too -- the use of fabric is fabulous!

      Quilty comment by Katxena on 9 March 2004

Sure - no problem! I would be glad to check my Jo-Ann's for you. I looked at the photo of the "Threads From The Heartland" kit online... It looks like there are three different reds used in the quilt? One looks like a solid, one has little dots (?) and one has some swirly/squiggly designs on it - like abstract roses? (The photo online was a little fuzzy.) Which of these three is the one you need? Wish me luck! :)

      Quilty comment by Carrie B. on 9 March 2004

In the kit, the reds were called "red bandana" "red dots" and "red print." I need the one called "red print." (I hope I'm remembering this right.) It's the one that's mostly a solid.

Thanks!

      Quilty comment by Lyn/Uncorked on 9 March 2004

HOORAY! I found a fat quarter of that fabric you need! :) Please email me at carrie-benes@[remove this]sandhills.com and let me know your mailing address. No need to reimburse me - I am just glad I can help you out. :)

*PLEASE NOTE: When you go to use the email address above, please remove the brackets and "remove this" text. That is just in place so that my email address doesn't get harvested from this comments page. :)

      Quilty comment by Carrie B. on 11 March 2004

In a previous post where I lamented that my setting kit for Jo Threads is missing a piece and that Joann's online is out of stock on fat quarters for fabric from this kit, Katxena suggested that I call local stores to see if they had any. Phone? What is phone? Hehe. Well, I hauled myself away from the computer and did so the other day and I'm really unhappy with their 'customer service.'

The first store put me on hold and then no one ever picked up. I called back and said, "You put me on hold and then no one picked up." The woman said, "Well, they're busy with customers back there, let me get your name and number and we'll call you back." That was several days ago. I haven't heard a peep. When I called the second store, the person I spoke was with very rude. Would not let me finish sentences, and when I did (for the third time) name the fabric I needed, he said, "Yeah, that's a useful thing for us to know" quite sarcastically, as though I'd been withholding that information. When, in fact, if he'd just let me finish a sentence he'd have had that information much sooner. I was really not impressed. He claimed they didn't have it either.

My impression of Joann's has been that it's the Walmart (I really don't like Walmart) of the crafty/fabric world and these experiences have just confirmed it. The patterns and instructions for the quilt I'm making have been really good, but otherwise, I haven't found any redeeming qualities in this chain and don't plan to shop there unless I absolutely have to.

As for the fabric I'm missing, I suspect I'll just have to try to find a close match and call it good enough. It's a long interior border piece, so it'll be pretty obvious. Oh well.

Couldn't agree more....and I think the disintegration of service starts in their management. They never, ever have enough clerks working in these stores. The poor women are run ragged.

      Quilty comment by Lee on 11 March 2004

I have no doubt that it's a management and corporate culture problem; most of these kinds of problems are.

      Quilty comment by Lyn/Uncorked on 11 March 2004

I recently was talking to a new employee (formerly from Joann) at my local quilt shop. She said there managment really pushes to get the work assignments done, not to visit too much with the customers and be polite (notice not friendly). She had worked there for five years and left to work at a regular quiilt store which was "heaven". Her comments were consistent with my shopping experiences there.

      Quilty comment by Ndine Medlin on 14 March 2004

It's unbelieveable that a special order got lost--yeah right. I recently placed and order, paid for it and then came in the store for something else and what I had ordered was on the shelves for sale- and I was never called about it. As a former employee this is an all to familiar act. Its wrong and illegal. The employees of the store never even said sorry. The stores are getting worse and I don't even have an option to show somewhere else.

      Quilty comment by Megan on 3 April 2004

As a former employee you women don't have a clue as for what goes on behind the scenes of a store. Between the orders coming in, new stock to put out and proper customer service, most employees give up before they are trained properly and can multitask. If this is all that is wrong with shoping at theses stores get a life and shop somewhere else

      Quilty comment by Michelle on 3 April 2004

you women don't have a clue as for what goes on behind the scenes of a store

Michelle -- you have no basis on which to make this assertion. Speaking for myself, I've worked in retail; I know it can suck.

However, this statement: If this is all that is wrong with shoping at theses stores get a life and shop somewhere else perfectly exemplifies the attitude I encountered at Joann's (I guess they taught you well) and reinforces my decision not to shop there unless I absolutely have to.

      Quilty comment by Lyn/Uncorked on 3 April 2004