I love my LQS! It's not overly big, but she packs in a lot of great fabrics, she and her staff are all very friendly and helpful. I've taken some classes there, and that's fun. What I find really bright on her part is that once a month, you can walk in and just work on a project; she's there to help and encourage :-) She also keeps a notebook during the holiday season where her customers can make a wishlist and then if a friend or family member comes in to shop...I've made a list and gotten great stuff that I really want two years in a row now :thumbup:

My favorite LQS is closing before the first of April. I will miss the friendly services that Deb provided

In my favorite quilt shop seems like there is always someone in there just working on what they brought with them. It has a really nice community feeling. They are super helpful and extra nice. The owner has chatted with my 24 year old daughter about her projects on multiple occasions. The owner encourages her to keep up the good work so far and to keep learning.

I think that's what makes these shops so special. It does feel like family, but it's still smart business. We have to remember to support our LQS whenever we can :)

My LQS is not really helpful or welcoming...unless you are a regular who spends lots of $$$ there.
I once asked if they could help me figure out a pattern that needed TONS of half-square triangles. I didn't like the method the book suggested and I wanted to find out if I could use Thangles. She was completely unwilling and said there was a class available where I could work on any project I wanted. I told her I didn't want a class (had just completed one), that I just wanted to know how to figure out the triangles. She basically told me unless I took the class, no one was willing to look at the pattern with me. I was very dissapointed.
I would prefer to shop a Joann's fabric. The fabric is cheaper and the staff have always been willing to answer any of my questions to the best of thier knowledge.

My LQS is closing Feb 24 :cry: :cry: :cry: It was a great place, very friendly and helpful!

My favorite shop is like, mrs theo's. Love them. But we have two nights that we can go to the shop to finish/work on projects (and visit). They are very helpful in many ways.

Sorry about some of you loosing your LQS's :(

I'm so sorry this has been your experience with your LQS. As you can see from this thread, many of us look at our LQS as a home away from home (I'm so sorry to those of you who are losing yours!!!). If you get what you need at Joann's, that's wonderful! I'm glad to hear that you have a Joann's that's helpful. The Joann's closest to me is not very helpful and about an hour away. I like to shop their sales sometimes, but I do that online.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a growing trend. So many of the stores of all kinds that we have grown to depend on for just that right thing, can't make it through this economy. All we can do is support them as best we can and hope they can hang on.

I have 2 LQS in my immediate area. One is JUST like the one you've described and the other is WONDERFUL! What a difference! You can feel the difference in the atmosphere as soon as you walk into each store!
By the way, I love the quote at the end of your post!

:-D :-D