I spent three hours at a large local shop earlier this week looking for, and finding, six perfect fabrics for an IRR border. Not once was I glared at for taking so long or made to feel the least bit guilty for wandering around, trying so many different bolts, changing my mind several times or anything like that.
When I finally made it to the cutting table, the cutter oooh'd and ahhh'd over my choices and made me feel wonderful about my selection of fabrics. She was open and friendly despite my changing my mind a few times about how much I wanted her to cut...always before she cut and always to increase what I wanted.
When I commented to her that I so much prefer to shop for fabrics locally than online, she smiled and said "all of us here thank you for that". Now, this particular shop also does business online, but to the ladies working the floor, it's people like me who keep their jobs safe, help the economy of their town, and support local community. All of that matters to me. The name of this local shop...Keepsake Quilting.