There are many great manufactures. My favorites are Hoffman, Kaufman, Clothworks,P&B Textiles, RJR, South Seas Imports...the list goes on! One of the things I like best about these brands is that when you wash them, they don't seem to wrinkle up as much as some of the cheaper brands. They also feel very nice and the quality seems pretty consistent from one print to the next. That's my experience anyway.
With the cost of cotton up so high, I've found that I do more shopping online to get what I want at lower prices. I usually can't get the most recent releases, or even entire collections, but can usually get a decent price and save a bit over buying locally. I still try to shop at the LQS when I can, but honestly, I can't afford to buy all of my supplies there...especially with the new fabrics coming in at about $12/yard.