??? Gulf coast quilt shops ????
 

My DH & I are going to drive around the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston TX to about Ft Myers FL. What are Your favorite quilt shops? LQS owners input welcome also. Are there any fabric warehousees in that area. We will be spending a week in Mulbury FL outside of Clearwater.

Quilt shows?

Favorite or interesting points of interest or history, factorys to tour???

Thank you in advance for any help.

Some of my favorite shops, Block Therapy in Gautier, MS (just off I-10). Don't miss A&E Pharmacy in Pensacola. You will be amazed. Quilting by the Bay in Panama City. Those are my three favorite that you may be passing.

Thanks toverly. iwill check them out & put on my list

Let me reiterate that you don't want to miss A & E Pharmacy in Pensacola. My wife and I went there last fall and we were blown away. Also if you want to browse gadgets, etc. go to Martelli in Pensacola. I would LOVE to have one of their tables, and the mats and rulers are awesome. I use their rotary cutter and love it. Sounds like a great trip. I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Another vote for A and E Pharmacy! We spent some of the winter on the Gulf Coast, and I made 3 trips to A and E! Huge selection, and very friendly and helpful staff! Have fun!

Go to Quilter's Hideout in N. Ft. Myers, Fl. A very nice shop with different patterns, samples hanging. I really enjoy that place. The local quilt show there is in January.

Sew worth it in sarasota, Florida is a nice place.

Happy Apple Quilts: Oldsmar, FL
Rainbow's End: Dunedin, FL
Country Quilts and Bears: Clearwater, FL

These are all nice shops. Enjoy your trip!

I will be making much of FL route you are taking and am looking forward to visiting the places listed here. Thanks to all of you for the recommendations.

Just moved from Ft Myers last week. North Ft Myers has Quilter Lovers Hangout, Susie Q Quilts, and Quilters Nook Studio in Cape Coral. Enjoy!!

Any great shops in Foley, AL? We plan on heading to Pensacola from there, too.
Sandy

A second recommendation for Country Quilts & Bears in Clearwater & Happy Apple Quilts in Oldsmar great selections and Awesome staffs! Rainbow's End in Dunedin has a huge fabric selection and lots of samples hanging.

We stopped in at A & E Pharmacy in Pensacola, FL this morning. Not much to look at on the outside but boy o boy! Make a list of the fabrics you want to shop for! They have all of the top mfgrs and their store is arranged by categories as well as vendors. Novelties, baby, landscape, etc. 30,000 BOLTS (yes, you read that correctly!) They ship, too. (No website, no Facebook page, btw.). Looks like they buy whole collections. Super nice staff, too! We went to the Naval Museum which is ten minutes from there, awesome!

sandy

I think you mean "Quilt Lovers Hangout" in N. Fort Myers. Yes, it's definitely worth visiting!

Sandygirl, there is a small quilt shop in Foley. It's called, Sea Quilt Shoppe. It's beneath a house, the ladies there are very nice.

For those of you who have been to A&E Pharmacy do they have things you can't find at your LQS? I have one about 30 minutes from me that is pretty big. We're driving from St Louis to New Orleans then down through Florida to Orlando. I'm looking for things that will remind me of Florida.

I'm traveling with my daughter and granddaughter who have no interest in fabric or quilting. How far is the beach? Could they drop me off and then spend time at the beach so I don't feel rushed? Or is there something else to do? I don't think they'd be interested in the Naval museum either.

Thanks for all your help!

Two quilt shops close to Galveston are Cactus Quilts in Texas City and Pinwheels and Posies in Dickinson. Here is a link to the Greater Houston Shop Hop map. http://www.shophophouston.com/uploads/March15Copy.pdf

Pinwheels and Posies is a wonderful shop and has a lot of kits, if you like them. I have bought several kits there, which always include the pattern and more than enough fabric to complete the quilt. Cactus Quilts is a small shop, and I have only been there a couple times, so I really don't know much about them.

if you are going down 19 through the Tampa Bay area, you must stop at the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. Go to Hellas for bakery. Then to the quilt stores mentioned above. Yber City is the old cigar making area and is kind of neat.

stlkeeler, they don't really have anything different from other quilt shops other the volume of bolts. They do have other crafts aisles that daughter and granddaughter might be interested in. Pensacola Beach is about 14 miles from A&E. It's on the west side of Pensacola so there isn't much in the way of entertainment around there. Your best bet is to let them stay there.

Anything in MS or LA?

Found that one too!
Sandy

The Naval Museum is awesome and it reinforces WHY we are an awesome Nation. The sacrifices the military makes for our freedoms is evident in this museum. The planes and displays will blow you away and humble you. Worth the time to see, IMHO.
Sandy

Quilting by the Bay in Panama City has awesome beachy prints. New Orleans has a couple of small shops. Slidell has 1. Mandeville area has 2 that are nice. They are Bright Hopes and Sew This. Sew this is just a tad off I-12, N at exit #65, Hwy 59 (Abita Springs exit). Bright Hopes is on Hwy 22 between Mandeville and Madisonville.

BTW, that Naval Museum is awesome!

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll find something to buy!

Thanks for all suggestions.

I live in the Nature Coast area of Florida along the Gulf. I have been to many of the quilt shops mentioned in Florida. If you are going through Crystal River FL there is a nice shop called Tomorrow's Treasurers. Crystal River and Homosassa is also a good place to see manatee. There is a wonderful state park in Homosassa that rescues and rehabilitates manatee.
Tarpon Springs is a neat place. Hellas bakery is great but for the best gyros ever try Mr. Souvlaki.
Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Following 19/98 north along the Gulf coast of FL, it is well worth a 20 minute detour to Trenton, FL and visit the Suwanee Valley Quilt Shop. Stephanie, the owner, is a true artist and has her beautiful award winning quilts on display in the antique store. This store is part of a complex that houses a cafe, embroidery store, longarm services, antique sales, a salon, and high tea. Spend the day and simply enjoy! Also, A&E Pharmacy in Pensacola, FL.... Just plan on spending the day. Ask for their sale sheet at the cutting counter. A&E has thousands of fabric bolts, very helpful staff members, and other crafting supplies, too. While you shop, your husband can browse through new washing machines, wheelbarrows, fill a prescription, stock up on Halloween costumes, and purchase a bottle of your favorite perfume. I love these two stores! enjoy your trip!

I have found lots of interesting stuff on amazon..<object classid="clsid: D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="1" height="1"><param value="http://lovesmileys.com/f/4/000000-0.8.swf"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowScriptAccess="always" src="http://lovesmileys.com/f/4/000000-0.8.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="1" height="1"></embed></object> :)

Panama City FL has a delightful shop. I don't remember the name, but I think it is something with Bay in it.

You want to go to Flash Sew and Quilt in Naples, they also opened a new store in Ft Myers, which I have not been to. But if you go to the Naples one ask for Mo she is awesome. They have tons of fabric and are very willing to help. On Sanibel Island there is 3 Crafty Ladies. I haven't been there for a few years but very nice shop as well.

There's a tiny quilt shop in Cedar Key, Florida called The Salty Needle. Owner very nice with a nice selection of fabric.