Just got back from my very first trip to KQ. It was very nice but I think the biggest impression I left with is how lucky I am to have so many beautiful quilting stores near my home. While smaller, they just have so much character. Anybody else feel that way after visiting KQ?

I've heard that same thing before. Some of my quilting friends think it's just too big, and if you aren't looking for a certian thing it is too much to take in. Personally I don't feel that way. I only get there maybe once a year or less and enjoy all the choices that they have.

Oh, I miss the glens falls/queensbury area shops so much. moved a year and a half ago to NC - love the area, but only have one quilt shop nearby. I was sooooo spoiled up north.

P.S. I'll bet you're a member of Wings Falls guild. I still get the emails from them, and I think there was a recent KQ field trip thru the guild.

KQ? where is this

In New Hampshire by Lake Winnipesaukee.

hmmmm i wonder how far that is for me i'm going to have to look!
Thank you

Oh, I would LOVE to go there some time!

definately

I was surprised at how much the New Hampshire area looked just like Northern AR. It's beautiful. I was overwhelmed when I walked in Keepsakes. The displays and quilts were so nice. I didn't know where to look first. It was one of the best quilt shops I have been in.
I was visiting Boston and Keepsakes wasn't that far away for car drive. My biggest mistake was not going alone. Before an hour was up the online quilters (I had only chatted with online) that planned the trip to meet up with me half way and we all go there were ready to leave and go eat. ? I can eat anytime. They said everything was too expensive for them so we may as well leave. They drove further then I did to go! I was so frustrated, why even go on the trip if all they could do was complain about not having any money! I had to leave with them to get to my car about two hours away. I was rushed so fast I didn't even know there was a big yarn/needlework shop attached! I was leaving the next day so I couldn't go back alone.
The sales people were very nice but were getting rather put out and I was embarrassed how the ones I were with kept saying everything was too expensive for their blood.

That's a shame BellaBoo. I wouldn't want to be rushed either, and I don't travel as far as you did! Maybe you'll get back again sometime, I hope so.

I hope to go back this summer. And when these ladies pulled into McDonalds to eat after passing some great local restaurants I didn't know what to think! DH thought it was funny as he__ , me being stuck like that!

Bellaboo, if that ever happens again, tell them to go on without you and I'll come pick you up and drive you back to your car. ;) A trip to Keepsake simply cannot be rushed, it must be savored like fine wine.

I won't happen again. LOL. I always take my car on any road trip now. I'll drive behind a group by myself before going with a group anywhere.

I've been fortunate enough to be able to visit Keepsake Quilting twice. But both times I felt like I was still missing something. Maybe because there was so much to see. I'd love to go again and spend more time there.

That is so dissappointing... and a nice lunch with a group can be so much fun...

Have any of you gone to the big tent sale there? It's held at the beginning of June and you have to get there VERY early to get the really good stuff cheap! It fun to do if you have like minded quilting buddies. My friends and I have done it several times. We get in line by about 4 AM and I do mean IN LINE, because there is always one when we get there.

I really felt that way about Hancock's in Paducah. The people were somewhat cold too.

Yes I enjoyed the trip but I too felt fortunate to have so many wonderful shops close to home. :thumbup:

Go to www.keepsakequilting.com and you can sign up for their catalog and e-mail. Been there and love it, they even have rocking chairs on their poarch and the men love it. When we were there they had quilts, a contest I think, hanging from the ceiling - so beautiful. A definate must visit for a quilter.

I live in NH and my favorite
"Treat yourself outing, is going to Keepsake"
The ride is beautiful anytime of the year. The shop is big, but I always plan on having a magical dream day, while shopping.
The fabric is of great quality and although a little costly, it's great.
DH comes and brings a book or the newspaper and sits on the porch in a chair with all the other DH who are patiently waiting.
I go 2 to 3 times a year. Spend hours and find everyone more than helpful.
Then there's the back room with sale material. Love that one.

Every year they also have their tent sale...Great and crowded.
If times permits we go out to eat. Otherwise we eat when we can. The lake is across the highway and DH's can sit and enjoy the view...

My favorite place to go

On our first visit to KQ we were so overwhelmed by the amount of fabric. We had never seen so much in one place at one time. When we went the second time we knew what to expect so made much better choices. I had wanted something in the catalog that was not in the store so they ordered it for me and shipped it to my home for free.

I remember my first time of going into a regular quilt shop. Can't remember the name of it, but it was a an old two story house in Dahlonega, GA. VERY nice people, very nice shop. The problem... I was just getting into quilting and had no idea what I was interested in, what type of fabric, what type of pattern, nothing... They just let me wander around. I ended up buying a magazine and a couple of thimbles. Don't know what I'd do if I ever got to go to someplace like Keepsake. I'd make sure I either had a little money, or I'd pull out that charge card though!

I don't have any quilt shops anywhere near me. There is one now on the other side of Macon (35 miles or so) that I have yet to visit. I would LOVE to have a little local shop where I'd feel comfortable enough to visit, spend time, ask questions. Guess that's why I spend so much time here... Y'all are my quilting source!

Having moved from NH, Keepsake was one of my favorite spots. You need to plan a day right there in Meredith and Center Harbor to do a store like this. There is so much to see and it can get very frustrating to be that kid in the candy store. I haven't been there for about 6 years but I do miss the character of the old store and the wonderful ladies who happy to chat and help you make decisions instead of getting your money into the register faster. Now I have an independent sewing store here in Florida that is very much like that.....packed with everything a seamstress can dream up. There is one wall of nations that has to be 50' long. Any notion you can think of is there as well as all the different fabric departments. Since it's an hour away I don't go at the drop of a gallon of gas anymore so I plan to get there early and start at the very beginning, taking notes as I go. I leave for lunch at Panera and then go back to see the rest of the store before I gather up all my purchases. If you're going to Keepsake, hop over to Meredith and have lunch at one of the four Inns at the Falls (my sister's SO owns them), enjoy the lake and have a wonderful day. I agree with BellaBoo, it's very disappointing to have someone with you who isn't like-minded. I have learned I'm sometimes the best company for myself on trips like this.

Me Too!

Me Too!

I've only visited once and found it overwhelming. I was there for several hours and still couldn't find my way around the store. My lesson from that is that I need to go back a few more times! Definitely worth the visit. And the setting is something to see. Lake Winnipesaukee is huge and is right across the street from the store.

There is a grocery store just around the corner. Once I arrived hungry and tired and one of the clerks advised: buy some lunch stuff, relax in a chair on the porch a little while, and then come in and shop!
Those gals are all sweethearts, that put up with an amazing variety of people all day every day. They will do their best to help shoppers, because they are very nice people, but like anybody, find it hard to keep smiling at snootypoos!
Keepsake's store really isn't very large, but it is like shopping in a welcoming home!
Now, that I no longer live in NH, I find they are really helpfull on the phone, and...on the internet.
I advise you to sign up for their catalogs too, but everything in them is on the internet.
Jeannie P

Never been to KQ, but I feel that way about Fabric Depot in Portland. Too big and overwhelming to be enjoyed. I can't look at that much stuff without getting lost and confused.

I just loved the Fabric Depot. When I lived in OR it was my place to go if I needed any type of fabric. Their sales are always great and I would always find what I needed there.

I grew up in NH & just started quilting last year. Found out about KQ this year & love what I see, but have been in FL for past 12 yrs. Never have time for wonderful trips like that when we go back now. Family keeps us hopping. I keep telling DH I want to go though. I'm hoping! :-)

I happened on their annual 4th July sale, and have never had so much fun in a quilt store, wish it was closer !

My aunt, (who now lives in LA) vacations in NY every summer (we are from Lake George) and traveled to NH to Keepsake Quilting store. She arrived with $360.00 and left with $0.00. She said she bought beautiful kits for 70% off and fabric that was on sale for next to nothing...of course she was looking for bargins. She is 71 and says she will not have to buy any more fabric in her lifetime. She was awed by the store. Of course she sent me a photo of her in front of the store...I call that unnecessary teasing, don't you? LOL

And my husband liked the porch where he could wait - and wait and.....wait!

I just spent a ton of time there last weekend. Yes there's lots to see and it was a bit overwhelming.....but 1 lady who worked there spent almost a half hour working with me to find one special fabric to match "just right". She was wonderful and couldn't have been easier to work with. Of course for me the shop is only 45 minutes away - I have to be really careful not to spend too much time there. In the sale section fabric were around 7.99 or less and there were many available that looked wonderful. Most fabrics were in the $10.00 range in the store. I didn't think the prices were crazy expensive, but it still hurts!

My friend and I are planning a trip to Keepsake just for the annual yard sale. we plan to make a 5 day trip and visit Boston and quilt shops around the area. Any suggestions on where to stay (hotel or B&B is fine) to do day trips to quilt shops near that area? Where is Glens Falls and Queensbury?

Two years ago my quilting friends made a trip to KQ, It's a really big quilt shop nice to see after getting all those quilt books, plus I crossstitch so I had double the fun!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

bellaboo wrote "I hope to go back this summer. And when these ladies pulled into McDonalds to eat after passing some great local restaurants I didn't know what to think! DH thought it was funny as he__ , me being stuck like that!"

are you kidding me?? this is definitely not a bunch to get together again with!!! first you are with a bunch of quilters who dont want to shop at a quilt shop and then they want to leave there to eat at MCDONALDs!! omg!

I have only been once and can't wait to go back. It was during Laconia bike week so while my DB and DH went to the nearby diner to eat breakfast, I went to KQ. It was sensory overload for me, but the good kind. Unfortunately I knew I only had about an hour it wasn't time to do much of anything except go into the batiks room and hyperventilate! The sales girls are wonderful there. They are the shop that told me about Roxanne hand quilting needles. Next time I go, I won't have the men folk in tow, or let them go to the hill climb so I will have several hours.

There are a lot of shops in the Glens Falls area. I love Adirondack Quilts.