I visited an LQS about 40 minutes away from where I live this Sunday. I had never been to this shop before. I called them to get directions and they gave me very clear detailed instructions. I arrived in the shop and it was very quiet, I happened to be the only customer at that time. I came in happy and smiling because I was, after all, in a quilt shop, what is not to be happy about? That is always my attitude when I walk in a quilt shop and I have never been treated rudely or ignored.

I knew as soon as I walked in this was my kind of shop with bolts and bolts of gorgeous fabric. I explained to the workers this was my first time and had heard they were the place to come to for flannels and I was in need of some for a special quilt. I was greeted warmly and the owner of the shop gave me a guided tour! The owner was gracious, patient and gave me just the right amount of attention. Granted, the shop was very quiet at the time. She set me up in the flannels area and let me spread out on a cutting table with my pattern book and scraps from stash I was trying to match up along with my focus fabric. She wandered over perdiodically with a piece of fabric from the on sale bolt ends she thought might work, several did! Oh and yes this WAS the shop to come to for flannels! She had more then I had ever seen in any one shop ranging from novelty flannels for kids quilts to some of the most gorgeous Moda, Timeless Treasures and Northcott flannel fabric I had ever laid my eyes and hands on! HEAVEN. This massive flannel selection was in addition to batiks, asians, cotton prints and a very large clearance section marked at 50% off! Her prices were very reasonable on the regular priced stuff you could tell she only increased her prices with the newer stuff that was coming in at higher prices. Some of her 50% was as little as $3.00 per yard! Everything was neatly displayed and sorted by color or collection.

The shop did fill up later and I patiently waited my turn to be helped with some other things, it was easy to wait patiently because there was SOOO much gorgeous eye candy in this shop. I watched quietly as the shop's owner gave this kind of personal attention to anyone who needed it or asked. To say the least I was delighted and have found a new favorite go to LQS.

So many are quick to complain when they feel they are poorly treated in an LQS. I thought I would share an absolutely delightful experience of exceptional customer service and selection.

I am often shocked and appalled when people post here of bad LQS experiences. I quite honestly find myself wondering about many of them. I have been quilting and going to quilt shops for probably close to 20 years and have never ever had a negative or bad experience. However I have always entered a quilt shop with the attitude of happiness and wonderful expectations of what magic awaits me in those bolts of fabric on the other side of the door. Maybe, just maybe, it is MY attitude that makes the difference between a good experience and bad one at the LQS and the shop keepers just may be picking up on my feel good vibration and reflecting it back to me!

Any way if anyone is ever in the North Adams Massachusetts area, I highly recommend Tala's Quilt Shop.

Thank you for sharing such a positive experience. This is nice to hear.

Attitude does have so much to do with our experiences. Congrats on yours!.

what a nice visit. it's nice to hear good experiences

Oh I'll have to remember that when I drive up to Hadley... I think I pass an exit for North Adams.

I too love going into them and for the most part rather I buy anything or not I leave with a smile on my face; the same way I went in. We do have one shop here that I've been in several times and the workers aren't nice at all and niether is the manager. I don't mention the name because it's not fair but I do tell everyone about the several other shops that I go to where the people are so nice rather you are on the phone with them or in person. I chose to concentrate on the positive and praise those and forget the others who aren't so nice. I'm glad you had such a good experience and I wish everyone would be able to do the same. Everyone should sing the praises when they find them and forget the bad experiences.

It is refreshing to hear about a positive experience. I have had lots of great experiences in various LQS, but I agree with you, the attitude you walk in the door with has a lot to do with it! It sounds like you found a fabulous place - wish I was on the East Coast, I'd head over there ASAP! :D

I'm sure our attitude is what determines how we feel most of the time.

Thank you for sharing your great experience. I agree, many times, not all, but many it is your attitude. I am naturally a friendly person and can easily talk to others about quilting and such so I almost always have a great experience. Especially in the stores closest to me. They all know my name!

I so enjoy hearing of positive experiences.