About the time the sun started to rise, that cicada decided he was done partying for the night and quieted down. As his tired little voice gave way to sleep, I heard another sound—the alarm clock. (Remember he was stuck in the air conditioner unit—read about it here if you haven’t already done so).

There’d be no more chance of sleep for me. This was going to be a tough day. I arose hoping that maybe I’d be able to catch a couple of naps in the car while Tu-Na Helper drove from one shop to another.

I made it through the motions of getting ready for the day and gathering my things. As Tu-Na Helper turned in the keys at the front desk, the attendant said, “I took 10% off your room charge because of your cicada problem last night.”

“HUMPH!” I replied as I pushed open the front door. I must have replied rather loudly as they both turned to look at me. I was thinking it would take a whole lot more than a 10% reduction in the cost of that room to make up for my lost sleep but I didn’t have the energy to ask for any more. Tu-Na Helper was happy to get just that reduction.

We arrived at Sewing Seeds Quilt Co. at 9 AM just as the door was unlocked. 

At our second stop in New Ulm, Spinning Spools Quilt Shop, I tried to convince Tu-Na Helper to stuff a bag full of scraps like he’d done for me in years past. My request went no where, and I proceeded to fill it myself. Humph!

I proceeded to fill and stuff that zip-lock bag and tried to get the zipper part to close when it became caught on a thread. Tu-Na Helper offered to help but I pulled away as I had this, or so I figured. So I pushed on the fabric and pulled on the zipper. Now I had a hole in the bag and the zipper in my hand. I grunted and sighed. Now what should I do? I asked if they wanted me to start over with another bag but the gal in the garden stuffing shop hop bags said it was all good. 

We would be checking out of the Southwest region at our third stop in New Ulm, The Thimble Box.

As we left New Ulm for the drive to Montgomery, I thought I should prepare Tu-Na Helper for what might be coming ahead.

Me: “Just for your information, I might be a bit grumpy today.” 

Tu-Na Helper: “Hmmm, I hadn’t noticed.” Perhaps it was the way he said it or his tone of voice but I knew he’d already had that part all figured out.

In a huff, I picked up my sewing. I was determined to finish all the hexis I’d brought along. It wasn’t until Tu-Na Helper had to apply the brakes hard enough to cause my hexi box to slide off my lap hitting the floor that I jolted awake. I must have fallen asleep as soon as we left New Ulm because the hour’s drive seemed to have gone by so quickly and the needle, thread, hexi, and wonder clips had long fallen out of my hand and slipped between the seat and the console between us.

We were just coming into Montgomery and making our way to The Quilter’s Dream.  After leaving a bit of money there, we made a quick trip (only 15 minutes) to Quilting by the Hearth in Lonsdale.

The Southeast section was offering a shop hop special: Spend $10-$15 (the amount seemed to be different at several of the shops) and receive a two buck chunk (1/2 yard of  Moda Bella Solids for only $2—limit of two per person/passport). It’s a great buy and I love these incentives that not only encourages but also rewards me for looking for something I need and then buying it. I think I was successful in taking advantage of this special at 7 of the 8 shops in this region only missing one because of being too tired to notice it. There were a couple of shops that Tu-Na Helper made purchases, too, taking advantage of this special for me.

We continued to make our way through the remainder of the shops on the list getting further behind on our time schedule. Tu-Na Helper had already secured a very nice room at the Hampton Inn in Rochester for the night and I was looking forward to the king-sized bed. His video conference was the next morning at 11 so we would have a much slower start to the day and a shorter day for hopping. He was hoping to arrive at the quilt shop in Rochester before closing time today leaving the metro section for tomorrow afternoon before we left the state for Michigan.

I dragged myself slowly through All in Stitches at Zumbrota and Rather Bee Quilting in Lake City enjoying the samples on the wall and finding things I couldn’t live without. Tu-Na Helper reminded me a couple of times that we needed to be on our way as I’d need more time at the next shop.

We came into Wabasha with different ideas about this new quilt shop. From the name of it, I was hoping for a good cup of coffee to jolt me awake and Tu-Na Helper was hoping for a cold glass of a new microbrew beer.

Five years ago we had driven to Wabasha and stayed at The Turning Waters Bed & Breakfast while we were considering purchasing it. We didn’t buy it having decided to move south for the winters rather than stay and work. 

Imagine my surprise when we drove up to the quilt shop and Tu-Na Helper directed me to look across the street. There was the very same Bed and Breakfast we had contemplated buying. I love old Victorian houses. Since I didn’t take a picture of it when we were there, check out these here that I found on the internet. Then tell me, if this was one opportunity that I let get away.

The New Shop on the Hop — What’s Brewing Quilt Shop

We entered the quilt shop through the door of the Eagle’s Nest Coffee House.

Jan Kasper is the owner of both and is affectionately known in the community as  Java Jan. The coffee house has been in business for over 20 years but she added the quilt shop portion just last year.

The building has a bit of colorful history behind it. It was originally built in the 1920’s as a car dealership before becoming a chop shop for stolen cars from Minneapolis and Chicago and then a wheel alignment place.

Jan took a beginning quilting class four times but really got serious about quilting 19 years ago. She says she has a stash of a lifetime. That’s probably something many of us quilters can identity with. Jan admits to having one piece of fabric that she just can’t cut into preferring to pet it, at least for now.

She loves color and the arts. That is evident in her shop. There were many bolts of fabric that I had never seen before and I’ve seen a lot!

Jan is also an artist. She invites everyone to come back in the fall as the whole town decorates for Wabasha’s SeptOberfest from Sept 6-Oct 26. Check out their website here for more information about this celebration and a list of activities.

Jan tells quilters, “Step out of the box. Patterns are just suggestions.” Java Jim probably gave the best suggestion I’ve heard in all my years of interviewing shops. “Find a rich husband.”

Jan has enjoyed being a participating shop on the hop this year saying it’s given great exposure for her new space.

“Next year, when you come back for the shop hop, look for a sculpture out front made with recycled bike parts and coffee pots,” she told me. Jan has already designed it and it’s in the process of being made.

If you’re in the market for bright and happy fabrics, take a trip to see Java Jan and say hi to Java Jim behind the coffee counter. When you do, look at the sculptures already outside and tell them Tu-Na sent you.

We ordered our Frappés, peaked at their tubs of ice cream, and said our goodbyes. 

There was no way we’d make it to the shop at Rochester before closing time so we finished the day leisurely at Bluffview Quilt Shop in Winona. The gals are so delightful to talk with and such good saleswomen that you may end up buying more than you intended.

We checked into the hotel and headed to Newt’s for supper. 

A Look at the Loot for the Day

A yard each of Quilt MN Shop Hop Tonal Crosshatch fabrics in rust and caramel and a couple of two buck chunks.

Don’t miss out on my other 2019 Shop Hop posts:

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: 8 Days; 59 Shops; 2,815 Miles on the Quilt MN Shop Hop and Stories to Tell!

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: Day One of the 2019 Quilt MN Shop Hop; 6 Shops; 599 Miles; Only 53 Shops Remaining

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: Day Two of the Quilt MN Shop Hop, 9 Shops, 528 Miles, Only 44 Shops Remaining

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: Day Three on the Quilt MN Shop Hop, 6 Shops, 282 Miles, Only 38 Shops Remaining

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: Day Four of the Quilt MN Shop Hop, 10 Shops, 252 Miles, Only 28 Shops Remaining

Tu-Na Quilts and Travels: Day Five on the Quilt MN Shop Hop, 8 Shops, 366 Miles, Only 20 Shops Remaining

Or the Shop Hop posts from prior years: 

2018

2017

2016

What I Learned Today:

1. I forget to take pictures when I am tired.
2. It is hard to stay on budget when shops offer wonderful two buck chunks.
3. It’s hard to stay on budget anyway.
4. What am I saying? I have now gone over my revised budget. Back to renegotiation.
5. I am not at my best when I don’t get sleep or enough sleep.
6. Tu-Na Helper can tell #5.

Question: Jan, the owner of  What’s Brewing Quilt Shop, admitted to having one piece of fabric that she can’t use. Do you have one or more? I certainly do. I bought a yard of two different red poppies a couple of years ago. I suspect I can’t cut into them because either I am afraid of making a cutting mistake and then I’ve ruined it forever or else I won’t have enough to finish the project. They were on clearance and we all know that once something is on clearance there probably isn’t any more to be found anywhere.

At this time I am not affiliated with any of the items, products, services, or shops that I picture or talk about here on Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats. I just happen to like and use them.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts