The first week of September I visited Phoenix, Arizona - Simon was working out there so I tagged along looking forward to spending time by the hotel pool and he'd clinched the deal by telling me there were lots of quilt stores for me to visit.
I put a call out on Facebook and via my blog asking readers to let me know if there was anywhere I should visit during my trip and several of you came back with some great info. Big thank yous to Laura Phipps, Diann @
Little Penguin Quilts and Zenia @
A Quilted Passion for giving me a great 'to do' list.
Here's a round up of what I got up to (photo heavy!).
Sight Seeing
stories of American Indian people.
Great sculpture Indigenous Evolution
protecting and preserving the desert's natural beauty.
there're no words really, this place was just amazing.
the only museum in the world devoted to global musical instruments.
You don't have to play an instrument yourself to enjoy this place - Simon loved this footage of his favourite band
Rush.
Have to admit being very disappointed at the 'England' section of the museum, I don't think I'm wrong in believing my home country's added more to the development of music than this handful of instruments and film footage suggests :(
Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home, studio and architectural campus.
Visiting Taliesin West was truly the highlight of my trip - if you ever get the opportunity take a tour grab it.
Eating Out
One thing's for sure, Simon and I ate waaaayyy too much food during our stay - the needle on the scales agrees and I'm weighing in half a stone heavier than before the trip and the last year's seen that needle edge too far in the wrong direction already. Drastic measures to rectify this are called for but I don't suspect our trip to Seville next week to visit
our new Grandson, Oliver will make matters any better.
We ate at many places but here are a few faves:
The Original 5 & Diner
5220 N. 16th Street, Phoenix
The Cherry Cheesecake Shake was the most delicious shake I've ever had in my life but probably not a good choice before being faced with my lunch below!
Needless to say, I couldn't finish it - Spaghetti, Meatballs and Garlic Toast. I tried really hard but had to take half of it home with me and had it for breakfast next day!
We loved 5 & Diner so much we stopped at a second location another day.
9069 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale
Half of that meal's Simon's, it's really not all mine.
3102 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale
Incredible food and choosing desert is very easy - there's only one ...
More than a 1/2 pound of Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate or White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie dough, slightly baked in a 6-inch pizza pan and topped with three scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. This baby serves 2-4.
Only $4.99
We tried, we really tried, but we failed, even Simon couldn't take on his usual role as human waste disposal!!!
And finally
Fabric Shopping
Jo-Ann's?!!! I know it's not that exciting but for me it was - I've never been to a JA-ann store before so as soon as I spotted it we had to pull in.
It was fun to walk around but I'm pretty spoilt with all the fabulous top quality fabric I handle every day working at my LQS in Manhattan so I didn't buy any here though I did pick up 3 packets of needles and this DMC thread - found out later I'd only paid $0.40 for the thread, kind of wish I'd bought a few more.
The ladies in this store were so welcoming and when I said I worked in a quilt store in New York they immediately guessed it was The City Quilter. They gave me a copy of their newsletter for bedtime reading and a map and list of Phoenix quilt stores which I thought was a really nice touch. On top of that they gave me a 10% discount as I'm in a quilt guild - yep any quilt guild qualifies just show your membership card, and you can't get better than that.
I'm on the lookout for fabrics to make soft books for Grandson Oliver so these fabrics were just perfect.
Maisy Counts By Lucy Cousins for Andover Fabrics
Your Little World 13-74 and 13-75 for STOF
And I'm always stocking up on basics.
Citrus by Another Point of View basics for Windham Fabrics
Kaffe Fassett Spots for Westminster Fibers
Another lovely store, more about the machines and less fabric but still worthy of a visit. Again friendly staff and I picked up another book fabric for Oliver.
Good range of fabric and I picked up these beauties. Friendly staff and as soon as I walked in they told me all fabrics containing the colours yellow or gold had a 10% discount - which the green Jennifer Paganelli below qualified for, nice touch and obviously the colour on discount changes regularly.
Crazy Love PWJP065 Green by Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit
Anisa Pink Tonal Paisley for Hoffman
Michael Miller Moroccan Lattice
We really loved Phoenix and were quite sorry to leave, Simon has clients there so maybe I can tag along on another trip again before too long :D
For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.
