Thursday, March 16, 2006

Are you ready?

Because it's here - Purl Patchwork is open, and it was worth the wait!



I don't think I've even been really overwhelmed at a quilt shop. I can usually take two trips through a shop and find, if I'm lucky, five or six fabrics I like and maybe one or two fabrics that are completely new to me. Today I was dumbfounded. Everything was gorgeous, and much of it was unusual. In addition to a large selection of Heather Ross, Amy Butler, and Denyse Schmidt (all in one place!), Purl Patchwork also carries a small but breathtaking collection of Japanese prints. These are not your usual Japanese quilting fabrics; I've seen a few of the same patterns at Reprodepot, but I wasn't prepared for the beauty or variety of the line. The fabric itself from this line is heavier and lends itself to other projects besides quilts.



But more amazing to me was the wall of small, tonal prints, many of which are reproductions - some even from the 1800's. These fabrics are organized tonally, in really lovely shades that one seldom sees in quilt prints. What a pleasure to see lots of brown and softer, muted shades of teal, peach, pink, blue and green.



And finally - hurray! - a wide selection of solids! They may not be sexy, but solids are so useful and so difficult to find in many shops. I find myself drawn to them more and more; maybe it's the Denyse Schmidt and Gee's Bend influence. Anyway, Purl carries a nice selection of colors.

Yes, it's a tiny store. And just like Purl, Purl Patchwork makes fantastic use of the space: floor-to-ceiling walls lined with bolts of fabric, with just two small cutting tables in the middle of the floor. Merchandizing? Are you kidding? I don't know anyone who does it better than Joelle. The front window is lovely, and I'm sure we're bound to see some fantastic quilts in the shop very soon. I seem to recall some gorgeous threads and a selection of quilting notions in there someplace, too, but honestly I was so amazed by the fabrics that it was hard to think straight. I was giddy and probably made a complete fool of myself with gushing and staring and not being able to make up my mind. Oh, yeah, I brought the baby with me. Now, what did I do with her?

Let's see; what else? Oh yes, sometime in the future Joelle hopes to make PP fabrics available on-line as well. Oh, happy day! In the meantime, I think Sullivan Street has become crafting mecca. It's too bad no one has opened a hotel someplace between the two stores yet; why would you want to travel outside of this block during your stay?

More photos here.

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:00 AM

    oh my. i haven't wanted to see this, I'm afraid I'll hop in my car and head on over to NYC!! Wow...lucky, lucky you!! I would have been completely overwhelmed in there. Such beauty!

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  2. Oh my goodness, how lucky you are to have such a resourse so close! I am thoroughly jealous!!

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  3. Anonymous8:50 AM

    It's the fabric store I've always wanted to have.

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  4. Wow, what beautiful fabrics!

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  5. Anonymous10:47 AM

    Thank you so much for the virtual visit! I'm very jealous.

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  6. That shop looks like heaven!!!

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  7. Like a kid in a candy shop, I would be surely be overwhelmed with choice. I would probably spin around and around and then leave with nothing... I wish it was close to me, our fabric shops are soooo disappointing .. :o{

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  8. Anonymous5:57 PM

    Oh. My. God.

    You guys would be on the other side of the whole planet from me... obviously I did something really bad in a previous life to be left dribbling on my keyboard like this.

    Those Japanese prints in particular make me swoon. SWOON I tell you.

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  9. Anonymous6:04 PM

    I can't believe I missed this by a matter of days. Thanks so much for the virtual tour. Sounds great. I'm already planning my next vist to Sullivan St.

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  10. Anonymous10:29 AM

    It looks like the kind of store I would walk into and immediately start to cry. Seriously! It all looks so beautiful

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  11. I just found your blog through Bemused and glad I stopped in! Love your doggie paintings, they are sweeet!
    I've Bloglined you and marked to save so next time (I wish it were soon) I get to NY I can get to PP. Pleeeasse post if they do go on-line.

    And thank you, thank you for the repodepot link. I think I had been there a long time ago, but forgot about them. Now that I'm doing more quilts, I seriously need some of those polka dots! I might have to do serious shopping tomorrow when I get time.

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  12. Anonymous11:14 AM

    I think I'll be checking this out soon!

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  13. Maybe I missed it, but what is the address? (I'll be in NYC - New Rochelle, to be exact next week - egads, that soon?)

    Amy in DC, who knew a Leisl way bach in a different universe know as High School... (Prescott, AZ)

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  14. Okay, let me get this straight... Purl (the yarn shop) is still there, and now there's a Purl quilting shop?

    *faints*

    Sigh... I'll be there soon. CAN.NOT.WAIT! >.<

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