WOYWW 319

TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THAT OL' OAK TREE....

In loving memory of Eliza Harms (Queenartoypia)
Taken far too soon.....I shall miss her wit, love and generosity.
But she'd be the first to say that life carries on and to keep on laughing,
so my blog is dedicated to her.....an awesome, caring, crafting lady. 

Grab each day and live it large.......

Goodness, but we had a lovely holiday in Shropshire - our barn was beautiful, quite isolated and very peaceful but we could get to loads of places within half an hour. Perfect.  I managed to do some Hooter knitting in the evenings but my main crafty activity was with Jo and Annie (aka Twiglet and Wipso), details of which can be found in the previous post.  They told me about an amazing fabric shop in Shrewsbury...well, I had to go and investigate, didn't I?!

I found it easily thanks to Twiglet's excellent instructions!!  There was a cafe a few doors away so my menfolk could escape :-)




I always ask permission before taking photos in shops and explain it's for a personal blog, nothing commercial. This chap was a right hoot and offered to strip for a photo!!  

I said that's fine but he got waylaid by another customer...lolol!

The shop does have a website:
www.watsonandthornton.co.uk
but it's under construction at the moment. Well worth a look in the future if you can't make it in person. However, go to the shop if you can, they are lovely in there!

This was about a tenth of the ribbon desk....

....the fat quarters were laid out so beautifully - it was easy to pick out what I wanted :-)

There was a cliff face of buttons...I've never seen that before.

A small part of the ground floor!  Everything was laid out so well, it was easy to see the different fabrics. I hate it when it's all cram-jammed in too tight.

So did I buy anything?? What do you think? 'Course I did :-) And it's all your fault, Wipso and Twiglet...you made me do it!!

Back at my sewing room at the weekend, I laid it all out to have a look....













All new stuff - apart from the Scotty Dogs, which I have used before.

I only bought half metres of everything...just enough to have a play. I adore that elephant fabric so much!!  I think I'll make something for my great-nephew, Felix, with it.  The grey and Pink roses on the right is a departure for me, but I was drawn to it....and I've learned that if you don't buy it when you see it, it's never there on returning!










I'd picked the fat Q's completely separately from the furnishing fabric and didn't realise they were such an awesome match until I laid them out on the desk just now!!  


I might have to make a craft tote or sewing machine cover or something. Pretty, isn't it?






And after a run on making personalised bunting, I was down on ribbon, lace and buttons, so that's my stores topped up nicely :-)




Shrewsbury is a fantastic town, if you ever fancy somewhere different to go. There are over 600 listed buildings and a huge number of small, independent shops. 



We took lots of photos which I shan't bore you with, but this was one of my favourites.....







Is this where Old Band players go when they're all puffed out?! Grin  

Or possibly (in my house anyway), it's the musical accompaniment provided by my menfolk after a curry or baked beans :-D


It made me laugh anyway!!  Have a great week. xxx


37 comments:

Ohhh Snap said...

I'm still in shock about Eliza and my heart breaks for poor Yoda and the rest of her family and friends.

I see what you meant about fabric!! What a fabulous shop. And are those velvet ribbons at the back? I'm absolutely mad for velvet ribbons.

The blowers repository made me giggle too : ). i used to blow glass back in college. I loved it, but it was just tooooo hot for me lol.

Neet said...

Lovely tribute Jan, to a wonderful lady.
That is one shop and a half - can imagine you getting lost in there with all that gorgeous stuff around you - your idea of Paradise I guess. Thanks for the great photos.
Hugs, Neet xx

Unknown said...

A lovely post this week Jan. That shop looks like a needle womans paradise! I have just ventured into our local fabric shop and bought 2 panels to make 2 nursery cushions for colleagues at school who are expecting! I'll have plenty of time to make a pig's ear of them now I'm on holiday!
Lynda B no linky yet.

Annie said...

Of course Shrewsbury is worth a visit.....we live here :-) I'm so thrilled you enjoyed your visit Jan....please come back soon. I hope the pain from having your arm up your back by us forcing you to buy all that fabric didn't hurt too much ;-).......I really love what you bought and look forward to seeing what you do with it all.
I think we are all feeling the pain of the loss of our blogging friend....it's such a big family we are part of isn't it?
Hugs,
Annie x # 20

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Jan, what a bother Shrewsbury is just half a world away... it would be too scary for me to go in - all that lovely fabric. Your selection is gorgeous and can't wait to see what you 'run-up'. Hugs for Eliza RobynO#25

Sue said...

I am drooling over all your lovely stash. I really must get my sewing machine set up and get stuck in.

So glad you had such a fab time.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #28

Bridget Larsen said...

oh my that shop is to die for..I want you go to back by request of WOYWW and get that stripping man lol..thanks for your comments on my sad post today
Bridget #10

Sue Jones said...

Ohh wow- thats a shop and a half!! I love the fabrics that you bought - especially all those dotty ones - no all of it really. xx
Soojay 21#

Barb said...

Looks as if you had a great holiday. That shop looks like an Alladins Cave. Enjoy whatever you're doing today. Thanks for dropping by earlier. Barb #27

Julia Dunnit said...

Blower's Repository! Sure do hope they have adequate venting....imagine if it blew!!!!!!
lovely photos, I think you were incredibly restrained in the fabric shop. Love the look of it, even the tiled advertised porch entrance!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Wonderful post, Lunch Lady Jan, and LOVE the "elefant" too, what clever piece of cuteness!!!! Great share, and love too that Jo and Annie were your enablers :)
Happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz.x #19

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Lisca said...

Wow! Fabric heaven! I love the pieces you bought. The colours match amazingly.
I smiled at the porch entrance and even more when you mentioned your menfolk...!
By the way, there is also a lovely fabric shop in Ludwell if you ever go in that direction.
Have a great week,
Lisca#18

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, that shop is amazing! What a glorious riot of colours, I'm amazed you didn't get one of everything, lol. Love the dotty fabrics, and yes, that elephant fabric is great. I have a great weakness for gingham ribbon,:) I also spotted some ace Halloween ribbon in the middle of the pic. Awesome. Love and Hugs to you all, Shaz xxxxx

Tilly Tea Dance said...

Haha Jan, our tourist board can hang up their boots with folk like you marketing our little town so well!! And doesn't Watson & Thornton look amazingly well stocked. Glad you enjoyed your visit. Hope your menfolk weren't too high on caffeine after all the coffees they must have drunk while you were foraging through the fat quarters in W&T! The spotty fat quarters, checked ribbon and elephant fabric. Look forward to seeing what you make with these :-)

Robyn said...

Wonderful visit to that shop- love the red! and grateful it is thousands of miles away!
thanks for visiting and your kind words! I have your ATC hanging and enjoy it every day!
Robyn 7

Belinda Basson said...

I did have a laugh at the last photo...whatever it is, that is cast in stone! I do love that fabric shop and as for the shop assistants offer...well I never! What a hoot! Nice stash you came back with too. #22

Diana Taylor said...

So glad you had a lovely holiday - the fabric shop looks fantastic and just the sort of shop that I find physically impossible to walk straight past - thankfully Shrewsbury is a bit too far away for a day out! I have gone through my life with the same philosophy as you - buy it when you see it - and it looks like you made some great buys with all that wonderful fabric - I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.
Hope you have a great week and enjoy your garden,
Diana xx
PS loved the Blowers Repository!

Unknown said...

I think I've enjoyed your trip maybe as almost (but not quite) as much as you have! Oh how I love seeing the shops most of all. Can we just say fat quarter heaven? I adore fat quarters--in fact I look at my Downton Abbey fat quarters all the time with the plans in my head for them and have a goal of making pillows and a table runner this summer. (you know, doing the planner thing now, I plan too much) Anyhoo, there's ribbon heaven there too. So now I'm thinking your garage must look like my garage. Whilte you have your darling sons stuff stored there, I'm still dealing with all the remnants from my mom's house. We had a great yard sale last week, and yet there's still so much. We are donating her beautiful wardrobe to the disabled veteran's shops here in town, and dispersing the doll collection out to many nieces. Mom had William and Kate wedding dolls too. They are beautiful, and I still have those. It's just I'm not a doll collector, and am only inspired to keep one doll which is a beautiful native American princess complete with gorgeous suede fabric and beading. Hope your dad is getting along well! My mom's older sister has now been moved to a care facility. She's in her nineties, and we must go visit her this week. Her and my sister, though, do not get along! Sorry this is long, hugs to you dearest. Sandy Leigh #42

JoZart Designs said...

Sounds like a super holiday and the bonus being your meet-up with those two wonderful people. I did just the same only in Kent and with Dolores. Whilst I'm a lapsed WOYWWer, that was what brought us all together. It really reinforces the loss of Eliza. There are some gorgeous people sharing friendship through it all and it's so sad to lose one from the fold.
BTW... it really isn't what you buy in fabric shops.... it's what you mange to leave in them. 1) your money and 2) the fabric you couldn't afford or manage to carry!!! I always find it hard to decide what not to buy!
Jo x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I love the look of repository... an old stately building for sure. Even the fabric shop is so nifty looking from the outside. No boring modern blah blah blah buildings! Loved the photos from inside the fabric shop, so well laid out, so many nice things I could be encourage to sew! Judy #51

Twiglet said...

Ha ha - yes I was right about your cheeky chappy in the shop - he is always very helpful but has never offered to strip for us!!! So glad you found just a few bits and bobs to treat yourself to then! Come back soon - we loved your company and I am sure we could fill another hour or two. So many lovely WOYWW friendships - we must enjoy every minute with every one we can. x Jo

Helen said...

that shop is stunning, even for someone like me who can't sew! what a gorgeous layout... shame you didn't get your strip... lol! Love the Blowers Repository!! Helen 3.

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

The photos are incredible. Love the repository. That fabric shop is just to die for. So glad you had time to wander around there I love the purchases you made. I think we are all remembering Eliza of this week. Always enjoyed a good we're up around her place and Yoda too. Peg R 33

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love your tribute to dear Eliza! Having seen the photos I feel trip to Shrewsbury coming on! Haven't been since I was teaching, long before I retired too! Hugs, Chrisx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

What an amazing place, I would have come away from there with a bag full Lol!
Poor Yoda will be feeling very lonely now his lovely friend has gone, she will be greatly missed. Angela x30

VonnyK said...

Love the blowers repository. You got it in one with the menfolk idea (he he). That shop sure is dangerous and do you honestly expect me to believe that you only bought the amount that you showed us. Sure Jan, where's the rest that you are hiding :) You sure know how to pick perfect colours. Glad you had a lovely holiday, now can you send us back our hot weather.
Von # 11
Vale Eliza...

Kelly said...

My ears perked at the words 'fabric store' but Oh my Goodness! I really need a bib at this moment. What a lovelyI would have to pack an overnight bag to visit that store. They'd probably have to throw me out. I really need a place like that in the US. Hancock Fabrics does not even come close to the sheer drool worthiness of your find.

Thank you for sharing your trip. Creative Blessings! Kelly #49

Stacy Sheldon said...

that looks like that store is a great escape :)
haha that he offered to strip, it's probably a good thing he didn't lol..

oooh fun stuff followed you home too. ~Stacy

RosA said...

Hi Jan
That is a great photo (last one)! Thanks for your kind comment re my knitting. I almost only ever do Fair Isle (apart from the odd scarf). I need all those colours to keep my interest in it :)
Very sad (and sudden) news about Eliza. Her posts and stories about Yoda will be sorely missed.

Ali H said...

Hi Jan so glad you enjoyed your holiday! That fabric shop looks like heaven for you! Hearing about Eliza makes you realise that we need to live each day to the full doesn't it! Take care Ali #59

sandra de said...

OmGoodness that shop is amazing. I cannot wait to see what you create with your amazing design/colour talent. Such sad news about Eliza. Makes you realise how much we all look forward to wednesday and how many woyww's have become friends.
sandra de @55

Nannie4 said...

Wow! That is an awesome fabric store. I've never seen a layout like that one ---fabulous. I could get lost in the ribbon section quite easily. {smile} I love the fat quarters that you bought. How well they go with the other fabric. I'm sure you'll be having lots of fun with your new haul, and lucky for us you'll share it here. :) Thanks for your visit and have a fun week.
Nann4 #38

lisa said...

Sounds like you had an amazing holiday, Jan. what a fantastic shop. Those ribbons are making me drewell and I laughed out loud at the last photo!! Loved the post of your visit to Annie and Jo too. Fab photos.
Such sad news about Eliza. You really do have to grab everyday and make the most of it don't you?
Hope to be back amongst the deskers very soon. Missing you all
Hugs Lisa xx

Kyla said...

How wonderful to catch up with fellow crafter's whilst on your hols and that shop is fabulous....even if he didn't strip!!

Kyla

Mrs.D said...

Hiya Jan, Thanks for the welcome back, it's nice to know you miss me when I am away.
You seem to have had a fantastic visit to Shrewsbury, I wish i could find an excuse to visit that shop, it is only an hour and quarter away. I do love that elephant fabric, looks brilliant for making something for little one.
Thanks for sharing
Chris #15

peggy aplSEEDS said...

Thank you for sharing about your trip to that wonderful shop! I enjoyed looking at the amazing selection of ribbons and cloth. I had a laugh at your story about the shopkeeper. Life's like that, isn't it. Something to cry about, something to laugh about.
Happy WOYWW and thanks for dropping by!
Hugs, peggy aplSEEDS

Hettie said...

Isn't that shop awesome!!!
I have never seen so many buttons in one place before.
Hugs
xx

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...