Fabric Shopping in Boston

I did manage to find a couple of fabric stores in Boston.  I wouldn't call either a quilt store.

 The first one that I stopped in is called Winmill fabrics.  While it is located in the China Town district, it is run by a couple of older Bostonian ladies.  A large selection of all kinds of fabrics, including quilting cottons, but nothing particularly new or current.  In fact, I saw calicoes from when my mom started quilting probably more than 20 years ago.  On the plus side, it is all quite inexpensive, with the cottons averaging just $4.00 a yard.  I did pick up just a bit.   Blue and white for a future project in my head.  Thomas for a boy who may or may not get a quilt before he grows out of Thomas and a great tie-dye with lots of color variation.

 Here are a couple of shots of the inside.  Quite the mishmash.

 Here's the outside.

 I also managed to find my way to Van's Fabrics.  I did have a map, but it was pure luck that I happened to find it.  The whole building was covered in scaffolding and I just happened to walk past a window and saw fabric hanging from the ceiling.  Van's caters to the Asian market.  Lots of Brocades and silks for various Asisan sewists.  They have both the cheaper brocades made of polyester and also pure silk brocades.  I splurged, I bought myself a beautiful silk brocade.  Brown background and rainbow/cream butterflies.  I bought two yards, and as I discovered, they don't fold the fabric on the bolt - so it will be just enough for a shorter, fitted skirt.  Great fall colors.

 I didn't take any pictures there, since I felt rather out of my element, and I'm not sure the woman working there would have appreciated it.  Should you ever visit Van's, they keep the door locked, and buzz you in.  But they were nice and helpful and speak English.

Inspired by Boston

After our family trip up north, Mr. Riley and I headed to Boston for three days.  He conferenced and I toured.  With a quilter's eye I found many interesting architectural details to take pictures of.  It sort of brings to mind the chicken and the egg question.  Did the motifs appear in quilts first, or other places?  Are they just generally pleasing to the eye and that's why they are so popular?

Anyway, if I had much time to spend I could do a whole series of quilts inspired by Boston.  Unfortunately I'll probably just have to look at the pictures.  Which, by the way, aren't the greatest.  We decided to leave the 'good' camera home and just use cell pictures.

 The lobby floor in the hotel.

 Brick work at the Tremont Temple.  Originally a theatre, now a church.

 Commemorating the first school in Boston.

 Baptist Fan vent cover.

 Carpeting in the hotel.

 Floors in the Boston Public Library.

 Brick work on the sidewalk in front of Trinity Church.  Square in a square.

 Inside Trinity Church: Flooring

 Baptist Fan stained glass in the doors.

 Cathedral Windows - appropriate, no?

 More stained glass.

 Back to carpeting in the hotel.

 Our wallpaper in the room!

 Half square triangle 'quilts' in the subway station.  I love how they get more modern/abstract down the row.