Scenes from a Road Trip

I finally unloaded my camera today. 

I found these from our road trip to Pensacola's A&E Pharmacy.  

Pharmacy?  Really?  People actually go there to attend to medical needs instead of fabric?  Who are they kidding?  Or, maybe they've just never walked to the other side of the store.  Or, maybe, just maybe, they only fill their prescriptions at A&E BECAUSE they know they can find fabric too.      

While we were there, Kelly S recalled we did the same thing last April.  She also suggested, April would have to be our annual A&E road trip month because this makes two years in a row.

Besides shopping, we did manage to conduct a little bit of guild business.  Kelly S brought siggy blocks for everyone to sign.  These were in preparation for Melanie's surprise going-away gift.  Additionally, several new members joined.    

Here is Bobbi attempting to use her siggy block in place of her forgotten name tag.  (I knew there was a good reason I hadn't downloaded these pictures and written about them.)  

Melanie couldn't/didn't join us for our shopping adventure.  She is moving soon - very close to Kelly B so you know they're going to have fun - and is in destash mode.  Sorry Melanie.  We missed you.

Melissa brought baby Gus with her.  Gus did not sign a block. 

Kassie was finally able to join us!  We've missed her.  She selected these goodies as well as Scrap Basket Beauties, the latest book from local quilter and author Kim Brackett. 

I love this photo of Holly looking at fabric.  She is so intensely focused. 

This is Ollie's - yes, Ollie from this post - quiet time project.  It's all hand pieced and is a study in textures.  He's chosen an upholstery weight fabric, an oil batik, a quilting cotton, and dupioni silk.  

While not an ECMQG member, he easily could fit right in with us.   

A shopping cart full of fun!  Shhh.  We won't tell. 

A camera malfunction and unintentional picture.

A group photo.  Insert the smiling faces of Kim, new members Melissa L, Liz, and Rhonda, as well as Melissa & baby Gus who were there, but just not available when we posed.  I think that's everyone who made the trip.  If I forgot someone, please let me know.

Several hours of fabric shopping leaves you hungry and thirsty.  We decided to try the newest downtown eatery, al Fresco - Fresh Air Dining, located on the corner of S Palafox and Main Street.  

Al Fresco is modeled after the airstream diners along that stretch of Hwy 30-A in Seaside. Pensacola has long needed something this cool and this hip.  It compliments the recent improvements to downtown beautifully.

Three weeks after opening, our lunch choices were limited to Z Taco and Jerry's Cajun Cafe where we all found something we just had to try.  During lunch, we began an impromptu Show & Tell session.

Quilt model Holly with Diane's quilt.  It's a Wonky Log Cabin.  Her first "modern quilt".   

Quilt model Holly, again (we love TALL girls), and Marcy showing two completed baby quilts. These are for a long-time friend who always wanted one of Marcy's quilts.  

The fabric for these came from stash - older, "not-so-modern-stash" - that Marcy found during her sewing room remodel and renovation.  Simply by adding a variety of neutrals to the mix and playing around with ideas, she created coordinating modern quilts. 

Spiral free motion quilting for the circles. And possibly pebble quilting everywhere else.  Sorry.  Not-so-good-photos, but the quilting was as gorgeous as always from Marcy.

Sometimes it not so much the fabric that is modern, but the attitude with which you approach a project.

Cindy
ECMQG Secretary

April Road Trip

Remember, we do not have a regular meeting and SEW-day planned this month.

Instead, we have this:

This is A&E Pharmacy, home to more than 12,000 bolts of cotton quilting fabric and more.  Glenna, one of those helpful folks behind the cutting counter, says "And that doesn't count what's in the back room."

Besides fabric, they have notions, patterns, pre-cuts, books, crafting supplies, mardi gras beads, templates, cutting tools, etc.

In fact, this little blurb "When I was at the Drug Store the other day, I found these three fabrics...", from this blog, piqued my curiosity.  Although Wendi didn't mention it by name, it could only be A&E!  Hello?  Drug Store?  Fabric?  By any chance do you live in Pensacola?  Yep.  

Small world that it is, Wendi is now an integral member of the ECMQG community of modern quilters.  Thanks to A&E.

These folks are the knowledgeable ones.  I call them the Cutting Counter Goodies.  The advice, encouragement, expertise, laughs, and friendly customer service keep people coming back.  

A&E Cutting Counter Goodies - Martha (front center); Glenna, Tovah, & Veronica (2nd row); Ollie (center back)

Another local quilter, blogger, and author - Kim Brackett - described A&E like this in her 2009 post:  

"There is a wonderful fabric store in Pensacola that you would probably miss if you were to drive right by it. The name of this enchanted place had been A&E Pharmacy. When I looked up the telephone number recently, I noticed several divisions listed: A&E Fabric, Variety & Craft Store; A&E Pharmacy; and A&E Appliance Center. All are located in a small, old-fashioned strip shopping center. (You could save a lot of time if you ever need to pick up some thread, your Zoloft prescription, and a new washing machine!) The fabric department has grown over the years, but has not pushed out the crafts section where, in addition to crafty items, they sell Mardi Gras and other seasonal decorations."

Not much has changed.  Except for the fabric selections.  And maybe a couple of newer faces behind the cutting counter.  And the quilts hanging throughout the store.  Currently, most of them are the quilts featured in Kim's latest book, Scrap-Basket Beauties.

Saturday is going to be fun.  I hope you plan on joining us.  Please wear your  name tag and remember to bring your 2013 ECMQG Membership Card.  Your dues must be up-to-date to receive the special shopping day discount.  If you need to pay dues, we can take care of that Saturday too.

The convoy/carpool from Crestview is meeting at Hardee's at 8:00 a.m.  The plan is to leave Crestview no later than 8:15 a.m.

While we wait patiently for A&E to open their doors, how about visiting another westside gem?  Daylight Donuts, just up the road, makes all of their donuts by hand each and every morning.  I'll be there.

See you Saturday!