The Bee's Knees

We're on vacation this week so we headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a few days of R&R with Stephanie and discovered a great new shop - Bee. It made 6 hours in the car very worthwhile. I could happily spend the rest of my days there.

The Niagara region is known for its wonderful wines and soft-fruit orchards - oh yes, and those Falls - but lately I have been discovering really great quilts shops there too - the perfect combo in my books! What a charming little corner of the world, and I do mean little. Bee is tiny but packed to the rafters with one of the best fabric collections that I've seen in a long time. Susan was on duty when we were there and was more than happy to help us out.

They've got a gorgeous, full wall of Kaffe Fassett fabrics and will be hosting him this fall for a workshop, which they are all quite excited about. October 4 & 5 are the dates, if you are interested.

And, she had more good news - Quilt Canada is coming to the Niagara region next June. It will be held June 11 - 14 at Brock University in St. Catharines, which is only about 20 minutes away; she's on the organizing committee so she had the inside scoop. Time to plan a road trip for next spring gals - you know who you are...

The little yellow room over Susan's shoulder in the photo above leads to the other half of the building that they are in.

Just when you think you've seen it all, this view beckons through a tiny doorway. It's a yarn and gift shop and as much fun to browse through as the fabric shop. The presentation is just so lovely and the yarns are to die for.

I've checked out their website since we've been home and realized that, despite 2 visits to the shop, I still missed seeing their collection of wools. That's reason enough to return. They need more space for parking and product so in about 4 months they will move down the road to Virgil and set up shop there. It's a two storey house that will apparently have a red polka dot awning so it should be easy to find.

I picked up this sunny collection of fat quarters...I tried to pick a favourite, but couldn't.

And the shop worked its magic on Stephanie too. She bought a kit for a fabulous quilt-as-you-go Log Cabin cushion made up by the gals in the shop - they offer a course for it as well. It comes with all the necessary fabrics cut to the proper widths and includes the batting and backing; all you need to add is the pillow form. Just LUV the colours, and it was beautifully packaged.

So glad that they are now on my radar - look for them if you are in Niagara-on-the-Lake...M