I had a chance to travel to New York City this past month, where I joined my daughter Barbara for a long-awaited long weekend.
We stayed midtown Manhattan, so I walked past M & J Trimming many times, a happy spot on my walks. Anne Brousseau, a good friend who used to work in this industry, arranged a visit for us to Andover Fabrics, and of course I said “YES!”
Cliff Quibell, the Vice President, gave us a tour of the different processes and departments, from design development to printing to editing. We were able to see an artist hand-painting a new design, but of course, no photos were allowed. There is so much involved to getting one bolt of fabric to our local quilt shops! We appreciated Mr. Quibell taking time for us, given the fact that they had just returned from Quilt Market.
He introduced me to Gayle, who works for Andover, and hanging in her office is this amazing quilt, made from old clothes from when she lived overseas in Tunisia. Her sister, Elizabeth Porter, made this quilt for her as a memory quilt. (I think I got those details correct!)
There was so much there that I couldn’t photograph, but he did allow a shot of their bookshelves. I would have loved to have browsed those titles and made notes.
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How fun to travel and have adventures with your daughter. Lots of fun sights. Thanks for sharing all the great images.
Thanks for the tour! I love the photo of the Empire State Building, something I remember from my visit in 1980! The World Trade Centre transportation hub looks interesting too!
Wow! So much to take in…….for sure an overload!
It looks like a really fun trip for you two. I want those taxi shoes! How fun would those be??
I loved this little travelogue!!
What an adventure! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You did a great job of capturing the variety of sights in New York City. There is so much to see and do! I’m glad you found some fabric shops to balance the other sights.
Great fun reading this. And once again I learn the lesson that sometimes you have to be a tourist in your own city: I live in the Bronx, work right here in the Garment District, and you saw things I have yet to do :>) You are so right about Mokuba – what a gorgeous store! I walked around in a glorious trance thinking “I have got to give up patchwork to work with ribbons” until the prices clobbered me out of the trance. Come back again!
Boy-o. That sure looks like an interesting trip! So many things I’ve never seen, or heard about. I’m glad you and your daughter had a chance to take it all in together. That would be the ONLY way I would ever see NYC… with my daughter or DIL. I’d sure like the chance to see “Hamilton.” I hope it was as enjoyable for you as it’s been touted. Cold, yes. But a good time of year to visit, I’m sure. This past year you’ve seen some pretty incredible sites, in amazing places, right? You make me feel like a homebody… and I guess I am. Happy for you to make such good memories with Barbara.
Oh, I loved this! I’ll go back with you next time and we can split the cost of the metallic ribbon.
What an amazing trip, Elizabeth! I need to go and have you be my tour guide! Merry Christmas