Or I'd at least get a hug

This morning I took advantage of my new found freedom (read: part-time baby sitter) to visit a bookstore and swing by my second favorite quilt shop on the way home. I say "second favorite" because there are exactly two quilt shops within a decent driving distance, and it sure as hell ain't my favorite.

It does have a huge selection of fabrics, and nearly every quilt on display has the pattern or a kit right next to it. The fat quarters are to die for, and I love the little room in the back that is devoted to kid and baby fabrics. It's located in a quaint section of town, and unlike many other shops in that area, it has good parking available.

But it's the staff that bugs me. I walked in at 2 minutes after 10, and already the two women on duty were sitting at the cutting table, and they looked at me like, "Oh, fuck. A customer?" They said a cursory hello, and I went off to look for the black Moda Marbles fabric I just assumed a store like this would carry. As I scanned the shelves, I heard one woman talking the other one's ear off about every boring detail of her previous day, which apparently included eating some questionable shrimp. When I couldn't find what I wanted, I asked the Wonder Twins if they carry it, and they both looked perfectly bewildered, and one even said they don't carry that line at all, even though I noticed they had it IN EVERY OTHER COLOR BUT BLACK. Then they waited for me to go away again, so they could, I don't know, compare bunions or something.

Despite myself, I ended up buying a bunch of fat quarters. (They had bundles of the Baby Geniuses Grow Up line, which I plan to use for a quilt for my landlords' baby boy, and lovely batiks for my future batik quilt.) It's just a shame that they had to hire such duds, and I'll have to pay a visit to my No. 1 quilt shop to make up for having given my money to the competition.

And when I do, if they don't have what I am looking for, I know they will do their best to help me find a substitute. And if that doesn't pan out, they'll probably offer me a cookie. ("Helen! Bring me my purse! We don't have the Moda Marbles in stock, but I'm pretty sure I've got me some Fig Newtons in there!")