what i love : coastal cruises, and fabric shops

I love the rare car ride alone with my love, on our way to other errands. Made all the better when it's along the coast. (It just about makes up for missed overnight getaway dates.) The uninterrupted talking (that invariably results in talking about how much we miss the kids), the silence, the music, the laughter. It's all very, very good.

The drive is made all the better by the impromptu stops along the way. Particularly for those involving a sign with FABRIC on it. Yeah, must stop at those. On this particular day, we found a lovely and old, but new-to-me fabric shop, Alewives near Damariscotta (hello Rhea! Lovely to meet you!). I'm far too shy to have taken pictures in the store, but I will tell you I was so pleased to see their selection include some of my favorites - Freshcut, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, and Joel Dewberry. It was a treat to find somewhat-locally what I've only admired or purchased online before.

All very good indeed.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend...

Comments

[Veronica TM]

yes! i enjoy those drives with my sweetie too, though they don't happen too often anymore. in general we have our little boss in the back seat yelling 'aca, aca!' {musica!}. we look into the rear view mirror all the time and smile.
those are beautiful fabrics. enjoy your weekend, a!

[Qalballah]

Joel, how he makes my heart leap...

[Grace]

We had our 8th anniversary earlier this month, and that's just what I was thinking (& blogging, lol) about ... the talking, and the silence. Both so good.

[Molly]

I think I found my new nickname, being the wife of an ale maker. I know what you mean about being too shy to take pictures inside a store. My mother-in-law and I were studying a delicious wool knit capelet in Nordstroms, and she reached into her purse to pull out - no please not the camera - her tape measure. Phew. A picture would have been handy, though, in recreating the pattern.

[Mary Beth]

I love those alone together-drives too. And such a lucky fabric find. Enjoy!

[Nannette Spencer]

Gah, but you inspire! Thank you! :)

[Letitia]

Eeehh - go on - stick your feet right out the window!

[tamara]

Yay for summer feet on the dash!

...and that is a yummy babushka doll print...

[Gry]

Hi Amanda. I just love the way you express your love for your familiy and your life! It inspires me every day.
I envy you the ability to shop fabrics close to home. I just ordered the same fabrics as you have on the picture:-) from the internett. The shipping to Norway cost a fortune! Maybe I should make a trip to buy everything instead...and have a fun trip too.
A great sunday wish to you and your family from Norway.

[Mizmell]

Drive sounds wonderful (you've given me an idea!)
I recently came into quite a bit of vintage fabric and my mind is racing with the possibilities.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Alewives! 15 minutes from my house :) Love that place and Rhea is wonderful, isn't she? I bought some of that fabric months ago to make some clothes for my little one. The soft finish is lovely!

[jean]

ooooohhhhhh.....must get up there.

[Madeline R]

Oh how this coastal drive description reminds me of my former, many-summer, Maine coast (with boyfriend) visiting-self. Such wonderful memories. I'll have to make that a future self image as well (with dh and kids making it even better). I see that you are reading a Julia Alvarez book that I don't know about. I read another of her books and love her so much. You've given me yet another book to add to my list.

[Ashley]

Sounds like you had a lovely trip! I just bought some of that Matryoshka doll fabric...not quite sure what it'll end up being but I love it!

[Tessa Foris]

I have been visiting your blog almost daily for a couple of months and thought it about time that I say, thank you! I really appreciate how you've shared your everyday journey and it's been part of what has inspired me to create a blog of my own. I'm interested in chronicling the art within everyday.

Just a bit about me: I'm a woman who is happy to be in my thirties! (my but the twenties were full of thorns!)I'm also a : recently unemployed "right job" seeking, social worker/life coach/ steward and playmate to six cats, wife to a lovely "science guy" named Zak, new homeowner, accidental gardner, and a Big Sister/mentor to a wonderfully inventive fourteen year old girl named Nikka!

Thanks again for both your site and your insight!

PS You know what? I don't even like to sew or "craft" (although I do love to "play with scrapbooking,digital-photography, and collaging!), yet I'm completely hooked on your blog!

[lisa s]

hello friend. what a lovely drive [yay for new local fabric spots!]

«« thank you «« for the link there. you are too too kind. xoxo

[Andrea Heinz]

what a great fabric shop! I see they have a sewing night where you can finish or start projects and they let you use their tools.. for free!
Thats great! I need to find something like that here where I live.

[Miss Dot]

oh those car shots always freak me out! We drive on that side of the car in Australia!!! arggggggg :-)

NN2R

[heidi]

that sounds like an amazing plan to me!! living in land locked kansas and pining for the coastal living i grew up with. thanks for the pics.

[Victoria]

I know what you mean, do you think that's where the saying silence is golden comes from. I love the constant chatter of my two girls, but when it's just the two of us, it's nice to lose that ringing in your ears and be able to talk again!

[megan]

you have good taste! i have those exact same two fabrics, recently procured to make a quilt for my daughter - inspired by the quilt you made for ezra.

[Viv]

I've been planning for the longest time to make it up to that store. Sounds like a fun day!

[Mia]

I love the name of the shop. And any ride near water is always great for me. And the new fabrics are cute!!!

[cybperry]

I know that bridge well, about 5 years ago you could have seen 2 shipwrecked schooners on the mudflats. I discovered Alewives from your blog earlier this year and made 2 visits this summer. I am so glad to have found it! When you go back, you should make a small detour to another lovely store, On Board Fabrics in Edgecomb. About half the store is upholstery but they have a huge variety of Heather Ross and marimekko and many other fantastic finds. I find I spend equal amounts of money at both stores getting the basic essentials. The store is on the left about go about 3 miles south on 27 after the Wiscasset bridge.

[Linda]

I like to ride with my feet up like that too. :)

[Julie]

My goodness ~ I will definitely have to take a drive up to this fabric store...I've got some projects in mind that may require some new fabric purchases!

[brandie]

very cool! a road trip might be in order!

[cybperry]

oopsie, those directions made no sense, lets try again;
go south on 27 after the wiscasset bridge, it is about 3 miles down, on the left...

[Ron]

I am always amazed at how talented my niece is, keep up the great work Amanda. You even insprie me.