I was lucky enough to spend this last Saturday with Susan And Diane on their so-good-it-should-be-patented Portland Crafty Tour!

Our first stop was Cool Cottons, a new fabric store located in a pretty, warm bungalow. The bolts of colorful cotton fabrics are housed in wood built-ins in different rooms of the house and are categorized by color. The ladies who own the place are two of the nicest and most knowledgeable people I’ve ever met at a fabric store! They offered to let Susan bind her quilt on their beautiful wood work tables and taught us all an amazing trick for sewing on applique! Once I really get it down, I promise I’ll share.

After that, we hit up a few thrift stores (pictures of things to come when I get back in my own digs) and then made our way out (way out) to the Knittn’ Kitten, a thrift store that specializes in craft and sewing supplies (!!!). I picked up some vintage patterns and a few lovely floral trims.

Next, we hit up the Alberta Arts district, stopping at Bolt, a fabric store not unlike Purl Soho (always a good thing) and then Office, a really great design store/gallery/event space.

They were closed  (see picture of Susan and Diane looking disappointed above) but they opened for us. Good thing I was with these ladies- they’re like crafty dignitaries in Portland! I am sad that I won’t still be in Portland for their Office Party (hah!) on August 1st because it sounds super-fun!

It was so much fun to spend the day with these two. My only regret is that I forgot to take a picture of the three of us in our flowery summer dresses. Now we have an excuse to do it again!