Less than 20 miles from I90 in Middleton, Wisconsin (north of Madison) is Blue Bar Quilts. Owner Gael Boyd named the store after a local beer from her childhood, and does a wonderful play on the initials “BBQ.” This is a shop with a mission to build community, and it does a wonderful job of it.
This shop boasts modern cotton quilting fabrics, cotton linen blends, vinyl mesh, and a lot of samples for ideas and admiration. It was built with a Dying Room, where you can learn to dye your own fabrics and experiment with colors. Don’t you just want to get in there and start experimenting?
The shop sells hand dyed fabrics and embroidery cotton if you don’t want to dye your own, but love the hand dyed look and feel.
The day I was there, a group was working on finishing this quilt as a fundraiser for Days for Girls. “Days for Girls is a global movement that prepares and distributes sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls who would otherwise miss school during their monthly periods.” (Quoted from their website, https://www.daysforgirls.org ) The shop has a large work room where this was happening; they also host the group that sews and sends the kits and the local Quilt Guild.
There is an Exhibit Hall with a display that rotates monthly, leading to a room in the back center of the shop that is a Consignment Shop called “Makers Gallery” for local artists – be sure to check out the clothing, jewelry, and crafts for sale.
Some days I’m a bit slow on the uptake. I was looking at this display (also pictured on their website – how did we take the same picture at the same angle??) and asked what the BBQ letters around the store were. Obviously – Blue Bar Quilts!! The Row by Row shown here is – of course – a flaming barbecue grill… The play on the initials is a lot of fun!!
| Blue Bar Quilts | Hours: M, W, F 10-6 T, Th 10-8 Sat 10-5 Sun 12-4 |
| 6333 University Ave | Phone: 608-284-9299 |
| Middleton, WI 53562 | E-mail: bluebarquilts@gmail.com |
| www. Bluebarquilts.com | Mail Order: Some Fabrics pictured online: Some |
Check back on Monday to see where the North American Shop Hop is going next!
And do you know what is the pattern that looks like leaves for the days for girls quilt? looks like a nice blender scrap pattern alnog with the batiks.