Primitive paradise!

 

If you're ever in the San Diego area, you need to make a trip to The Country Loft in La Mesa. I stopped there for a quick run through about five years ago and have been dreaming of the day when I could return and really spend some time looking around. I know a number of quilters who live in the area and am always so jealous when they talk about taking a class at the store or something cool they found there. So when I knew that we were going to Los Angeles  for CHA, we planned our arrival to California in order to drive down from the airport. Well worth the trip!!

 
With its braided rugs, benches and primitive quilts everywhere, the store is inviting from the second you step through the door!

 
Right inside the door was JoAnn Mallaly, the designer behind the new Wool Crazy book. She was just full of great advice for our groups at the Cottage. I knew I loved this quilt but seeing it in person again reminded me why. It's just a fun way to get creative with wool and I'm anxious to see how everyone's blocks develop. Look how cool they are!

    

   

 

Stitching and wool applique are a huge part of the Country Loft. There were great projects hanging up or draped over open drawers and doors. I wanted to make every single one of them! Mountains of hand dyed wool ... drawers and drawers of thread ... kits all over the place. I have a huge case of shop owner envy going.

  

 

 
One of the things I find so interesting about this store is that they have patterns by area designers that aren't in the main stream ... patterns you won't find at many other stores. And how they display everything is total eye candy!

  

 

All those dolls peeking out behind purses and needle cases and stitcheries!

 

 

  

And then when you go out the back door you find this entire room of primitive furniture! I'd love to have those benches from the movie theatre ... or that cute yellow table stacked on top.

 

They have a great backyard too ... I know they use it for events and sales ... it's California ... you can do those kinds of things outside almost all the time.

 

 
If you're lucky you'll run into the 'locals' ... Joan from Bits and Pieces by Joan and Debbie from Little Stitches. It was fun to see them someplace other that Quilt Market ... they look different when they're in their natural environment!

I love love love this store ... go visit!!

 

Comments

[Beth of Lizzie B]

I LOVE LOVE this shop too... it's a must go-to when we head over to San Diego for some beach time. I bought a couple of old antique ladders last time I was there and hauled them home. (I think my kids had to sit amongst them and just suffer the 6 hour drive!!) They hold all my old quilts and I just love 'em.
Thanks, Roseann, for reminding me how much I love this shop... and for the great pics! It was almost as good as being in person.
Now, if I could just get to the beach.....

[Bobbi in Cottage Grove]

Brings back memories....and i have a pillow i purchased there as a kit to stitch...and i actually made it as soon as i got home. Forgot where that had come from.

[JAM]

Roseann...what fun your visit was...Thanks so much for coming to see us....and for all the great photos of the shop...:)

[paulettte Doyle]

Thanks SO much for sharing!! I am from Canada and am off to the Country Loft on Tuesday!! I am REALLY excited about my visit after seeing these pictures!! Awesome!
Paulette

[Christine]

Looks like a "to die for shop!" Someday !!!!!!
Thanks for sharing the pic's, goot wipe the drool of my keyboard....
christine

[Paula]

I recognize Joan from Bits and Pieces by Joan. I used to babysit her oldest son. Have been to this shop shortly after it was featured in Quilt Sampler.

[Sue-Anne]

I just love your photos of that wonderful shop. Too bad Australia is so far away! I have seen the wool crazy book on a couple of blogs and it looks really interesting. Is that the quilt behind the author in the photo?

[Pat]

OMGosh! Love all of your pictures. I would love to visit there one day. So many bloggers have taken pictures there and I want everything. I just bought that book but it hasn't arrived yet!! Can't wait.

[Jeanette]

Thanks you for the great pictures!! I wish I lived close to the Country Loft, I love all of their fun things!! It's great to have the close up pictures of the Wool Crazy quilt, too, since I am waiting patiently to get the book from them.

[Sandi]

I love this shop and have been there, too. San Diego is just about my favorite city in the U.S. My husband's job used to take him to San Diego quite regularly so I would occasionally go along. Haven't been there in five years. :-( Thanks for taking me through the shop again. :-)

[Roseann]

Seems like everyone agrees that this is a great store! And yes ... that's JoAnn the Wool Crazy designer holding the book. We have been selling her book like crazy ... she's got a ton of other great stitching and doll patterns as well. Fun times ...

[Trudy]

I just loved your pictures and wished that I lived even remotely close enough to visit. I will have to settle for drooling at your pics instead!

I wondered if I could use a few of the wool crazy pictures on my blog? I will of course link back to you. I have joined the bandwahon as well and joined the wool crazy blog, but thought that a few of your pictures show a lot more of the quilt for my friends and family. Who knows, we might even go wool crazy up here in Peterborough ON

Wooly hugs,
Trudy

[Roseann]

Sure ... go ahead and use my pix but just tell everyone where they came from if you don't mind. Our groups start tonight ... one today and two tomorrow ... everyone is so excited about it!

[Jan]

Wow! what a shop, hope to go there someday.
check out this cute use for yo-yos I found at -storybook woods blog. I've made a few already and they turned out great.

[Maureen]

This is one of my favorite quilt shops - and I live in Minneapolis ! I visit a dear friend in the San Diego area at least once a year and we make a bee-line for this wonderful shop. I have a quilt I made from one of their patterns on my bed right now. I can't wait to go back !! Thanks for posting the great pictures.

[Angela Christenson]

What a beautiful shop....I would love to work with felted wool someday.

[Sharon Stevens]

This is my ULTIMATE Store to visit! Just love the projects and atmosphere. A real getaway. Hope to visit again this summer. Love Cheri Saffiote designs!!!

[Joan]

How fabulous is this. So welcoming.
So homely with creativity meeting you at the door!

[Susan Graham]

Just wanted to stop by and say that I think you are very talented and I am so happy for you that things are falling into place. Your blog are soooo fun. Thanks for sharing.

[karen]

O h nice place to shop.. i just been tempted to by that braided rugs. so beautiful.

[rustic bedroom furniture]

I definitely would have bought it the first time around! It's just beautiful and you can do so many things with it for the different seasons. It looks just beautiful as you have it right now...love this site.

Susan Graham

[first aid kits]

wow, that's very pretty. I love the images.

[Dissertation Writing]

I like the pictures.

[Jon~ shed plans]

I'd love to visit this shop one of these days, very classic and lots of vintage items.