Ocean Quilts of Mendocino

Lovely store. I wish them much success.

During my previous stay here in Mendo, I hadn’t noticed this shop before but I had to go in as I was back in gift-​giving mode. Upon entering we were greeted by the storekeeper sitting down knitting. I began to think, did she make all this stuff herself?!
I was on the hunt for a quilt or throw for my pregnant little sister and only had a few options before me because the 3K and up price tags for the handwoven quilts were just a tad out of my price range. I decided to continue looking when lo and behold I came across a bucket wielding blue and while Mendo throws!
I cautiously pulled one of the throws out of bucket and turned it over tastefully to see the price. A smile befell my face as this was a price I could swallow! I headed to the counter and the storekeep was still sitting and knitting but this time she had a smile on her face. Perhaps because I was buying something and not a looky-​loo like everyone else (looky-​loos demand just as much respect! She rung me up the old fashioned way with a flimsy receipt book and then I was on my way.
Next time I am in town, I’m headed tor the throws only unless I need another shock to the heart and pocketbook!

I wandered into Ocean Quilts because I noticed SALE signs in the window and I’d been wanting to buy a quilt to hang over the spare bed. We have a painting over the bed and I worry about earthquakes. Besides, that painting is promised to Tam and one of these days will be delivered. The nice lady who was tending the store had multiple helpful suggestions. I saw a couple of small quilts hanging on the wall that were possible, but Alan, who had joined me, was less than enthusiastic about either. The lady showed us more and more. Several were interesting w/​o being attractive to me. Finally she uncovered one that had the vibrant colors I like, an interesting pattern and, it turned out, an irregular shape that will make a very fine wall hanging. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the one. While I was checking out, Alan found a locally made chutney and marmalade and we bought those as well. This a sweet, homey shop full of interesting and varied items, most homemade.

It’s not a quilt supply store like you would find at a JoAnn’s Fabrics to make quilt. They have a lot of consignment items, scarves and made quilts hanging or lying about for you to purchase. It’s more of a quilt shop where you buy quilts. They have a 10% off coupon in the Mendocino Traveler magazine found about town or the Visitor’s Center on non-​sale/​non-​consignment items. The quilts here are more Americana-​style. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make a quilt but never had the time so admiring others’ handiwork is as close to learning as I can get.

Happened upon this place during a jaunt downtown during a trip this week… my Mom is a die-​hard crafty quilterslashknitterslashcrocheter and she loves when I bring her home quilt squares that have some local flair to them from places that we go and visit.
Being a total quilt novice, I have no idea what I’m really looking for but I see Quilt on the sign so we head inside. I ask the proprieter, a kindly older lady, for quilt squares, she quizzes me a bit on what I am looking for (just tried to answer the questions!) and then leads me over to this area with all these little folded fabric squares, and spends the next 5 minutes with me helping me find and choose some items for my Mom.
The store itself is super cute and crafty, there are a ton of ready-​made quilts for sale and they had some amazingly soft sweaters and capes that were knitted and crocheted. They also have a fair amount of baby décor kind of things, like baby quilts, soft plushy animals, etc.
Typically, I wouldn’t review a shop along these lines, because I have no idea necessarily on what makes a great ‘quilt shop’, but the owner was so great with helping me out, I wanted to be sure that she got a Unilocal out! My Mom is going to be jazzed with our choices.