I maybe moving to Denver, I was hoping someone could clue me in on what the sewing atmosphere is like. Do they have a lot of visiting sewing teachers providing classes on there expertise. Is there a lot of local talent . How is the weather,is there a lot of snow and temperature around 0 in the winter. How hot and humid our there summers.
Terry
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There are some very nice quilt shops, and in Golden, CO there is the quilt museum. I think the garment sewing is good, too. I visited my brother at Christmastime a few years ago, and the temps were kind of all over the place (one day it was 71°!). The area can get most of its snow in April. Generally it's rather arid; you may notice that your hair behaves quite differently. I think most homes/apartments are air conditioned, so it must get warmish.
If you need a realtor, I could put you in touch with one in Denver.
>> ... what the sewing atmosphere is like ... <<
My knowing about Denver per se is really nil. Though Denver Fabrics has come up at varying time as a resource. Browsing the web site, it seems the company is a on-line one only. Perhaps a CO member lives in the area and can offer more.
http://www.denverfabrics.com
nepa
Denver is a wonderful place to sew. Denver Fabrics is huge and the staff is very helpful. Denver has their own sewing expo once a year and they do bring in teachers and have lots of vendors with ingenious gadgets. There are also all the main chain stores and lots of indies.
As for the weather, my sister lives in Littleton and works in Denver proper. They get snow and cold temps, but the snow usually melts within a few hours and the temps pop back up too. I attended a summer conference at the University of Denver that lasted six weeks and found the weather to be fairly mild. In the mountain areas, the winters are harsher. All in all, it's a beautiful, cosmopolitan western city, a lot like Seattle in many ways.
Don't forget to check out The Tattered Cover, Denver's unique independent bookstore.
>> ... Denver Fabrics is huge and the staff is very helpful ... <<
Where is Denver Fabrics located? Their web site offering is nil as to this information. From your post, it must be a free standing company as well as on-line. It's hardly likely I'll be in that part of the country any time soon. But who knows really!
nepa
Gosh, you're asking the wrong person. I have a terrible sense of direction. Could you try the Chamber of Commerce website? They usually have links to all sorts of merchants.
JunkQueen posted a notable URL. My insight around Denver is nil at the moment. Yet - that's always subject to change. Maybe - - - - -
nepa
I'll see if I can get my sister to log on. She lives there, and although she doesn't sew much, she knows where the goodies are.
MaryinColorado just about covered the subject. If you're serious about sewing, head for Denver Fabrics. That's where the professionals shop. If you're a quilter look for JoAnn's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Hancocks. They're all over. Colorado seems to have a lot more quilters than people sewing their own clothing.If you're a serious quilter, check out the Creative Needle in Littleton. http://www.thecreativeneedle.com/index.html Their website has an extensive calendar of events and classes for everything. You could hook up with a whole lot of people there who'd talk sewing with you for hours. There's also a JoAnn's in the same parking lot so you get a two-for-one.If you want to run up the mountain to some of the tourist towns like Breckenridge or Winter Park you might see some beautiful, hand sewn clothing sold in a few of the shops... very cool stuff.We moved here from Minnesota in 1989 and we're still in awe of the scenery. The weather is all over the place. The first year I suntanned on Christmas day. Other years we've had to decide if it was safe enough to drive across town for Christmas dinner. You never pack your shorts away because even if they close down DIA with blizzard conditions, chances are you'll be shoveling the next day in shirt sleeves and wearing your shorts a couple of days later. Oh, and the most surprising thing to me... no bugs unless you're up in the mountains. No storm windows, no discussions about how much insulation you have in the attic, and SUVs or 4-wheel drive is required, not forbidden. You'll be stranded on black ice in the middle of the intersection at least once a year without it.The lifestyle here is healthy... lots of hiking, biking, roller blading. On weekends the parks are filled with school sporting events, company picnics, family reunions, craft fairs, etc. almost year round. Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage are very popular.Anything else you need to know?
Palady, I've never been to Denver, but here's what Google turned up:
http://tinyurl.com/d254eb The url was so long I converted so it didn't mess up the board....Most of the reviews are good. I saw a fabric store I want to go to as I drove through Houston last week. Didn't have time that day to stop. I envy sewers who have good fabric shops to peruse. The smell and feel of the fabric is like ambrosia.....
Opened the URL you posted.
All I need do now is get myself to Denver. >>tee-hee<<
nepa
Oh, yes ..."The Tattered Cover" ...no doubt the best book store in the world IMO! Compared to any bookstore that I've ever "lived" in, including NYC, Chicago, Portland, Denver ...several cities in Europe ...and a few other places ..."The Tattered Cover" is the ultimate "high" ...and not just because it's in "The Mile High City" of Denver.
I moved to Southeast Colorado but my children live in Denver. I loved Denver Fabrics the one time I was there. I can and do drive in Denver but finding a particular location is too much for me. I know my way in, out and around and to my childrens homes. I know it well enough that I can avoid I25 and the major arteries. Comparing Denver to where I live it is cold and snowy in the winter and pleasant in the summer. I slip in and out between snows. I'm usually able to go for Christmas! Here 10 months of the year the weather is great in comparison but unfortunately we have two unbearable summer months. 104 degrees with flies, mosquitos and all kinds of bugs. If anybody asks me this is how I describe it when actually we have much better weather here than most places. I can't stand the heat and envy my children but they will not visit me in the summer. In fact I discourage anyone from coming to see me in the summer. I'm sure you will find a lot of sewing related things to do in Denver. I lived in Littleton (a suburb) for two and a half years. Here it is a 3 hour round trip to buy thread. You can buy Coats and Clark in a few colors at Walmart if you want it. I don't. For sewers a stash is not nice to have-its an absolute necessity where I live. I have a nice home tho so I don't complain too much. Right now I need some good sewing thread. I have all the thread I will ever need for my embroidery and sergers. I sent for thread at Nancys Notions and sent it back an hour later. It was 18 spools of samples. That was this morning! Pueblo here I come.
I was in Denver last year (and the year before) I do believe that Denver Fabrics, and the website of the same name actually split off a few yrs ago. And, the store downsized some. They have a lot of home dec fabrics, a lot of trash fabrics, and then the rest you have to really sort through to find good stuff, one room is sorted by color so you may find nice fabric and trashy fabrics next to each other. I once got a lovely length of organic bamboo jersy that made a great running tank top for me. I also bought some beautiful silk crepe there once.In the other room,(near the home dec stuff) the fabrics are sorted by fiber type. They have some very nice things. They have some but not a giant selection of quilting cottons.Huge selection of patterns, notions etc.the most interesting thing I found at Denver fabrics, is that you cut your own fabric and write up your own ticket! How many ppl do you think are very 'generous' in the way they cut the fabric?
Weather is relative. I grew up in Minnesota and moved to the desert as an adult. I laughed so hard when I heard Denver described as arid. We get 7" of rain a year. Denver was a bit too humid for me. My sister doesn't have an air conditioner and I've only heard her complain twice in the 15 years they've lived there. It really is a lovely city.
I receive the sales from Denver Fabrics online and would like to buy it all. I won't live long enough to sew the really nice fabrics I have in my stash! Conplete outfits. When you as far as I am from any store you tend to buy everything you need at one time. I need to order thread however. I have scads of embroidery thread and serger thread but no regular sewing thread.
I live West of Denver. The weather is totally unpredictable allways. This winter we have had a few "blizzards" as well as high 70's and bright sunshine. We dress in layers and always try to keep a jacket in the trunk of the car. The only "average" is dry and sunny, the soil is mostly clay so if you are buying a home be sure to have it inspected, especially for foundation cracks in the newer homes which may have been built on unstable ground that was moved around alot by the builders. Not to discourage you, just a heads up.
TACtile Arts Center 7777 E. Hampton Ave., Denver http://www.tactilearts.org has a newsletter and sounds like a very interesting place though I haven't been there yet. The lady who started it has a long history in the fiber arts and owned a fabric store for decades that had great classes and such so this new venture of hers should be excellent.
Denver Merchandise Mart has two quilting/fiber art shows a year plus lots of other interesting things going on. they have a website with a calendar
Denver Fabrics is no longer part of the online site. The store is at 2777 W. Bellview Ave. in Littleton
Calico Corners 252 Clayton, Denver and also one in Lone Tree
Fancy Tiger 1 South Broadway Denver http://www.fancytiger.com also has a clothing store
Allyn's Fabric and Bridal Supplies 2306 E. 6 Ave. Denver
There are also alot of shops that sell sewing machines and they have supplies and classes and seminars too.
Hancocks and JoAnne's at several locations
Lots of quilting shops, my current favorite is the Chocolate Moose in Arvada
http://www.equilter.com is an online shop only but is in Boulder, Co.
Let me know if you'd like to explore some of the sewing places with a buddy sometime
We also have Hobby Lobby and Michaels craft stores in several locations
There are alot of artists studios throughout Colorado and surrounding states that are also fun to visit when open to the public. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is huge and wonderful. Most of the towns have Fall Festivals and there are also music festivals, etc.
Hope this helps! Mary
Greetings! Here's a totally OT (off topic) link for you to check out re: all kinds of info about living in Denver - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/askindenver/It's a local branch of the global Ask Liz Ryan discussion list on Yahoo groups - designed to help folks share news, ideas and gather information local to Denver - from Dr. recommendations (called "reco's") to trades-people to job-hunting tips and information. I spend almost as much time reading the Chicago and global lists as I do here! Equally warm and supportive people, too. Bright Blessings and Good Fortune in your move ~Kharmin
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