Butler is a nice line that use to manufacture in the US (Chicago area I think) but now imports almost all of their line from main land China. They would be considered a specialty manufacturer since they focus on accent and occasional rather than complete bedrooms and dining rooms. Designs are nice but what I remember seeing looked like it was "off the shelf" meaning they were buying Chinese patterns that were offered to them from a catalog (off the shelf) rather than designing their own original designs. It doesn't matter if you like the piece, it just means that 10 other manufacturers (I use the term loosely, maybe I should say distributers) may be buying the same frame from the same Chinese company.

Rather that pick a retailer start by selecting a product catagory such as dining room, fabric upholstery, bedroom etc. Then select a few brands in those catgories such as Hancock and Moore and Leathercraft in leather Furniture. Vanguard, Lee, Taylor King in Upholstery. Cresent in bedroom and so forth. You might also find some good local manufacturers. After you slected a product you like you can then see who carries that brand in your area and shop for those manufacturers online as well. I think you will find this to be a good method of shopping for furniture.

Kelly, I have been having so much fun with all the charms that I haven't figured out what to do with them yet! Right now they look great on my charm necklace! As far as strategy tips: 1. Take a notebook and write a little bit about each shop - they start to blur after a while. Some will specialize in one fabric over another, have nice staff, smell nice (yes, there was one that smelled so wonderful and I remember it from before that I made sure my friend and I went there yesterday!) Ask questions: "What do you specialize in"? Get a class schedule - they may have a weekend class worth driving out for. 2. Take a list of what you need for upcoming projects, swaps etc. Cross it off as you buy stuff. 3. Also, if you see something at a shop that you haven't seen before (and you want) BUY IT!! It may not ever be at any other store again (or at that store when you go back). This is true for the 1st shop on your "hop." I bought less in the beginning and the first store I went to had a lot of great stuff that I probably would spend more time and buy more -- and it's the one that's 2+ hours away from me in the desert. 4. Bring healthy snacks, carrot sticks, apple slices (you can buy the pre-cut packaged ones). Most shops on the run had CANDY or popcorn or other tasty but unhealthy treats. Most also have bottled water, but bring a beverage in the car. 5. Along this line of thinking, if you are trying to go to all the shops in a day, bring along a sandwich or bagged lunch. Restaurants can take too long and you're going to want to spend your time in a shop not waiting for service. 6. Don't drive and eat - you do have enough time to take 5-10 minutes to eat in the car, on a bench outside a quilt shop, etc. I had a few stupid moments (trying to eat jello in the car with a fork!) that could have been avoided. 7. Use the bathroom at the quilt shop. Or if you're between quilt shops, McDonalds is always a clean bathrrom option. One of my friends Mapquests McDonalds along her route in case she needs to go to the bathroom. 8. Figure out your map ahead of time and which stores are closest together. Our Quilt Run has a good map with directions but I also did Yahoo maps. Sometimes one was better than the other. 9. Have fun! I went alone in the beginning and that was fun, and I went with a friend one day and that was fun too. --Amy

linelle I know what you mean but as soon as you walk up the steps you see both room side by side. I like seeing different colors. I actually bought the wedge wood gray sample. i will be getting a white poster board to paint that and see how it looks. lavender_lass :-) Very pretty! AnnieDeighnaugh- love the combination!!