You know what? I like that even more than the ones you were considering. It's going to be so pretty with the wall color.

I use quilt shops because the fabric choices are so much more broad and appropriate to quilting. Where else would you get reproduction fabrics to get the mood as well as the patterns and colors you're looking for? I also use JoAnn's sometimes. Sometimes they've just got what I want, but, generally speaking, I don't think the quality of their fabrics is what quilt shops carry. I have a quilt shop just a couple miles from my house. I quilted long before we moved so close but that was a lucky accident. There are also a number of quilt shops within a 20 mile radius of my house. They're not all the same size and vibrancy. The best one is the farthest away. Two of them either have sewing machine sales & repair in them or are next to it.

Don't know where you live, but see if there is a JCPenney Outlet store near you. The JCPenney Outlet store at Franklin Mills Mall (Philadelphia) has a large drapery department. In one section, my favorite section, are all the custom orders that have for one reason or another, been sent back to JCPenney. I have bought incredibly beautiful custom made drapes for a fraction of what they originally cost. They are fully lined, weighted, and made of lovely materials. The catch is: you have to check frequently to see what's in stock, you may have to slightly modify the drapes to fit your windows, you have to find what you like from a limited selection. BUT if you find what you're looking for, it's a steal. Another store that has a similar set up are the Waverly outlet stores. There's one in Morgantown, PA at a Furniture Outlet Mall and another one in Newark, DE. They sell custom quality bedding, shower curtains, drapes and other soft furnishings from the Waverly/Schumacher fabric lines. I do not know if these are rejects from customers or excess from their off-the-rack production, but the quality is phenomenal and the prices are insane. Of course, there's the caveat again of 1) you have to hit it at the right time and 2) you have a limited selection. Personally, because I've been home with kids I have more time than money. But, if I was in the reverse situation and very busy with a job, I'd probably opt to pay retail and get what I want when I want. By the way, I also have had custom work done at Calico Corner. I paid $1400 for valances and drapes for three windows. And while that sounds (and is!) costly, I have had (and loved!) those window treatments for nearly 10 years. I don't expect to change them anytime soon. I think the Calico Corners workrooms turn out a quality product. I have had things made by other independent workrooms but nothing has approached the quality construction I enjoy in my CC drapes. And no, I am not paid to shill for them! As for Country Curtains -- I just can't bring myself to pay their prices for their quality. I have visited the store in Stockbridge, MA at the Red Lion Inn and tried to find something I liked but I just couldn't quite get my mind around the quality/cost ratio. For a not-too-huge amount more I could get a simple custom pinch pleat, in some cases. I appreciate some of their fabrics and their traditional New England aesthetic, they are very generous with sample swatches and I think they're a well run outfit but for me, it's just not going to happen. Particularly since I have my own special 'haunts' for real custom at a discount.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and help! I think I need to start over and try M Tex again. Although I would still like to hear from happy Dorado folks, if you are out there. I did get a response back from Dorado and was told that a mistake had been made. I was also told that while I only need 24.6 sq. feet, he's gonna round it up to 25 and charge me for the 25. Why does this seem to not be ok to me? Part of the problem is that I have a small kitchen, only need 25 sq. feet of stone, and am trying to stay on a budget, ie: keep the shipping costs low, and install myself. Maybe I should get one of my male friends to do all the talking for me and see if I get better results! I'm going to call Michelle next week, and I'm also going to check out Soapstone International. Thanks to all of you, so much! I will keep you posted with the result.