When I first found this forum I saw the abbreviation LQS and inferred from the context that it must mean Little Quilt Shop. I understand now that the L stands for Local. I still call it Little.

Before we moved to SC, I had the most wonderful LQS about two minutes from my house. Three rooms of fabric, a long wall of batiks to drool over, and the most wonderful staff ever. We moved three hours away about a year and a half ago and I miss it. The LQSs here are mostly sewing machine places with fabric in the back. It's beautiful, high quality fabric but not much of a selection. A few months ago we got a big box fabric store nearby...the one with the coupons. They have some good quality fabric (if you're in the mood to go on a treasure hunt), their prices are good, their sales and coupons are great, but the service is nowhere near as good as a LQS.

Last week I had the opportunity to go back to TN and visit the LQS where I spent so much time...and money. I took my last completed project and they oohed and aahed over it. Made me feel great. I also took a couple of fabric swatches and was looking for a couple of fabrics to go with them for my next big project. I wasn't finding them on my own so I asked for some help. I had forgotten to take the pattern and the saleslady wasn't familiar with it so she went downstairs to her office, googled it, and printed off the pattern. Then she helped me find the perfect fabric for my project. Service like that is hard to come by. I wish it weren't a three hour drive.

Little Quilt Shops rock!