Last Saturday I drove down to Opp, AL to spend a few hours at TJ’s Fabrics. We planned it so that my visit coincided with our family beach trip to Seagrove, FL so this was my 3 hour “pit stop”. If you’re going to the beach this summer, or fall, or winter, or anytime, or even if you are not going to the beach anytime soon and live in the area, or don’t live in the area, PLAN A VISIT TO TJ’S!! Mapquest it, GPS it, whatever! (While I was there a couple of girls came in from Montgomery who had made the trip the Saturday before, and loved it so much they came back). I mention the beach because it IS on your way to the beach if you’re traveling to the Destin area and if you travel Hwy 331. Find it!!
Not only do they have a store full of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L fabric, it was just a fun time in general! Granted they had called in the troops for this special Saturday (not just for me, but they also had a big fabric sale). Everyone was so fun, everyone knew everyone, everyone knew what everyone else was working on (these shirts, that project…) and it was just a fun time spent there meeting people, looking at all the fabric and appreciating a small town and all it has to offer (great service and a fun shopping experience). A lot of the ladies there I felt like I had known for ages! I met a couple of first cousins and they get together and sew with their grandmother! How sweet is that!! They showed me how they used tulle on some of their raggy designs underneath the fabric (idea!!).
Here are the pictures I took and most speak for themselves…
CHRISTMAS:
ORGANIZED AND COLOR COORDINATED!
IS THIS NOT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT????
LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE!
WHO DOESN’T LOVE PINK & GREEN?
I BELIEVE SOME OF THESE ON THE RIGHT ARE TY PENNINGTON FABRICS (and I got to see a picture of Teresa (aka TJ) and Ty at a Fabric Show!)
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE ROUNDER – THE STRIPE ON THE LEFT IS A MUST HAVE!! I love the pink & green Michael Miller Picnic “gingham” too!
THEY ALSO HAD AMY BUTLER ITEMS ON DISPLAY FOR YOU TO GET IDEAS! BEAUTIFUL BAGS AND THINGS for those of you who sew!
On the other side of TJ’s Fabrics is T & C Pharmacy (which is a real pharmacy). Teresa told me years ago she had the idea of maybe getting in to selling a little fabric. Not long after that (while she prayed about it), she got a postcard in the mail about a Fabric Show. A few bolts turned in to a few more, and as you can see now she has 1/2 the store! They also have tons of gift items, sewing supplies, embroidery supplies, vinyl, ribbon, trim and everything else you’d need!
They also have an excellent system of cutting your fabric while you shop! They put it in a little basket with your name on it while you shop some more!
CHRISTMAS AGAIN ~ IT’LL BE HERE SOON!
Thank you Teresa for inviting me to come spend some time in your store! I had a great time and will come again SOON! P.S. her cute apron came home with me!!
Here were the YUMMY cookies and I also left with a big bag of these. They didn’t last long at the beach! I believe they were made by “Sister Schubert’s” daughter who lives in Andalusia. They also came in hot pink and a pretty turquoise blue color.
I had to take a picture of the sign out front!
We had a great time at the beach! We got home yesterday and we move Wednesday and I have not packed the first thing! Operation cleaning is in motion later today and tomorrow so that the house will be ready to move in to. We have a hectic week ahead! I’m also sampling some new designs today to list. BTW, Patriotic designs are still 50% off and the rest are 30% off ~ stock up at Applique Cafe!
Have a great week! If you have any questions about TJ’s or how to get there, let me know! THEY ALSO SELL THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FABRIC ONLINE IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DOWN TO OPP!!
What beautiful fabrics! I live on the gulf coast, so that’s a big trip for me, but you are definitely making me want to go! Thanks so much for the awesome pictures!
Wow! I am impressed. We drove down to Seagrove Beach from Ohio last May. If I had only known! Well let’s just say that I would have been in heaven and my boys would have been complaining 🙂 We loved Seagrove and now it looks like there are some added reasons to visit again.
I am enjoying your blog and I am very happy with the embroidery downloads that I have from Applique Cafe. Keep up the good work!
Laurie in OH
I am in heaven! I must go there! Unbelievable!
Wow, Wow, Wow! I could live in that store among all of the beautiful fabrics. I saw many fabrics in your photos that I have drooled over and many that I have. I just love pretty fabric. I love it so much I don’t want to cut it!
OMG I am so glad I live too far away …I would be there every day!
This blog post makes me want to move to AL!!!! I told my hubby. He came to look at the photos and says… “No WAY! They have THREAD COOKIES!!! It’s a done deal. Pack up the house.” …. LOL. Everything looks great! I am jealous of that store and wish there was one here in sunny FL!
Ok…you’ve convinced me. I have been trying to talk Patrick into doing some fabric shopping for me while he is down that way, but clearly there is too much fabric to trust him to choose!
Good grief my mouth was watering by the time got to the last slide of fabric at TJ’s….Wow! I think even from Knoxville it would be worth a road trip!!! I am so jealous….I would have LOVED to have been there. Her color choices are incredible……so maybe if we spot one from a slide TJ could actually mail it to us? I hope so.
PS….Just FYI…..I have been making some adorable pillowcases for my grandchildren’s bedrooms in their newly renovated house. They turned out wonderful are are so easy……if interested I will email the pattern directions to Rosemary. They make great gifts to give to friends.
Go to the website – you can order online!
Totally drooling! Would love to make a trip there. Thanks for sharing.
BTW- Love your orange top- do you mind sharing where you bought it?:)
That’s a Steinmart special! 😉
Gotta check out steinmart more often- I will be this week!;). Thanks!!
Oh my! It is a good thing I don’t live close to that store!! What a great selection of fabric. Looks like you had a good time.
I have never been to Alabama, but I can see I MUST make a trip there sometime. I have ordered from them online, but I also LOVE to just be able to browse through all the rows and rows of beautiful fabrics, and they have a TON! Great blog post, too!
I have to find my way to Opp, AL….Great selection of fabrics all in one place. Thanks for sharing.
Love the fabric store we’re going to Destin in August,probably won’t make it there,could u please give me the web address.Tkx Jean
It’s 103 Parish Avenue I think, Opp, AL – not sure what the zip is but it’s probably on their website.
After seeing TJ’s Fabrics mentioned so many times in your blogs I decided that I HAD to go there the first chance I got. We take an annual trip from here in Illinois to Destin and TJs is not that far out of our way. Normally we make the trip with another couple and I knew they would all think I was crazy for wanting to go out of our way to a fabric shop. In March my husband Mike and I made a trip to Florida alone, I knew that was my sign from God that this was the trip I was going to have my best chance to visit TJs. I was prepared to prositute myself to talk my husband into stopping on the way home, but to my surprise my retired husband decied that this was his working wife’s vacation so she could do whatever she wanted. We plugged the address into our GPS and a few hours later we walked into the store and it was even more amazing than I had dreamed. I had so much fun mixing and matching and Teresa entertained Mike as she and two other girls cut fabric and fast as I layed a bolt after bolt on the table. As we were leaving with my prized bag of fabric Mike told her that he was sure we would be back again soon, we both felt like we have a new friend for life and I can’t wait to go back. The only thing that could have made the trip better was to have been there the same time as you, that will be my next dream. Thank you so much for sharing your talents and tips with all of us through your blogs, you have no idea how much you have inspired me.
Great story!! 🙂
I love your applique store! I was wondering if you ever use a lining on the back side of an applique? Like for a babies shirt so it wont be itchy. I have tried an iron on from a local store but its not very good quality and doesn’t hold up well in the wash. Is there something you recommend? Thanks for your help.
I use Comfort Cover, but it does peel off in the wash sometimes. I don’t think my iron is hot enough or sets it right?!
Hi Rosemary!
I’m a military brat that moved a lot as a kid but the last few years of high school were spent in DeFuniak Springs, FL – not far from Opp, AL! My parent’s retired in Mosey Head, FL which is also close to Opp, AL. I’m sorry to say, I’ve never been to TJ’s. I married military and have not been able to visit that area for far too long. But you can bet, I’ll take a drive up there the next time I visit my parents. I’ve learned so much from your blog and have started implementing some of your techniques into my purses and military handbags. I LOVE your blog – so much so, that I’d like to link your blog to my webpage – with your permission. It will not hurt my feelings if you don’t want to. You can check out my creations on my webpage at:
http://www.greensugarbean.com
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and techniques! I look forward to your next post 🙂
Grace,
Carissa
You are welcome to link my blog! THANKS!! Check out TJ’s next time you are around this way!
Thanks Rosemary, I certainly will. And you are welcome! 🙂
a well stocked fabric store is a thing of beauty. love those ty pennington fabrics!
This place looks amazing! Can you explain how the raggy appliqué is done using tulle? I love that idea and haven’t stopped thinking of it since seeing your post!
She said they put a layer of tulle under the fabric, no flannel. Then they cut the tulle bigger than the fabric (when trimming) so the tulle sticks out. She mentioned a flower they had done this with – maybe the Applique Market flower!
Hi! I found your blog through John Coley at Lake Martin Voice, and I LOVE your appliques! I’m a Brother girl too, but I don’t do embroidery – I stuck with the $500 Project Runway PC-420 instead of upgrading to a real embroidery machine. I live on the Gulf Coast and had never heard of TJ’s, but I’m headed online right now to check them out – thanks for the great review!
I’ve been reading through the blogs on appliques and I must say you do an amazing job finding many different fabrics to make all these projects work. However, may I interject a new idea for your appliques that others might find very helpful? As you know getting fabric is one of the most daunting tasks when making appliques. Our company http//www.customirononpatches.com makes appliques out of a select number of fabrics. Meaning, we print the design to the fabrics so you don’t have to look all over the place for different fabrics. We not only print the fabric patterns, but we can actually cut the logos ready for embroidery, so all you have to do is lay down the pre-cut appliques with whatever pattern you desire, then stitch. It saves a ton of time and money looking for fabrics and cutting the patterns out. I’d really like to establish a relationship with your blog Rosemary so others can benefit from this new technology.
I just found out they have a TJ’s Fabric in DESTIN! So excited because I live in Navarre and work in Fort Walton … so guess where I’m going this weekend? LOL I do want to go to the one in Opp too – when I visit my brother in Atlanta I will surely go! Love your blog!
Brenda, the Destin location is the only location as of now! TJ’s was in Opp, then someone bought it and moved it to Destin. TJ actually just bought it back but it’s still in Destin but in a different location. Did you get a chance to go? I’ll be down there in 2 weeks so I’m anxious to drop by!