I adore shopping for new fabrics and I can't drive past a quilt shop. However, I'm hanging up my traveling shoes for future shop hops. The Greater Atlanta Shop Hop is held each spring and is/was this weekend. DD and I set out early in the day, hoping to cover at least six of the shops on the tour. (There were 11 in all.) We would make the other five the next day. By six PM we had accomplished our goal. We headed for home and reviewed our day.
DD pointed out that she had seen at least one store sample on display the year before. I noted there weren't as many (none) of the fabric samples given away in previous years.
We both were surprised that one shop was selling cookies and light refreshment. Another shop, one of the most distant, hardly seemed welcoming at all.
I realize the economy is strained so I can understand the restraints, but then it also seems to me that the full tank of gasoline (at $3.49 a gallon) would have paid for the items I bought.
Of all the shops we visited, only one stands out. It's been our favorite for a couple of years. I don't go there often because of the distance, but think I will manage to go there a few times a year and save the hassle of the hop.
We're blessed to have so many local shops (3 within twelve miles of my home and another a short few miles more.) I'm able to find anything I want locally and will just limit my shopping to these stores. Although the grand prize drawing for visiting each shop is valuable, and each shop has a drawing for a gift basket, I'm afraid this jaunt will be my last one. It just isn't woth it.

When something is no longer fun then it is time to step back and see what you would rather do. This hobby, passion and art we do needs to make our heart sing:) Just my thoughts.

Good thinking.... I agree..

Sounds like you would have rather been quilting than aquiring!

I confess I have never seen the attraction of shop hops. The shops don't usually have big sales on those days, just a few highlighted items. The stores are all crowded. And the shopping stops being fun to me after a while.... I become overwhelmed and tired (usually followed by cranky).

But everyone else seems to love them.

Unless one of the shops that's in the shop hop where I am moving to in Kansas drops out I won't be going on that shop hop either. I refuse to set one foot in her store. It's not just me either, several of the shops that used to be in that shop hop dropped out because of that one shop owner.

This is becoming a very common opinion with quilters. I want to share a suggestion with you that you can pass along to all of your local shops.

We are going to have a "One Stop Shop Hop" !!!!!

Yes, that's right, One Stop. Instead of traveling to all of the shops in a time period there is going to be a weekend "Shop Hop" with all the shops in ONE location. I think it's the new version of shop hops.

With the price of gas on the rise and busy schedules this may be a win-win for shops and quilters both. This may be how shops in country need to set up shop hops until the economy and gas prices improve.

Our "One Stop Shop Hop" has not taken place yet, it is later this year so I can only speculate on the outcome.

Pam M

Those other shops should get together and start their own shop hop.

Pam M

I haven't been on a shop hop in years. What I liked about the shop hop was that each store had different fabrics, patterns, and kits. Yes, a few were the same like the Moda Marbles, but a lot was different. You got to see the quilts hanging on the wall and to get a feel of the owner and the store. Granted, some weren't too friendly.

I stopped going on the hops because of the distance involved. The stores here in Florida are too spread out over the state. From my local shop we had to travel 1 1/2- 2 hours to the next shop, another 30-60 minutes to the 3rd shop, and 2-3 hours to the 4th shop, etc. It just wasn't worth it.

I noticed some guilds have rented buses to drive them to the various shops.

Although I like the idea of the One Stop Hop from a time and gas perspective, you miss out on many of the items from the store itself. The items the owner brings is limited usually fat quarters, some patterns and kits. It's really not much different then vendors at a quilt show.

I've only been on one shop hop. The closest store to me was the nicest - I thought.

I agree. I love to visit different stores - they all have their own personality. Just don't want to visit them all in the same day.

this just makes total sense to do this! However, I too, am done with the traveling shop hops! Some don't seem to appreciate us, little prizes is itty bitty at best (like the mint and business card, what an insult), I think many shops have done it so long, they almost don't pay much attention to the fact it is the shop hop day, just come and spend your money. Just more work for them is the impression I get. I decided, at almost $4.00 a gallon, I will create my own shophop, and go where I want when I want and they can keep their mint! I know times are tough for them and they have to watch their bottom line, but most of us do! Their are some lovely LQS in our area that appreciate our business.