Thanks for responding, Lynn! I appreciate what you're saying. I should have read the rules.
I used to live in Troy, just south of Keene, so I'm familiar with Claremont. I still have friends there so I'll try and send a non-quilting friend to one of the shops. I think the whole thing is great fun and love all the possibilities that rows give you as opposed to blocks. One of the shops here (Sonflower Quilts) features sunflowers on their row, and another (Quilt Trends) has adorable watermelon and uses rickrack. So cute!
Have fun with it!