The previews are, oh, like .001% of being at a trade show! Three of us from the shop went to Quilt Market for the first time last year, because it was in Pittsburgh and that's only a 4-hour drive from Buffalo.
When we got there, we split up, according to our various interests, and you would think that we had attended three completely different shows! When we met up for meals, one of us would say, "Did you see the...?" and invariably the other two would say that they hadn't seen that, at all, or even anything like it.
To say the show was HUGE would be an understatement. There were fabrics... and patterns... and tools, and notions, and batting, and quilting machines, and then a fabulous quilt show too, with gorgeous traditional and art quilts. I hope it comes back to Pittsburgh soon, so that I can go again... but I'm afraid it will probably be another four years!
I have to say, that I don't think I've ever been in a place where the people were all so similar to one another. All about the same age and with pretty much the same wardrobe, too. And all carrying a fabric handbags!