Prices are higher, and fabric is a luxury not a necessity. Though everything is costing more, small shop owners are feeling the pinch as well as their customers. Many are trying to keep their stores open and are combatting larger retailers, not just Joanne's, but on line stores that have none of the overhead costs a small local shop has. Places like Keepsake Quilting can afford to have lower prices sometimes, but don't often. It is a sad reality that we are facing. Small shops won't be around for much longer as we tighten our belts and only shop our stashes. It's not our fault and not the shops fault, it is what it is. A sadness fills me as I see all this happening because I have grandchildren that won't have the experiences I have had with visiting a local shop and meeting up with friends there. My childrens generation lives in "make it convenient for me"...on line shopping....how sad and empty. They will tell stories of when they were little and there was actually a building where "grandma" use to take them and they could touch the fabrics and feel the colors and maybe there was a play area just for them while Mommy shopped. When we shop on line, we close another local quilt shop door....and the signs will read, "Sorry, we are closed forever, thanks for your patronage...happy quilting. Goodbye.