When I go to Sew Expo or Quilt Expo I always look for the unusual things I'm not likely to find in my local quilt stores. Most of the vendors will have their latest and greatest tools, gadgets and patterns out. I would go thru all of the vendor booths without spending any money first and keep track of the booth numbers with things you might want to go back to and then pick the "can't live withouts" to go back for.