If you are ever going from Knoxville to Nashville please stop by Little Blessings Quilt Shop in Crossville TN. Talk about wanting to make you welcome! Mom and I were zipping down the highway from Nashville on our way to Sevierville at 8 am....saw the sign on the highway and thought that we would just see where it was at. We pulled in and saw that they didn't open till 9:30....well the owner was inside and chased after us in the parking lot and insisted that we come in! She welcomed us and told us to let her know if we needed anything and then she went into the enormous classroom and started sewing leaving us to browse...Well..Mom browsed...I bought....Wonderful shop and delightful owner named Julia Ranney. Some other favorites are Machine Quiltin by Iva in Sevierville, Pappy's in Maryville, Bless My Stitches in Murphy NC and A Stitch in Time in Franklin NC. Give them a try!
I live near Houston and only go to the Quilt Festival every 2 years.....I like the traditional quilts ( too many artsy quilts there for my taste ) own every quilting gadget known to man, and a fantastic HQ Avante so I avoid the congestion and sore feet by shopping at quilt shops ( if you don't spend money there they have to close the doors ) and on-line. Personally I try to buy at least one item in each store I visit. Sometimes $2.00 but at least I make the effort.