I collected some patterns and a couple of kits in the water theme year. I made a quilt and won at my local shop in the Home Sweet Home year.
I prefer piecing to appliqué, but to meet the theme, most shops’ patterns are appliqué. Additionally, shops seem to have figured out they made more money by having patterns that required specialty fabrics, notions, embellishments, so that you couldn’t just use your own stash. I didn’t even pick up any Music patterns, and though I did a regional shop hop during Row By Row this year, I only picked up one RbR pattern and that was to make my daughter a wall hanging.
i agree, I’ve found fewer shops participating in recent years.