Sewhappygal

I've done 2 shop hops and both were buy bus. I had a totally wonderful time. One trip was around $50 and lasted just over 12 hours. Lunch, drinks, snacks were included. It was a long day but so much fun. Then two years ago while visiting my son in Minnesota there was another shop hop bus ride but it was a two day one. This trip was around $75. This included snacks, drinks, gifts/prizes and one night in a hotel. Again I thought it was affordable and very fun. Both of these shop hops I went alone but quickly made friends. I'd do it again in a heart beat if I could. I went with a budget but I'm not a big spender so I did come home with some money. I have to admit I did manage to find some fun things.

dharen7

love shop hops, first yr went with my SIL, had great time and I won a 100.00 basket. Here if you win you pick what quilt shop you pick it up at. Numbered our passports from one to ten and gave each quilt shop a score one received a -10 people were rude and mainly a yarn shop with material in the back room, one received a plus 10 and we go there all the time for material and classes, girls came out to the car and carried our sewing machines inside due to SIL and I weren't allowed to pick them up at that time. Went on one with my mother and we had a great time. I don't buy something at every store. Never had to wait for long lines, and got to know other shoppers when we saw them in the next store. Have one coming up this spring and plan to go with SIL

MadQuilter

I joined the Fabric Moratorium thread to help keep me from buying more fabric. It would be fun to go on a shop hop but I would feel obligated to buy something at every stop. (Not that much arm-twisting would be needed.) Needless to say that doesn't fit into the moratorium plan. So no, I stay away from the temptation.

gramma nancy

I went once when we moved to a new area. It was interesting because I learned something about the towns in the area and how to get around. I was not crazy about the hop itself. The shops each gave out a themed block pattern, but it was for applique which I do not care to do. I bought a few things and chatted with the women (none of whom I had met before) in the car, but I would not do it again. Perhaps if I had quilter friends, it would be a delightful day out, but otherwise -- I would prefer to hit the shops on my own schedule and check out their sale racks. I don't think any of them had any fabrics on sale during the hop.

Skyangel

I did one here in Oregon last month, it was for the first time in years. The only one I did before, a friend and I had done all the shops in 1 day and got burned out. This one was 15 shops in the Portland to Salem areas. I live in Salem and work in one of the shops, so got the bug to see them all. Beside 4 in the Salem area, I did the east side on Portland one day when I was going there anyway, Then a friend and I did all on the west side another day. Although I enjoyed visiting a bunch of shops that I did not know about, I only bought stuff in about 3 of the shops. When we only have about 15 minutes in each shop because of our schedule, I don't feel like I need to "buy something just to buy something".

That being said, the gal who owns the shop I work in does it just to bring the traffic in and many do buy. The shop has to provide a kit for a 6" block for anyone who comes in with a passport to stamp, and $25 and $50 prizes. She will be doing another one in June, plus the Row-by-Row, which is all summer.

Maureen

Make sure you go to Country Treasures in Chester, Vt. I love that place.

kat13

I've never been to a hop or to a show maybe someday,
I don't want to go alone and can only drive where I'm familiar
With the area, drove to Houston years ago and have never
Been back, that was befor I knew quilting existed, now I'm just
Getting old and hubs won't come out of man cave to do anything
Except hunting. Thank goodness for online friends and shops!!

oldtisme

I agree, Texas is too BIG to hit all the shops. From where I'm at it take an entire day just to make it from Corpus to the Oklahoma line. It would take for than 2 days to hit them all & lordy the gas money..forgetaboutit!
Jeri

LynnVT

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful answers! You gave me some good ideas, especially the theme shopping idea. I've been thinking of making a red/white/blue for my AF vet son-in-law to give to someone at their base. (I already made him one.) And I thought of someone I could ask who might like to go with me. Meanwhile, hubby has expressed an interest in going again as we had fun with the trip we took last year to half the shops. If the weather is better in a few weeks, we can plan the day out. We have had loads of snow this winter, and some VT roads are not that great with all the pot holes and frost heaves, but getting out of the house will be fun. I do love seeing all the shops and chatting with folks there. Maureen, you made me laugh because I live a mile away from Country Treasures so it is like family to me. I'll also go to QuiltAway and Water Wheel because they are great and very nearby also. I'm glad I asked the question, as I really enjoyed reading all your answers, whatever your viewpoint was. We're all different for sure!

LynnVT

Hubby and I ended up doing the whole route in a couple of days, not in sequence. We did the three southern shops, local for us, last weekend, then on Monday drove up to Newport and Derby line, with three other shops along the way. Yesterday we did the western part of the state. I did what MCKWILTER suggested and planned a red/white/blue quilt. Brought the sheet with the pattern I got from a guild block of the month, and as I found fabrics for it I cut out a little corner to tape on. Then I had something to compare as I found the other fabrics for it, along with backing at one shop, and borders at another. Hubby enjoys the trip and we took turns driving. I spent time in each shop looking around and chatting with owners and customers. There are no big crowds around here, and mostly we went mid-week, so it wasn't terribly busy. I did spend a bit, also got some fabric for a small charity quilt, so I've got two new projects to start, along with the two exclusive shop hop fabrics. Bought something at about 8 of the 11 shops. One had M bobbins for my quilting machine. It really was fun. We had lunch with my sister and her husband who live in Newport which was a treat. Glad for all your thoughts and observations, and glad we got out of the house after a tough winter.