Originally Posted by FroggyinTexas
Originally Posted by kountrykreation
Originally Posted by butterflies5518
Originally Posted by kountrykreation
Never participated in one, but they do sound like a lot of fun. They have one in Texas, think it's going on currently, can check out the details here quiltacrosstexas.com The way I understand it, you have to physically visit a predetermined number of quilting shops, in a given area (in this case, the entire state of Texas), and if you manage to visit them all, then you are eligible to win prizes. I seriously considered trying it, thought it might be fun, but at the current cost of gas, and the size of Texas, I calculated that I could just buy the prize cheaper in the long run. Think they also have similar online shop hops as well.
While on vacation a few weeks ago, I stopped in Kerrville, live in Houston and you have your "passport" stamped at the quilt shop. Texas is divided into "regions" so you only have to visit the shops listed. That is only shop I went to as my LQS did not participate this year. But anyways, while at the shop in Kerrville that first Saturday the ideas were swirling, the fabric/patterns flew to my fingertips, met some wonderful ladies, had a blast and pocketbook lighter! I want to do it again....
Can you be 'qualified' for the prize drawings if you only visit one shop? Thought the requirement was to visit at least 4 shops in each region in Texas?
A shop hop tour bus (I think it is a Quilt Across Texas tour) leaves tomorrow from an area store for a two or three day trip to quilt shops and will go to about 20 L QSs within at 200-250 mile radius. Texas is so much bigger than people from out of state who have never been here think, that it is hard for them to imagine that you can't just run down to Houston from El Paso in a couple of hours or drive from Amarillo to Brownsville in a half day. The rhyme goes, "The sun has riz, the sun has set and here we is in Texas yet." I suspect you would have a month to six weeks of hard driving to shop in every quilt shop in Texas no matter how well you planned and you would have to have a ton of money to spend in the quilt shops. AS for visiting 4 shops in each region of Texas, that isn't very likely either unless you live in a kind of "four corners" area. froggyintexas
I don't know all of the specifics about the Quilt Across Texas shop hop, but I know that they have divided the state into several regions and you and participate and be eligible for prizes by visiting all of the shops featured in a single region (and it is select stores, not every store in every region) so, even with the size of our state, this is a doable event for most people.
I have participated in the Bluebonnet Shop Hop in my area and at each participating shop you get your passport stamped, get a free FQ, get one pattern for a block for a 12 block quilt, snacks and eligibility for drawings from each store and eligibility for a grand prized if all stores are visited. It's loads of fun--I did it by my self because my sister backed out, went to 12 stores on one day (was a long but fun day).