When I first started quilting, all I bought was Wal Mart fabric, was great for learning and prices were good so no big panic attacks when I screwed something up! Since then I've discovered the LQS. Although the population here is only 17,000, we are lucky to have 2 shops. Both are wonderful, but do prefer one over the other. Both shops know me by name, and are helpful. My favorite has a gathering on the first Thursday evening of every month, where we have dinner, door prizes, show and tell, usually a demo by one of the customers on a new technique or projec, and she usually has a selection of fabric for 20% off that night. There is a guild here, but found the LQS more fun. Not that there was anything bad with the guild, I just found the Scrappy Girls at the LQS more to my liking! The owner will be the first to tell you that you can buy the notions cheaper at Joann's and therefore only stocks the basics in that area.