Hopping for Quilting

No rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma in the Quilt stores, especially in April.

No, in April (April 24-May 3) we have the HOP THE RIVER SHOP HOP. An extravaganza of quilt store shopping that couldn’t be contained in one state.

The Hop includes five stores in Oklahoma and four in that state below the river (Texas). A complete list of the stores involved in the hop can be found at The Quilt n Bee.

Hopping from store to store, especially with friends is a great way to spend the day, weekend, or week.

Stores offer prizes and have gifts for their customers during hops. However, the best thing about a hop is seeing different quilts, almost like a quilt show on the road. Instead of the quilts traveling, the visitors are.

Each store has different fabrics and tools. Sharing, learning, visiting, and fabrics. This will be my first time to Hop the River and I’m looking forward to the adventure.

Have you ever participated in a shop Hop?

How often do you visit new stores?

How many stores would be your limit to visit in a day?

Please leave a comment, I love hearing from you.

This post using the letter H was brought to you by the friendly folks at the A to Z challenge. Over 2,000 bloggers are participating.

Quilt Shopping Close to Home

Independent quilt stores are the best. Sure, the big ones have a larger variety of items, however, not necessarily a bigger selection of cotton fabrics. Prices are often comparable to the big stores, the overhead is less, and they have less big money inventory to consider. Also, the smaller, independent shops are often found in small towns or communities in little out-of–the way locations. I live two hours (one way) from four large metropolitan towns, yet I’m less than, or close to, an hour away from several quilt stores.

The first one, Prairie Notions Fabric Shop is mere minutes away. may be in a small town, they aren’t hard to find. Since it’s the closest to my home, I can often be found there, either shopping or just looking (and touching) the interesting fabrics.

 Betsy’s Quilt Shop , located in Antlers OK, is a little over an hour away. According to the post office the shop is in Antlers, that’s the mailing address. Actually, the store, also located at her home, is on the outskirts of town, on a dirt road.  If you get lost anyone in town can direct you.

A little further south in Durant is the HNT Quilt Shop, Rebecca Collins. Rebecca attends several quilt shows each year, which is how I met her. .

In the other direction, over by the lake, is Longtown Quilt Shop. It’s a new store, their grand opening was August 20. The owners Maurice and Cathy have moved back to the Eufaula area after several years in the city, and decided to open the quilt store. Welcome home

Visiting these shops are a great way to chase away the doldrums and add to my fabric stash. A fabric shopping run is definitely in the near future. Now that I’ve written about all the stores near me, and remember I feel a definite fabric shopping run. Since they’re so close, it won’t cost me much in gas money. Of course, what I save on gas I’ll spend on fabric, but that’s a much better use for money don’t you think? What about you? Do you have a favorite quilt shop that you enjoy?

Today’s Tip:  The soap many hotels provide make a great pin cushion. Not only is it readily available, but it also lubricates needles and helps prevent rusting pins.