How to Play “Shop Hop” 2008!
The beautiful state of Minnesota has been divided into seven sections. Quilt shops that elected to participate were divided up as evenly and logistically fair as possible. Pick up a shop hop newspaper from a participating shop. This year we added maps to the newspaper!
With our move to Forest Lake we are now part of the
Central East Section:
(The best team in the state I may add!)
Listed below are my team mates:
* Bardella Fabric Arts/Anoka
* Calla Lily Quilt Shop & Gifts/Blaine
* Cottage Quilts/Elk River
* Silver Lane Quilting, Inc./Forest Lake
* The Quilted Lighthouse/Hinckley
* Timeless Treasures/McGregor
* The Homestead/Mora
* Cole's Country Treasures Quilt Shop/Princeton
* Quilted Treasures/Rogers
* Fabrics, Fashions & More/Rush City
* Seams Like Home Quilt Shop/Sturgeon Lake
* Country Caboose Quilts/Wahkon
Each section was randomly assigned a Minnesota pattern designer. Each designer has created for their section a THROW size quilt. All designs are being kept secret until August 1st. We are proud to announce we are working with Celine Perkins from Perkins Dry Good. www.perkinsdrygoods.com
Come August 1st as you begin your travels you will collect from each shop: one 3-1/2” motif from the state shop hop feature fabric AND a 4”x6” card that contains a portion of that sections throw size quilt pattern.
Collect a whole section set of cards and receive at your last shop a color picture of the quilt. (A stamped passport and all your pattern cards must be presented to receive your color picture.)
Don’t forget to have your passport stamped at each location you visit. Printed passports will be available in all quilt shops after July 5th.
If you do not attend all the shops in a section do not fear, the complete quilt pattern will be on sale after the shop hop Monday, August 18th. (Not in card form but standard pattern form.)
Stores have been given the option to make or not make their sections quilt. They also can make it out of whatever fabrics they choose. SLQ will have kits available in our state shop hop color-way of the section quilt.
Think about the 96 participating quilt shops and how we each have a different flair . . . can you imagine all the creativity at work!
Stores can make any other projects out of the state shop hop fabrics they wish and those can be on display before the hop. Doug and I have been busy and will once again have available our store original wall hanging and pillow. They will be displayed soon!
To be eligible for the state-wide prizes you must visit eight (8) shops from each of the seven (7) sections for a total of fifty-six (56) shops.
I think, one of the neat prizes this year is if you do eight shops in a section and they draw your name you get a $100 gift certificate to use at the store of your choice (within that section) but if you have done ALL the shops in that section and your name gets drawn the prize double to $200. NICE!!
We often talk about how the thought of going to 56 or 96 shops is daunting! My response is get your girlfriends together, do a couple day trips and just have fun. You make it what it is - do as much or as little of the hop as you choose. Enjoy and have fun!
Once the hop is done I want you to know Show-N-Tell is encouraged!! In fact join us Sunday, September 7th in the classroom for State Shop Hop Show-n-Tell. Bring pictures/diaries of your travels, kits, patterns, purchases!! Let’s spread it out and see all the treasures. Refreshments will be served.
How can we talk about the hop without talking about “the fabric”! Very rich in color this year and who can resist the MN imagery of the feature fabric.
We continue to take pre-orders for the shop hop fabrics. We are asking for at least half of your total fabric order as a down payment. (You may also pay for the whole order now and have a nice treat in August!)
Reminder that none of the fabric can leave the store until Friday, August 1st. But we will have it all cut and set aside for you.
Fabric Options for 2007 Quilts: we continue to stock Moda Marble CHIVE and BERRY. They are the closest match to last years State Shop Hop dark greens and the dark pinks that I can find.
We also have the gold we added to our wall hanging because of its ability to pop the colors out of the panel squares. (Moda Marble BUCKSKIN.)
For those still looking for a border fabric OPTION that goes with last years fabrics . . . there is a piece from Holly Taylor’s spring line Natural Garden that in my opinion has the perfect border coloring to complement last years fabrics. I have used it a couple times with different customers and it has turned out beautifully. Come see if it is an option for your project. Limited amounts in stock.
Keep your eyes open as you travel gift items and some fabric is still available from last year.
If you have ANY questions - ask Elaine.
If she doesn't know . . . she'll find out.
Note: I'll keep posting more information here - check back often!
This year’s patch is approximately a 5” square of the 
