Day 1 continues

After getting something to eat, I head to Buffalo for Patchwork Alley Quilts and Decor. This shop is selling out and closing and evidently is no longer on the hop. This store was an interesting combination of quilt store and decorating shop. Too bad I didn't know about this before I arrived, I could have save the time going directly to the next shop

Back to the Metro region and Heavenly Patchwork Quilt Shop in Waconia. This is smallish shop and is very busy when I am there. Wide selection of fabrics and lots of patterns on a display area in the center of the shop. They have a notebook cover that I like. It would be a nice idea to make a notebook to hold all of the block patterns I am collecting on this trip.

The Sampler in Chanhassen is the next shop on the trip plan. This shop has lots of batiks, brights and lots of Kaffe Fassett. They have some interesting samples and they also sell Bernina Sewing machines. I find a nice sale area. This is an open, bright shop with good lighting.

The next shop is just about the opposite of the previous shop. Eagle Creek Quilt Shop in Shakopee is located in the old train depot and specializes in reproduction fabrics. The also sell some wool and have oil cloth printed with both reproduction prints and new prints. They have several sample bags made from the oilcloth.

The next stop on the list is Glad Creations in Minneapolis. This shop had lots of beautiful samples of the quilt patterns that they design and sell. Shop is small and kind of crowded, but has lots of fabric: brights, florals, batik, etc. The shop is closing for the day after I leave. They have a big classroom upstairs with lots of sale fabrics and more and more sample quilts.

I realize that I am not going to get back to Bear Patch Quilting before they close, so will go the Rosebud's Cottage in North Saint Paul. There is a Friday night antique car show and street fair. This shop has lots of reproduction prints and wool and are selling the Cherrywood hand dyed fabrics. A bus is just leaving. This is a very friendly shop.

On to Charlotte's Quilting Web in Stillwater. This shop is quite eclectic, with lots of different kinds of fabrics. They also have an excellent selection of patterns. All of the shops are showing a number of different projects using the shop hop fabrics.

I was planning to heading down to the southeast part of the metro area as the shops they are open until 8PM tonight, but my daughter calls and we go out to eat. We eat at Psycho Suzi's Motor Lodge. The toasted vegetable pizza is very good. A fitting end to a rather long day. I had planned to try to get to 19 shops, but made it to only 14. I could have made it to about 3 more shops, but dinner with my daughter was much more fun.

The Hop Begins

The wireless internet connection seems to be working well here so, off we go on the trip.

The first stop of the first day is Silver Lane Quilting in Forest Lake. They are opening at 8 AM during the hop. They one of several shops that are opening earlier than the stated hours for the hop. Some of the shops are also staying open later as well, which is nice for the long distance hoppers like myself. This shop has a nice selection of fabrics and has a huge classroom. They also have constructed a quilt using the blocks from all the shops in the central east section. The directions for the quilt will be available at the last shop that I visit in this section. That will be nice as I have my machine with me this time and am hoping to get some sewing done in the evenings.

Also at this shop, two hoppers who have set up camp by the front door. They have their lawn chairs and totes and are ready to go! One of the totes is the Professional Tote by The Creative Thimble that is made in the tan script fabric from last year's hop. I have this pattern and have been thinking about making the tote for the professional people in my life.

The service at the shop is very good and everyone is friendly. I have to make a return trip later in the morning because I forget to pick up my block pattern. Not off to a good start.


I do a little backtracking for the next two shops. Calla Lily Quilt Shop in Blaine and Fat Quarter Quilt Shop in Coon Rapids are opening at 9 AM, so will hit these two shops before heading north to a shop that is opening at 10AM. Must make the most of the time that I have.

I decide to go to Fat Quarter Quilt shop first. I have been at this shop a number of times as it was close to where my daughter was living. This is a smaller shop, but has a nice selection, especially of batiks. They have very nice samples made up. This shop is part of of the metro section. They are giving away charms if you purchase $10 or more. Each shop has a unique charm.


Calla Lily Quilt Shop in Blaine is a little difficult to get to, but worth the work. This shop is very open and well lit. They have a pattern for a huge tote (think taking all of my stuff to a weekend retreat big) that is exclusive to the shop. Very nice samples displayed. I really like the open plan of this shop, not so crowded and makes the samples and fabric easy to see.


A little backtracking to Silver Lane to pock up the block pattern that I forgot and then on to
Fabric, Fashions and More in Rush City. The gals here have a cute fishing display in the front window of the store (sorry, it does not show in the picture). Large selection of books and a very nice quilt displayed, made from the hop fabrics. The powder room is decorated in a prom theme.
Shop is pretty easy to find but off the main street.


The next shop on this trip is Cole's Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Princeton. This shop is in the lower level of a general mercantile that is on the main street. The shop has a wide selection of fabrics and has a large sale section. They have quite a few samples and also sell wool and have a good selection of patterns and books.


Heading back to the Cities for the rest of the shop hop for today. Cottage Quilts in Elk River has a great selection of kits for 5 yard quilts, including ones made with the shop hop fabrics. Again a nice wide selection of fabrics. This shop also has a large classroom and a large selection of sale fabrics. I like looking in the sale areas for fabric that is suitable for quilt backs. Finding it on sale is a real money saver.



Just down the road in Rogers, is Quilted Treasures. This shop has a great selection, a large amount of samples and a number of quilt kits. This shop also has a great sale section. There is a large classroom with lots of sample quilts to get you planning your next project. One of the kits being made with the shop hop fabric is a table runner designed by Pieced Tree Patterns. I have to give this company a shout out as the designer is from my hometown.


Sorry about the quality of the photo.

Trip Underway

I now have been hopping for 2 days. Already made a mistake that will affect the schedule! Having lots of trouble with the net. (Signing on, etc.) Hope to be able to blog more later today. I have been getting some sewing done between swearing at the computer and decifering quilt block directions. Need to get ready to check out and start the day!

Final Preparations

Well, I am writing this from the hotel in the Twin Cities. Planning is complete and the trip is on the way. Shop hop will commence at 8 AM tomorrow at Silver Lane Quilting and proceed from there.

Thought that I would show you some of the things that I completed (or partially completed) for the 2008 Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop. The first quilt that I finished was my All About Minnesota quilt. This was constructed using the fabrics from the hop and the "All about Me" pattern by Terry Atkinson. The pattern was quick to make and like all of the Terry's patterns, clear and easy to read and follow.

Another project was a Atkinson Designs pattern with stars. This is a nice lap size quilt. The centers of the stars are the various motifs from the shop hop fabric.

The next quilt is a pattern that was provided by Shades of the Past quilt shop. It uses the larger sections of the motifs quite effectively. I made the quilt smaller, another lap or couch size quilt. This one is getting a flannel back to make it extra cozy.

The last couple of projects are smaller. This tote was a pattern designed by The Thimble Box in New Ulm. Again, the pattern uses the larger panel that was being given at the shops in the southwest section in 2008. The album is a kit that was put together by the folks at Country Caboose Quilting. The photo album with the cover made with the hop fabric is just the right size for the clues for the section quilts that were given away last year.

The tote is just the right size for magazines and notebooks and I made mine with interior pockets. I also changed the closing tab. I was a quick project.

I hope to see some great ideas for this year's fabric as well. I am thinking that the cityscape fabric might work well for the Bow Tucks Tote. I have made several of these totes and my daughters really like them.

The Madness Begins Again

The planning stages for participation in the 2009 Minnesota State Shop Hop have begun! I have worked out various routes for the days of the hop and hope to be able to complete the hop in 10 days or less. I have several routes plotted on my Garmin program and hope to be able to make a stop back home on Day 7 to do laundry, repack and attend my quilt guild meeting. We'll see how that goes, I tried that last year and it didn't work; ran out of time that day.

I am trying to be more organized this year, with a list of items that I am searching for and things that I need to finish current projects. Just finished printing a number of address labels to use for drawings, etc. It's quicker that writing everything out every time you need to register for something.

There is a little more driving this year, in 2007 when I did the entire hop, Crystal's Log Cabin Quilts in Grand Marais was not in the hop. Their addition is adding a little more driving, but should be worth doing, along the shores of Lake Superior.

The trip should be a little bit cheaper that last year as well, no $4 gas, at least I hope not.

I hope to be able to blog regularly about the trip, but this will depend on the availability of internet access in the hotel in the evenings. Most of the larger places have access, but some of the smaller motels and guest camps can be lacking in the electronic department.

More later as planning continues!