10th Annual Quilt Shop Hop

I had so much fun the last few days visiting some of the stores participating in the annual Quilt Shop Hop here in south central Texas. First of all, the drive between all these stores takes you past some really beautiful patches of wildflowers, which are in full bloom right now. One drive along a major highway was especially pretty, with seas of pink, blue, white, yellow and orange wildflowers. When I left in the morning it was in the 60s, and by late afternoon we were in the 80s and sunny. The only thing unpleasant was all the pollen from the live oak trees floating in the breeze (which caused me to wake up today with icky eyes, sneezing, and general allergy symptoms). But, it was worth it. I wasn't able to get any photos of the wildflowers since I was driving at the time (I hope to in the next few days), but here's a picture of our latest rose that just blossomed.


Back to the Shop Hop. I planned to be really good. I had decided that I'd pick up the free quilt block pattern at each shop I visited and have my "passport" stamped, would sign up for their raffle, select my free fat quarter of fabric, and enjoy the refreshments. I told myself I wouldn't shop. Of course, I can easily talk myself into things, so here's how my day progressed...

I left the house, drove through the local Starbucks for a Cinnamon Dolce Latte for the long drives, and made my first stop at the closest quilt shop to us. I received my passport and did all the free things. I looked around, and I left without buying anything. Yay for me! Here's my fat quarter and the quilt block:


The next shop is one of my favorites since it's in an old 1910 Craftsman house. It's just so nice to walk around their rooms and everything looks like it really belongs in there... quilts, wooden floors, fabric, wools, fibers, books, wavy glass in the windows, a beautiful garden outside, etc. I left there after purchasing a book I thought I really had to buy then, because there was just one and it might not be there next time. I have to say that I'm really happy that I did buy it because it has some really sweet patterns for quilts about Louisa May Alcott's life, and it's a new book, just out in 2008!


Next I drove down to a town about 20 minutes south. They have a very large shop and always do the greatest job with themes. It was fun to wander from room to room, looking at everything, enjoying their theme (a sea theme this year), and picking up things I had not seen anywhere else...


Back to the car and a 40 minute trip, this time to the far west side of our city. And yes, they had beautiful things that none of the other shops had. *sigh* As I handed the sales woman my credit card I told her I was heading home. It was just too dangerous for me to visit any other shops since I spent a bit more each time I went to the next one. I just love these ribbons, and I also bought some beads which I gave to my daughter for her jewelry-making projects. That fabric is patchwork, beautiful and very summery. It's going to be a tablecloth in the eating area of the kitchen :)


Of course, things changed. Yesterday our daughter mentioned a fantastic book shop she wanted to visit, and I thought it would be perfect to do a little road trip together. An hour later she was at the bookshop, and I was at the quilt and cross stitch shop, picking up my free items and buying some cross stitch charts they had on sale (but were on my wishlist). I drove back to the bookshop, we went for lunch at Einstein Bagel, and then headed home. I see I forgot to take the picture of my free fat quarter and quilt block...


There are two more days of the Shop Hop - today and tomorrow. I'm staying home! I just can't trust myself in those last 7 shops!