Thursday, July 07, 2016

July Shop Hop 2016

In Southern Ontario, Canada there is an annual shop hop in July. This is the 6th year and I haven't really participated much in the past because it's a busy time of year for me, and it is a lot of driving because the stores are far apart.
I did participate in 2012 with my sister and that year there were 10 stores. I don't remember a "shop hop quilt" project from that year, but I do remember we got some great deals on fabric purchases (click here to read about it). 
Last year my friend Barb participated in the shop hop and collected the block packages each store gave the participants. She didn't want to sew them, so she donated them to me (click here to see that post). I took the project to fall retreat and finished sewing some of the blocks. 
And then I lost the momentum. Or maybe I got distracted by another project or deadline? Or maybe the problem was just that I didn't like some of the blocks and didn't want to sew blocks with templates?
Whatever the reason, all the finished blocks and unopened fabric packages were in this bag. So I hung it on my sewing room wall to think about it.
Do I want to participate in this year's July Shop Hop, which is even bigger with 14 stores to visit when I am so annoyed with myself for not finishing the project from last year's event? 
Have you struggled with the same dilemma? 
What would you do?

16 comments:

Frog Quilter said...

Have a give away to a reader who would use them.

SandraC said...

I think life is to short to work on a quilt I don't like. We are supposed to enjoy our hobby. I have found new homes for such projects. Amazing how good it feels afterwards when you don't have it staring you in the face anymore.

SandraC said...

I think life is to short to work on a quilt I don't like. We are supposed to enjoy our hobby. I have found new homes for such projects. Amazing how good it feels afterwards when you don't have it staring you in the face anymore.

Jo said...

I've put a few like this together to use for machine quilting practice. Simple sashing & machine binding.

Kaelyn Angelfoot said...

You can participate in the shop hop without doing the project. It would be nice to see all the different LQS. I should look for something like that in my area.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I do't do shop hops - don't travel well to begin with, don't handle crowds (I refuse to stand 2 hrs in aline for cutting), or get to a shop that has run out of their 'special' for the hop. I rather take the time to visit a new shop with no pressures. I would check with Barb and see if she minds if you gift that project on to someone

piecefulwendy said...

I don't mind shop hops, but I do very few of them. I'm trying to reduce my project pile, and shop hops don't help with that :) but I do love the goodies you get at each store! So yes, I've had the same dilemma. I'm pretty sure if I dug deep enough in my project pile, I'd find some shop hop projects not quite done (or started). --Wendy at piecefulthoughts.com.

Elaine M said...

If you love the fabrics, select other blocks you like constructing or maybe time to pass on the project. Looks like it will be a nice quilt once finished.

MissPat said...

Cynthia Brunz at Quilting is more fun than housework has an Quilty Orphan Adoption giveaway with the next one scheduled for September. You ight consider participating in that after checking with Barb to see if that's okay with her. There are too many other projects to do to spend time on one that doesn't interest you.

MissPat said...

Cynthia Brunz at Quilting is more fun than housework has an Quilty Orphan Adoption giveaway with the next one scheduled for September. You ight consider participating in that after checking with Barb to see if that's okay with her. There are too many other projects to do to spend time on one that doesn't interest you.

Deanna W said...

Well....I think if you want to participate this year...in order to aliveiate some of the guilt, you could pass your UFO onto another quilter(ME I like blue) and you would be free to enjoy this year.
Only a suggestion of course!! ;o)

kadyb said...

I have enough UFOs to last probably 50 years, and I won't make it that long. So I tend to skip the shophops because I always see something I "need." I've done the Row by Row adventure the past two years, and both of those projects are still in bags, so I may skip this years' as well. I have more ideas than I will ever be able to execute. And a room+ full of stash. Enough may be enough. Oh look...fabric.

Gretchen Weaver said...

I no longer do projects like this. There is only so much time so I try to keep focused on the projects I want to do. I do NOT do the Row by Row, nor do I do Shop Hops. At our Mennonite Relief Sale we have a sale corner for partial projects. You bag up the completed blocks, include the patterns and donate it to the sale. Someone will buy the bag and be thrilled for the project. I feel good about donating to a good cause. They feel good because they have a new project and the money they paid is going to relief. Blessings, Gretchen

Deanna W said...

Reading this makes me think you have been peeking in on my life. I guess we quilters really are all the same but different! lol

Deanna W said...

What a great idea...the partial project sale. Will have to remember that!

Mary said...

I like the Blues! Templates aren't as bad as PP projects. A giveaway would be nice if you really don't want to finish this UFO. Get rid of the guilt.