Eight locally owned quilt stores are working together again to help local food banks and to raise awareness about the joys of quilting.
The Fourth Annual Charming Quilt Shop Tour begins Thursday, Aug. 21, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 30, at eight sewing and quilting stores in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
“Hoppers,” as the shoppers are called, have 10 days to visit all eight quilt stores. They will receive free gifts and treats just for walking through the door of each of the stores. A portion of their passport or entrance fee into the tour goes to help local food banks.
“The Charming Shop Hop is an event for quilters,” said Megen Wierzbicki, from Megen’s Quilt Parlor in Albion, Pa. “Different people from all over flock to our quilt shops to see what each shop has that is different and exciting and creative.”
Megen’s Quilt Parlor is located in her grandmother’s former home, down a country lane in Albion. For the 10 days of the shop hop, 8 quilts stretch across the long fence leading to the shop. More quilts hang on fences and chairs leading to the flower lined steps to the shop. “We hang quilts from the ceiling and do other fun things just to make this event special for our visitors,” said Megen.
Quilt shop hops have been happening all over the country for many years and each shop hop is different.
In the Charming Shop Hop Tour, shoppers buy a passport for $3 at any of the eight participating stores and receive a free tote bag for joining the tour. Passports are on sale now.
At each shop during the 10 days of the tour, shoppers receive a free quilt block pattern. Each shop makes up their quilt block into a project that will be unveiled the first day of the tour. In addition, each participant receives free fabric squares, a surprise treat and opportunities to win many give-aways.
The grand prize is a new sewing machine valued at $800. Second prize is a Stella Desktop Lamp valued at $258. Two third prizes — each a set of Karen Kay Buckley sewing scissors valued at $78 — will be awarded. Eight $100 value gift baskets and eight $150 dollar baskets will be awarded.
Sewing manufacturers from around the country have donated bundles of fabric, patterns and sewing tools for the event. Anyone visiting all eight stores and turning in their completed passport receives a silver sewing charm for finishing and becomes eligible for many of the give-away prizes.
Participating shops include: Cottonpickers of Chardon; Craft Cupboard of Middlefield; Just Quilt It of Champion; Megen’s Quilt Parlor of Albion; Olive Grace Studios of Fowler; Quilter’s Fancy of Cortland; Tiny Stitches of Middlefield; and Village Quilts of Canfield.
Questions on this press release call Cindy Oravecz at 330-307-3272 or cindyo@quiltersfancy.com
