LAKE CITY — If you are looking for a new hobby or are hoping to dive deeper into your passion for quilting, right now is the perfect time.
Fabric stores around Michigan are participating in Shop Hop, a quilting event that goes until the end of July.
The Michigan Shop Hop event started last year. Melissa Thompson was newly retired and was looking for a hobby. She decided that it was the perfect time to try something new.
“The quilting community is a very loving, giving, kind community. Just try it” says Melissa Thompson, Shop Hop participant, “Now I have the time. I have the energy. Let’s do it. So, I started out with the Shop Hop and I made my plan every day where I was going to go, what stores were open on that day, and what time I used my Circuit app or MapQuest app to pretty much map up my day and do it.”
What Melissa discovered through her journey, were new friendships and new fabric. After a year she is still in touch with some of the people she met during last year’s Shop Hop.
“I traveled to quilt shops in the U.P. I’ve traveled to quilt shops down below Lansing and I have new friends. I’ve taken quilt shop classes in Munising. I get up in the morning and drive, you have the class all day and come home at night. And it’s just fun. Fun to meet new people, all walks of life, all skill levels, and they’re so welcoming. Such a welcoming community.”
Cardinal Creations Co-Owner Molly Osborne says their shop had travelers from all over the country.
“We’ve had a lot of people from out of the state of Michigan. So, they’re also traveling from other states to come do the Shop Hop in Michigan. I know we’ve had Florida and Texas, last year and I think even Alaska — It’s just amazing to hear their story. Everybody has a story and everybody’s doing something with the quilting community.
“Lot of them do donation quilts. They do quilts for veterans. And just like graduation gifts. And so, there’s a story with every quilt. And so, it’s just fun to hear all the stories from all over the United States.”
The Shop Hop is running in different states each year. Michigan started last year surpassing all the other states numbers. This year they have 102 stores participating from the top of the U.P. to the bottom of the mitten. You can earn different rewards based on how many stores you go too within your region and the state.
“So, for the Shop Hop, each year they come out with a line of fabric. And that fabric usually tries to represent Michigan and so this year we have some great ones from the Petoskey stone fabric to the four seasons,” shares Molly, “So, there’s some great, Michigan motifs in the border this year. I really love it. It says Michigan in it, but then it has just lighthouses and the lakes and the trees in the fall. And the panel that we have this year actually has the Mackinac Bridge in it. So, we were thrilled to have the bridge represented this year.”
Every quilt shop you go to has their own character, just like the quilts. Cardinal Creations says they hope more people join their community.
“Quilting is a great creative outlet, and so a lot of people do it for many reasons. A lot of people like to make gifts and have family heirlooms,” explains Molly, “It’s a great way to get your mind off something. It’s an amazing hobby to be creative and also be creating something.”
Since starting her quilting journey, Melissa has decided to make her hobby into a family heirloom for her nieces and nephews. The tradition started with her great grandmother passing down a blanket to her father.
“My goal is to make all of my family members a quilt and label it on the back that I made it, and when I made it, I have my great grandmother’s that my dad got when he was little, and unfortunately I never asked when she made it …but her dream was to give it to her first grandchild. That grandchild passes it down to his first, which is me. And then I keep passing it down. And I have no kids, so it will go to my first niece, and then hopefully she will pass it on to her kids and their kids and just, I need to do that for myself,” says Melissa, “I love to make things for people. I’m knitting and crocheting and sewing all the time. Making gifts for graduation, baby showers, wedding showers, all of that. And just to have that gift to my family members is what I’m hoping to accomplish with all of these classes I’m taking.”