Time to get Wild about Nebraska with the 16th annual Nebraska Shop Hop!

Are you wild about Nebraska? Our state is number one in so many things...I think primarily it's the people  that make it so special. Like YOU!

You do so much for each other! Like the adventure that awaits you for the 16th annual Nebraska Shop Hop coming up April 3 - 12, 2014. Ladies will flock to all 35 locations of the Nebraska Independent Fabric Shops. Last year it wasn't just ladies, a husband and wife team traveled to all the quilt shops in the state!

While traveling you will bond with each other - your deer friends - plan ahead for gifts, help each other find that special fabric that "speaks" to you....or the ONE fabric that will finally allow you to finish that UFO...aka...unfinished project.

There's a lot to get wild about this year too! A special fabric has been created showcasing the vast wilderness and beauty that makes up most of the state. Critters, flowers, and waterfalls...

While traveling, make sure to stop at the Quilting Cupboard in Valentine! Susan Stec is the shop owner and will make you feel right at home in the renovated home - turned quilt shop. There are two floors full of 100 percent cotton fabric, wool, patterns, books, notions, buttons, flosses, trims and kits.

And she'll make YOU feel welcome with a nice hot beverage, or cool one, depending on the fluctuating winds of spring while you peruse more than 1,000 bolts of fabrics. Some waiting just for you too!

Each of the western shops has put together a quilt using the 16th annual Shop Hop fabric created just for this event. Once it's gone...ladies and gentlemen....it's gone. You'll have to stop at all the shops to get your pattern and put it together row by row.

Valentine is a tourist town...with plenty to see and do. You might want to make this your last stop of the day so you can enjoy the comforts of the Trade Winds Lodge or Valentine's Niobrara Lodge. Get up in the morning and be on your way west where other quaint shops await. The early bird gets the worm....

One of the most fabulous thing about the annual Shop Hop is that you're meeting up with old friends again...or making new ones.

You're also putting together memories - not just for yourselves as you travel - but those memories will go into the projects you create for your loved ones. You'll recall that Susan helped you pick out the perfect fabric to compliment others. Or showed you a pattern that will showcase your stash to perfection.

Make your plan. Head out to Valentine, Nebraska...stay a day and enjoy The Quilting Cupboard, browse quaint shops on Main Street, get a meal from some award winning restaurants...and remember the flock of love that is the Heart City.

The Quilting Cupboard is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be reached by calling 402-376-3702.

Go wild about Nebraska, all roads will lead you to the City with Heart, Valentine, Nebraska!!!

15th annual Nebraska Shop Hop, April 18-28, 2013!!!!

All things are pointing for you to make the trip across 

Nebraska for the 15th annual Nebraska Shop Hop. 

It's the 15th annual Nebraska Independent Shop Hop and there's something for everyone as they journey across our wonderful state and visit 39 participating quilt and fabric shops. 

Way out in Valentine, Nebraska, you'll meet one of the nicest shop owners (customers have commented), Susan Stec, who owns the Quilting Cupboard. 

 Quilting Cupboard owner, Susan Stec holds up the Western shops' project.

Bill and Barbara Brazie of Wakefield, NE, stopped by Friday, April 19, to pick up some quilting supplies. Both of them are quilters, however Bill says Barb won't let him touch her HQ16 long-arm quilting machine. He prefers to make quilt tops and will get back at it after he's done with physical therapy on his shoulder. 

"It's going to be 16 to 20 weeks. When it first started, I thought it was arthritis. One of the orthopedic surgeons though we better try a steroid shot. I thought we were just putting the surgery off. He talked me into doing it. I didn't make it two weeks and was hurting worse than before. I had shoulder spurs and the doctor found bone spurs and thought scope surgery with three to eight weeks for recovery. 

"I can't carry on this way - so he went in and wound up doing surgery. It was a mess, the rotor cuff was clean way back here," he indicated toward his back. "They had to drill a hole in the bone and stitch the muscle to the bone so it could grow back to the tendons."

 Unique patterns by Fear Not Pattern Co, a great supply of wool and 
Weeks Dye Works flosses are available. 

But that won't stop the Brazie's from visiting all of the shops. While NIFS doesn't have a point system this year, they do have the opportunity for participants who visit all the shops to get a $10.00 coupon and a bag for 2014. Another bonus of visiting ALL the shops is that participants will be entered into ALL the drawings. 

Bill and Barb will take two - three day weekends - to make the trek. In the meantime, Barb has her own quilting business Barbara's Busy Bee Quilting. She also quilts the designs Bill has made for his granddaughters, a couple he made for graduation gifts and two baby quilts. 

While she's had the long-arm for the past four years, it wasn't until recently that she began quilting professionally. 

 Barbara and Bill Brazie of Wakefield, NE. 

"I like to do it, I just wish I had more control. I have to do everything freehand. I'll work for a couple hours...the big ones 94"x104" take a couple days to finish."

Bill and Barbara make a lot of quilts for their church who donates them to the Lions Club, Lutheran World Relief and Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk. 

"Last year we gave to Mapleton, IA, who had the big tornado. There's a lot of people who you can give them to. We pick our charity and usually it's the Lutheran World Relief," said Barbara.  

As the sun begins to set, the Brazie's decide they'll head for Hemmingford in the morning instead, and enjoy Valentine's finest dining and stay at one of our nice motels - with a fine breakfast to get them off in the morning. Thanks for stopping by Bill and Barb. And all the others who will visit Valentine for the 15th annual Nebraska Shop Hop!

 The Nebraska fabric was made into a tote at the Quilting Cupboard - kits are available.