MEDIA RELEASE

Colorful tropical fabrics, aloha for one of the world’s most popular pastimes and vast, contrasting landscapes make the Big Island Quilt Shop Hop unlike any elsewhere.

During the entire month of February, eight shops participate in the circle-island quilt trek, where shop-hoppers will pick-up their custom quilt block kits and have their “passport” stamped, to be eligible for the grand prize drawing.

Maps and passports will be available at each location. Participants can start their tour at any of the venues along the route, and/or join one of two excursions by bus. (One passport per family.)

The Kona to Hilo Bus Tour takes place Saturday, Feb. 11 (price, time and location TBA). To sign up, contact Karen Barry at Quilt Passions, 329-7475.

The Hilo to Kona Bus Tour takes place Saturday, Feb. 18, departing from the Hilo Bus Depot (time TBA). The cost is $50 including lunch (subject to change).

To sign up for the Hilo Bus Tour, contact any of the three quilt shops in Hilo; Kilauea Kreations, 961-1100, Fabric Workshop, 933-1010, or Fabric Impressions, 961-4468.

Completed passports make shop-hoppers eligible for the prize drawings. First Place wins eight $25 gift certificates plus eight one-yard cuts of fabric; Second Place wins six $15 gift certificates plus six one-yard cuts of fabric; Third Place wins two $15 gift certificates plus two one-yard cuts of fabric. Numerous other prizes are available.

Each Big Island shop offers something special, with its own personality and unique location, from the lush greens of the Hilo, Volcano and Pahala areas to the paniolo hill country of Waimea/Kamuela and Kailua-Kona’s sunny shores. Various venues will offer refreshments, special sale items and unique handmade treasures as individual highlights of every stop.

This year’s theme is tropical flowers—so each store will have a different flower on its 10”x10” quilt block, to collect and complete the one-of-a-kind 2012 Big Island Shop Hop quilt. The quilt block patterns are free, or available with fabric as a kit for $6. (The background fabric for each block is Hoffman 1895, Seagrass.) If a customer purchases $35 or more in other merchandise, the fabric kit is free. “Finishing kits” will be available for purchase as well.

For more information, contact organizer Mary Moody-Cox at 961-1100 or email marymoodycox@earthlink.net.

Shop Hop circuit:

East Hawaii

* Pahala Quilting and Creative Sewing Center, “Orchid”
96-3208 Maile St., Pahala, HI 96777. (808) 928-0011
www.PahalaQuilting.com

* Kilauea Kreations I, “Naupaka”
19-3972 Volcano Rd., Volcano, HI 96785. (808) 967-8090
www.KilaueaKreations.com

* Kilauea Kreations II, “Puakenikeni”
680 Manono St., Hilo, Hi 96720. (808) 961-1100
www.KilaueaKreations.com

* The Fabric Workshop, “Anthurium”
1348 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, HI 96720. (808) 933-1010

* Fabric Impressions, “Hibiscus”
206 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720-2835. (808) 961-4468

West Hawaii

* Topstitch, “Heliconia”
64-1067 Mamalahoa Highway # 2, Kamuela, HI. (808) 885-4482

* The Fabric Gift Shop, “Tiare”
74-5599 Luhia St., Kailua Kona HI 96740. (808) 329-8177

* Quilt Passions and Needlework Shop, “Plumeria”
75-5626 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. (808) 329-7475
www.QuiltPassions.net