Quilt Market Day 2 -- My Adventure Ends

It was hard to sleep last night thinking of all I'd seen yesterday. Awards are presented in various categories for those who have exceptional booths.

........yes that is an automobile! Today I saw a man dressed up as Superman complete with blue tights and a cape. You're probably lucky I couldn't find my camera quickly. I may need some serious counseling after seeing something like that.

Market is a time for businesses both large and small to show their best. Sometimes that means the boss has to work. Here's the owner of Moda looking over paperwork at the Moda booth. Who knows - he might have been waiting for the next client! I'd be kind of nervous if he were showing me fabric. What do you mean you don't like that fabric?!

Remember I was working on something I couldn't show you? Here it is: Lynette Anderson's new fabric. The pattern will be posted on Lecien's website soon. It's a fun quilt to make.

Here's the label I made for the back.

The Primitive Quilts magazine booth was filled with projects found in the Winter issue. I hope mine is waiting for me at home!

Several antique dealers attended. They had everything from buttons to jewelry to feed sacks to quilts. I couldn't help myself. I bought 3 quilts. I justified their purchase by the fact that I had extra room in my luggage......there's benefits to bringing just enough clothes to get through the trip. I plan to reproduce the quilts so you will be seeing them in the future. Meanwhile, here's one that I passed on (for now) because it was too big and heavy. Sigh....

My adventure ends early tomorrow morning. I have a shuttle scheduled to pick me up at 6:05. They've already called to confirm I'm leaving as planned. It's been fun but I'm ready to get home and back into my schedule. For those who are visiting my blog to get Sew Graceful updates, feel free to continue to pop in. I will have a regular newsletter ready to send as always on Thursday.

Quilt Market Day 1

I was able to get several fat quarter bundles for you to drool over at the After Market Party at Sew Graceful on Saturday. As with the past several markets, many fabric manufacturers are going with the bright contemporary look. Pretty, but it's not us.

I began my day at one of my favorite designer's booth - Blackbird Designs, of course. Unfortunately, their new book wasn't ready for market. Alma had a prototype and I was able to look through it. I think you will be pleased. We have them on order and they should ship late next week. Here's the cover of the book.

Here's a photo of their booth. It's always so pretty. As a reminder, we have the fabric used in the blue quilt on order and it should be shipping in the next few weeks. Also, they have ANOTHER new fabric line coming out next year and you will be able to see it Saturday.

Next, I visited Jan Patek's booth. She also has a new line coming out in 2012....and, yes, you will be able to see it Saturday. Here's a photo of her booth with a couple of new projects. Of course, we had to buy all of them!

A new to me designer has the most wonderful block of the month pattern. Here's a photo of the quilt in their booth. We will have the pattern for you to see on Saturday. We also bought several other of their patterns because they fit well with our primitive look.

I walked clear across the convention center to the Valdani booth so I could shop before the booth was mobbed. I speak from experience. I chose 4 boxes of new colors to expand our selection. Notice one box is the beautiful twisted perle cotton 12.

Primitive Gatherings is a "must visit" booth. Lisa has a new fabric line (yes, you'll be able to see it Saturday!) as well as a couple of new patterns. I am bringing them back. She also has a new block of the month pattern coming out in December. I'll be interested to get your reaction to it.

I think I must be very tired because it's taken an embarrassingly long time to get this little update typed. Hmmmm....wonder if my fatigue could be related to the 20 miles (it seemed like 20!) miles I walked today??!

More tomorrow.

Quilt Market Day Zero and 1/2

OK..........It's ridiculously cold here in Houston. Windy, dreary--perfect quilting weather though! I'm not sure why I'm so enticed by the shipping boxes but just had to show you a sample of what Moda sent. Obviously someone has a lot of time on their hands to have time to decorate wooden crates!

Yesterday I mentioned Schoolhouse. I helped Lynette with hers and then helped hold quilts during Lecien's presentation. Lots of very pretty new quilts and fabrics. After my "work" (what a fun way to work!) was finished I had to go to one of my favorite designer's presentation.

Yes.....that's Jo Morton. Notice the packed room. It was standing room only. She showed her Little Women's Club 11 quilts plus some that will be in a book next year.

Tonight is Sample Spree. I'd take photos but don't know if you'd be able to get the full effect by a mere photo. Imagine 1000 shop owners (mostly women) standing in line (it's 5:15 p.m.and I'll guarantee the line has formed). The doors open promptly at 8:00 and the crowd surges forward. THEN another 1000 line up for the 9:00 opening. It's like nothing you've ever seen before. Oh.....did I mention that there is a limited amount of merchandise? And some can't be bought anywhere else during market.

Those who know me know I'm not much of a shopping fan but Sample Spree is a tradition with me. I'll let you know what I found tomorrow.

Quilt Market Day Zero

I made it to Houston without any big surprises. I like surprises in many areas but sure not when flying. My room wasn't ready but that was fine. Armed with my free warm walnut chocolate chip cookie (a girl has to keep up her strength!), I headed to the convention center to pick up my show catalog.

Even though the show doesn't open until Sat the convention center was buzzing with activity. Yellow forklifts were everywhere moving freight to the appropriate location. Many large companies ship in these huge wooden containers.

I remember the first time Darlene and I visited this market. We looked down on the sales floor and commented it didn't look THAT big. We thought we'd probably be finished in 1/2 a day - a day at the most. Famous last words! We probably walked 10 miles that market and had to hurry to finish it in the 3 allotted days. I'm here alone this time so will not have a lot of dilly dally time.

Tomorrow I have an appointment at 10:00 and plan to go to Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse is an entire day of classes and presentations. It's a time for designers to introduce new fabric, books, gadgets, patterns, etc.

More pics tomorrow evening.

A little wool finish

I'm working on a couple of projects but can't show them right now.  Kind of makes blogging difficult - no kids or grandkids to show photos of, no pets to show photos of, don't cook food that's interesting enough to photo, and who wants to see more photos of restaurant food?! 

I recently finished this little wall hanging.  I think the snowman has such a charming expression.  It's all wool. 

I also finished this all wool project in time for fall.

Made what seemed like yards of green bias for the Baltimore quilt.  I'm not even going to think about pulling it out until after quilt market.  I leave Oct 27 for 5 days in Houston.  Markets are fun but a lot of work (some mental but a lot physical - good thing I walk 4 miles a day!)

Uh oh!

I generally love to receive a package in the mail.  Generally......this is......unless it's a package containing another Friends of Baltimore block.  Good grief!  Here's the 3rd border and I haven't started the first one yet.  I know it's not a race but I'm feeling very left behind.

I have templates made for the first border but just need to find some time to work on putting it together.  Here's a photo of border #1 - the teeny tiny black object is an IPhone.  That gives you an idea of the size.

So, what have I spent my last 3 weeks doing?  I finished the model for Lynette Anderson's new fabric line which will make its debut in Houston later this month.  You can click on her name and go to the Sep 27 blog entry to see another peek of her fabric. 

That's about it for now.  I wanted to do a quick update to let you know I'm still around.  Fingers crossed for no more of "those" packages for at least a couple of weeks!