Quilt market day 3 - the final day

Darlene and Debby left for home early this morning. I'm staying for festival to help Lynette Anderson with her booth so I took the opportunity today to just wander the sales floor and see if there were any treasures I'd missed. I spoke with several designers and picked up a few more pieced pattern ideas.

I stopped by Bunny Hill Designs and think her new spring block of the month quilt is very cute.

The bed spread on this bed is just amazing! So many ruffles! I wouldn't make it but my hat is off to anyone who wants to make it.

Booth decorations go from large, very detailed projects.....

.....to small, quick, easy projects.

These displays were very nice.

Beautiful quilt using new Renee Nanneman fabrics.

Don't forget to join Darlene and Debby this Saturday for the after market party. They have lots to share (including a new sample). They have a very limited number of the best find of the entire market.....weekly planners. These aren't your average planners - each week you will see a different quilt. The book is very high quality and would make a very nice gift for you or a friend. If you can't make it Saturday but would like one please give a quick call to Darlene at 479-372-7403 or email at info@sewgracefulquilting.com. I imagine they'll go fast and I'm not sure we will be able to get more.

I have never been to quilt festival so am not sure what I've gotten myself into. Tomorrow is a relax day. Wednesday we will convert a single booth into a double booth. The shoppers arrive Wednesday evening at 5 for a special preview. If I'm not too pooped, I'll give you updates.

 

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Quilt market day 2

Today was our day to look at fabric with our fabric reps. Of course, we ordered some Moda. It'll be torture to wait until next year for arrival. We really liked Kim Diehl's line from Henry Glass and Judy Rothermel's 25th anniversary line. Jo Morton also has some very nice prints that would work well with what we already have.

We were very disappointed many of our favorite designers aren't at market. No Crabapple Hill, Renee Nanneman, Buttermilk Basin, Heart to Hand, Reets Rags, JoAnn Mullaly, or Hatched and Patched. We hope everything is ok with them and they will make it to the spring market in Portland. Meanwhile, we will be contacting them to look at new designs.

One thing we wanted to accomplish while we were here was to find some new pieced patterns. Yes, we will still be heavy into appliqué, but we feel its time to branch out and offer more choices for those who enjoy piecing. We found a couple patterns we think will work very well.

We will have more info at our After Market Party this Saturday about our new Buggy Barn club. We did pick up several copies of their new book.

One of the most exciting tidbits we learned today is that 3 of Yoko Saito's Books are being translated to English. The first, Scandinavian Quilts, will be available in November. We saw a preview copy and it is wonderful.

My clock says its 10:19 p.m. Yikes! Way past my bedtime. I'll be back tomorrow with more photos.

 

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Quilt market day 1

What a hectic time last night at Sample Spree. It was all worth it, though, because we got some great fat quarter bundles to show you. Generally, the only time we can buy fat quarter bundles here is during Sample Spree. Of course, not every line or every fabric manufacturer has bundles.

Moda never lets us down.

We were very fortunate to get Jo Morton bundles......they sold out in 10 minutes.

After a good breakfast (believe me, we walked that breakfast off quickly!) and armed with our rolling Tutto suitcases, show books, and comfortable walking shoes, we began our day. Since we have been here before, we know to visit the booths that are most interesting to us first. It's common for vendors to sell out quickly.

Valdani was on the list. We are bringing back some yummy new colors.

The Primitive Gatherings booth is always packed so that was a priority. We are bringing back some great new patterns by Lisa.

You just never know what you will see at market.

Yes. That is a real camper.....but not a real fire for cooking s'mores.

A visit with Alma and Barb of Blackbird Designs is always a MUST do. They have a new book coming out in December. We placed our order so should receive our shipment as soon as the ink has dried on the books. It will make a nice gift to yourself or a friend.

.......and just when we thought we'd seen it all, we ran across this.....

Just in case you are wondering......we passed on that one.

Tomorrow we have appointments to sit and look at fabric. Of course, when we see a good reproduction line we want to buy it all. It'll be a fun day!

 

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Quilt market day zero

We arrived in Houston last night after a very nice trip. We took advantage of 12 hours in the car to plan for 2013 projects. The weather was a balmy 88 degrees when we arrived, but the cold front that followed us arrived today leaving everyone shivering.

Today was School House. I remember our first market when we heard about this school house event. A fellow shop owner explained it this way "You choose what you want to take from dozens of classes, show up, listen for 15-30 minutes, and move to the next class." We wondered what happened if everyone wants to take the same class at the same time. Fortunately, that doesn't happen and everything goes smoothly.

Will this really be ready tomorrow?!

Many of the large companies ship their market goods in large wooden crates. The crates have doors that swing open to allow the workers access to the goods.

Tonight was also Sample Spree. Think of the biggest after Thanksgiving sale you can and then multiply by 100. It is total chaos as hundreds of people scurry to buy fat quarter bundles and patterns. It's become a tradition with us - we want to bring home fabric so you can see some of what we see.

Day 1 starts at 9:30 tomorrow. Be back tomorrow evening with photos!

 

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I am all set up at the quilt show

I always enjoy vending at quilt shows. This weekend I'm just down the highway at the show in Fort Smith. I had a chance to do a quick walk through and glance at the quilts. I'm excited to get to look closely tomorrow.

Here's photos of my booth. Booths without curtains are a challenge since we don't have poles. It's amazing what a tipped over tub can do, though!

Notice the block with the large flower pot? That's block 1 of a new block of the month I am creating. I'm using Barbara Brackman's "Metro Fair" line. It's a reproduction of an antique quilt I own.

 

 

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