Welcome to Spring Quilt Market 2009

What an action packed day!


The first day of Quilt Market is called Schoolhouse. We have an action packed day of education provided by manufacturers, designers and fellow shop owners. Everything from the latest trends in fabric to how to teach a Beginning Quilting class. There are over 200 classes to choose from among 20 or so classrooms. Classes run 15 - 30 minutes and you better run in between sessions.

This is one of the biggest reasons I come to Market. It is great to hear new ideas, be exposed to what the manufacturers think is the next big thing and to get a little preview of all the goodies that will be available in the exhibit hall over the next few days.


One of the great bonuses is the "freebies" - just like we tempt you with goodies, the vendors lure us with yummy fabric to see what they have to offer.


Lunn Studios showcased their Kaufman Artisan Batiks with a theme "Permission to Play" - I absolutely love it! Debra and Michael talked about how there are not many self proclaimed art quilters, yet so many of us like to dabble in the "creative" side of art quilting. Do you know what she said? "There are no art quilt police!" How liberating! I don't know about you, but I do get quite concerned about is something "artsy" daring enough... WELL - guess what? IT DOESN'T MATTER. She continued, "It's just fabric" HA!!! So go ahead - give yourself permission to play. We have seen her striped batik patterns before and they only get better. 3 1/2" strips cut on the bias or on the straight. Subcut into squares or simply resewn together, this fabric is absolutely magical in creating works of art out of simple patterns.


Local favorite Kim Schaefer showed off her holiday lines and debuted her newest "Folklorika". Christmas themed "Partridge in a Pear Tree" is classic Kim and perfect for your whimsically primitive project. One of my favorites for this Christmas line is her pear table runner. The whole gang at Andover Fabrics gets into the act at the class. Company owner David proudly parades quilt samples and one male staffer even struts down the catwalk with a tree skirt as a man kilt. We were lucky enough to grab a sample pack of Partridge and a matching coveted Andover tote bag. (These will be part of the loot on the Post-Market Review Night May 27th at 5:30 - have you reserved your spot yet?)




Kaye England hosted a Hoedown! Retro and kitchy (I love that she uses that word too), this fabric line demands a closer look. We will see what goodies she has tomorrow! Back Home Again with Diane has been such a hit at the store, I do like to see what Kaye has to offer.



Maple Island Quilts have this really cool technique for stripe fabrics. We'll be checking this one out tomorrow.




Electric Quilt Company featured a fascinating Kaleidescope add on... make a note - more research. Very cool twist on paper piecing projects.



Tonight, we had Sample Spree. Now I didn't have to scalp a ticket this trip... I actually got in line at 5:00 p.m. (I know the doors open at 8:00 p.m.) See Pittsburgh is a great city, but the hotels are not connected to the convention center, so where else was I going to go? The funny thing is, jockeying for position totally didn't matter tonight, they opened doors on several entrance doors for efficient entry for all to the event. (grin) Regardless the swarming and elbowing was on! I was as ladylike as possible and somehow ended up with an amazing amount of stuff by 8:15. You know we get bolts delivered by the case to the store, yet I still find tremendous joy in acquiring an amazing fat quarter pack or two (or three or... Frank isn't reading this is he :-) ?) I have the packs spread out on the bed in the hotel room.

An incredible bonus, our buddies from Me & My Sister Designs GIVE charm tablet samples with orders. We are the proud new owners of their latest design Fiona. More challenging than Emma, This sixth offspring is a GREAT baby quilt or basis for a larger quilt.

The classes today were held above the exhibit floor. In between classes we could see the exhibit floor take shape. AHHH all the goodies to take in tomorrow...

Must rest... Sweet fabric dreams from Pittsburgh...

Julie :-)

Get Ready for Spring Market 5/14-5/17

Check back 5/14 to follow my every move at the Pittsburgh Spring Quilt Market!

Market Wrap Up

After a whirlwind in Houston, I have returned back to the shop.

Top 5 things I have seen:
1. Green
2. Birds
3. Fairies
4. More pre-cuts
5. Everything homemade

Green
From soothing sage to electric lime, all things green are hot!

Birds
Birds, birds and more birds - even some owls. Birds are still hot. Mostly "contemporary" representations of birds over true images.

Fairies
Alexander Henry was a bit ahead of the trend with some showing last market. Fairies were everywhere.

Pre-cuts
Some new language for you:
Turnover: 6 inch squares cut on the diagonal
Honey Buns: 1 1/2" strips cut width of fabric

More and more patterns using combinations of pre-cuts instead of only one cut.

Everything Homemade
I haven't been going to these things for too long, however there seems to be more of a focus on creating homemade everything. Easy home decorating ideas, more totes (if that is possible), aprons, and lots of little gifty items.

Lots of the newer designers are talking about ETSY. (A crafter's EBAY type online community. www.etsy.com)

I can't wait to see you tomorrow night for the big Post Market Review!

Julie

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Another busy day of shopping!

As I downloaded my pics today I realized I had "dim light setting" on my camera for most of the day. So we have only a few pictures to share today.

I started the day running into the one and only Mark Lipinski. (quilt media mogul, personality, a.k.a. the quilt god) . He blogspotted us the other day! HA! After a fun chat I rushed off to my appointment to buy his upcoming fabric line "krakow" from Northcott. As a note of clarification - his lecture the other day would not have made a truck driver blush, just my mother. :-) She would have thought it was entertaining nonetheless.




Lots of fun finds today at Northcott! Trick or Treat Street for Halloween 2009 (okay okay my weakness is Halloween).



The Sisterhood of Quilting which is a a fun Quiltie Lady find. Jody Haughton is the artist and has teamed up with Mattie from QuiltSmart for a great quilt!



Speaking of QuiltSmart, we have some great finds to share with you. Caren has been teaching the QS Lonestar for months now, however that is just the beginning. I have a sampling of products to share with you when I return. The apple core pattern and tumbling blocks are my favorite new discoveries.

I also love the fact that they have some great new product packaging and standalone instructions to match up with additional bolt yardage.




I finally had my appointment to order the "Fish Lips" from the Kaffe Collective at Westminster. The polka dot on the left is a different print from the collection.

New from Quilting Treasures - the new installment of Wizard of Oz is on it's way and I Love Lucy will be making it's way into the quilting world as well. Lucy's Chocolate Factory is absolutely spectacular! They have coordinated a new Lucy's Chocolate Factory chocolate line from Rocky Mountain Chocolates as well. I got a WHOLE bar to sample today. OMG - it was so yummy - no skimping on quality there. I have a great Lucy apron as one of our doorprizes on Friday.

I got to meet Keri Beyer from In the Beginning. I got some flair - real flair - I LOVE flair! She has a cool new "rocket scientist" line. I wish I lived in a dorm again! Girls can be Rocket Scientists - WE CAN!! WE CAN!!

I have a final day tomorrow. I still have more to share. If you are local make sure you sign up to come in on Friday night for our Post-Market Review.

Happy Quilting!

Julie

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Day One has come to a close.

So last night it seemed like I really didn't know anyone here. Starting the day at 8:15 a.m., breakfast in the hotel lobby became a who's who of the quilt world. Me & My Sister's invited me over to their table, but I had already finished my bowl of corn flakes, so I declined - maybe tomorrow. Off to the show...

I have some really awesome fabric reps... one of my favorites got me in early this morning - before start of the show with coffee (shh don't tell anyone) Everything is so nice and peaceful right before the doors officially open. There are sales meetings at some of the booths, other booths are still "roped off" as the vendors have not all yet arrived.

I got to survey a few booths without the crowd and then it was down to business. At the Free Spirit booth, some the designers are lurking about the booth. Unbeknownst to me, Jenean was standing behind me with other members of the design team while I viewed her debut line. I started petting the fabric and I heard some giddy giggling. I turned around, saw her nametag and said "are you...?" We briefly chatted and she graciously posed for a picture with me. This is the absolute best part of market. The designers being just like you and me. They design fabric like we experiment with quilts. Market for them is like show and tell for us... with the small difference that their livelihood depends on us liking (hence buying) their fabric.

Keeping a tight appointment schedule, I saw all the new fabric offerings at Kaufman, Hoffman, Free Spirit, Andover, Benartex, Alexander Henry today. I had just enough time to walk around a bit.

Me and Nicole (Designer for Alexander Henry)

New fabrics from Hoffman

Fun "Lights, Camera, Action" from Andover - will be just in time for those Oscar parties.

Kim Schaefer's new line

Brown Bear - a followup to Hungary Catapillar

Something a little different was the amount of "contemporary funky" panel type pieces. These are 45" pieces that are appropriate for duvet covers or "convenience" quilts.

I found this really fun company Sweetwater (we carry some of thier black and white fabrics). She has some really fun "Pottery Barny" (yes that is a new word) patterns. We will be incorporating the ornaments in our after Thanksgiving workshops. I just think they are so FUN!!!

I picked up some great goodies today as well. Authors with book signings, Kim Schaefer got me a tote bag for her new fabric line, Anna Maria Horner autographed a book for me and gave me some other goodies.

Anna Maria Horner signing her new book for us!

Linda from Craftapple chatted with us and her new purse the chemisette.

Kaari at the Moda booth (she is originally from Milwaukee and will be a future fabric designer)

Tonight is the night for party hopping. Moda always has a great spread and Kaufman has a sophisticated intimate soirée. At the Kaufman party I had a great time connecting with different shops and chatting up the corporate execs and fabric designers. I had a really great chat with Debra and Michael from the Artisan Batik line. They have heard about all you batik club ladies and were asking what else they can do to help our club along! I don't know if you know it, but you ladies were the impetus behind getting that trunk show out and about to different stores!

Lots more stories and pictures tomorrow!

Julie

What a day!?!?!

Wow! What a day!

The day before market is dedicated to education and promotion. We have 15-30 minute segments from many vendors.

Each of the time slots offers over 10 unique sessions so there is absolutely no way to take in everything... but I try.

First Highlight: Black & White & Red All Over

Cindy Hershy hosted a trend session discussing the continuation of Black and White with a splash of color. We have seen black/white/red, black/white/yellow, and black/white/pink for several seasons now. This classic combination is still strong with new fabric offerings. I love the use of red ric rac on this sample of charm party totes. Remember you can make "charm" patterns with fabric you cut yourself!

Second Highlight: Fresh Ideas from Fig Tree & Co.

Joanna dazzles again. Fig & Plum debuted at the store last week for Moda University. Fig Tree has published a great new series of "Fig Tree Threads" patterns that focus on quick projects. I am absolutely in love with her slipper and duffle bag patterns. Her upcoming fabric line Patisserie, will be shipped in all the latest Pre-cut shapes (Honey Buns and Turnovers). She has a great vision for using precuts in a sophisticated way.

Third Highlight: The Kaffe Collective - Kaffe, Liza, Brandon & Philip

Kaffe's debuts his new concept book "Country Garden Quilts" and welcomes Brandon into the Kaffe Collective. Brandon had been a Kaffe understudy and now debuts his first line. For the first time Westminster Fibers is marketing the Kaffe, Brandon and Philip lines together. While textures are very different, the look and feel is very fluid between the groups. My favorite new fabric is "Fish Lips" by Brandon Mably (I think I just like it because of the name and he made a fish lip face when he shared how he conceived of the design.)

Kaffe also took a moment in this extended session to discuss his quilt design process. He uses a single shape (a diamond in this case), 300+ cuts of this shape from various fabrics, and a twin size sage flannel sheet. Playing with fabric placement he focuses on the aesthetics of fabric placement before a single seam is sewn.

Fourth Highlight: Edyta Sitar - Spectacular Fusible Applique

I have seen Edyta before and I am awe struck EVERY time. She can make fusible web dance! In this session she discussed her upcoming book as well as her upcoming fabric lines. In addition to pattern designing, she designs batiks for Moda under the label Laundry Basket Quilts. She is the designer of the fabulous "Let it Snow" collection. Her upcoming "Dreaming in Color" is so yummy as well.

Fifth Highlight: Quilt-O-Grams

A twist on quilted postcards - this new book by C&T focuses on playing with surface embellishments to create personalized cards to share while learning a new technique and playing with different mediums.

Just announced C&T is bringing back Timtex!

Sixth Highlight: A Chat with Mark Lipinski (Creator of Quilter's Home Magazine)

Mark is such a radical... he told stories which would make a truck driver blush. Humor and business savvy makes Mark a great addition to the quilting world. Love him or hate him, he is turning the quilt world upside down. Less of a consumer session, this shopowner meeting focused on how we need to keep up with the changing complexion of the "average" quilter. This "ain't" your great-grandmother's quilt world anymore.

Seventh Highlight: Best of Show Product Review

An Oprah style presentation, a top trade magazine reviewed their top 30 picks for market. At the end of the session, we all left with a goodie bag!!! More to come from this session...

The day ends with what is called Sample Spree. This is where shop owners have the opportunity to buy "designer cuts" of fabric to make our samples before the fabric lines are shipped. We also can buy special packs of patterns from pattern vendors. Then there are a few sought after booths that actually sell samples with a group of patterns!

A true madhouse... it is rumored that fights have broken out in previous years. I waited in the hall for 70 minutes to experience this venue. Chatting with shopowners and designers, the wait seems hardly more than 5 minutes.

Tomorrow - the trade show floor opens and buying begins...

Signing off until tomorrow!

Julie

Fall Quilt Market in Houston

Hello fellow quilters...

Let the Quilt Market Adventures begin again!

I am getting ready to go to Sample Spree. I have lots to post from today's informative Schoolhouse sessions.

More in a few hours :-)