International Quilt Market 2013 Portland

Hi all, I am finally home from quilt market. I had a great time!

I have so much to share…so I think I should start from the beginning….my LQS ( The Fabric Patch) goes to market once each year..if Spring is on the west coast they go n Spring…Fall market is always in Houston…so if Spring market is on the East coast they go in fall.

Cindi and Brianna are always very busy because they have to methodically go through market finding the newest treasure or technique to bring to the shop. They also have several appointments with their reps so they can place their orders. They go off on their own. But as a perk their employees can go and just see the market. In my group I went with Cindi, Brianna, Mike, and Sabrina. We all work for the shop…I am the quilter. So I don’t get to do any shopping……which is nice because I am free to do what I want. I really wanted to see the quilts and meet some famous designers. See all the new lines because I tend to keep up on fabric designers ( which was a funny thing at market because I think I may be the only one in my group who does that?)

So we arrived Wednesday night ( drove 5-6 hours) and went on a dinner cruise with the Fab Shop. Cindi is part of the Fab Shop network and they do tons of door prizes, Cindi actually won a basket of goodies that night…which was fun!  We had a nice dinner and cruised the waterfront…looking at dream houses that we will never be able to afford.

We actually  to Faith’s house ( before the cruise). I met Faith on the QB…..well kind of…we chatted a few times..but I really met her and her group at the Pacific Northwest quilt show last year when I had a booth. She offered to host us and I have to say she was the “hostess with the mostest.” When we arrived she had made appetizers for us…YUMMY! Her marinated shrimp was EXCELLENT! WOW! Her husband, Roger was a good sport to have us “Quilt Invaders” ..we kept them up late and laughed lots. I can’t forget to mention their 3 pound dog named Cujo..who had quite the fan club….all of us adored him. It was a mutual love.

Thursday was a day of classes. While the vendors are setting up on Thursday..they all host a series called School House. So we all sat and planned our schedules..divide and conquer was the name of the game. We all tried to take different classes..so we could meet at the end of the day and discuss new ideas, techniques and fabrics. Hear the latest. All geared towards Shop owners…of course.  I went to a few geared towards machine embroidery because that is a new feature at my LQS (and for me)…I went to an omnigrid class for a ruler demo( got a free ruler..yahoo!) But when there was a class offered for a meet and greet type of thing…if I was able to go I wanted to go for some of my favorite designers. Amy Butler, Tula Pink, Robyn Pandolph, Jinny Beyer….and a few others.

I have to say I am not one of those gushy fans. I don’t really go out of my way…..I would say Amy is my MOST favorite fabric designer on Earth…she always has been ..since I picked up a magazine and saw her fabric. I took her school house class…didn’t stop and ask for her autograph…she also had meets and greets in her booth….I didn’t go. I wouldn’t know what to say..I don’t want to seem crazy or anything..so I just observe from a distance. I have to tell you she is REALLY nice. Sweet and real. I love that she is that way and it makes me love her more. I don’t want to be a fan of someone who is mean or fake. I won’t support that kind of person. So I am REALLY glad she is nice and down to earth. Otherwise I might have to dump my 1000 yards of fabric …that’s a bad thing. She didn’t have a booth this year on her own…it was her first time having just a section in the Westminster booth….but she was there with her little section. I didn’t even get a picture..because I felt I couldn’t invade on her..isn’t that strange? I did for many others….but for some reason I couldn’t take a step into the booth. I am weird.

Anyway Friday was the first day of market….I took my camera that day…and that was the only day. When you are there you have so much to carry it became uncomfortable…so I quit taking a bag and everything in….to be free. But I do have plenty of pics….to share. I have to get ready for my lunch date…so I will make another post later….

But I wanted to to a GIVE away!!!!!!!!

I have this Journal….I bought it at the E.E. Schenk Warehouse..I will tell you about the experience….WOW!

I just feel in love with it….and bought several….so I thought I would start my give -aways with this…since I will be journaling my trip on here…you may need one for a special trip …sketches or memories.

Not only is there blank pages for writings and drawings there is also graph paper…..the cover is embroidered..which is what made me fall in love with it.

How sweet…right?

So all you have to do is tell me…Who is your favorite fabric designer? If you don’t have one…tell me your favorite line of fabric( I can probably tell you who the designer is..LOL) or your favorite quilt pattern…..leave a comment and I will pick a winner for all my GIVE aways this Friday! I have several things to giveaway..I still have to go through my pile of goodies..but here is a peak!