Monday, May 24, 2010

To Quilt Market and back!

Hi to all!  I've had the wonderful opportunity to go to Spring Quilt Market, with my traveling SIL and friends.  This is our 4th market together, and I think, my favorite.  People are starting to know who we are, and we know them, so it's like a big reunion with some of the most talented people on the planet.  I can't wait to share some photos. 

First off, things didn't start off smoothly.  We ended up sitting on the runway in Denver for over 2 1/2 hours during an incredible electrical storm.  There was also a tornado warning in effect!  Thank goodness the people next to me were fun to talk to!   I kept thinking... "Well, if we get stuck in Denver, there is a new American Girl store here!"
We did make it to Minneapolis, at 3:30 in the morning.  Imagine my surprise the next day when we went to the "Mall of America" and they had an American Girl store!  I was in heaven!  I spent many hours and dollars here!

My husband says this is a dangerous place to let me loose in!  He's right.  I could look at everything 3 or 4 times.  I don't get tired of it.  I must be a kid at heart, because I love these dolls!
Our hotel was right across the street from the Mall, and they had a giveaway for Lanie the cute doll above.  I entered every time I walked past the desk. 
I bought my daughter some little gifts for her birthday.  The typewriter, the guitar and the doctor set.  Imagine my thrill to see this at market....
More AG dolls!  This is Playdate, the new line from Patty Young, and ModKid
 I like Patty, because she is just my size!  I really wanted to buy every pattern she has, but my closet is already overflowing with projects to do.  I will probably break down and order some of her doll clothes patterns eventually.  They are too cute for words.  I especially loved the little "wardrobe" suitcase.  (hanging next to the bed on the left) What a great thing to take to Grandma's.  
Most of our day was filled with "fabric buying"  We had back to back appointments with Michael Miller, Moda, Studio e, yaddie, yada, yada...so in between trips to the bathroom, I would wander around and get pictures of things I wanted to see.
I stopped off at one of my favorites...Fig Tree, and low and behold one of my favorite fabric designers was there...Kate Spain!  (The nicest person you will ever meet!)
I reminded Joanna of the time she came to my little town to do a trunk show.  My mom and I got to sit at her table for dinner.  We ate a very famous local restaurant named Maddox.  Well, because it was a very large event, we had 3 options for dinner.  FRIED chicken, Turkey FRIED steak, and Chicken FRIED Steak, (which is beef, not chicken.)  You should have seen Joanna's face when the choices were read...She grimly said, "I'll have the salad?"  wondering if there was any proper way out of this FRIED unhealthy food night.  A very funny moment to watch.  She remembered it perfectly.  It was fun to reminisce about. 
 As you can see we were laughing way to hard to have a proper picture taken.  Really it was because I am so short, and these 2 ladies tower over me.  They were practically on their knees, and I was as high on my tiptoes as I could get.  Too funny!  BTW, Siobhan.  I told Joanna all about you!  She now knows she has a very devoted fan in Ireland that "stalks" her website.!
 More of Fig Tree's beautiful booth.  Joanna talking to Kate Spain.

 This was Michael Miller's booth.  (A fabric company)   It was really elegant, but interesting, as everything was white...I can assure you that none of their fabric collections are white.  It made for a nice backdrop to show off all of the different designers collections.




To the right is the booth for Bonnie and Camille.   They are a mother and daughter team that both have their own patten companies, and together,design fabric for Moda.  This was a great new fabric collection called "bliss".  Turquoise and red is all the rage this year.

Here I am meeting the famous "Elliot"!  A highlight of the trip I'll have you know!  You have to go to Amanda Herrings website to read the adventures of Elliot.  Amanda is the wonderful pattern designer of "The Quilted Fish".  
Amanda is a doll!  So much fun to be around.  She is from Utah too, so I'm hoping for a lunch date!  What do you say Amanda?  Check out her new darling fabric line in the window panes above!  So cute.

Oh, I just loved this booth of Ann Sutton.  Bunny Hill, has become one of my favorite designers.  Her patterns are very detailed perfect works of art.  I have to say, that it was very busy in this booth when I went by, and I didn't get the chance to talk to Anne, other than to say everything was wonderful.  To tell you the truth, I was really nervous around her!  I am such a big fan, I was just too chicken to tell her!

Love these vintage colors.  I got the charm pack from Anne's quilter that was helping in the booth. 
On the stitching front, I finished my freebie from Plum Street.  I want to mount it on this basket, but I've never done that before.  If you know how, or have seen a good tutorial, I would love the link!
I also did some deep stash diving and found this pattern by Homespun Elegance.  I don't have very many "travel friendly" projects right now.  I've got to buy more stash..Darn!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  I really appreciate all of your sweet comments.  I'm all inspired to work on some quilt projects this week!  Have a great week...It's the last week of school, I could not be more thrilled!  More market fun later!

18 comments:

Margaret said...

It's so not fair that you get to go to quilt market all the time! Sigh. Love all the pictures!!! Do you know what that lovely triangle quilt made of diamond shapes is from in Joanna's booth? I love that quilt!! But of course, I love all of Joanna's pieces. And fabric! And that one from Bunny Hill that the charm packs were for! OMG! You're so lucky! Love your stitchy finish and your Homespun Elegance piece too!

Angela Walters said...

Hey! I found you! It was so fun chatting with you at market, you are super sweet and I can't wait to read the rest of your blog.

Talk to you soon!

Siobhán said...

Oh my GOSH, Loraine!!! You lucky dog. :) I'm so glad you had a good time--it looks like it was a blast!! Thanks for the photos of Joanna's booth... all the better to stalk her with! ;) I LOVE Fig Tree fabrics! I love that Bunny Hill quilt, too. Fabulous!

Congrats on the finish! I need to get my patriotic stitching started up... it'll be July before we know it! :)

Deb said...

Oh my goodness Loraine - if you could see my face right now - now only am I absolutely drooling over all the wonderful pictures, but my face is just green with envy. How wonderful and fun that you were able to go. I just kept looking at all the pictures and am going to go back and look at them again. All those designers and fabrics are my favorites!!!

Love your finishes too.....just perfect timing for this time of the year!!!

Unknown said...

Wow, what a wonderful treat to be able to attend the quilt market - thanks for sharing it with all of us. Oh, I can't wait to learn how to quilt - just one year (when i finish my master's).

Love your patriotic stitching pieces.

Have a great day, Loraine!

Cari said...

WOW WOW WOW - I am so envious..... Looks like FUN FUN FUN..... Hugs

Jennifer said...

Lucky you loraine , wow wow wow ! I will be showing my daughter the American girl pics tomorrow too . They will make her day . I love the little outfits for the dolls too . Maybe my mom could make some for her . What fabulous fabrics, beautiful eye candy. No doubt you had a great time. love your stitching too!

Jane said...

Sounds and looks like a great market! Lots of names I haven't heard of and some I have. Love, love, LOVE all the booths with their gorgeous fabrics!!! What a fun time you would have had.

Love the fact that you're a shorty, like me. Bet I'm shorter than you though. Had to giggle when you were describing the photo taking and your height.

Your stitching projects are wonderful, Loraine and I hope you enjoy some quilting throughout the week. Take care, my friend.

Hazel said...

Lovely day! Everything looks wonderful. Those dolls are adorable. x

Mylene said...

WOW! Looks like you all had fun at the quilt market.

JOLENE said...

You and Melanie were so lucky to go to quilt market this year. Looks like it would be a fun event to attend. You are a very accomplished quilter/seamstress as is Melanie. I couldn't believe all the beautiful projects I got to lay my eyes on a few weeks ago at stitch night.

Congrats on your finish, it looks great and your new patriotic stitch is a fun one, too.

Glad too hear you had a great time and a safe trip. Thanks for the photo tour!!!

Smiles....

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Oh my gosh, what a fun day! I love seeing all those quilts - gorgeous. I especially like the one on the wall behind Bonnie and Camile - the one on the back wall, left side. Gorgeous colors and love the flower graphic. All the booths look so pretty - I'll bet you had a blast.

Your patriotic finish and WiP are wonderful!

Heather said...

You are so lucky!! Love the photos of market, they are great. I am glad you had so much fun :D AND school is out already?? We still have until June 17th, crazy.

woolwoman said...

OH OH OH - Loraine - I will be looking over this blog post again and again - All the wonderful pictures and just hearing about your trip - I love it all ! your idea to put the patriotic piece on the basket is awesome. Siobhan has "hexed" me and got me interested in english paper piecing. So this just socked me all over again - thanks for the inspiration. Mel

Kona Bay Fabrics Blog said...

Hi Loraine-

Thanks for blogging about your Quilt Market activities!

As a vendor at Quilt Market, I do not always get out and look at all the beautiful booths so thanks for sharing!!

That's pretty cool you let your readers know what went on!!


Douglas Eagleson
President, Kona Bay Fabrics

http://www.konabay.com

joanna said...

That fried chicken, chicken fried steak or turkey was a moment that I will never, ever forget. Easily one of the funniest times I have ever had while teaching!

Thanks for reminding me,

Joanna

Tammy said...

Ooooooh, I'm drooling over that post! All those pretty and soft colors - what a super fun time it looks like you had!! Your stitching is great, and I love the sheepy!

Unknown said...

Loraine...just wanted to let you know that your are the grandprize winner of my blogaversary giveaway...send me your mailing address as soon as you can, and I will get the package to you right away. Congrats!

HAPPY STITCHIN'
Terri