Charlotte

Charlotte is a new collection which has just arrived in store. There are two different colour ways available. We have just loaded them onto the website http://bit.ly/1RE4Yz0 

International Quilt Market Part 1

There is so much to write about quilt market that I have split it into several posts.

The International Spring Quilt Market takes place in May of each year. It is a trade only event and the location of the show moves each year. This year it took place in Kansas City, Missouri. On show is the latest fabrics, notions, books and everything quilting.  I love attending Quilt Market as it gives me the opportunity to meet up with our regular suppliers, to see what is new, meet up with fabric designers and author and much more.

 The Main Street of the exhibition centre

 

The fabric companies always put on a fantastic displays so their new collections.

 New fabric collections from Anna Griffin and Blend Fabrics

 This year Shannon Fabrics has introduced Dr Seuss into Cuddle Fabric, love their display so colourful

Northcott Fabrics has a new collection from Stonehenge called Stars and Stripes. From the response that we had on our facebook page when I posted a photo of this panel, I am happy to report that we have a bolt of the panel on order and will be in store soon.

New Fabrics from Robert Kaufman. Kona Solids are going to be very popular this year

Andover Fabrics has a great display. Not only did they show you quilts using up their new fabric ranges but also bags, clothes and more using the collections. Most of these samples are available as commercial patterns.

 

 

Adorn it has a new collection with Owl's, can wait to get my hands on it!

 

New Fabric Collection  from Timeless Treasures. Shimmer is one of my favourites and we have it in store and are currently working on a quilt kit using this new collection.

 Alexander Henry Fabrics always has a great display, this time they did not disappoint with their display of upholstered chairs.

 

More to come tomorrow!

International Quilt Market Houston: Schoolhouse Series

The day before the Quilt Market starts is an event called Schoolhouse series. The Schoolhouse series was created by Marti and Richard Michell and occurs before every Quilt Market. There are was a total of 288 different classes offered which cover a wide range of topics. The emphasis is on introducing new product or techniques to shop owners with the aim of providing educational communication between suppliers and retailers. There are a total of 15 sessions - which last for 15 - 30 minutes, each session you have the option of about 20 different classes. It is an extremely informative event and you need to have a pen and paper at the ready. At the end of each session everyone runs out into the hallway rushing to get to their next selected session.

Below are pictures and information from just some of the schoolhouse sessions I attended.

Cheryl Phillips from Phillips Fiber Art
Cheryl creates a great selection of patterns and books that use wedge rulers she has created. She has several new rulers which she was showing us. These are some of the quilts that she has created, patterns are available for them. The second photo is of a new curve template which is available, looks like lots of fun to use it and super easy!

Amy Barickman from Indygo Junction.
Inydgo Junction creates some fantastic patterns. Here are just a few of the patterns which are avvailble.

This bag can be a great way to try out all those stitches which are on your sewing machine.

These would make great gifts for Christmas and once again, use up all those different stitches that come on your sewing machine. We have a 12wt Gutternmann Sulky Thread that would look fantastic stitched out on these purses.

Thomas Knauer fabric designer from Andover Fabrics.
Thomas is a new designer from Andover and was showing his new collections which is inspired by growing up in the 1970's. These pictures are samples made using the new range Pear Tree.

Kim Schaefer fabric designer from Andover Fabrics and owner of the Little Quilt Company.
This quilt is a sample made from her new range for Andover Fabrics.

Below are samples from Kim's new pattern she has created from her pattern company: The Little Quilt Company. They are super cuter (the place mats that is!)

Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka fabric designers from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.
Batik designers for Lunn Studios were showing their new Artisan Batiks which features strips in the batik fabrics.

Carol Doak Author from CT Publishing (and a Quilting in the Highlands Teachers!)

Carol was showing us her brand new book: 50 Little Paper-Pieced Blocks. To Quote CT Publishing "Make every occasion even more special. Create perfectly-pieced 3" blocks in a variety of themes - from hearts and flowers to airplanes and birthday cakes. Secure them inside your Carol Doak's Keepsake Frame Cards for gift giving and article display. These blocks are also perfect to mix and match for making table linens, wall quilts and other small projects" The samples that were shown during the class look great and are perfect to be sewn together to make a "little" quilt.

FIRST GIVEAWAY

Welcome to our first giveaway.
You have a choice of three different giveaway items
The first is this bundle of Fabric from Robert Kaufman. There are 8 fat quarters in this bundle (American size fat quarters)

The Second is the bundle of Fabric from Andover Fabrics. There are 6 fat quarters in this bundle (American size fat quarters)

And lastly there are three patterns from Jaybird Quilts.

It is simple to enter - either like us on Facebook and get a bonus entry ticket or leave a comment on this post (with your email addres) as to which giveaway item you would like to win. You can only enter once and we will be drawing the winner next Wednesday 15th June.

New Fabric: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Encore

New Very Hungry Caterpillar Fabric has arrived in store. There is a new panel which has both the butterfly and caterpillar in squares. A new food border which is easy to use and a larger hungry caterpillar fabric. There are also several other new fabrics in this collection plus we still have the other two hungry caterpillar collections still in store. We have not added these new fabrics onto our online shop but if you are interested in any of these fabrics please contact us. We are currently working on a new quilt using these fabrics - there is a cot size and single bed size kit available.

Quilt Market - Houtson International Quilt Show

Today was the first day for the 2010 Quilt Market here in Houston. This morning I took a class  - Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Machine with Susan Schrempf. Susan is the author of the book by the same name and the class was great. For those who know me well I avoid anything which needs to be sewn by hand so when I saw this class I thought I have to take it. It was a 2 hour class and very enjoyable  (and we were on a Bernina sewing machine!). Below is a sample of Susan's using this technique

After the class it was down to the show for a full day of fun.

The Quilt Market is a 3 day trade only show. Starting Saturday it goes through until Monday. Everything you can think of using in relation to sewing/quilting is available from notions to books to fabric to quilt hangers, jewellery with sewing themes, templates, threads, batting, ironing tables, sewing machines, machine storage units, die cutters, buttons, zippers, you name it is is here. On the first day of Market usually I go through the show, collect flyer's, see all the companies that we regularly place orders with to check out new products. That night I go back to the hotel and spread out of the flyer's and brochures and work my way through them, try and figure out if there is anything I want to place an order for or if I want to take a second look at a product. Then on the second day I have my list of places I must go and see - place orders, and once again I go through the show again, there is so much to see that you never take it in during the first walk through.

I also try to go to some of the book signings. I was lucky to attend and received a copy of Elly Sienkiewicz's new book - Beloved Baltimore  Album Quilts: 25 Blocks, 12 Quilts. The book features quilts from the 2010 Quilt's Inc. exhibit, Baltimore Album Review II: Baltimore's Daughters—Friends Stitch Past to Future. I have ordered the book for the shop - it will be in store soon.

This was a display for the Clothesline Fabric Club by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

I am so hooked on zippers - they seem to be one of the next big thing at the show. Embellishments were also big. Below are some photos from the Ghee's stand. I have ordered some of their patterns, they will be in store soon. It is amazing how you can use the zippers as embellishments and for decoration not only on bags but also jackets.

Check out the zippers on the sleeves!

Lastly I was fortunately to finally meet up with Leesa Chandler. She was on the Superior Thread stand with a selection of her quilts. Leesa is the designer of Under the Australia Sun Fabric line for Robert Kaufman which has been very successful both in Australia and overseas. We have had several phone calls with Leesa but have never met (typical that you have to go overseas to finally meet up with other Aussies!) If you are interested in any of Leesa's patterns they are now in store and we still have the fabric collection in store, I know we have sold out of some of the bolts but will be getting them in soon.