Quilt Market Rewind

For the last few Quilt Markets, I've been an exhibitor, which means I've set up a display at the show. With a booth, I have a home base, so I can visit with shop owners, other buyers, and lots of quilt industry biggies. But you can't get out of the booth much to see what else is happening on the show floor. This time, I decided to take a 'booth-cation' and walked the floor. I made lots of new contacts and connected with good friends. Here's a short photo-journal of my experience.

For starters, the weather was picture-perfect in Houston. Back home in Syracuse, New York, we had our first hard frost. But in Houston flowers are still showing off summer splendor.

Wowsers! This huge centerpiece in the Fairfield booth was covered with all kinds of batting formed into all kinds of textures. Pretty spectacular!

Chickens! And pigs! And all kinds of barn animals made from cuddle-soft polyester plus fabrics from Shannon Fabrics. For my money, this booth should have won the best multiple booth award!

Batiks by Mirah had this enormous swan in their display.

Quilty celebrities are everywhere! Here's Susan Emory from Swirly Girls.

Of course, Eleanor Burns is showing off some fast-piecing techniques.

Carolyn Friedlander has a fabulous new fabric line with Robert Kaufman. And she's a really nice person, too.

Brenda Miller of Among Brenda's Quilts and Bags flew in from Ontario, Canada.

All the 'meeting and greeting' can make a quilter hungry. Fortunately a few blocks from the Convention Center, the Phoenician grocery store offers an eclectic selection of foods from all over the world. And the baklava is to die for!

This booth grabbed my attention! Frances Newcombe from Art Gallery Fabrics was showing off a new line, but darted out of the picture before I could snap a photo of her with her art. Her display was very creative!

Heather Bailey won best single booth award. Her booth featured her new fabric line with Free Spirit Fabrics.

You meet all kinds of characters in the booths. Here Kelly Ann Richardson from Kelly Ann's Quilting and Susan Cleveland of Pieces Be With You share some smiles with 'Dave' the minion.

And quilter's with a sweet tooth might like the kits in the Luminaris booth. Yummy wools for yummy treats!

Sometimes it's hard to steal away some time to see the quilts on display in the exhibit hall right next to the show. I managed to take some time to walk through and see some amazing work. "Mediterranean Colors and Perfumes" by Sonia Bardella is made from tons and tons of tiny pieces--in the 1/2" finished size range!

Here's a close-up detail. Oh my!

This three-quilt display, "Shangri-La" made by Barb Forrester has exquisite three-dimensional detail.

My hand jiggled a bit when I took this photograph. Even a clear shot would not do this quilt justice. The hummingbirds have detailed thread painting that makes them shine. The quilt is named  "Milkweed and Hummingbirds" made by Sara Sharp.

I do like bird-themed projects (can you tell?). This one is called "Did you Wash Your Beak" by David Taylor

The best part of this quilt (besides the quilt itself) is its name, "Does He Make My Butt Look Big?" by Kristen Bryson.

Whether I'm walking the floor or settled into a home base with a booth. Quilt Market is always an energizing experience!

Happy Stitching!