Saturday, May 29, 2010

Market Celebs

You meet all kinds of interesting people at Quilt Market! Last weekend, I snapped a few photos reflecting some of the connections I made in Minneapolis.

I arrived in the host city a day ahead of the show. So I wandered down the Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian mall in the heart of the city. Since Minneapolis is the setting for the classic television sitcom, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," there's a statue of the famous opening scene where Mary tosses her hat into the air. It's located on the Mall in front of the main entrance to Macy's. 


Next it was on to Quilt Market, several authors of recently published books had scheduled book signings. Here's Debra Henninger at the F&W Media booth signing her new book, Hobo Quilts. As a shop owner, she designed blocks based on the symbols depression era hobos used to communicate to each other, almost like a secret language amongst hobos. Fascinating subject!

Laura Hurd was in the Brewer Booth signing her book from F&W Media, The Farmers Wife Quilt Sampler. The book is filled with letters written in the 1920s which inspired some 100+ quilt blocks in the book.

Amy Butler also has a new book, In Stitches which incorporates a full range of projects including garments to home dec, bags and totes.

And this cute little critter with the fancy attire was found keeping watch over the Tina Givens booth. Love her shoes and hat!

The Quilt Market experience can generate all kinds of great contacts, ideas, and inspiration. But it's a long weekend with lots of walking and hard work on the trade show floor. I found these two booth workers, taking a pizza break at the very end of the show while they waited for their packing materials to be delivered. They managed to maintain the spirit of fun while they seemed to channel communications through the thread spools floating above their heads!

Show's over for now!

On to Houston in the fall!

See you there!
Joan

Friday, May 14, 2010

Flamingo!

The weather in central New York has been crazy lately. For a couple of days, it seemed like we skipped past Spring and started right in on Summer!

Then last weekend, we had a little bit of snow on Mothers' Day. So, as long as it was snowing, I decided to linger in my jammies with some tea and some stitching.

I picked up this little cross-stitch kit by Mill Hill from their Spring Bouquet Kit Collection. I purchased the kit at The Village Sampler in Big Flats, NY on a mini road trip recently. The project base is heavy-weight paper with a punched-out stitching grid. The kit included everything I needed to make this little project! Here's what the stitching looked like in progress.

Keep stitching, add beads, trim the paper base, then add the beaded legs.

Next thing I knew, I had forgotten about the snow outside and was thinking 'Flamingo!'

Look! The whole piece is only about 5" head-to-toe. The kit comes with a little magnet to put on the back, but I bet I could fuse a piece of fabric to the back, flannel or wool, and make it into a pin.

Happy Stitching!
Joan

Friday, May 7, 2010

Going to 'Hell!'

Okay, I'll admit I haven't been a very persistent correspondent, have I? I have all kinds of excuses keeping me away from writing blog posts, none of them very juicy. So I guess I'll just have to take my licks and suffer the punishment - in 'Hell' of all places!

Wait! It's not what you might be thinking! Spring Quilt Market, a huge trade show for the quilting industry, is just a couple of weeks away. This spring, the host city is Minneapolis, so I'm headed there to take part in the show. A few short steps away from our hotel is Hell's Kitchen a breakfast, lunch, and dinner eatery where they serve 'damn good food!' Janet Lutz, owner of Calico Gals, is my travel partner, and we've been to 'Hell' before, and we're so glad to be going back. Hey, if you're in town for the show, why not join us in 'Hell' . . . you'll love it there.

While at the show, I'll be spending lotsa time in the Brewer Quilting and Sewing Supplies booth taking about the three programs I author: the ScrapTherapy program, Snap Sack Small Quilt Kits, and Skinny Minis. Meet me at the Brewer booth if you're headed to market and I'll fill you in.

Series 11 ScrapTherapy patterns are in progress, and they are oh-so-cool! The quilt is almost all quilted and ready to go. It's a really easy throw-together project and has great 'guy quilt' potential depending on color direction. Here's a mini sneak peek! The full quilt will be at Quilt Market and patterns will start shipping during June.

See ya soon!
Joan