Quilt Market Schoolhouse and Sample Spree

I thought I would give a little insight into what happens at Quilt Market for any other newbies out there like me. The first day (Thursday) is a series of  classes geared toward shop owners to introduce new books, fabric collections, designers, products or to give thoughts and ideas for improving business. Here's a little peek at some of the sessions I attended.  I have to say I totally enjoyed this - esp because it was day 1 (I wasn't totally overwhelmed yet) and it was so fun to see real life people that I'd heard of many times in quilt-cyberspace.

The first session of the day that I attended was the Lecien company's introduction of some of their designers and newest fabric collections. The quilt in the top left (above) is from Meg Hawkey's new collection Whitewash. I think it was one of my favorite quilts of the day. Love the subtle neutrals with the random pops of color.  You can find free patterns for this quilt here along with other new quilts and designs for Lecien. The red and white quilt is from one of the Flower Sugar collections.

Other pictures are of Lissa Alexander's quilt string quilt for the new Moda Bake Shop book, Fresh Fabric Treats. Also there were Vanessa, Natalia and Kim showing their projects from the book as well. (You can see more about this class at Kim's blog.)  Bottom left is Amy McClellan giving her presentation, "Baa Baa Quilt Store Have You Any Wool?" about selling wool in quilt shops. I am one of Amy's employees and she is an amazing designer.  You can see her patterns here.

Top left (above) is the super nice Scott from Blue Nickel Studios showing off Katy's quilt at the Jennifer Paganelli school house class. The rest of the above pictures are of Michael Miller designers, Sandi Henderson, Sarah Jane Wright and Patty Young, with her stylish model Julie wearing Patty's Kyoko dress. (I think I need to make one of these for my girls.)

Above left: Amy Ellis at her trunk show for Martingale hi-lighting her new book Modern Basics.  (I got to be her official photographer. She did great! That is one of my favorite quilts from the book.) Bottom left, Heather Bailey! (I'm a fan. Sorry not a great picture.) On the right is the trunk show with Alissa Haight Carlton and Kristen Lejnieks for their new book Block Party about Modern Quilting Bees. Wow - I have been a follower for a while and it was so fun to watch these girls in action and see those quilts in real life! But best yet at the end I won a copy of the book in a giveaway! I was SO excited. It's a gorgeous book! Also there was Jacquie from Tallgrass Prairie of whom I am also a fan. She was awesome. People are so fun in real life! And everyone is just really nice.

That night it was on to the infamous Sample Spree. It was totally an experience to behold and to make my Sample Spree initiation even more exciting, I got to do it from behind the Robert Kaufman table!  RK needed some local help and contacted Vanessa about pitching in. Vanessa then asked me if I wanted to join in. Um, heck yeah! Also there was Julie. Julie and I were in a bee together for a year and it was really cool to meet her for the first time in real life. And it wasn't until the end that I realized one of the other sweet ladies at the table was no other than Darlene Zimmerman! I felt kind of stupid for not realizing it sooner. Darlene was kind of surprised that I knew who she was but being a vintage-print-junkie I love a lot of Darlene's designs. She was very sweet.

So what is this infamous Sample Spree? It's basically a chance for shop owners (and other folks who find a way to finagle a way inside) to buy samples of upcoming fabric collections, patterns or other products. I think the line outside started hours before and the crowd bursting through the doors was like Black Friday at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving.  People were dropping mounds of cash that night. It was incredible.  Because I need more fabric like I need a hole in my head, I used great restraint. Until I saw the Moda bag with Utah on it and I HAD to have one, because I'm a Utah girl. The bag cost $10 or was free with a purchase so I decided I might as well get something in order to get the free bag and I got this Fat 1/8 pack of Moda's new collection Northcote Range by Cabbages and Roses.  I was also sorely tempted  by the bundles of 20 1/2yard cuts of Echino prints. But the fact that they were still 100 bucks kept me from doing anything rash.

with Calli, Aneela and Erin

After Sample Spree a few of us made our way over to a little soiree hosted by the Sweet Hot Yams at a nearby hotel. In probably one of my dorkiest moments of the day (it certainly wasn't the first) we get in the elevator, chatting with some local girls when I notice the name tag on a lovely, unassuming girl and see that it says Aneela Hoey.  Of Sherbert Pips fame. I think I scared her when I said, "Oh my gosh, you're Aneela!" She was totally lovely and so nice.  

Do you see a recurring theme here? As I was recounting stories to my husband he started laughing at me and said, "You keep saying that: 'They were just so nice.'" Well, that's because they were.  Quilters are just nice. (Not to say that there is an absence of drama as there probably is drama in any world of creativity.)  But for the most part, people were just . . . nice! More nice people to come. (I'll try to have more visuals and fewer words next time.)