Kansas City Instagram

Hi everyone!

Samantha here, just wanting to check in and say hi while we are away at Quilt Market this weekend.  Kansas City is a great place; being here feels like vacation!  And even though we are working hard, there's still plenty of time for play and, of course, food.

Here are some highlights from the trip so far:

1. Getting Jamba Juice at the Philadelphia airport.  So deliciously healthy, and such a treat, since I don't see    Jamba Juice stores that often where we live.

2. The ride over the Broadway Bridge into the city.  Perfect weather, and a perfect view!

3. The architecture here is so neat to me.  A lot of old brick buildings and full wall murals.

4. Getting dinner at Lulu's Thai Noodle Shop.  It was so retro and cool, but so spicy, even though we ordered the "medium" heat. That'll teach us for trying to be brave!

5. Getting to wear cute clothes for market. I love dressing up (and borrowing my mom's jewelry), so every day at market for me is like a fashion show.

6. Exploring the city with my mom. It's so much fun, especially on beautiful days like the ones this week.

7. Meeting all of the "Designing Divas" of Henry Glass.  This is Dawn Heese of Linen Closet Quilts, who is terribly talented and so sweet!

8. Eating more food. Cajun fish tacos = amazing outdoor lunch.

9. Participating in school houses yesterday.  If you went to the Henry Glass schoolhouses, you may have seen me as "Handout Girl."  Seeing my mom and the other lovely ladies in their element as they presented their fabrics was really exhilarating.

Follow us on instagram (for iphone, ipad, or android), Facebook, or Twitter to get more highlights as we go!  Pictures, of booths, quilts, and lots more food to come!

News from Henry Glass Fabrics

There's also still time to enter the giveaway to win an autographed copy of my book, Fruitful Hands. 

Click here......

The Final Round of Quilt Market Photos

Thanks to everyone who joined us on the Jolly Holiday Party Blog Hop- I enjoyed reading everyone's comments about their favorite holiday things. Family and Food were the big winners (no surprise there!) I hope it helped to get all of you in the holiday spirit. The winner of the giveaway was Joanna- congratulations!

Hard to believe I've been back from Houston for 3 weeks now (I am almost caught up.....) Let's see how many more Market photos I can jam into this post, OK? Are you tired of them yet.....

 Lynette Anderson of Lynette Anderson Designs. She is one of those magnificently talented Australians who do a lot of embroidery in their designs. I always enjoy meeting up with Lynette when we go to Market- maybe someday I will make it down to Australia to visit her! That would be wonderful!

 A new friend! Maggie Bonanomi is a fellow Kansas City Star author. I have a couple of her books- they are simply beautiful. She has a wonderful primitive style.

 This is Pam from Buggy Barn. Usually, her "partner in crime" at Market is her sister Janet- but unfortunately Janet was unable to fly due to a back injury. Keep Janet in your prayers for a speedy recovery- we certainly want to see her at Spring Market!!

 A couple more new friends- Marcea and Janice from Abbey Lane Quilts. They have a wonderful, fun style- I really enjoyed chatting with them.

 Finally, what would Quilt Market be without Pat Sloan- the Queen of Everything Quilty!

OK, I'm tired now! Thanks for "coming along" to Quilt Market with me!
Stop by on Thursday to see my block and the tutorial for the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along....

More Quilt Market Photos....

As promised, I have many more photos to share with you from Quilt Market....

 Me and my good friend, Brenda Riddle from Acorn Quilt and Gift Company. She designs beautiful fabrics for Lecien. I usually see Brenda twice a year at Market- and of course there are lots of emails and phone calls in between! I am so happy and honored to call her my friend.

 Here I am with the very sweet and wonderful and superbly talented Deb Strain. She designs fabric for Moda, but as you probably know she has been a licensed artist in the stationary and gift ware industries for many years. I love her pretty watercolor style!

 Fellow Henry Glass fabric designer and Kansas City Star author Jill Finley. Another super nice lady- her daughter got married last June, and mine is getting married next June, so it was fun sharing wedding photos and ideas with her!

My pal Linda Arye- the incredible power-house (I seriously mean that....) who founded Quilts for Kids. I love Linda's passion for this cause and organization and most importantly, the kids. I am looking forward to some future projects with Linda and Quilts for Kids.....

I have a few more photos to share with you next time-  I hope you're not getting tired of them yet! I enjoy "re-living" Market- it is really hard work and takes a lot of time and energy, but I love it! I love seeing old friends and meeting new ones, learning information and news about the industry, and of course seeing all of the beautiful booths and new fabric lines and designs. Until next time..... Happy Quilting!

P.S. The Jolly Holiday Party is coming- don't miss it!!!!

P.P.S. You still have time to enter the giveaway for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks....

P.P.P.S. In case you missed my post last week- I am the Aurifil Designer of the Month for November! YIPEE!! Click here to read all about it!!

Quilt Market Photos

International Quilt Market was great! I met up with lots of old friends and made some new ones, too. Thank goodness my husband was with me at Market- he is the one who remembers to take photos- if left to me there would be no photos at all!!

The first day, I did 2 School House presentations. The first was for my book Fruitful Hands. It was my first School House ever, and though I was a little nervous, I think it went pretty well. I actually had fun! The second one was for Henry Glass Fabrics with 4 other fabric designers. It was kind of a whirlwind- all 5 of us trying to show our new lines in a 30 minute session! Here are some photos:

 (Me and my Henry Glass design director, Harriet.)

Henry Glass designers Dana Brooks, Me, MaryEllen vonHolt, Kari Ramsey, Jill Finley

After School House on Friday afternoon, we ran back to the booth to finish setting up for Saturday morning. Then we went out to dinner with some pals from Henry Glass. A busy, busy, fun day. Then we collapsed into bed- exhausted! And there was still a little work left to do on Saturday morning before the show opened at 9:30, but we managed to get it done.

Photos of my booth:

 We picked up a few bags of apples when we got to Houston- the perfect prop for my Apple Blossom Acres fabric line.

Look at these yummy Aurifil threads that I displayed in my booth. Did I mention that I was one of the booths on the Aurifil Booth Hop? It was really fun- I am so glad that I was asked to be part of it! It's just like a Shop Hop- participants get a passport and have to get it stamped at each booth, then at the end they were entered to win lots of prizes. The grand prize was a suitcase full of Aurifil thread! Oh I was wishing that I could enter! Speaking of Aurifil, here is a picture of me and Alex Veronelli from Aurifil:

AND, more Aurifil news later this week.............

I have lots and lots more photos (thanks to Hubby!). Check back for more of the Quilt Market Recap.

Home from Houston- phew!

I had a great time at Quilt Market in Houston. My fabric line sold out!!!!!! Yay! It was basically 5 days of caffeine, adrenaline, and very little sleep. We also debuted the new line, called Joy, Love, Peace, Noel. Next post, I will show it to you.

So for now.... photos from Market.

 Me doing my best Vanna White impression in my booth.

I needed flowers for my booth, and my "booth neighbor," fellow Henry Glass designer Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co., kindly went out and bought me this gorgeous bouquet.

 And here is a photo of me with Carrie in her booth. She is super nice and fun and so, so helpful. It was wonderful getting to know her.

Pam and Janet from Buggy Barn. Their quilts are beautiful, as you can see. They also own a quilt shop, and design fabric for Henry Glass. I don't know how they do it all.....

 Here is Barbara Jones from Quilt Soup, also a Henry Glass designer. Aren't her colors bright and fun- Barbara is also really nice, and she laughed at all my jokes, which makes her tops in my book!

More photos to come!

New Pattern Releases & The Final Quilt Market Photos......

Until next time, of course!

The quilt on the left is my Flutterby design, featured in Northcott Fabrics' booth. They did a display for their Child's Play fabric line.

BTW, the pattern for Flutterby is now available on my website, along with a couple of more new patterns that I released for Spring Quilt Market.

(Shown above top to bottom, Flutterby, My Romance, Moonlit Stroll, Cross My Heart).

Finally, a photo of ever popular designer Amy Butler's booth.

Stay tuned for my next post- BIG announcement (well, to me anyway!) coming!!!!!

Back from Market

Daughter and I got back from Market a few hours ago...... boy are we tired! But I thought I'd put up a few more photos. Going to Quilt Market is so inspiring- being surrounded by so many creative talented people and their beautiful creations is so energizing! My head is swimming!

Here I am with my pal Lynnette Anderson, a very popular designer from Australia.

This is Helen Stubbings from Hugs n Kisses- she is another designer from Australia (I think there is something in the water down there, because these ladies are just so talented.....)

This is Anna Griffin's booth, which won an award for creativity (obviously, a well deserved award...)

AnnaMaria's fun and playful booth.

There will be more photos in a few days, so ya'll come on back now, ya hear?

More Quilt Market Photos

A few photos of our booth at Market.

Quilt Market in Minneapolis- First Day

Landed in Minneapolis Wednesday morning. Checked into the hotel, found a cute little crepe bistro for lunch. Look at this chicken and artichoke crepe- it was really yummy.

We didn't eat there, but apparently there really is a "Hell's Kitchen"-

Then after lunch, it was time to get to work and set up our booth. This is what it looks like when you first walk into the convention center- not much to look at

Here is the Northcott Fabrics booth. On the left is a quilt that I designed their new Child's Play line.

I saw this cute little sewing table while I was walking around and I want it!

I have lots more to show, but I am tired and it's time for bed... Will show more photos soon.