Some Sights & Sounds from Spring Quilt Market

We've been away for a few days at Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh.  Along with the other usual celebrity sitings around Market, Olfa was celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Rotary Cutter this year, so all the "cool kids" had to stop by to have a photo snapped :)  Do you remember when you got that first Rotary Cutter?  ...I confess, I was a die hard cereal box template user, and it took me waaay too long to start using that "new-fangled rotary cutting thingy".  Once I finally did, I never looked back!

Here are a few sights and inspirations from Quilt Market for you to enjoy...

We're back in the shop and in the un-packing mode ~ come on in and see (and feel) some of the goodies that came home with us :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

When going through my photos from walking the show quilts at Quilt Market, I realized that most of my pictures are actually like this one ~ up close and personal of the quilting. 

 I took some pictures of entire quilts when they really struck me like this one.

Or grabbed me and left me in awe, like this one (that left me amazed at the math involved in making the illusion happen).

But now that I'm focusing more on my machine quilting these days...

...By and large my photos were close ups of how the quilts were quilted...

Quilt shows are truly amazing :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

PS ~ Last Call to go to This Post and leave a comment to get in on the running for my little Post Market Give Away, I'm drawing a lucky winner tomorrow!

Handi Quilter News from Quilt Market

One of the main reasons Bob and I attended Quilt Market is because we are Handi Quilter Reps, and wanted to see all of the new items being introduced this Fall in person at the Handi Quilter Booth ~ Bob stayed me with like a trooper through all of the fabric and notions at Market, but it really was the machinery that he was there to see...and of course to go to the Handi Quilter party on Saturday night :)

One of the great new Fall introductions that I didn't get any photos of is the new feature on the Pro Stitcher where you no longer have to walk around and drop levers on the carriage to engage the gears when you want to use the Pro Stitcher, this is now a button built into the Pro Stitcher!  Very cool for all the Stand Up Frame quilters. 
I don't need any photos of this because I ordered a new Avante with Pro Stitcher and will have it in my Studio shortly for you to see!

But for the Sit Down quilters, here I'm checking out the new table option for the Sweet Sixteen Sit Down machine!  It offers a wonderful new choice for the  Sweet Sixteen (Can you tell I'm really a "kick the tires" kind of gal?)

There's lots of surface space without having to add any extensions and there's storage underneath.  The table has an automatic built in hydraulic lift that will lower and raise the machine, so it can be stored inside when the machine is not in use...

...and the feature that's totally worth the cost of the table (which is very reasonable considering all it does and how heavy duty it is) ~ with the push of a button, it will also raise the machine up three inches above the table to access the bobbin area ~ no more bending to look underneath!
Yea ~ I'll be ordering this in too :)

This picture better shows the space inside where the machine can drop down into, and the sides close in to completely contain and store the machine away when it's not in use.  A great feature for people who have limited space or are quilting in a spare bedroom.  Notice it also comes on casters so even though it's heavy, it's easy to move around.  When closed up the table is a great size for another cutting or work surface in the sewing studio.

Another exciting introduction this Fall that works with all HQ machines is the conversion kit to be able to easily change the feet on your Handi Quilter machines from closed toe to open toe hopping foot.  This makes it easier to change feet when you want a closed hopping foot for ruler work, but want to quickly change to and open foot for microquilting, much like changing feet on a regular domestic sewing machine.  And there is also a set of three Couching Feet available for some exciting embellishing ideas.

I watched Helen Godden demonstrate how easy it is to couch a pretty yarn or fiber onto your quilt while you're quilting it!  I sat down and played with it myself, and it really is easy!

There are some more items coming out like new video sets including some featuring Debby Brown, some ruler gripper strips, and this Bobbin Box for your larger M size bobbins :) 

All the new items are starting to ship this month (the new Pro Stitcher is shipping now along with many of the smaller items), and the new Sweet Sixteen table starting to ship by December 1st.  I'll be carrying everything, and will have them up on our Website soon, so contact me if you have any questions, or would like to place your orders!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Some Sights & Sounds from Market

Here are a few sights of things I saw around the Market Floor last week.  This is Handmade from Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.  (I ordered some of her new fabric line Color Me Happy, along with some other Moda collections including Chance of Flowers & Summer Vacation Batiks!) 

These labels from Sweetwater called Handmade with Love are just stinkin cute, and I see lots of uses for them ~ yep I ordered them too :)

...And I fell in love with these Cuddles from Shannon fabrics, and brought some home to play with, and maybe just pet.

 Their entire booth was soft ~ they even made cacti soft and cuddly :)

 I came home with samples and swatch cards...

...and those all important books full of upcoming fabric lines...and business cards!  I met with several editors, marketing directors, and brand managers and have some new relationships and contacts to work with ~ mission accomplished! 

There was time to just wander the Market floor and see new products.  Here I'm watching a demo at the Clover booth from Nancy Zieman from Sewing with Nancy and Nancy's Notions :) 

And in the evenings there were chances to meet up with people too.  This is Robin my friend and colleague from Houston.  Robin is the designer behind Whimbrella and the President of our Quiltsy Team on Etsy.  Our Hubbys hit it off too :)

And I ran into a friend from Baltimore too!  This is Heather Kojan, founder and President of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild...and now published author :)

Heather is one of the authors of Classic Modern Quilts published by My Stars for Kansas City Stars Publishing. 

On Sunday, I got to go to Heather's book signing at the Kansas City booth.  Here she is signing the book with fellow author John Kubiniec of Big Rig Quilting.

Friends, Fabric, Goodies, and quilts...it was a good week :)

Don't forget to go to Yesterday's Post and leave a comment to get in on the running for my little Post Market Give Away!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Post Market Unpacking & A Give Away!

We're back home from Quilt Market, and we had a blast!  Hubby went with me this year ~ and yes, even he had a good time...and I was really good and didn't post incessantly to the world that we were both away and that our little empty nest was actually sitting empty ~ which I think was pretty impressive restraint on my part :)

But now we're home, after making lots of new contacts, getting inspired to the point of overwhelmed, and spending/or committing to spending a pretty substantial amount of money over the next few months (so keep me and my little business in your prayers ~ or cross your fingers for me whatever your inclined to do, I'll take it). 

So now, because I made the decision to not carry my big camera around all week, I'm trying to get the photos off my phone and sent to my computer ~ and of course for some reason my phone has decided to have an aneurism...

So in the meantime, instead of posting fun photos from Market, I'm unpacking.  We came home with lots of great stuff (having another suitcase along that belongs to someone who packs light came in real handy, btw).  And like in past years I thought it'd be fun to share the wealth ~ so let's have a Post Market Giveaway!

Leave a comment on this post and on Sunday, I'll randomly draw one winner to receive the bunch of goodies pictured above :) 

...and hopefully by then I'll be able to access some of my photos...

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

The Show Quilts!

 There were beauties around every corner, it was so overwhelming...Enjoy!

 A Time Between Times, by Sara Madson

 Hexagons! 

 All the quilting was amazing! 

 There were dolls...

 ...and doll quilts too :) 

My friend Polly Mello's amazing applique quilt called A Memory of Texas.  It was quilted by Illona Hull.

It's complete with lots of Texas critters, 

Including a big hairy spider :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn