Quilt Market 2011 Day 1

22 comments
Oh my where do I even start? I've been drinking in color and pattern and design for 4 days now and I'm on sensory overload. If you've ever been to Quilt Market you know exactly what I mean. If you haven't ever been to quilt market - do it someday. It has to be experienced. Lucky for me this year Spring Quilt Market was 35 or so minutes away. So of course I tried to do it all. And it was so much fun.
This is just a peek at my cutting table where I unloaded all my goodies, brochures, and fun things from market. More about the loot today and on other posts.

The first day of market is called "Schoolhouse". It is for marketing products and information to primarily to quilt shops. The nice part is that the workshops are all 30 minutes or less so you don't get bored and you stay constantly moving.
My first class was with one of my favorite fabric companies - Lecien. Nireko, Katie and the designers were there with their latest fabrics and pattern designs. This is Tudor Lane with Denise Sheehan.
This is Lynette Anderson's new line.
This is Meg Hawkey's new line.
I loved the whole trunk show.
But my favorite to meet was Bari J. Love her Paris Apartment new fabric. I loved the lettuce leaf type edge and free motion layering technique of the flowers in the border. Bari was so sweet to explain the process to me. She teaches all about it in her patterns.
I got to meet Lizzy House and see her new fabric line from Andover called 1001 Peeps.
I liked this diamond quilt made from her fabric.
One of my favorite designers at Schoolhouse was Sarah Jane from Michael Miller. She has very beautiful and classical designs. Loved her stuff. I can't wait to see it out in the shops.
Amy helped sew samples for Sarah. Everything was just so well done.
You have to look at Sarah's blog to see just how beautiful her line turned out.
I also got to meet Sandi Henderson and see her new designs with Michael Miller. She's a star.
I went to Nancy Zieman's class. Nancy is famous and I really learned how to improve my presentation/trunk show after watching her. She's so good.

I helped Lori Holt in her Riley Blake Sew Cherry Schoolhouse. So we didn't get pictures of her class!!! More on Lori later....but for now go to her blog and see her awesome quilts and aprons.

After Schoolhouse it is time to wait in line for Sample Spree. This is the view from the upper level looking into the trade show area. Breathtakingly vast. There were more than 2900 booths.
This is the line for sample spree. And it went on forever! You can't even gauge how long the line is. Shelbie, my daughter, was with me at market and started waiting in line 4 hours before the doors opened for Sample Spree. The wait was brutal, really (but I had a chair so I can't complain). We were right at the beginning of the line but it didn't really matter that much after the doors opened because...........
Once you got inside it was mayhem. There was a crush of people right behind in seconds it became the craziest shopping type crowd I have ever been involved in. It was like Black Friday x 100! Each table had crowds around it so thick you couldn't really see what was on the tables. This explanation doesn't begin to describe it.
I did come away with some loot from sample spree though. I got 3 lines of fabric from Lecien. Paris Apartment, Flower Sugar 2011 and Monica's Happy Mochi Yum Yum. I also got a jelly roll from Robert Kaufman called Treasures and Tidbits on an impulse. I really wanted Appleville but that isn't out yet. Shelbie and I also got some really interesting ruffle fabric from rufflefabric.com. I can't wait to make a few things for Allison with it.

By the end of sample spree Shelbie and I were completely beat. It was really hard to see what was on the sample spree tables and I didn't want to just be an impulse grabber. I actually saw an argument break out, but really, everyone was so nice. That kind of shopping just isn't for me. I'm so glad we did it though.

More later, I have so many photos to digest!

-nanette
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22 comments

Vicki said...

Looks like so much fun! I hope I can go next year when it will be near me :)

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I miss it so much after reading and seeing your post Nanette! Glad you are safely home. Maybe I'll get another chance some day and then I'll meet you!!

Trisha said...

What fun! Love getting to see and read about your experience and I can't wait to read more. That kind of shopping wouldn't have been my favorite thing but I bet it was fun to do once and you got some great goodies.

strawberrycream39 said...

Oh I'm so glad you had fun Nanette! You got some really pretty things, aren't you excited about Monica's new line?? Sample Spree seems like it would be kinda scary, actually! I hate crowds, especially for shopping. But for those gorgeous fabrics I might just do it! :-)

CreationsForEleanor said...

Looks like you had a great time and got some great stuff. I agree with Jen, Sample Spree could scare me but gosh the fabrics! Enjoy your fun over the next few days!

jen duncan said...

Way cool! Glad you got some good loot and made it home in one piece:-) Thanks so much for the rufflefabric link! Years ago I got some in pink at JoAnn's and made a little valance in my bathroom. I've always wishes I bought more. Now I can :-D

Kim Walus said...

What a Blast!! I had so much fun hanging out with you! Thanks for your friendship!

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Sounds fun, thanks for sharing all the photos!

Jan Marie said...

Nanette, It was great to see you at market and visit a minute in line for sample spree. I am with you on that although I would not have missed it. I don't ever want to wait in line again. And I took tons of pictures in Lori's class so if you want any let me know.

Ivona said...

Hi, thanks for visiting my blog. Greetings from Slovakia :-)

Glenna @ Hollyhock Quilts said...

Sounds like a GREAT time! So glad you got to go!

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Oh my heavens! Looks like you had a blast!!!! wish I could have been there! Now rest up!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Looks like you had a great time! It is so fun to see it all! Your sample spree purchases look like they will make up into some gorgeous quilt you are probably already designing in your head. :-) I don't think I could do Sample Spree. I'm not a big shopper anyway and I would not do well in that kind of shopping experience.

em's scrapbag said...

Market was fabulous. So good to see you!

Funky Kim said...

I have missed your blog, so it was nice that someone linked me back up! I was there, as much as I could be. I was a local volunteer. I've always wanted to see and be part of a Quilt Market and this time I figured out how I could do that! Next time it's in SLC, I'll be more involved!

SewSara said...

it was great to meet you at Blue Lemon on Saturday!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my word, that sample spree looks like a mix of amazing fun, and amazing stress! Maybe you should have worn a helmet and shoulder pads. Looks like you came home with some wonderful things! I wish I could have been there to see you all, some day! xo

Sharon said...

It was so nice to meet you at market. Looks like you had fun. We were up at the front of the line too. That wait was awful. I almost couldn't get up off the floor when it was time to run!! haaa

Sugar Town Quilt Co. said...

you took so many great photo's,you make market look like a walk in the park even though we all know it is more than that three days of walking,standing,walking and a little running if you made it to sample spree. It was great to meet you at the meet up. You are an amazing person.

pratima said...

Amazing quilts and some great lines to look forward to. Thank you, Nanette! I'm so glad you and Shelbie found cute things at sample spree. My legs are aching even thinking about standing for that long! Rest well :)

Carrie P. said...

thanks for showing all those photos of the show. I bet you had a great time and were so tired by the end of the day.
Inspiration overload for sure. lol

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