Piece Time Quilt Shop: Back from Quilt Market!

I’m back from the International Spring Quilt Market and it was AWESOME! There were nearly 600 exhibitors and I think I stopped at all of them. (I’m not moving so fast right now….but did remember to wear really comfy shoes. It’s a law---fashion stops at the knees at quilt shows and Market!) So many beautiful quilts and interesting notions and products….and have I mentioned the FABRIC? Oh my. I was in heaven. Some of the booths were absolutely jaw-dropping in their beauty and creativity. It was also nice to meet so many designers and "celebrities". I’ve never been a celebrity-hound, but I have to admit that it was thrilling to meet and speak with so many of the people who have made quilting and the quilting industry what it is today. They were all so friendly and gracious. I was too awestruck to take pictures, which I regret now, but the camera wasn’t even on my mind while trying to take everything in.

Sample Spree was quite an adventure. My sister went with me and you wouldn’t believe the crowd. First, we waited in what seemed to be literally over a mile-long line. Fortunately, it moved pretty fast as they checked badges and allowed people in. Once inside, it was SO hard to wiggle our way up to the tables. Having spent the last 20+ years in southwest Kansas where 5 people are considered a crowd, my sister was beginning to freak out a little. While I had heard that Sample Spree was sometimes a "Women Behaving Badly" event, people were mostly nice and we managed to hit all the spots and fill our bags with goodies. Good thing she was with me, because I doubt I could have carried those bags by myself afterwards. I laughed so hard at my sister, whose first comment when we emerged was, "I’ve never had so many women’s breasts all over me!" She also agreed with me that Orion Burns is one good-lookin’ guy!

I have to say that Kansas City is beautiful and welcoming! There was so much going on and so many people that I was never frightened walking around, even when I had to park two blocks away. On the night of Sample Spree, there must have been thousands of people out and about, even besides the quilters. There was a graduation, what looked like some kind of street festival, and Jersey Boys was being performed at the theater a block away. (Great show, by the way.) The Marriott even had a light show going on the front of their building, which was beautiful. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I made lots of great new contacts, discovered many new pattern designers, and will have lots of gorgeous new fabrics and goodies arriving at the shop soon.

I came home to about 50 bolts of new fabrics, too! It’s nice to be back home in the shop and feel energized and full of ideas from Market. I visited the Homespun Quilters Guild in Mt. Carmel on Tuesday night and had a great time. What a good group of ladies! So much fun and so talented and creative.

Stop by and see all the new things---even new Halloween and Christmas fabrics that have to come out of the plastic and onto the floor. Check out the pictures below.