spring quilt market 2017

Last week/weekend I had the opportunity to go to spring Quilt Market in St. Louis, Missouri. Quilt market is a twice-yearly trade show which is only open to people in the quilting industry. It's a lot of fun, but it's also tiring and completely over stimulating. I went to promote my new book, so I gave a schoolhouse presentation and I did a few book signings. I roomed with my long time blog friend, Thimbleanna. All around, it was wonderful!

(I actually remembered to take a quick photo before the signing started! Hurray!)

This booth by Sandra Clemons was amazing. There were hundreds of butterflies folded and individually pinned to the booth. It was really stunning. I wish I would have taken a close up shot of a butterfly, but I completely overlooked that. I would have loved to talk to her about the process, too, but she wasn't in the booth at the time that I was there. I'm glad I have a few photos!

And if the previous photo wasn't stunning enough, there are hundreds more butterflies in front of this quilt, too!

This quilt called Patchwork Garden by Sherri McConnell caught my eye. I'm sure that comes as no surprise! I love all of those little squares!

Sorry for the poor photo of this quilt, but I wanted to share it anyway. It's called Girl Next Door, by Louise Papas, who I've "known" through the blog and Instagram for a long time. It was hanging in lovely Jen Kingwell's booth. It was fun to see the quilt in person!

There was a bit of a shoe theme at market. Starting with this quilt called Girls Night Out by Terri Degenkolb.

This quilt is called "Kicks" by Latifah Saafir. I really, REALLY want to make this one.

And there was also a roller skate quilt in the Cotton + Steel booth. So fun!

Lori Holt always makes cute quilts. This one called Bee Happy is going to be a sew along quilt this summer, I believe? My local quilt shop is going to be participating in it, so I think I just may join them.

I need another project like I need a hole in the head, but the cute little plaid thermos detail was most certainly the tipping point for me. EEEEP! SO cute!

 I loved this basket of rolled up quilts in Lee Chappell's booth!

 These two quilts from Sue Daley caught my eye. I would love bed sized quilts of both of them!

 I really need to try a clam shell quilt someday...even if it is just a mini.

Amy Smart had her first booth to promote her first line of fabric called Gingham Girls for Riley Blake. We were twinning, so we had to get a photo! It was so fun to see friends from the blog in real life again and catch up! It's definitely one of the best parts of market. (I'm on the left and I'm wearing my washi dress! Amy is on the right and she's wearing a tova tunic.)

My friends talked me into going to sample spree, which was QUITE an experience. Below is what I purchased, which shows incredible restraint if you consider the temptation and the excellent prices. One of the bundles is for a friend of mine. I've got plans for the pink flamingo Kona cotton that I'm pretty excited about!

Since I did a schoolhouse at market, I took 7 quilts to show during my presentation. Anna and I slept under different quilts each night. Hotel beds never looked so good! (All the quilt patterns are in my book, No Scrap Left Behind!) I'm so very glad that I made these quilts big enough to sleep under. That was my original intention, and it's nice that it paid off.

Night one...

Night two....

Night three...

I apologize for the quality of some of the photos in this post. The lighting in the convention was truly awful, but I hope that the photos are inspiring nonetheless.

I'm mostly deadline free at the moment, which is super exciting. It's been awhile and I'm excited to sew FOR FUN again. It's going to be great!

Happy Monday to you!!!