October 28, 2005

This is my first time to this quilter/fiber artist mecca. What a fantastic show. What fabulous organization.

Market was wonderful. So many great new products to set your imagination soaring. I picked up a ton of brochures and information. I think I’m going to have ship it back rather than put it in my suitcase or I might go over the weight limit — not to mention having to carry it. (I do not have one of those “new-fangled” suitcases with wheels — a definite must for the next time!)

I also met a host of new people and people I had only talked via email. It is great to put faces to names. I met Gabrielle Swain, Esterita Austin, and Laura Wasilowski who will be teaching for us in 2007. Their work is stunning in person. I peeked in the window to classroom where Esterita was teaching a class and the students work hanging on the walls were fantastic and everyone sounded like they were having a great time.

I also met Laura Cater-Woods demo’ing at the Bernina booth. We are very excited to have her coming to teach for us next year. Her free-motion work looks like such fun and she is such a enjoyable person to be around.

I took a workshop from Pamela Allen, who will also be teaching for us in 2007. She is such a blast! The workshop was great fun and Pamela has such a great sense of humor. Her “quilty” ties are just so cool — like her art, they are embellished to the max.

I also was able to see Katie Pasquini-Masopust again. I took a workshop from her way back at the start of my career as an artist and was stunned by her work then and her new work is even more incredible. I wish it were in our budget to buy one of her pieces. She will also be teaching for us in 2007.

Quilt Market had a good crowd in attendance, but it is nothing like Festival! The vendor aisles are teeming with happy shopper — I being one of them! All the tempting goodies make it hard to remember that I only have one life to live instead of 10.

I’m hauling many pounds of brochures over to the convention center from the Four Season where I am staying — a couple of blocks away. So far I think I’ve carried over about 70 pounds! (Notice how number of actual brochures doesn’t matter – it is the weight!) Now I’m off to carry my next load of brochures. Thank goodness the weather has be beautiful here in Houston — in the 70s all week.