Yes, there is more and I will be posting even more all week of booth pics and quilts, quilts, lots of quilts from the exhibitions at Houston Quilt Market 2013.
Organic fabrics from Daisy Janie
Daisy Janie
Contempo
Contempo
Glitz from Michael Miller
Sarah Jane
the Cottage Mama
Kanvas
Kanvas
Kanvas
Amy Butler
Amy Butler
Amy Butler
Amy Butler
Green Bee
Green Bee
Well, schoolhouse started off with a one of a kind event. There was only one room open: the ballroom. Instead of people all milling around to twenty or so different simultaneous sessions, Andover Fabrics made a big splash with a Downton Abbey special, featuring appearances and talks by the award winning Costume Designer for the series, Caroline McCall and Production Designer Donal Woods (who also does Homeland and did 24).
Hearing them talk about the design process and decisions on set was cool. There was a sizzle reel of season 4 snippets and pics of a visit to the castle and the set by Andover president David Weinstein and design director Kathy Hall. We loved hearing what it was like behind the scenes. It was…fun. And different. And well done. Show biz meets Quilt Market. Here are pics of projects using the fabrics from the Downton Abbey fabric collection from Andover. There are collections within the collection for the Dowager Countess, Lady Edith, Lady Mary and Lady Sybil.
Downton Abbey nesting oval boxes and storage boxes by Quilted Koala
Authentic 1920’s Hat and One Hour Dress Patterns by eVINTAGEpatterns using Downton Abbey fabrics by Kathy Hall
Abbey Star Quilt by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabrics by Kathy Hall
detail of Abbey Star Quilt by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabrics by Kathy Hall
Ladies of Downton Abbey quilt by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
detail of Ladies of Downton Abbey quilt by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Counterpoint Quilt by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
detail of Counterpoint Quilt by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
9 Easy Pieces quilt pattern by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
detail of 9 Easy Pieces quilt pattern by Mountainpeek Creations using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Edith’s Grand Entrance Quilt pattern by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Edith’s Grand Entrance Quilt pattern by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Regal Mary Quilt by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey Fabrics by Kathy Hall
Regal Mary Quilt by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey Fabrics by Kathy Hall
Birds of a Feather Quilt by Lucy A. Fazely using Downton Abbey by Kathy Hall
detail of Birds of a Feather Quilt by Lucy A. Fazely using Downton Abbey by Kathy Hall
Simply Sybil Quilt using Downton Abbey by Kathy Hall
Ladies of Downton Abbey quilt pattern by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Ladies of Downton Abbey quilt pattern by Tiffany Hayes using Downton Abbey fabric by Kathy Hall
Lots of bags! Including Tahiti Tote, Manhattan Handbag, Tuscany Tote by Pink Sand Beach Designs
The Kathy Hall, designer of the Downton Abbey fabric collection
There was a HUGE crowd. I heard 1000, and then I heard 1500. The seats started filling up at 9:15, and the house was pretty full full at 9:45. We were captivated from 10-11, transported to Highclere Castle. And then there was the filing out where everyone got a tote bag. (even me and I don’t usually go for those things..) All I can say is I can’t wait for the next season to start!
I love hexagons. My first give away piece 3 years ago was designed around hexagons and I even imagined for a while to make my first Surtex booth in 2011 all hexagons like a honeycomb, then the logistics of it all got the better of me. And lo and behold, hexagons are back in style now in a big way.
So fun to see a book all about sewing with hexagons in a myriad of ways in Hexagons Made Easy by Jen Eskridge with Martingale Press. I met Jen in 2011 at Quilt Market. She is the person behind the popular Reanna Lily Designs and Deploy That Fabric with C&T Publishing. So fun to see her books keep coming out.
The techniques section answered a lot of questions for me and I particularly like the quilting and finishing chapter, with tons of great examples of motifs to machine quilt atop your hexagons. There are 18 different blocks and then 9 whole cloth quilt patterns with detailed instructions and then a section on home decor projects. What is unusual is that it really speaks to both the traditional and the modern quilter. AND of course she used some of my Tokyo Rococo fabric collection for a couple of projects and I like that too! She also used fabric by Kate Spain, Anna Marie Horner, Tula Pink, Kaffe Fasset, Denyse Schmidt, so these ended up being some beautiful quilts. Lots of solids too.
These days I am reluctant to show too much inside a quilting book as it tends to give it all away and I know these authors work so hard putting these together. Just trust me, if you like hexies, you’ll like this book. But here are a few shots anyway of the covers and the table of contents to give you an idea.
Bleu Barn Studios is at it again. Highlighted in the Feb 2013 issue of Quilter’s World magazine is Summer Shores, a breeze contemporary quilt design using Tokyo Rococo (aren’t I lucky!). I love this because its simple and light and modern and classic at the same time. I was able to see the quilt at Blue Barn Studios and photo it before it was sent in to the magazine. So here are some shots of the quilt plus a preview of the magazine. Yes, I take a million shots–its the only way to get a good feel for the quilt! AND a kit of the fabric for the pattern in the magazine is available at The Plaid Portico etsy shop by clicking here.
More projects coming up in the next few weeks, stay tuned!
Quilter’s World Feb 2013 Magazine
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
Summer Shores by CJ Behling, Bleu Barn Studios using Tokyo Rococo
If you’ve never been to Quilt Market, take a little journey with me…
Well, what fun. Today the actual market opens, but there have already been several days of antics. For me, it started with an Andover Fabrics sales meeting and company dinner with lots of news of good things to come–new offerings in the batiks and solids (more to come on that), sponsorship of QuiltCon, and most exciting, a look at the new collections coming out. Quite invigorating. More on Andover when I report on the fabric company booths later.
Last year I went to all the Andover schoolhouses which are incredibly well attended and have great give-aways. This year I branched out and spontaneously went to where my nose led me, and I have some pics to show for it! Then last night was the fabric 2.0 opening party, a place to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and meet in person people I’ve known online. No pics of that so sorry, but here goes for some schoolhouse action–remember there are a million sessions and one cannot be everywhere at once – I wish!
First up was Dena of Dena Designs, the gal with one of the coolest booths at Surtex, showing her new fabric line “Happi”and projects she’s made with it. Dena handpaints everything, and has a new book coming out, The Painted Home.
Dena Designs
Dena Designs
The Painted Home by Dena
Next was Jennifer Paganelli, showing her new collection Happy Land, a fun video she did with Downy and a second book coming out called Happy Home. Jennifer was accompanied by Carla Hegeman Crim, who writes many of the Sis Boom patterns and has her own book out now, Sewn Hats.
Jennifer Paganelli at Quilt Market 2012 Schoolhouse
Sis Boom
Sewn Hats by Carla Hegeman Crim
Valori Wells was there with her new line “Novella”, some quilt patterns to go with it, a slideshow that included her photography that serves as inspiration, and new sewing cards.
Valori Wells
Valori Wells
Valori Wells
Anna Maria Horner came with a variety of new fabrics (velveteen, voile, rayon) in her Field Study collection, her embroidery flosses and pearl cotton threads and projects that use all of these things together in new ways. Oh, and a new book, Anna Maria’s Needlework Notebook.
Anna Maria Horner
Anna Maria Horner
Anna Maria’s Needleworks Notebook
Amy Butler arrived with colorful projects using Alchemy and studio collections in satine, rayon, voile, velveteen and linen. We were treated to a fashion show with music, and an appealing slide show of spreads from her new online project, Blossom Magazine, launching in November–patterns, photography and inspiration galore. Its sort of a whole culture all its own.
Amy Butler
Amy Butler
Amy Butler
Next I went one to see some of the new designers at Art Gallery. First up, Angela Walters, machine quilter extraordinaire, with her new fabric line “textures”
Angela Walters
Then there was Bari J with her second collection with Art Gallery, Splendor 1920.
Bari J
And Sarah Watson, Illustrator, with Luxe in Bloom.
Sarah Watson
And Jeni Baker, with her Color Me Retro due Feb 2013.
Jeni Baker
And Pat Bravo, the creative force behind Art Gallery Fabrics concluded the schoolhouse with a video and a view of her new collection, Rock ‘n Romance.
Pat Bravo
That’s it for now. In the next few days I will continue to report on my Quilt Market 2012 journey and share pics of booths, designers, cool projects, and the quilt exhibitions. Follow along!
Ok, a little fashion show Friday!
When my goddaughter was out visiting and helping me with Surtex prep on her spring break I sent her packing with some Tokyo Rococo fabric and she just whipped up a few creations for her Surtex wardrobe. I am dying to get her to Quilt Market sometime, she would be right at home. She is one of those people that just “makes things” at every turn. Infinite creativity, just like her mom.
We had fun doing little photo shoots during breaks at Surtex. Here are some pics!
Day 1; she just sewed this little number up from imagination without a pattern. Cute!
Day 2: circle skirt, she did this one when visiting. just whipped it up
A needle and thread always at hand she was making some edits at the hotel in NY
Day 3: This one actually did start out as a pattern, but you wouldn’t recognize it now, she edited and edited and got this sleek little number in the end (it used to have puffs and frills)
I like both horizontal and vertical placement of the patterns here
This is all about what accessories and styling say about someone. Just ignore the dress and look at the braid, the pearls, the nails and the ink…just love this girl. No she doesn’t sew for anybody else–just me, she’s all mine! For now…..
The Plaid Portico 