Quilt Market, Part II

Okay, here we are, back inside the Houston Convention Center! Here's some of what I've been doing the past few days:

It's great to connect with old friends. I met Sarah Ann Smith (left) a few years ago through the QuiltArt Yahoo group, and we've been e-mail buddies since then, but this was the first time I'd ever met her face to face. She's here publicizing her new book, Threadwork Unraveled. (I'll be reviewing it and giving away a copy soon!) I met Bonnie McCaffery in 2005 when I took her Painted Faces class, which started me doing art quilts. She is here teaching classes.

Karen McTavish was in the APQS booth demonstrating her amazing long-arm quilting. I only knew Karen as a Facebook friend until I met her on Sunday, but she greeted me with a big hug. It was amazing how many Facebook friends I recognized on the floor, and it was wonderful to meet them all.


On Sunday, I took a great class from Bonnie Sullivan (above), who designs "folk art designs with a bit of whimsy." We created needle holders from wool and Aurifil Lana wool/acrylic thread. She was a wonderful teacher, and it was really nice to do some calm handwork for a few hours before jumping back into the craziness that is Quilt Market.

Donna Morales-Oemig of Aurifil USA (left) at work on her thread holder.


Beth Ferrier was autographing her new book, More! Hand Applique by Machine.


ooooooooh! What I wouldn't give for this huge suitcase of Aurifil threads!

or, even better, a huge cone of each Aurifil color! (hey, a girl can dream!)


This is Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs, one of my favorite design teams! I have made a bunch of Blackbird Designs' creations, and I just love their style, so it was fun to meet Alma and see some of their new quilts and embroideries.


They had some of the projects from their new Halloween book on display.


As usual, their space was exquisitely styled. I loved this quilt with a pomegranate design:

Dian Stanley of Indigo Junction/The Vintage Workshop holds her "Thread Ready Pincushion" design, which has nifty pockets to hold multiple spools of thread, held in place by a cord, around the outside. Way cool.



More to come …