2010 Fall Quilt Market, Part 4

Okay, this is probably my most fun experience at this year’s Fall Quilt Market: I walked into Julie Creus’ booth for her company, La Todera. We chatted for a bit, and then she got a phone call. I was looking around at all her cool stuff, and when she got off, she said, “Oh my gosh, I just found out that Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy are coming to my booth right now!” She asked if I’d take photos, and I agreed. Sure enough, a few minutes later, here come Kaffe and Lucy. (If you don’t know them, Kaffe is a very famous artist, well known in the quilting world for his luscious floral fabrics. Liza often partners with him, and designs many beautiful quilts with his fabrics.) I clicked away, both on my camera and on Julie’s, and got a bunch of photos of them admiring her work, including the one above.

Julie makes many of her flower pins with Kaffe’s fabrics, and gave him one to take home. She said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I named my pattern Kafflowers after you, because they look great in your fabrics!” He didn’t mind at all. Julie is holding two cute little mushrooms made from her “Plushroom Pincushion Kit” (it retails for $12, and comes with all the fabrics you need to make the big and little ’shrooms).

This was Julie’s very first Quilt Market. I enjoyed talking with her about her experience, because I’m considering the possibility of trying it next year myself. Her booth showed off her products in a very fresh, whimsical way, without a big expense. Isn’t her use of the parasols hanging overhead wonderful?

You can purchase one of Julie’s flower brooches on her Etsy shop.

This is Julie’s friend, Margaret Travis of Eazy Peazy Quilts. She designs fun handbags and purse accessories, and her latest line is designed for use with wheelchairs and walkers. Check out the stylish rhinestone-embellished walker in her display!

Julie and Margaret came together to Quilt Market, and arranged to have their booths side by side so that they could help each other out. Isn’t that smart?

Joanne Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co. designs fabric for Moda, nearly all with her signature buttercream color as a base. Her booth is always just lovely. You can see more photos of it on her blog and see her kits, books and patterns here.

Pat Sloan gives an autographed copy of her book to a lucky recipient.

From time to time while I was strolling the aisles, I came upon sights like this one (above) where an author was signing copies of her (or his) book. If you get there early enough, and get in line, you can get a book, while supplies last. Sometimes the sponsoring company (usually the publisher or a big distributor like Brewer or Checkers) gives you a ticket when you get in line, and that means you are going to get a copy. They hand out as many tickets as they have books stacked up next to the author.

Pat Sloan was signing copies of Appliqué a Garden, which includes seven projects.

She gave me a sneak peek at her new book, Redwork With a Twist, which will be out in December!

This is Moneca Shelhoup of Dora’s Daughter’s Designs. Her tagline is “All that I am and ever dreamed of being, my mother encouraged me to be.” Doesn’t that make you want to cry, it’s so sweet? I loved their crazy cute patterns for crowns (like the one she’s wearing), hats, an owl purse, and contemporary needlepunch embroidery. (Some of these patterns are so new that they are not on the website yet.)

Fabric companies have the biggest spaces at market, sometimes taking up nearly half an aisle! They are often very elaborately decorated in a theme. Some have entire bolts of the new fabrics available for shop owners to examine. Here’s part of Alexander Henry’s display. 

elinor peace bailey

And now I think it’s time for another giveaway! How about a copy of the brand new book by elinor peace bailey (yes, she prefers lower case), Patti Medaris Culea and Barbara Willis? It’s autographed by elinor!

Elinor describes herself as an “entertainer, educator and entrepreneur.” She is perhaps best known for her exquisite dolls, and for her wonderfully wild appearance. When I landed at the Houston airport last week, I spotted her in a shop wearing her signature art clothing and bright pink hair, and told her, “I know I’m in Houston now!”

Cloth Doll Workshop is a collaboration by all three authors, and features several doll designs from each of them. It includes very detailed instructions, plus a look at their studios. But I think the best part is the marvelous gallery section in the back, with their work and the work of many other talented doll makers and students.

GIVEAWAY! Win a copy of Cloth Doll Workshop by leaving a comment on this post before noon EST on Wednesday, November 10. Tell me if you’ve ever considered dyeing your hair an unusual color, and if so, why and which color.

I’m going to keep giving away Quilt Market loot in my next few posts, so please come back for a chance to win! 

WE HAVE A WINNER! Karen in Tucson won Cloth Doll Workshop.