The great thing about Quilt Market reports—no matter who they come from—is that they’re all different, adding bits of color and shape to a group experience, much like a scrappy quilt. (Betcha we’re not the first to say that, either!) And so here are some of our staff’s bits and pieces.
And let’s just say a fine time was had by all in Houston! We connected with many known–and new–friends, and replenished our mojo just by seeing the mash-up of new products, colors, designs, fabrics and people that is Fall Market.
First, GenQ Publisher Jake Finch shares her Market report:
When I was done counting, I tallied six visits to Houston’s International Quilt Market in the last seven years. Pretty much I’ve been here every year since my first book was published in 2006, so pardon me if I’m just a little impressed with myself. (Most of you do know how hard it is traveling away from home when you have a little one you’ve left behind, hence being impressed!)
Because I’m a trained observer (CIA, take note here), my multiple treks into the Land of All That Is Right in the Q-niverse provides me with a semi-accurate picture of what has changed over the years. When I made my first visit in 2006, I was one of the youngest attendees on the floor, at the tender young age of 39. Ahem.
Now, at 46, I seem to be part of the median club. That’s right. As far as attendees (people who come to Market to shop wholesale for their shops and businesses, and to network with industry peeps), my age appears to be the line splitting the ranks of older and younger enthusiasts who are making a living here.
And I was not the only one who noticed. In my nosy, probing, journalistic way, I made sure to ask everyone who bothered speaking to me if they were noticing the same thing. Yep. They did.
Our industry is finally making that turn toward embracing the newer quilter and sewist.
Directly related to this phenomenon was the fact that there were babies galore at Market! Nothing makes our staff happier than getting our baby fix when we’re away from home. It was just the visitors. Anna Maria Horner and Sarah Jane both brought their newest family members to Market.
Anna Maria Horner and baby Mary Anna
Sarah Jane's wee one, Anders, snoozing in the booth
Besides the sociological culture of this year’s Market, I saw a small explosion of solids. More solids. Solids with designers’ names attached to them, such as Denyse Schmidt’s curated “essential” collection of 75 of FreeSpirit’s Modern Solids, or Alissa Haight Carlton’s Modern Solids II for In the Beginning Fabrics.
Modern Solids by Alissa Haight Carlton for In the Beginning Fabrics
Plus, “modern” is no longer the misunderstood intruder at Market. Almost every fabric company and publisher displayed modern interpretations. I didn’t hear anyone explaining or debating the definition of modern. It’s here. It’s accepted. So let’s enjoy and move forward.
Lastly, we raved and celebrated Quilts Inc.’s technological advancements with the debut of its Quilt Market app! Why is this so significant? Well, here’s what Market used to look like for us: Stumbling from booth to booth, begging for a quick glance at a kind vendor’s heavy show catalog to find the next booth we were scheduled to visit. (That’s because we usually lost our catalogs on the first day to other sympathetic peeps “borrowing” them from our booth. )Hello, New Day! The Quilt Market app allowed us to look up every booth we needed at Market. Events, attendees, maps and more were literally at our fingers. Woo hoo!!
Quilts Inc.'s new Quilt Market App
Next, a few highlights from Scott Hansen, our community editor, who has this to say about how he works Market–”I get so excited! I am like a spastic little electronic toy, bouncing off of the walls and swirling around!”
Aw, well, that’s part of his charm. And here’s some of what he got excited about:
I loved the designs coming out of Sassafras Lane …..AND that orange sofa? (See photo at the top of this post.) Swoon-worthy! I am looking forward to seeing more designs come from them.
Everyone is super-excited about what RJR Fabrics’ new division, Cotton + Steel. Melody Miller heads up this new golden-girl team of designers that includes Rashida Coleman-Hale, Kim Kight, Sarah Watts and Alexia Abegg. If you haven’t seen their video with the backstory on the new division, check it out here: http://vimeo.com/76730844
Rachel Griffith from psiquilt has her first book out by Martingale–Quilts Made With Love: To Celebrate, Comfort and Show You Care. It’s full of good stuff… nice, simple and easy-to-put-together quilts as gifts for many occasions.
I also loved Anna Maria Horner’s design wall with the colors separated out. And she’s got another winning line with Dowry…LOVE the deer-lace image in the one print!
Oh, and I loved Carolyn Friedlander’s little sewing basket. (I didn’t catch if it was a pattern. Anyone? Anyone?) And I also loved the little shirts on the wall. I’m so glad she is bringing paper-piecing back into the foreground.
One more bit of rapture: Totally fell in love with Frances Newcombe’s new line for Art Gallery Fabrics. It’s called Safari Moon. The orange print in the pictured below has me doing q-wheels and that zebra print? Amazing!
From Safari Moon, by Frances Newcombe for Art Gallery Fabrics
Also from Safari Moon, by Frances Newcombe for Art Gallery Fabrics
Check in with us later this week, as we bring you more of the GenQ Market Scrapbook, where q-passion was everywhere…even in the parking garage!