Quilt Market is coming!

Quilt Market is the wholesale show for the quilting industry and every fall it's held in Houston.  This year I'm leaving on Thursday the 28th and coming home - brain fried and exhausted a day earlier than usual, on Monday.  My traveling companions, Barry and Nerma Springarn, will be on the same flights.  The first year I went to fall market, I got on the plane wearing my Jacket Jazz jacket and a man asked me if I was going to Quilt Market?  When I said yes, he introduced himself as my new Hoffman rep and offered me a ride to the hotel to save me the taxi fare.  Since I was with my friend Ann and we had NO idea of where we were going, we accepted.  I've been on the same flight with Barry, and his wife, Nerma after she retired, ever since, missing one when I decided on an earlier flight I think.   Now we email each other the cheapest flights when we see them and always seem to end up on the same plane.  Barry's generosity saves me a $40 cab ride.  Thank you Barry!  This year we're on the same flight home too.  


At this market I'm taking part in a dealer's panel where the audience will ask questions that we are supposed to have brilliant answers for.  I'm a little nervous about the whole thing imagining myself drawing complete blank after blank.  I'll be on stage with friends who also have shops so I'm hoping one of them will ride to my rescue if I need it.  Then again, here's hoping they're not hoping for the same thing!  


I have a list of things I'll be looking for at market - new patterns, a new block of the month (I can hear Lori shouting NO all the way from her house as she reads this!  LOL), new fabrics and any new trends so I can figure out what the heck I'm doing for the next 6 months.


One of the best things about market is seeing friends who I chat with every day by email and only actually see twice a year.  This year a few won't be attending market though and we'll miss them at our dinners, breakfasts and lunches.  The biggest plus of owning a quilt shop (besides getting to buy all that fabric!) is being friends with a group of amazing women, who firmly believe they can do whatever they set their minds to.  It inspires me to believe the same.


Till next time.