Quilt Market

One part of the quilt market show floor.

Quilt Market is the wholesale show for the quilting industry.  It's held twice a year, fall is always in Houston, TX and spring market moves around the country.  This spring we were in Salt Lake City.

Market is a brain drain - so many choices, colors, patterns, people - all jammed into a convention center the size of four football fields!  Big names - Eleanor Burns, Ricky Tims, Alex Anderson, Amy Butler - big and small quilt shops from all over the world.  Friend you haven't seen since fall market.  It's overwhelming.  Then you're expected to think coherently and order product for your shop that make sense and don't blow your budget.  I come home brain tired.  It's a tough job but someone has to do it and I'm glad it's me!

The fabric companies all have great displays to entice you:

This is Nancy Halverson's display for her fabric and new book.

Terry Atkinson had this great  chair in her booth that matched her new pattern the Texas Two Step - look for a class on this quilt this summer. 

Benartex had a great front porch display showcasing samples that used their new fabrics.  Loved the bike leaning against the post!

Crab Apple Hill had a gorgeous display of their new Christmas patterns.  

This is a display touting Kaufman's Kona solids.  The fabrics looked SO enticing in the candy jars!

And this was my favorite display - LOVED the dingy filled with Benartex's new nautical line.  I have this red dingy that just may find it's way into the shop as a display . . .

I'll be back next time with some pictures of our HandiQuilter training, where they treated us like kings and queens - including a walk on the red carpet!