Back from Spring Market....."Yeah, I'm with Checker"

Spring Market was in Salt Lake City, Utah this year.  I haven't been to a Spring Market since my very first Market and it was in Salt Lake as well.  My thinking was spring must be smaller than Houston, let me make all my mistakes at a smaller market, before I drag my stuff to Texas and get spanked.

Kelly and I had a great time.  Market was crazy good for Rusty Crow.  We are Valdani's Newest Distributor.  We are going to service all the smaller shops and designers, who maybe don't need 12 balls of one color.  We are happy to split boxes and give your 12 colors a box if thats all you need.

We also go picked up by Checker, a major distributor in the Quilt world.  I have been trying to get them to pick me up for the last 7 years.  This time it wasn't even a blimp on my radar, a girl can only take so much rejection.  So the second day of Market, about 5 minutes before Kelly and I are about to wrap it up the the day, a Checker buyer shows up and says, "We would like to carry your stuff."

I was a bit stunned.  I'm sure she thought she had walked onto the islands of the Muted Quilter.  I just looked at her and mumbled, "Sure."  Then put my head down and bursted into tears.  After trying so many years, and then have the Magical Unicorn walk into your booth and utter those transforming words was a shock, a awesome shock, but still a huge surprise.

So today, I'm pulling all the info together that they need to carry my stuff.  Yeah, let me pull up my big girl panties.  Holy Crap, I'm with Checker.  You don't know how long, I've been wanting to say those Words.  I'm with Checker, I'm with Checker, I'm with Checker

And so grateful, as well.
Thank the Quilting Gods. 

Black Friday....No it's stretch pant Friday.

I hope everyone had a great Turkey day.  I don't know why, after 30 years of Thanksgiving dinners under my belt, you would think I would know how long it takes to cook a turkey.  

Oh no, I set the alarm for 4:30 am.  Mike and I get up, cut all the veggies, boil the insides, whip up the stuffing, and get the bird in the oven.  

Around 9:300 or so I begin to wonder how long I need to keep the bird in.  (I'm think it will be done around 2-3) 
Oh no, my bird will be done at 11:00 am. 

So the York's had a noon time Thanksgiving this year.  Our turkey coma started about 1.  The cats were in heaven, so many warm bodies to lay on.  They had their pick!!  

I have so much New Valdani to get on the website.  We are carrying all the new Wool Thread, so soft and sinks in the the wool.  We also got all the Silk Floss in.  I will have it all up this next week.  Have a Great weekend. Shawn

Back a week

I have been home a little over week from Houston.  I feel like I have been on the go ever since I got home.  I'm so excited about this next year.  Rusty Crow is changing lanes a bit, and it's all going to be good.  

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I'm just hoping the luggage will be put away and the laundry washed from the 7 shows and one wedding in 8 weekends that we did.  Funny, how things that use to be important, aren't so much anymore. It's a good thing I have lots of clothes.  

The Blog Along has been super fun.  I would love to see some of your blocks. Rusty Crow was at Quilt Market with Valdani.  I grabbed up all the new Wool Thread that they are now carrying.  I will be putting it on my website today.  I haven't used it yet.  I have so much work to get done from Market before I can start to play with the new stuff.   

Mike, my husband, lost his grandfather while I was gone on the road.  It was hard not being there for him, but we had our kids near.  Grandpa Grigg had not been good for the last year.  Feeding tubes, oxygen and so on.  Not able to talk, no sure if anything you were saying was processing.  That was the last of Mike's side, his parents and all his grandparents are gone.  Life does not stop.  The clock keeps ticking, a reminder not to get stuck in grief, life is for the living.  Love doesn't go away.  

Quilt Market...Done, now on to International Quilt Festival

Houston....what can we say?  It's been fun, weather has been crazy. The shop owners who shopped with us at Market were super nice.  We are taking a day off today.  Some vendors are setting up today, well starting at 4:00 pm.  The convention workers have to change up the floor plan and need a day to get that done, before we all move in.  

Kelly and I decided to just go over first thing in the morning and stay all day.  Preview starts at 5:00 pm for all of those who have been taking classes.  From 7:00-10:00 it's open to the public, which makes for a super long day, but a fun one.  

Our home for 2 weeks

Kelly's shoes for this trip

Here are a few photos of our trip so far. 

The front of the Convention Center

The Line-up for Sample Spree

Our Table at Sample Spree

Kelly and I all dressed up for the Moda Party

Kelly and Me

Moda Party 40th Aniversary 

Me and Nellie Olsen from Little House on the Prairie
You never know who you are going to meet at Quilt Market

My Hero, Sue Spago was my neighbor in the next booth.
How lucky can one girl be??? 

Heading out to PIQF then onto Houston

I got home from the Palm Springs show this past Saturday night late.  My friend, Kelly had called a few friends to help on Sunday put together kits.  

Having a Mystery Block sounded like a great idea 2 months ago, but having to kit a wool and fabric block two days before I leave for PIQF and Houston Market & Festival was a bit crazy.  

Kerry, Betty, Kathy, and Kelly were all there helping me cut, dye, and assemble kits all day long.  

Monday we did more of the same.  Packing my own suitcase at 11:30 PM, setting the clock for 3:45 am to take off for Santa Clara, CA  and PIQF.  Here is some of the more glamorous views of our travels today.  I'm so kidding right now, we often tease each other.  People say to me all the time, "It must be so much fun to travel to all those quilt shows."  We look at each other, if they only knew. 

This is us traveling with Alicia Campbell, the Batty Lady. 

Love getting Costco gas where I can

And we eat at all the Fabulous Places!!!

 So no, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  When anyone comes into my booth, I always try to greet everyone. "Thanks for coming out to the Show."   And just know that I truly mean it. 

Hello Again, 
I'm so sorry for being a day late.  Calendars are not my friend this time of year.  

I hope that you have enjoyed the first block by Rhonda at Farmhouse Threads as much as I have.  

We are hoping that after the craziness that is Houston Quilt Market and Festival we can complete this quilt then do some kind of Raffle to raise money for Camp Pendleton Toys for Tots program.  It would be great to see this Christmas quilt generate money for our military and their kids. 

I have some kits and I can make more.  I have to leave for PIQF on Tuesday, then go straight to Houston for 2 weeks.  If the kits run out while I'm gone, please be patient and I will get them out as soon as I get home.  Trust me, you don't want my boys cutting your kits while I'm gone. 
If you want the block with the same fabric and wools I used 
Click here for my Christmas Block Kit

Click here for FREE pattern!
Enjoy and Merry Christmas, Shawn

Apparently I can't Read A Calendar!! Blog Hop Hoppers

Hello, Mystery Block Hoppers, 

I know I'm up for your next block but apparently I can't read a calendar.  I will have it up tomorrow.  I'm  currently at a show in Palm Springs, CA vending.  

I promise the block is worth the 24 hour wait.  

You all have been so sweet to us!!  I love wool quilters, they are the best out there!!!!! 

With warmest regards (it's over 100 degrees here in Palm Springs)  I'll chat with you all tomorrow.  

Love Shawn