SLC Spring Quilt Market 2007–What happens on the show floor??
I had so much fun seeing all of the new designs, products and fabrics for 2007! I was very impressed with the unique and cute booth designs. I especially enjoyed those booths that used antique furniture, such as shelving, benches, drawers, cabinets, etc. very cute and welcoming!
Before I get too far into the description of what I saw in the booths, let me tell you about some of the quilts that blew me away! I’ve seen this quilt at several quilt shows and I am continally amazed at its beauty, it took my breath away and I found myself at the beach, one of my favorite places to go and relax….the Sea Gulls have always amazed me! More information on Inge Mardal and Steen Hougs.
This is another quilt that they did, I love the detail of the frog!
I also loved this next quilt. It was a long horizontal quilt that was like a collage. It depicted stitching, stories and photos of what the designer thought was going on in each of her neighbors homes. I thought it was very creative and unique! The photo below is only one portion of the quilt.
Valori Wells had a great line of vibrant fabrics this year. She is the daughter of Jean Wells, and has taken after her mother in the quilt industry by designing fabric and patterns. I loved her stuff!
I also saw an up and coming fabric designer, the son of Donna Dewberry, his name is Joel Dewberry, he had a really nice new line of fabric. His style is called, “Electic Modern.” He had a very beautiful booth, loved his choice of color and shape in the designs. Westminster Fibers is producing his beautiful fabric. Please check out the link for viewing his new lines of fabric! You’ll not be dissappointed!
The fabric was beautiful everywhere! There were so many different styles available right now. You can still find old antique country looking prints, as well as bright, fresh and upbeat, and now there are so many more styles, such as bold, big and colorful….like Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, April Cornell, Anna Griffin, now there is Joel Dewberry….his style is going more toward the architectural/roman feel.
This is one of his lines, called Manzanita.
So much to choose from, I don’t know what I would do if I owned a fabric store….I would have a difficult time trying to hold myself back from buying it ALL!
I fell in love with a ribbon company called Renaissance Ribbons, they now carry LFN Textiles ribbons. (which stands for Laura Foster Nicholson) The style is very artistic and colorful, so unique and gorgeous!
I ran into Marie Osmond in the Quilting Treasures booth. She has a new line of fabrics, too! I was able to snap a photo with her in front of her quilt designed with her new line of fabrics, called Heirloom Garden Collection. She also had a memory quilt on display that was in memory of her mother, just stunning with photos, embellished with her mother’s things, etc.
I also saw some very great new products, I sat down and made my very first Yo-Yo! Clover has a new yo-yo maker tool! It makes making a yo-yo a SNAP, in fact, there are two pieces to each yo-yo design, just like a snap. There are tools for making a flower, heart, and four sizes of round yo-yo’s.
check out their website for free instructions on how to make one of these easy yo-yo’s! and it was FAST!
SLC Spring Quilt Market—walking the floor! not a bore!
The only way to see the show is to start at one end (wearing your most comfortable shoes, of course!) and then work yourself down each side of the rows. I made a lot of notes and talked to some of the vendors regarding their experiences. AND there were a lot of them that just started with the SLC show, their first time! I was so happy for them…in my opinion….it is a big step to take!
I went to many booths and will give you some information on some of the booths that had product that caught my eye as being a great idea! There was a company that came up with an idea to have pre-made “sleeves” for the backs of quilts for hanging on the wall! What a great idea…so many hate making those sleeves and here they are already made and ready to sew on the back of your quilt. They were called Quilter’s Hangup.
SLC Spring Quilt Market—Sample Spree—Yippeeeeee!
Okay, just so you know, Sample Spree is one of the highlights of the show! In the evening, prior to the opening day of the trade show, there is a sample spree. This is where manufacturers and designers have a table or multiple tables showing and selling their wares. Usually the ‘wares’ are at a discounted or special price. Most of the products are in “kits” so that it is quick and easy to sell things, because—–things are buzzin!
Those who are selling set up early. While store owners and those who buy a $10.00 ticket are waiting outside to get in! The line starts forming about 2 hours before opening time….that is the beginning of the excitement, some actually are eating while they are waiting. I always get a kick out of watching everyone run in to get to their favorite product! Moda seems to be the most popular and women storm to their tables. They have about 10-12 tables forming a large rectangle, the tables are covered with piles of fabric bundles in collections, 6 or more high! They are all in the middle of the tables trying to help all of the lines of customers. It is a sight! When you purchase a Fat Quarter bundle, you get a bag, made from one of their fabric lines! Always a treat…they are big enough to hold all of your purchases for the evening! AND women love getting one each year to collect.
Above is a sample of the bundles I’ve purchased in the past, they are so beautiful, that I find it hard to use them up…this year I managed to contain myself and only buy one bundle, from Anna Griffin’s line, called, “Margot.” It is the bundle shown in the back, right. There is also a small bundle roll from “In the Beginning” that I love, called, “Chelsea Garden” that I purchased last year.
Sample Spree is the ending of a long day….I had no trouble sleeping that evening!
Now for the restuarants—My friend, Rebekah Meier, and I went to eat at the Olive Garden, one of our favorite places to eat. There were a lot of very unique places to eat, one of which we just couldn’t get into, called The Blue Iguana. We did try to get in on “Cinco De Mayo” ….it was located across from the Salt Palace, down an alley/driveway and then you turn the corner, go down a stairway and through a covered awning….Felt like going into a basement….cool….it was in a very old building and very unique with ivy growing on the walls and the windows and doors were gorgeous! (I have a thing for architectural windows and doors) We heard it was one of THE places to eat…..maybe someday—-that night, we ended up eating at a JB’s restaurant, one of Utah’s All-American restaurants, sort of like Denny’s but I’m more partial to JB’s… We also managed to get into the Macaroni Grill….another favorite place to eat!
Home From SLC Spring Quilt Market! what fun!
Hello everyone! I’m back from market and had a wonderful time. First of all the weather was very nice to me. I had just come from 90 degree weather in Las Vegas, NV and so the cooler, overcast, misty weather was a great welcome! Apparently it had just changed from the day before, where it was 80 degrees and sunny. I couldn’t complain. 
The ride from the airport was quick to the SLC downtown Hilton, where I stayed in a Diamond/Executive room (thanks to my husbands frequent travels–thanks sweetheart!) So…that meant a great breakfast each morning in the Executive lounge….muffins, bagels, toast, pastries, cereal, granola, yogurt, juices, etc……..and fresh fruit to die for….we don’t get fruit like that in Vegas!
I spent my first day at the show visiting many of the schoolhouses. There are about 18 different classes to take in a 15 minute or 30 minute time-slot. So, it is very hard to choose. Many attendees have their’s all mapped out ahead of time. This is a fun day of learning about new products, fabrics, books, and designs and designers! Everyone is so generous with samples….I came away with great fabric bags, books, patterns, and tips on how to boost sales….mostly for store owners and web stores, but I took it to heart as a designer selling products. I went to a schoolhouse presented by Westminister Fibers, Calico Carriage Quilt Designs, by Debbie Maddy, another quilt designer. She designs quilts that have no “Y” seams by using half-square triangles.
I also attended a schoohouse by JWD Publishing, designer Joen Wolfrom started a publishing company for many other designers, including herself. She publishes Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, etc. I have a couple of pictures from that class, below:
I attended a couple of Krause’s schoolhouses (Krause is my publisher, too), one was for a book by Margrit Hall, called “Chameleon Quilts.” Learn a fresh, new innovative look and feel using traditional patterns. Create multiple quilts with unique appearances using a single pattern. It’s amazing what you can do with one block. I love sitting on the floor or using my design wall to rearrange my blocks to see what surprise I come up with…my recommendation is to take a digital photo of each arrangement—so you can keep the different “looks” available to go back to…:)
I attended a class presented by “Little Mountain Designs,” called “Finish As You Go” Block-of the Month. I was so impressed with the number of customers that participate in this store’s BOM program. They have 3 different BOM’s going on at one time. AND 150 customers that participate in each one! I know that is a lot of fabric, (They said that they plan ahead and buy enough fabric to have enough.) with the $5.00 charge at the beginning and some not always completing in the month, they pay again for the next block (they are recouping some or all of the costs), They have figured the costs to be about $1.00 per block, so basically 5 months are taken care of. At the beginning the customers are aware of the “finish packs” and can purchase those or not…. These “finish” packs” are purchased as they go….so, let’s say that we have completed 3-4 blocks, then there is a finish pack that may cost approximately $15.00 or more…you’ll use the finish pack to sew the 3-4 blocks together….making the “top” almost finished….you’ll make 3-4 more blocks and buy another pack…and so on….So, eventually when the BOM is done, you’ll have a finished quilt top! Gotta Love IT! I have THREE sets of BOM’s unfinished! When the women come and show off their blocks, they are also learning about a new tool or supply….increasing sales! I would’ve loved this program when I was doing the BOM’s here in Vegas! I took lots of notes….I’m thinking I need to have a block of the month program on my website!
Okay—as you can see, I have learned a lot so far! I’m just beginning! I attended a class on BLOGS,! yes, I love learning and learned a lot here. It was presented by the girls at “Quilter’s Buzz.” I love that blog, they have so much information, so I’ll be using what I learned to increase traffic to my blog….so check them out!
I also attended a class presented by Electric Quilt Company. I have EQ5 and just bought EQ6 upgrade. I’ve played a little, but I know I need to set a time aside to really teach myself this great software. If my 22 year old daughter can design a custom quilt top in one evening, using the software, you’d think, Mom, who is the quilt designer could do the same…so there’s the challenge presented before me now! I also bought their latest fabric stash CD. Spring 2007! So…….What is stopping me now!
There are over 5,000 prints to play with!
Okay, the last class I attended was presented by Andover Fabrics. I really like this company, they are a lot of fun and have some great prints to quilt and sew with. They also have a really cute print called, “Duck, Duck, Goose.” They were giving away large bags from their new prints. I was able to take home a Duck, Duck, Goose bag. I found out later during the Sample Spree, that they were sought after! My daughter loves it….! She has always had a passion for ducks and chickies!
Don’t you just love this panel!!!???
More about the Trade Show floor in another report! Look forward to the Sample Spree report!!!
Happy Quilting! Denise
