The George R Brown convention center in the heart of Houston.
I just returned to KW after spending two days shopping at the Houston Quilt Festival and here are my goodies – looking for a home in my diminutive enclave.
This is my first trip to Houston – mecca to the quilting world – and it was as organized and comprehensive as one would expect. I could almost visualize the mavens of methodology behind the scenes – the (mostly) women capable of coercing order from all things great and small – orchestrating the passage of sharp edged unwieldy tables through narrow doorways while silencing unruly preteens and small pissy animals. The seams at this festival truly lay flat with nary a thread out of place so first I wish to say thank you thank you to all those grim ladies- it was fabulous and I will be back with another empty suitcase next year – god willing!
Quilting is a massive industry – according to the Quilting in America survey, 21 million people quilt and they spend 3.6 billion dollars annually on their passion.
Nothing about quilting is cheap. Thread, fabric and even the batting hidden between, all are custom built for quilters. The most modest quilt tips the scales at about $100 to make and many cost two and three times that amount. Equipment, gadgets, classes and books on technique and pattern account for much of those quilting revenues. The only nod to the notion of frugality that remains stubbornly attached to quiltmaking is that they are designed to last and interesting enough to be cherished as heirlooms. With a modicum of care a well made quilt will make it through the generations relatively unscathed. But still, I find it ironic that in some ways quilts are actually the antithesis of what they represents – thrift, frugality, and making do with materials at hand.
Fine Heirloom Tools
Beautiful heirloom quality sewing tools from Carol Ahle’s booth
I had a great time one of the best ever because of the people I met and the fact that I was mistress of my time because I arrived alone and content and stayed that way for the duration. I am one of those solitary types, social when I meet people I like or when talking about a shared passion but also happy when it’s over and I am on my own again.
Click on image to go to website.
I bought very little fabric as I have a large stash and need to be really dazzled by original design so I was thrilled to run into Marcia Derse. She is fairly new to the scene and totally dedicated. She graciously let me shoot her booth. You can’t make out much in this picture, but it is a fabriholics dream booth – tactile and rich with a welcoming Marcia in the center.
Click on photo to go to her website.
Leilani arts sold out pretty quickly – great stuff.
The highlight of my trip was talking to Cindy from Quilter’s Fancy. Not only does she stock every fiddly thing, she has an easy grace and happily shares her vast knowledge of technique and material.
Click on image to go to website.
The Steady Betty – a new ironing surface – that stays cool no matter how much heat is applied to fabric ironed on it – found scores of people willing to buy one to try (including this author) and national distribution at the show. Good on them!
Click on image to go to website.
Dusty’s Vintage Buttons – the real deal and not a fortune.
Kaffe Fassett Collective – click on image below to go to website.
Click on image to go to website.
I forgot to photograph her booth but Mary Ogwel of Maendeleo Imports has outrageously gorgeous fabric and supports trains and buys from women in rural villages in parts of Africa and markets their handmade items and fabrics. The top purse is made from an African fabric called “Money Tree” that I bought from her a couple of years ago.
Somehow when I’m at a quilt show I still feel the odd impulse to check my hem (and I rarely wear skirts). It’s the only time when I remember my mother’s advice “Forget about looking good, just be neat.” I think that no matter how old I become, quilters will always seem like moms to me – weird.
The following is a slide show featuring 25 quilts that I loved in the show. This is a totally subjective selection and reveals more about me that it does about the show. I hope you enjoy them.
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