Attending Shows & Events is Inspiring!

Dreams coming true! I find that attending quilt shows, guild events, and quilt shop workshops inevitably provide big doses of inspiration and opportunities to be surrounded by fun, like-minded, creative people. It's all a bit like being immersed in quilty heaven. It's exciting to see the new lines of fabric and supplies coming to stores soon, meet designers, distributor reps, amazing quilt shop owners, and the most wonderful, friendly attendees at events.

Attending the Houston, TX Quilt show was a bucket list trip for me! I was thrilled to meet Tula Pink in person and show her a Goodness bowl basket made with her fabric. Then, can you believe I met the Hillary Goldhar Cooper of Quiltberry Hill Designs, a Canadian designer from my hometown at the show in Texas! She proceeded to introduce me to almost everyone at the show including Lori Woods (of Poppie Cotton) fame in the pink skirt. Next, I had to get a picture with Anna Maria Homer/Parry. We are holding a Goodness Basket and supersize Pretty Little Fabric Bowl made in her fabrics of course. All the booths were like art displays, bursting with colours and goodies. The last picture is of me in the EE. Schenk booth, sharing with shop owners how much fun it is to make an EPP bowl or basket! What a great time and educational experience it was.

My first ever visits to Road2Ca and QuiltCon were fantastic as well. I shamelessly walked around each venue carrying my supersize Roar Goodness bowl for all to see. You may recognize local Vancouverite and fellow Canadian designer Nicholas Turcan of mysterystitchdesigns working the the Handiquilter booth (photo 2). Carolyn Wright of The Wright Fabric did a beautiful job of displaying my bowl samples and sold a record amount of patterns (photo 3). Trish from TrishTacSew in Palm Desert is holding up a medium Dory boat sample and pattern which she kindly showcased in the beautiful Cherrywood booth (photo 4). Thanks Trish! I was thrilled to meet the INcredible Morgan, the young superpower behind the amazing Sisters Quilt Shop in Chehalis, WA (photo 5). I would SO like to join in an event at her store one day! Next of course is the wonderful team at WONDERFIL Specialty Threads! I love them all and not just because they are from my birth city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada but you know. Did you see the pieced "sloffee" jacket!? That is just one of the many creative bits of clothing that greets one at every turn at QuiltCon (photo 8). The last photo was a chance meeting with Dana Miller of Coastside Quilt Studio. She has the biggest, friendliest smile and came over to greet me when she recognized I was carrying a Goodness Bowl! That really made my day (photo 9). Fun times!

I also enjoyed a really wonderful evening in February at my local quilt shop, The Cloth Shop in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where our small group got to hear local fabric designer Ginger Deverell talk about what inspired her new "Serenity Blooms" fabric line! Seeing her design sketch books and learning the stories behind the designs (her love of birds and nature) made her gorgeous fabrics even more special to me. To end off the perfect cosy night, we were also treated to tea, chocolate, door prizes, private shopping time, and a handmade Valentine project. Big or small, I enjoyed it all.