SPRING MARKET 2008

Another market season finished and a part of history ... what a grand time to meet up with old friends and make new friends. Market is a place where all of us with quilt related product come together in one large venue to offer our wares to shop owners and other people who do retail sales to the general public. Many of us who vend at shows see each other on a regular basis throughout the year "on the floor" at the various trade shows and quilt festivals. Cries of "see you in Long Beach" (for the new Summer Quilt Festival) were heard often as we packed up our booths and pushed our carts of product to our cars and vans yesterday afternoon.

My home for the last three days in booth 1506 was comfy being surrounded by my quilts. A new thing I learned was how helpful it was for people to see the same quilt in two different fabric styles. Sweet Nothings was hung in 30's with the batik sample right beside it. Wonderful contrast.

Sandra with Just Curves is now carrying all of my patterns that feature curved patch piecing - Cotton Candy Kisses, Picnic Party, and Asian Pinwheels. If you are still have trouble piecing curves using my quick and easy method, I suggest you try her Curve Master foot which is sized for all of the different brands of home machines.

On Friday everyone came to pick up all the literature they could manage to carry in their totes and bags from all of us vendors - many small pattern companies, the various batting companies, and the notions and ruler booths. To get to each of the smaller booths the show owners had to walk through the big multi-booth setups for all of the major fabric companies and get a quick peek at the new fabric lines. Saturday was a day of appointments with these fabric companies for most of the shop owners And Saturday and Sunday were also the days they came back to us pattern vendors to place their orders. I handed out lots of brochures, saw many familiar faces and repeat customers, and will be filling orders today.

In the big scheme of things, I think it was a good market; I'm looking forward to the retail festival in Longbeach this summer, and will have a booth in Houston for the Fall Market.