Marcy is taking me! We're going to meet up with my Takumi and his girl friend (all these non quilters! What will they do?) and we'll spend the day browsing around.
I have been a quilter for nearly 25 years. I fell in love with quilts when I was a college student and won a bed size quilt at a quilt raffle. I dabbled in piecing on my own until Takumi was born. I joined a 4 person quilting class for 6 months before Leiya entered the world. I started making raffle quilts for the kindergarten when Takumi was four. I have visited local quilt shows in my mother's neighborhood twice during the summers when I was back in California (won another quilt raffle!) and I took a quick whirl around the Tokyo quilt festival 10 years ago with a couple of non-quilting friends but I consider this the first real quilt show I'll ever have attended. I'm so excited!
So. What would you suggest I see or look for? What should I buy? Remember limited cash, limited luggage space. Someone mentioned an applique pressing sheet. What is that? Are there any absolutely fantastic quilting tools that you use that might not be found at JoAnn's?
I hope to meet up with a couple blogging friends who are making it a day at the quilt show too.
In the meantime, I have been making more Alabama Beauty blocks. Yes, I did tell you that I hadn't brought the templates with me. Well, I went on the Internet and found the pattern again and made new templates. I had picked up two batik pieces and had some scraps from the backing project and I even bought some black to make a couple black cats in a quilt someday. I've exhausted the combinations of those fabrics though so I'll be looking for some new colors to add tomorrow.
Speaking of colors. Look at the beautiful peacock feather Kiana and I found on one of our morning walks. And we found the peacock too! Occasionally peacocks will perch in the neighboring trees on their way to somewhere... I know one home that has quite a few peacocks strutting around their yard and I think the peacocks that visit us must be theirs. They call out from the highest trees "Help! Help!" which jolts visiting friends to think that something must be very wrong nearby.
Anyway,we went close up to take this picture and the very tame peacock posed and then went on his way... leaving behind a peacock feather!
12 comments:
lucky you.... limited funds can be ignored, it will work out in the end. Litmited suitcase space is another thing.... perhaps you can make a sack cloth and wear all the fabric home under your clothes... take pictures..... fun fun fun
YOu will love going to the quilt show! It is like going to many different quilt shops all in one place!! There will be so much to look at. So many quilts to see. I wish I was going with you! My only advice it to ENJOY!!!
http://www.quilts.com/newHome/index.php
This is the link for the Quilt Festival home page. Scroll down a bit and as soon as the show opens on the first day, you can click on the ruby slippers to see highlights of most of the exhibits. It can help you decide which ones you CAN'T miss in person. I know there is a vendor list on the site for the Houston festival, but I don't know about Long Beach. I go through the vendor list ahead of time and make my own list by booth number. Buy the program book It's $1 and has a map pf everything and a list of all the exhibits and vendors. Wear comfy shoes and bring a water bottle. Have a change of shoes in the car for the ride home - your feet will thank you.
Wendy (who has been to the Houston festival 9 times, always as a day trip)
Have fun at the quilt show! I mailed your quilt today, and sent you an email! Have a great weekend!
OH what FUN! I wish I was going with you! One of these summers, I'm gonna be in California when you are visiting...someday..I suggest: comfy shoes, bottle of water (in a tote bag...most times no food or drink by the quilts. I just keep mine tucked away till I'm in a another area), a CAMERA(!) (be sure to know where you can and cannot take pictures tho...not in booths..and some areas of shows.), and a notebook and something to write with. You may make notes about a pattern you want, but not now/booth location if you want to think about something for a bit, and maybe even a place to jot down an e-mail. I ran into people I KNEW! Don't be surprised if you do too..lots of blog readers! have a GREAT TIME!
Very excited for you Tanya! It is a great experience for quilters and non-quilters alike, I think (being that I am bringing two non-quilters!) Lots of different types of quilts to see, lots and lots of vendors. There is a vendor list on the quilts.com website for the show. I have jotted down a few things I'll be looking for already. Your head will be spinning! See you there :)
Last fall at a AQS show vendors, I bought a "Clearly Perfect Angles by New Leaf Stitches. Love it and will fit in your suitcase. Helps sew angles easily.
Also bought a red ring- heavy that goes on the top of your project and comes with a slippery sheet that goes on your sewing machine base for machine quilting.
want to try it but haven't yet.
Looked easy.
Look for small quilt kits.
Have fun and take a lot of pictures.
Sandy
My brother used to have peacocks here and they would sit on the garage roof and yell "help" and make a terrific racket. They are pretty though.
Hope you have a great time at the quilt show.
I can't imagine peacocks just walking around. Fun! Have a great time at the quilt show. Comfortable shoes. Take lots of breaks. As for buying stuff, I generally walk around and see what speaks to me, instead of planning anything specific.
I was there on Friday (yesterday), it's take-your-breath-away amazing. There's no way to see it all in a day, so just absorb all you can, and ENJOY every minute!!!
If you don't currently spray baste your quilts,you might want to look for 505 washable spray adhesive, it's the best! It has very little odor, unlike most brands, sprays a lot of quilts for it's size and doesn't make the quilt stiff while you're quilting it. It also comes in a *small* can so it will fit in your bag. I'm so glad you get to go to a quilt show, it'll turn your head for sure!
Oh, yes a quilt festival. I am sure you had a wonderful time!
Isn't the Internet wonderful! What did we do before we had it? It's great you were able to go on line and get your pattern while away from home.
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