Vintage Quilt Revival schoolhouse session Photo courtesy of Tracy Mooney/Generation Q Magazine

I've been back from Quilt Market a few weeks now, but it seems like just days. Things have been crazy busy at home and I've finally had a chance to go through my photos. (All on my phone, I just had no more room to pack my nice camera.) I wanted to share a bit about my trip. Mostly photos, but everyone likes new-fabric-eye candy, right?

This was my first trip to Quilt Market (trade show). I've been to several Quilt Festivals (open to public show), so I wasn't completely flying blind, but it was pretty exciting to see the "business" side of things. Katie, Lee and I were there to promote our upcoming book, Vintage Quilt Revival. A huge surprise arrived at our doorsteps just a couple days before we left - a real, life, actual copy of the book!

Vintage Quilt Revival : Fresh Lemons Quilts

We knew we'd be getting one advance copy about a month before the first big shipment arrived at the publisher, but we weren't expecting for several more weeks. To say we were excited would be an understatement. And also, to have the book in person and be able to show it to people in Houston was awesome.

We arrived Thursday evening and had our Schoolhouse presentation Friday afternoon. For those that haven't been to Quilt Market, Schoolhouses are timed sessions where you get a chance to present your product (fabric line, notion, book, etc) to a group of people (shop owners, press, etc). There are tons of Schoolhouses going on at any given time, in rooms all over the convention center. I was quite nervous because 1) I'd never been to a Schoolhouse before and 2) what if no one showed up to ours?? We spent the morning visiting other Schoolhouses and I started to get more comfortable. Everyone in the audiences was so kind and all the other presenters said they were nervous too. It was just one of those times where you realize everyone there is human and wants to see each other succeed.

So Friday afternoon we had our Schoolhouse session and it went really well! We were able to share our book, how it's broken down, and probably 80% of the projects. We had a great response! After that was over we were able to officially relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

I went into Quilt Market thinking there weren't a ton of upcoming fabric lines that I just needed. Boy was I wrong! Haha I think there were 2 lines that excited me the most. First, Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander.

Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander : Fresh Lemons Quilts

This line follows Carolyn's hugely popular Architextures line. Carolyn uses the same small scale style, but this time the line is inspired by the organic world. She works a bit of gold into some of the prints in a really, really amazing way. This was the only line I actually spent money on over the weekend, coming home with a Fat Quarter set.

Quilt Market Booth by Carolyn Friedlander : Fresh Lemons Quilts

The next collection that really excited me was by Anna Maria Horner (of course, would you expect anyone else?!)

Anna Maria Horner Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

FreeSpirit Fabrics has coordinated new collections by various designers called True Colors. These are fabrics that can be used as blenders and will be available for longer periods of time. I love Anna Maria's fabrics so much, her sense of color is always right up my alley.

Her booth showcased both her True Colors collection and her new line, Dowry.

Probably the biggest surprise and talk of market was Cotton + Steel: the new collaboration between RJR Fabrics and Melody Miller, along with designers Rashida Coleman-Hale, Alexia Abegg, Kim Kight, and Sarah Watts.

Cotton + Steel at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

My head is kind of exploding at the amount of talent in this group and I cannot wait to see what they have to show us later in 2014.

I think what I love most about this group is their willingness to think big and take chances. That's not something that comes naturally to me and I have so much awe and respect for people that can do that. They've shown they have a great mix of artistic talent and business savvy and I think that is a rare (and powerful) combination. If you haven't had a chance to watch their video, be sure to check it out.

It was fun to just walk the show and see friends and celebrate their success.

Jeni Baker with her bright and happy new line, Dreamin' Vintage. I predict this line is going to fly off the shelves.

Dreamin' Vintage by Jeni Baker at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

Vanessa Christenson's new Color Me Happy line. I even got my hands on her new pillow patterns - you'll be seeing more of them later!

Color Me Happy by V and Co. at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

Designer Marcia Derse and I, holding up my Lighthouse Quilt that I made for her Quilt Market booth! Featuring her upcoming Palette fabric line.

Marcia Derse - Lighthouse Quilt : Fresh Lemons QUilts

I seriously have a million pictures. :)

It was great to meet designers in person whom I have admired their work so much. Camille Roskelley of Bonnie and Camille.

Camille Roskelley at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

Leah Duncan with her second line for Art Gallery Fabrics. LOVE her artwork!

Leah Duncan at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

Sarah Jane with her adorable new line Wee Wander - and her new baby! Check out in the teepee on the right!

Lots of new solids are coming out, including Modern Solids by Alissa Haight Carlton, which are a really cool looking crossweave...

Modern Solids by Alissa Haight Carlton at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

and another by Denyse Schmidt for FreeSpirit Fabrics.

Modern Solids by Denyse Schmidt at Quilt Market : Fresh Lemons Quilts

Ok, I could go on and on. I think I already have! It was a great time, I'm finally not exhausted anymore and really just inspired to get back at the sewing machine. I hope you enjoyed the photos!

Houston Quilt Market

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