This, That.....and the other Thing.

This.That....and the other Thing.

#marketprep.   it's that time of year again.

it's "new quilt season".

 

International Quilt Market

and all I can see in my minds eye

are hundreds of designers

across the nation

stitching binding

(because the international designers are done, and ready to board a plane!)

 it happens two times a year

spring

and

fall

these shows are "industry only" events

and very big events, at that

every single person in that convention center

is there to show goods to shop owners and buyers

asking them to take their brochure

and hope upon hope

that the owners and buyers will order their goods

 Twilight by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics

pattern:  faith.hope.love

Lilla by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics

pattern:  48 peaks

 

Grunge by Moda Fabrics 

pattern:  faith.hope.love

Black and White by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

pattern:  morning star + evening star

 designers sketch and draw and stitch and sew and quilt

and then the time comes when we lay in bed, and just before falling asleep

we play in our minds, over and over again

how we'll lay out the booth, and what we'll say every single day

and suddenly it hits us.

we forgot to order.....

...the other Thing.

so we ask friends to pitch in

while we check, double check and confirm

and finally arrange for

...the other Thing.

all the while, with hope upon hope

that you'll stop by

Booth 525

and chat for a while

HappiestDays.

Natalie.

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

 

 

 

The People of Spring Market

it's all about the people

Spring Market is so much more than fabric and notions

in our last post about Spring Market

we talked about the details

the care in which people take with their presentations

and then it hit me

it's the people

every booth has someone standing in the middle of the booth

and that someone

designed something

that is in that booth

their "thing" might be in someone else's booth

or they might have something in their booth

that they designed with someone else's "something"

or they might be visiting someone to see about that person's

something

and cheer them on

they might have even travelled from far and away

(hint:  Australia - garments...think garments)

to pick up something

to use in their booth in their country's upcoming show

or they just might be a friend

coming to see what someone did with their very first "something"

there are even people there just for support

and then there are friends that are

always there

it's a lot.

a lot of energy and a lot of support.

but to each and every one of you

(and to the others that I did not have a chance to photograph)

I offer up a sincere thank you

for helping to show our community

what can be achieved with

Hand Maker

fabrics

by 

Windham Fabrics

(eeeep - I designed a line of fabrics!!!!)

#handmakerfabrics

while the fabrics don't arrive in shops until November 2016

I just have to keep saying say thank you

for the work of many hands that went into the showing of the fabrics

at Spring Market 2016

can you name all of the folks in the post?

please leave a comment with all of the names of the people in the pics

to win a

QuiltyBox

HappiestDays.

Natalie.

be.do.create

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

leave posts until July 15

top three comments will receive their very own

QuiltyBox

Market and Festival - packing for a successful trip!

there are lots of posts about Market and Festival
I thought I might write a different type of post

how to pack for Market and Festival

PART ONE - MARKET

Quilts Inc

hosts the industry wholesale show called

International Quilt Market

it is absolutely an industry show

a commercial

big business

show
and QuiltsInc will want you to submit credentials to attend
(see their website for requirements)

the floor of the convention center is approximately

500,000 square feet

and the second and third floors used for classrooms and support

are the same size

attending in 2015 were approximately 500 vendors

including fabrics, battings, notions, distributors,

independent pattern designers,

embellishments, rulers, templates, threads,

fabrics

and

fabrics
THE ATTENDEES ARE SHOPS, BUYERS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

here are my five TOP Market travel tips:

1.  join Fab Shop Network

they have great benefits for shop owners

they have a great hotel discount for all Market events

they have fun events at Market

2.  if you're the type, have a roommate

it's fun to see things from a different perspective

3.  download the photographs from your phone, at home, before you go

if you use your phone as your camera, 
you're gonna need all available space on that device

you can also take pics of the items you ordered

and use the pics for newsletters and other marketing tools

to get your customers into your shop

when the new goods arrive

4.  bring lots of business cards, and have them handy

find an online printer, and bring gazillions of cards

while I may find my handouts in the trash,

your cards will be used by the people that ask for them
or you will want to give your card to that special instructor you meet

pattern designers, fabric companies, and distributors

all really DO want your information!!

here are a few easy printing solutions:

vistaprint.com

printingcenterusa.com

(at the time of this publication, about $25 for 500)

5.  bring a spiral bound notebook
you will want to make notes as you walk the floor
make a note of the name of the exhibitor that catches your eye
and jot down their ROW
with a short note about your first impressions

now for the packing basics.

bags and shoes

bring a very lightweight handbag that's at least 8.5 x 11"
you're gonna fill it up
(some folks bring a cross body teeny bag and a giant tote for papers)
carry  an rfid blocking wallet
I bring a separate small flat zip bag to place in the hotel safe
otherwise, I am a Kelty backpack sort of girl...a pocket for everything

there are three shoe types you'll need for Market:

1.  nice shoes for your nice professional business like outfit
(that you can walk a marathon in - I use OrthaHeel by Dr. Weil)

2.  shoes you can walk in for a week
(my choice has exceeded tennis shoes and has advanced to light hiking shoes)
these shoes you can walk in for a week
also doubles as the "it's raining cats and dogs" shoes
because, well, let's face it.  it's Houston.  it's gonna rain.

3.  flip flops for the hotel
when you walk through the door and immediately shed your shoes!!

gear
there are plenty of places to travel where you will need to bring
your own culture
HOUSTON
is not one of them
so, my personal "gear" list is light:

phone as camera
phone as email 
texting "what aisle are you on now?"
phone as phone
cord for phone
flash charger for phone
you will probably want to spend your evenings
attending the meet ups and parties
but if you don't blog by phone, bring your tablet

one of my carry items is this flashlight
hybridlight.com
(looks like the new ones come with a usb port for charing!)

small earbuds if your seat mate on the plane is someone to avoid

and a cable to connect your tablet or phone to the hotel tv for movies

jewelry gear
you'll want to look your best
head on over to tjmax or marshals for a lovely inexpensive long necklace
but remember you have to wear a lanyard too

throw in some brighton "fake" sterling silver bracelets
and travel with that $40 qvc diamonique ring

a friend of mine gave me this little travel jewelry case
(I think the next Martingale gifts book is going to have a great pattern
for something like this - hint hint, just saying...you're gonna like it!)

watch?  use your phone.


health and safety
this is just my thing - like always knowing about the weather
in a town unfamiliar to you, turn on the phone weather alert setting
and just like washing your car so it will rain, 
I always carry,
tucked in the bottom of my bag, just in case someone might need....

the potions you use when you feel "it" coming on
zicam, pepto bismo, cepacol, alkaseltzer plus cold and flu, mucinex
bandaids
and for me, an ankle and knee support, arnica gel,
and a travel ice pack
you know....just so I won't ever need any of it!!!
(making no recommendations or endorsements for any of these products!!)

toiletries

what you're really going to need is moisturizer, moisturizer, moisturizer!
this is a great trip to try a simple approach to makeup
and
head over to ULTA or some other cosmetics shop
and pick up one of those fun
travel kits
(body, shampoo, lotion, etc)
in a brand that you have always been wanting to try

(here's an airline tip - wipe down your airline tray table, and arm rests with some "wet wipes")

and finally, 
clothing

lightweight rain coat
(I found a great car coat length dennis basso piece on qvc once upon a time and I have never regretted the purchase - altho, it can rain so much that you'll want your Columbia gear hooded coat.....either of those raincoats roll into an 8" x 3" tube like shape)

travel day outfit
slacks (yes slacks, not jeans), comfy top, flowing wrap over comfy top,
light weight rain coat over that, with long soft scarf
(scarves also come in handy when the person sitting next to you in the plane is sneezing)
your all weather shoes

"walking the floor" outfits
three days of no iron professional looking travel outfits
my hint:  three dresses with a soft flowing card, three pairs of tights, done.

two days of your favorite dress up tops to wear with those slacks (yes, slacks)
for evenings out on the town
meetups

and one more pair of slacks and a nice top/cardigan/scarf
for a nice dinner with new friends, and your home travel day

ask the hotel housekeeping to bring you extra hangars
hang everything so you can see it, so you can mix and match
have any of you looked at project 333?
this has helped me quite a bit with my packing....

so, here is my summary (other than "unmentionables")
three dresses
three pairs of tights
two pairs of slacks
three tops
one cardigan
one flowing wrap/top/cardi thing
one long soft scarf

five pairs of socks/trouser socks

one lightweight nylon "gear" bag
either baggu or target travel section

one lightweight nylon "health and safety" bag

one very small "jewelry" travel case

flip flops, nice shoes, rugged weather shoes (wear on plane)
lightweight rain jacket (wear on plane)
(hint from the northwest:  get a jacket with a hoodie - ditch the umbrella)
backpack
(or in your case, you may substitute small cross body bag and tote)

(Alexander Henry booth Fall Market 2015)

handwork

if you want some creative time, bring a very small handwork project

in a very small bag

(for me, I bring knitting, because the floor info can be overwhelming, and I knit on the plane)

remember

this is a wholesale show

no retail sales allowed

friendships
one of the most important parts of attending Market
is seeing good friends
and making new friends
be sure to chat with people on the floor, in the booths and at the coffee bar

(GinnyJones and PokeyBolton Fall Market 2015)

 hope this travel pack hack
is helpful
honestly, you should be able to put all of your little gear type bags
in your backpack, with a small purse/wallet
and your clothes in your carry on
with room to bring home catalogs and great new ideas
from the exhibitors

want to win
this Robert Kaufman KonaCotton
bag?

leave us a message with one item you would add to this list!
(the random number generator will select a winner next weekend, 
when we post how to pack for Festival!)

HappiestDays.
Natalie.

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com
be.do.create.

Not for the faint of heart.....

#quiltmarketprep

Spring Market, Minneapolis, Minnesota

quilt market prep

is not

for the faint of heart

most people think of seasons as spring + summer + fall + winter

but professional quilters think of only two seasons

spring quilt season

and

fall quilt season

these seasons coincide with Quilts Inc. International Quilt Market(s)

this Spring Market

I am so lucky to be speaking at a Schoolhouse about my very own book

A Modern Twist

and will be attending book signings

at your favorite Distributors' booths

and at the Martingale/TPP booth

you will also find me in my own Booth 323

I have been making quilts

from new patterns designed just for Spring Market 2015

writing patterns

after testing blocks, pairing them with new release fabrics

testing the blocks for color

making the quilt tops

(while correcting step by step instructions and confirming yardage requirements previously created)

sending the top to the fabulous Quilting is my Bliss quilter

working back and forth with Teresa to come up with quilting that is appropriate for the design

and binding, binding, binding

then shipping, shipping, shipping to meet fabric companies' May 4 deadlines

then there is the graphic designer

(me)

that has sent new business cards, catalogs, handouts, and book flyers

(along with the new pattern booklets)

to the printer

throughout the whole process

pattern orders must still be filled

bills paid, checks written

and

#morningwalkswithbuddy

must go on

while this pic at first glance seems to say

chaos

 it struck me that this pic

really describes the amount of

heart

 that the quilt industry designers

put into our work

patterns, notions, fabrics, books

quilts, bags, garments, homegoods 

a little bit of our life is poured into every design we present to you

so the next time you purchase a yard of fabric

a pattern

a book

please remember this picture

and remember to support a quilt designer...one you know, or one that is just starting out

a pattern is the cost of a deli sandwich

a book is only the cost of two (or maybe three) patterns

a magazine has many, many patterns in it for the price of a fancy coffee

or a few pots of home made coffee

fabric travels around the world to come home to your local quilt shop

for somewhere between 8-12 dollars a yard

a quilt will take you months to make

for the cost of about one four hour round of golf at a public course

won't you click on one of those links below this blog

and purchase a book from one of my blog friends

or from me.... 

quilt market prep is not for the faint of heart

be.do.create.

natalie

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

and

  take some time to read

figtreequilts.com

blog posted by Joanna Figueroa's husband 

(thanks, Vic, for house/dog sitting for me while I am away!!!)

Spring Quilt Market

Spring.

Quilt Season.

Spring Quilt Market.

International Quilt Market, Spring.

#quiltmarket

call it what you will but it is one of two 'seasons' in the quilt world

Spring Market/Fall Market

a time when you see a flurry of new designs

fabrics. patterns. books.

when people post and blog and photograph

color.  pattern.  content.

for some it is big, big, business

and for others it is all of their hopes and dreams and wishes

on display for all to see for three short days

all of this piles on (usually) a sleep deprived designer of one thing or another

that has arrived after days of driving

or hours of flying with tons of bags full of quilts and products rolled through the airports

like some modern day gypsy

by friday, that sleep deprived designer

must give up their t-shirt and jeans for their pearls and sundress

and stand in their booth to receive the comments of the crowd

"I LOVE the quilting on that quilt," one person says.

"Is that Kona?  The colors, that fabric is great," another says.

and I am reminded once again

it isn't just the pattern designer

or the fabric designer

or the quilter

it is all of us

everyone in that big giant convention center

(well, in this case, the whole lot of us that has quite possibly taken over the whole city of Portland)

we are all the sum of our parts

and I remind a quilt shop owner that they are another part

and the quilt shop owner reminds me

that their customers are another part

and someone else reminds me

that the recipient of the quilt, bag, project for the home, is yet another part

given with love

all of it

the most important part of all

is that

we have all given with love

natalie

be.do.create

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com