Houston Recap!!!

I can’t believe how fast time goes by at an event like International Quilt Festival. Not only did I have a lot going on at the show, I’ve had a super busy time once I got back.  Now after a little rest I’m ready to jump back in!  Here goes…
Cheryl and Speed I guess the biggest thrill for me is to have a quilt at the show!  Geschwindigkeit (Speed) was hanging in the show in the “An Exquisite Moment” special exhibit.  Yes, I did that thing where you hang out in front of your quilt and listen to what other people say about it (it was all good).

IMG_1159 I was part of Open Studios (sponsored by Craftsy) and had a great time showing everyone all about my cartoony quilts, dimensional sewing, and light up quilts!  Lots of people asked me if I teach and lecture (YES!) and a bunch asked if I had a Craftsy class, so I guess I’ll have to look into that!

Make It U - Houston 2013 Check out all of these awesome light up trading cards made in my class!!!  I LOVE student work, it’s so innovative and I always see something new that someone wants to put a light into.  We had a great time. Big thanks to Superior Threads for the conductive thread (check out this link for tutorials and more using their conductive threads)!

Make It U - SOLD OUTI’m always nervous to be the first Make It University class of the day, but I didn’t really have to worry.

IMG_1177The other awesome thing I did was to demo in the Cherrywood designs booth!  People came by and learned how I make my little cartoony people with Cherrywood hand dyed fabrics!  I worked on the cast of the Big Bang Theory during my demos, and had a great time showing people what I do.

houston1Then there’s my friends! This is a big part of the show for me. Clockwise from the top left: Judi Hurwitt, Pokey Bolton, Ebony Love, and Deborah Boschert!

houston2Even more fun is to be had at the “after parties” like the Gala on the Green on Saturday (top) and the Dinner @ 8 Artist dinner for those of us in the “An Exquisite moment” exhibit.

IMG_1135Of course, there’s my friend Catherine, who travels with me, is a fab roommate, and has her own “quiltie adventures” while at the show.  She did lots at the show this year too (like teaching and demoing) and you can read about her version of events on her blog! (How is it we get no pictures together, Catherine?)

IMG_1171I had a great time and I will miss it… until next year!!!

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Chicago Quilt Festival Recap!

I had a fabulous time at the International Quilt Festival in Rosemont (outside of Chicago).  I had one heck of a packed schedule, and I got to meet so many new people and see lots of my good friends.
OpenStudiosHeirloom First off, I had great fun at the Open Studios.  This is where you get to stop by and see what quilt artists are up to and what they are making.  It started last year in Houston, and I loved it, so I was totally game for it again this year.  I showed off three different techniques: Cartooning for Quilters, Heirloom Sewing, and of course, Light Up Your Quilts!  I was asked so many times “Do you teach?”  The answer is YES, YES, YES!
SAMSUNG I also got an opportunity to teach Light Up Artist Trading Cards at Create on the Spot!  This is similar to the old “Make It University” (which is coming back to Houston this year– YAY!).
More Students Create 2 The students in my light up class had a great time, and I had lots of kids in my class!  Everyone’s project lit up!   I thought the class was a great value and I hope everyone liked their project.
Kid Students ATC Class Student ATCS There have been a few places I’ve popped up since, like over on Pokey’s Blog, and on Generation Q’s blog, which is also nice.
Schwerkraft It’s always great to have a quilt in the show, and my quilt “Schwerkraft (Gravity)” was part of the Naperville Modern Quilt Guild’s Log Cabin Modern Quilt Showcase.  It was great fun to see it hanging.
Modern Meet Up There was also a great Modern Meet Up that Catherine and I co-hosted with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, and we got to see our friends and have a few drinks to wind down the day.
Light Up OPen StudiosAgain I demoed the Conductive Thread and lights from Superior Threads, who were super great to work with!  They have the best threads.  In all, it was a great weekend.   I can’t wait until Houston!  I already have my flight and hotel!

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Houston, we have liftoff!

I’m so excited to be here in Houston.  Lots of people stopped by the Open Studios booth to see my demo of Superior Threads’ new conductive thread and LEDs!  I have been seeing good friends and making new ones. 
I have one more demo on Sunday from noon to 2pm.  Please stop by, I would love to see you!

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Open Studios in Houston!

I’ll be demoing how to put lights into quilts at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this week!  It’s all part of Open Studios, sponsored this year by Craftsy!


Come by and see how I put lights into quilts and see the coolest new technology and conductive threads I’m using!  You won’t want to miss it!  Come by and say you saw this on my blog and I’ll give you something special!!

UPDATE:  I wanted to tell you this earlier, but wanted to clear it with them first, but I’ll be demoing Superior Threads’ newest line of conductive thread and LED products!  Check it out!



Thursday November 1
10 am to Noon

Sunday November 4
Noon to 2pm

Open Studios is near the entrance to the Food Court just off the vendor show floor   It’s going to be a great time.

Here’s the full schedule of artists, and 4 artists will be demoing at each time. 
Thursday, November 1 
10:00 a.m.-Noon
Lynn Roddy Brown, Piecing Triangle Units
Nancy Goldsworthy, Couching Chunky & Challenging Threads
Cheryl Sleboda, Light Up Your Quilts!
Barb Forrister, 3D Flowers

12:00-2:00 p.m.
Joyce Hughes, Thread Painting
Jamie Fingal, Rebel Quilting
Leslie Jenison, Monoprinting on Fabric
Marlene Glickman, Surface Design with Sticks, Clamps, and Stamps

2:00-4:00 p.m.
Sarah Ann Smith, Thread Painting
Teri Lucas, Fusible Appliqué Cards
Sara Hochhauser, Dye It, Sew It, Wear It
Michele Muska, Making Felted Fabric

4:00-6:00 p.m.
Martha DeLeonardis, Twister Designs
Cyndi Souder, Curved Piecing with Tiny Seams and Persuasive Pressing
Christen Brown, Ribbon Work and Hand Embroidery
Ana Buzzalino, Stitched & Painted Landscapes

Friday, November 2
10:00 a.m.-Noon
Christine Adams, Stitched & Collaged Fabric Books
Cathy Franks, Couching with Yarns to Create Leaves and Flower Shapes
Mary Anne Griffin, Painting Fabric
Judi Hurwitt, Gelatin Monoprinting

Noon-2:00 p.m.
Ana Buzzalino, Stitched & Painted Landscapes
Joyce Hughes, Raw-Edge Appliqué
Barb Forrister, 3D Flowers
Helen Gibb, Silk Ribbon Embellishments

2:00-4:00 p.m.

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What I bought in Houston

It’s a tradition of mine to post the stuff that I spent my money on in Houston to feed my fabric and thread addiction.  Here’s the stuff I bought while at the Houston Show!

MMM thread.  I had all of the brights of this line of Superior thread, and it’s time to fill in the rest of the colors.
Yummy fabrics from Friestyle (Frieda Anderson) and matching dyed thread from Artfabrik (Laura Wasilowski).
Oh Cherrywood dyed fabrics… how I love thee.  You have outgrown your storage bin and these need to evict other fabric so that they can all live together.
I love these tokidoki style prints.  I have absolutely NO idea what I will make out of them, but I love them.
More awesome Japanese-kawaii (cute) fabrics.  Yum!

More that just were too cute to resist. All of these fabrics in the last 3 pictures came from the same booth!
The show if full of booths with all kinds of wonderful things, and sometimes you find a treasure.  I loved the Victorian era buttons turned into earrings, and just HAD TO HAVE the same period gold mourning brooch. It’s the perfect thing to wear in my “Creepy Victorian” parlor room!  
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