Under The Big Top

Kimberly Bourne's (of Main Street Market Designs) debut fabric line "Under The Big Top" arrived yesterday afternoon.

You may remember me going on and on and on about this line just before market. Kimberly is my life long friend, who lived just a few houses down from me. Under The Big Top was inspired by her little boys when she couldn't find the right 'boy' fabric for them. Kimberly decided to create her own fabric using bright primary colors and a fun circus theme fit for any little kid or the little kid inside us all.

My personal favorite is the Ice Cream Sundae Damask.

While designing this fabric, Kimberly didn't want it to be just fabric. She had a plan and an idea for each piece. This line has 3 panels (although one of the panels I love for backing)

This one was made specifically for a quiet book!

With tons of coordinates! Some of the coordinates were cleverly printed 2 and 3 to a bolt.

Kimberly has also designed several patterns to accompany her fabric. These quilts are what I helped her piece and bind and were on display at the quilt market. She received the first shipment of her new patterns the other day, and are also available in store.

Here are her 2 newest patterns, and more still to come (probably next week)!

Whirlygig

Featuring 3D pinwheels. I love this one, and can not wait to make it either!

This will also be available as a quilt kit - listed shortly.

Funky Patchwork

Although all her patterns were made with her new fabric line, and some of the elements were specific to certain prints; just as with any other pattern, the options are limitless! We have been playing around with other lines as well, and have been loving the look. One funny thing is we both chose Lucy's Crab Shack as for the Funky Patchwork quilt ...

Look how beautiful!

Kimberly has also released a new, girl version of her Quilted Car Seat Cover Pattern.

Also arriving today is Tula Pink's newest line, "The Birds & The Bees".

available in fat quarter bundles, 2.5" strip design rolls and 6" charm packs. 

Spring Market ... Market Eve

I had to go solo to market this time around. I'm not complaining, because I wasn't really alone. The friend I've been sewing with, Kimberly Bourne of Main Street Market Designs, was unable to make it this time (which was really too bad .. more on that later), and my parents - a.k.a. babysitters - were out of town as well. So, the whole family came along for the drive. Unfortunately hubby was pulled over about a 1/4 way through the next state. :(
We got to our hotel sometime in the afternoon on Thursday. Argyle was a little anxious to get on the elevator and ran to the first one he saw open. I chased after him, and barely made it in the doors before closing and we started moving up .... all the way to the top floor. And then back down again. Stopping just a few floors before ours. The doors open and this cute girl walks in, completely ignoring us. HA! I knew immediately who it was, although I had never met her. I said her name, and she very slowly and awkwardly turned to me. It was the most by-chance meeting ever and would not have happened that way had I not kept up with her own blog where she showed what she would be wearing to market. It was Lindsay from Craft Buds and Lindsay Sews!

Look how cute she is!!
Photo taken from her blog

The funny thing, is we had plans already to meet up at market. Even better that we were staying in the same hotel! We drove over to the convention center together and got checked in, asked where everything was happening and was directed to upstairs. So, we went upstairs, where all the booths were being set up! I kept telling Lindsay how weird it was that they let us up there since they don't usually let anyone in during set up. We had a private view of the next day. I only wish I had grabbed my camera from the car, but then again, I had no idea where I'd end up! We walked around and found the Benartex booth where Kimberly's first line, Under The Big Top was debuting. I managed to get a few pictures on my phone to send to Kimberly, not even thinking to take pictures of anything else, since I would have my camera the next day (I'm kicking myself for that one right now. Luckily Lindsay had her camera and has genorously shared her pictures with me so this post will be more entertaining).

taken with my phone

 Here's some shots Lindsay got of me checking out all the quilts Kim & and I had been making

-- and a few extras --

So after wandering around for awhile, we decided to check on the line for sample spree. Again, we were told it would take place upstairs and on the far side of the convention hall. It had been empty every time we went looking. Finally someone was there we could talk to. Turns out, we were in the wrong place! Lindsay was registered with one of the vendors and had a different pass than me and that's how we got in upstairs. The lady told us we needed to be downstairs for the sample spree line, which was already pretty big. She wanted us to walk down the excalators to the front of the line. I didn't want to be booed. Instead, we went around to the back of the line, still getting a pretty decent spot in line. And turns out, we were next to some other ladies that Lindsay knew too.

Sample Spree line just as we were getting to the escalators:

taken from my phone



Sample Spree line after we got off the escalators:

taken by Lindsay

Once we got to the top, we each went our own way. My first stop was to Lecien. then to Art Gallery Fabrics, where my  card was declined - my bank put a block on my card since I had been using it all across the country, yikes! and so embarassing when you're trying to buy fabric in a hurry! I had to put back about half of what I wanted and pay with cash. Luckily they had more at the booth the next day :) I made it Jaybird Quilts and got her new patterns. and picked up a few things from Windham Fabrics. I already had too much to carry, so it was time to go :(  I think this has been the most expensive sample spree for me. I haven't taken a good picture of my haul yet, just one of my trunk as we were going home. I'll get a better picture of everything soon and post on one of the next posts.

That concludes Market Eve. I am getting everything from sample spree listed on my site, as soon as it's all up, I will let you know! Have a great day! oh, and don't forget to enter the Sew, Mama Sew! giveaway day here.

Sneaky Peeky

I'll be leaving for the International Quilt Market in just 2 days!  And, as you may or may not know, my friend Kimberly is having her first line debut at the market. We have been busy making 10 (i think) quilts for her display. Here are some sneak peeks of her upcoming line.

Oh, But first I wanted to share some of the fun we had making these quilts. In the midst of our talking, joking and laughing, I was sewing the border onto one of the quilts, and went to press the seams before I trimmed the excess. Come to find out, I completely sewed the adjacent border over the quilt top. Now, Kim's been having a hard time, what with her mother and me teasing her all the way. She quickly accused me of not wanting to post about this mess up. I thought it was so funny, I quickly took pictures so that I could share it with you! Proof that sewing with friends can be very distracting, and incredibly more fun!

Onto to the rest of the sneak peeks. Some in the process, some tops finished but not quilted, and of course, quilted and bound. We were able to finish all the quilts just in time for them to be shipped to Kansas City!!

I really wanted to point out these corners. It might not look like it here, but these little corner triangles are only about 1/2 inch big. Even though they are small, it was still quick and easy to put together.

and look how well they lined up!

I can't wait to show you more of this line, and of course the full quilts, after the market.

I am really excited to see them all hung in the Benartex booth!

:D

4 days straight

I have spent the last 4 days with my best friend from childhood. I wish I could give you more details, but the fact is, my friend has her first line of fabric, which is debuting at the Spring Quilt Market; along with the patterns she has to go with this adorable fabric.

She is 8 1/2 months prego and just received her fabric a few days ago.

We have been sewing our butts off, trying (and so far succesfully) to make 14 quilts in 2 weeks time.

Or less.

Being the good friend that I am, I sew while she cuts.

Or is that, I cut while she sews.

Oh wait, (teasing in full) It's I cut AND sew while she sits across from me pretending to be doing anything but what she should be doing. After all, she IS pregnant! (I certainly hope she's reading this)

:0)

As with anything, for every action, there is an equal reaction.

Cutting. Sewing. Trimming.

It's been a great week.

The time has really flown by.

Maybe a little too fast.

I love it!

I will show more pictures when I get the go-ahead.

You guys are gonna love it!