2013 Houston Quilt Festival Finds

I found a couple things and a couple of people at the Houston Quilt Festival this year.
Hope springs eternal breathing in the same creative air will inspire and these little quilting projects may/might turn out.

Mostly these items caught my eye for 1) their simplicity, and 2) their marketing/packaging/pricing.   Plus the booth vendors were very nice.  So a special shout-out to them!

I spoke to Pam Bocko herself, the Pieceful Designs designer of the Flash Cards Notebook Cover at the top of the photo, who even offered to help me via email.  The design is so cute and I loved how the pen is incorporated into the closure.

The bottom one from The Designer's Workshop is called "Coffee Break," but I want to rename my result, "Tea Time"!  I'm almost hesitant to unfold and use the fabric (which is enough to make both designs).  I think it would be a pretty Christmas ornament or sewing room decoration as is!

And for many of the others who wouldn't even look up, acknowledge us or try to sell their items. . .Sorry to bother you, I'm moving on.

But also how friendly were these ladies -- Alex Anderson and Lyric Kinard!  And Alex's husband who offered to take the picture!  Amongst other talents, Lyric also does amazing watercolors.

Flanked by quilting royalty!

Houston International Quilt Festival 2013

The Houston International Quilt Festival kick-off begins in just a few days!

Festival hours for the public are:
Wednesday, October 30 7 to 10 PM
Thursday/Saturday, October 31/November 2 10 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, November 3 10 AM to 4 PM
Yours truly will be there and will post my finds, pictures and of course, opinions during the Festival.
If you can't make it this year, make plans for next year.  The 2014 Houston International Quilt Festival dates will be October 30/November 2.

The 2013 ticket prices are:

$12 adults
$9 seniors/students
$12 Preview Night package, includes additional free day
Children 10 and under free
$42 Full Show pass (includes Preview Night)
(Want to buy and print your tickets in advance?  Click here  The fee is $1 to do so.)

Pssst!  Here's a sneak peek at this year's Exhibitors -- and their booth numbers (as of October 22) so you can map out and plan your shopping strategy.   You may also want to keep in mind everyone automatically heads to the right once they enter.  Take it from a seasoned shopper and booth exhibitor, you may want to start a few rows over (remember which row you began so you don't miss a thing!).
Click here for the floor plans
There's also a lull around 3-4:30 PM before the after-work local crowd arrives.  Want to pick up some deals?  Then shop Sunday, especially mid-afternoon.  Vendors often don't want to pay or go through the hassle of shipping things back.  It's also an especially good time to get display magazines from the different publishers.  (Honestly, they toss them out.)  Surprisingly, Preview Night on Wednesday isn't that crowded.  It's also the best time to check the quilt displays.  But please, park in a safe and secure area, especially at night.  I recommend parking directly across the street or the Hilton parking garage.  Don't try to save money on safety.

Last year, Craftsy had a pop-up class booth in the Food Court area, and gave away discounted class tickets.  I'm hoping they will be back this year, too.  Make It University will also be returning.

Wear comfy shoes, stick a package of trail mix in your purse, have fun, and hope to see y'all there!

$10,000 Quilt

"America, Let It Shine"

This was the $10,000 prize-winning quilt at 2012 Houston International Quilt Festival by Sherry Reynolds of Laramie, Wyoming.  It has 5,121 sparkling Swarovski crystals!  My cellphone camera could not begin to do it justice.     Read all about it here.

It's Houston International Quilt Festival Time!

Hanne and I are back  to trip up and down the aisles of the Houston International Quilt Festival after taking a break from last year.  We will be reporting our findings and goings on.
One thing to note, the ticket prices have gone up - $12/day adults, $9/day Senior Citizen and students.  Children under 10 are free.  Festival hours are 10 AM-7 PM Thursday/Saturday, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM.

I was just looking at the PDF -- Looks like they are going to have a Twitter wall?!  Cool!  @QuiltFestival,  #QuiltFestival    I just checked Twitter, it's already lively.  Get the inside scoop on the booths, vendors, deals, exhibits and events.
 
Psst!  Can't make it this year?  Next year's Festival dates are October 31/November 3.

Stitched

Stitched, The Film will be shown in the Houston area on Channel 8 on September 19 (7:00-8:30 PM) and September 24 (8:00-9:30 PM). It's a fun documentary about three quilters racing to complete their entries for last year's 2010 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Update 9-24-11: I just checked Channel 8's schedule and it is not on it tonight. On the website it said it was on at 8:30 AM. Darn!

Can't wait? There will be a screening in Stafford, Texas at 9 AM September 9 and September 10 during the The Quilt Guild of Greater Houston's “2011: A Quilt Odyssey” at The Stafford Centre. Click here for more details.




And this year's Houston International Quilt Festival will be November 3/6 (Wednesday, November 2 is Preview Night).

Houston Quilt Festival - 2010

I had a blast at the Houston Quilt Festival! Once again, incredible quilts and displays, LOTS of booths and cool vendors. I'll be posting some of my finds later this week. (I still have to unpack all my goodies!)

The schedule for the 2011 International Quilt Festival Shows:

Cincinnati - April 8/10
(Preview night April 7)
Duke Energy Convention Center

Long Beach - July 29/31
(Preview night July 28)
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

HOUSTON - November 3/6
(Preview night November 2 -- CLASSES begin October 31)
George. R. Brown Convention Center

Mark your calendars and start saving now!

Spring Quilt Festival Dates

It's never too early to plan ahead! The 2011 Spring edition of the International Quilt Festival will be held in its new location - Cincinnati, Ohio - April 8-10, 2011 (Preview Night - April 7) in the Duke Energy Convention Center. For more information, visit http://www.quilts.com/

Spring International Quilt Festival Moving to Cincinnati!

Next year's Spring edition of the International Quilt Festival will be April 8/10, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. After eight years, this is the last year for Chicago to host the Quilt Festival, which is starting today, April 15, with Preview Night - through April 18 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

The decision to change locales was based upon attendee feedback, requesting easier parking, affordable accommodations and more restaurant options. Festival Director, Karey Bresenhan points out, "I think this shows we're really sincere in our desire to seek out and act upon well-thought-out suggestions for improving our shows..." Nice to know it is worth your time to complete those evaluations and surveys, and that people listen!

35th Anniversary International Quilt Festival - Houston

Preview night - October 14, 7-10 PM (includes one free additional day)

October 15-17, 10 AM - 7 PM

Sunday, October 18, 11 AM - 5 PM

Admission $10, Seniors and students $8, Children under 10 free

Avoid the lines and order advance tickets online to print at home -- http://www.quilts.com/

Webcast - click on Quilt Festival @ Home on the website

I'm looking forward to seeing the "Festival Gallery of Quilt Art: Fabric Forest" -- patchwork and quilted "trees" hanging from the ceiling!

And another "crossover" favorite - Make It University with Cloth Paper Scissors will return. It gets more popular each year.

Hitchin' a Ride!

Need a ride and a ticket to the Houston International Quilt Festival??

The Texas Extension Education Association of Fort Bend County is organizing a bus trip to the George R. Brown Convention Center from the AMC Theater-First Colony Mall in Sugar Land on Thursday, October 15. Avoid the traffic, gas guzzling, parking craziness and mob scene at the ticket windows!

Bus boarding begins at 8:45 AM, departing at 9:00 AM. Return trip boards at 3:45 PM, departing at 4:00 PM.

Cost including Quilt Show ticket is $35. Call Rose at 281/545-8763 to RSVP and get info where to mail your check or money order to hold your place. Deadline is October 1.

Houston International Quilt Festival

It's the 35th Anniversary of the Houston International Quilt Festival this fall! It is also earlier this year - October 15/18, Preview Night is October 14. Classes and events begin October 12. For more information visit their website - http://www.quilts.com/
Bringing your laptop, too? There's also wi-fi available - the George R. Brown Convention Center has their own wifi access, but it's $12.95/day. Let your wireless finder locate other free signals. Discovery Green Park right across the street from the GRB is wi-fi'd, so is the Hilton.

Houston Quilt Festival 2008 Report

In no particular order of randomness. . .

The clothing --

First a shout-out to our hometown girl Janelle Archer's entry in the Bernina Rendezvous Fashion Show with "Meet Me At the Oscars - I'll be Wearing Red" Not only was it featured on the cover of Bernina's "Though the Needle" and in the Houston Chronicle Star section on Thursday, it was also a finalist for Viewer's Choice award. Gorgeous work, Janelle! You did good! There is a rotating display of the other fashion show garments in the quilt hall. Another favorite of mine was Virgie Fisher's "Lookin' Fur Bigfoot." Young and trendy, the details were wonderful close-up. There was even a racoon family nestled on the front of her jacket.

The Hobbs fiberfill outfits were an interesting assortment. Summerset's Midnight Garden outfit won third place. Easily she could have switched for second. The first place winner blew everyone away and deserved that win. Fortunately the Midnight Garden mannikin was displayed at the right end corner, so you could, with a little effort, see the lovely jacket back detail. I knew about it from reading her blog and practically knocked over the line post and squeezed into the fire hose pillar space to get a better look. Then everyone started to stop and look (at the rest of her outfit, not me).

The shopping --

I got Quilting Arts newest magazine, "Stitch - Creating with Fabric & Thread" The skirt detail on the front cover caught my eye. And it includes 5 skirt patterns along with 25 "contemporary sewing projects" Haven't had a chance to really delve into the pages, but it looks promising.

Christmas came early for me with a new cutting board from Salem Manufacturing. (Booth 1600). The Special Quilt Show price and saving the shipping costs, enabled me to also get their Folding Square Ruler. Very cool! If you get a chance to stop by their booth for a demo, you'll end up with one also. Out of the three of us in our shopping posse, two went home with one.

I also bought a box of Lickety Grip. (Lolly Corp Booth 1803) Again, the try-it demonstration sold me. I usually keep a tube of the Neutrogena cream on my cutting table because my fingers get so dry. This seems much nicer and less sticky. $7.50 is a good price point.

At Artistic Artifacts (Booth 1257) the magpie in me found these cool sequins in black and red. Click to see the dotted detail.

Got the two cool knit fabrics at C&C Fabrics (Booth 1357). I plan to make more Sandra Betzina tops. Great prices, these were only $7/yard.

And finally - I touched a $12,000 !!! sewing machine, the new Bernina 830. It's huge - in both price and size.

Bernina Fashion Show News

Rendezvous will be the last Bernina Fashion Show! Here's the email excerpt from Karey Bresenhan, via the QuiltArt mailing list. . .

From Karey Bresenhan, Director - International Quilt Festival:

"The wearable arts world has long enjoyed the tradition of a prestigious runway show at the International Quilt Festival to showcase the latest, most innovative techniques and designs. In the last 30 years, many of you have contributed your late-night hours, creative energies, and heartfelt passions to present today's American haute couture. Under the sponsorship of first Fairfield, then Bernina, the evolution of wearable art has come a long way, and this exciting journey will continue but without the Festival Fashion Show as a staple at the International Quilt Festivals. The 2008 collection of Rendezvous will be the last of the Festival Fashion Shows as we have known them. Rendezvous will continue under the Bernina name through the end of the Chicago runway show next spring. In Long Beach next summer, the show will be presented but under the aegis of Quilt Festival without outside sponsorship. Unfortunately, the current economic turmoil combined with steep increases in our production costs have forced Bernina and Quilts, Inc. to reconsider this event. Quilts, Inc feels a commitment to you, the designer whether you have only recently submitted a portfolio, have pursued this dream for years, or have contributed many times and we will actively seek a way to continue to incorporate wearable arts into our shows. There could be another runway show in the future, or we may take a completely different approach. We will continue to honor wearable art as an important expression of creative talent, exquisite workmanship, and extraordinary vision as we chart this new course."
Karey Bresenhan
Director, International Quilt Festival

2008 Houston Quilt Festival Favorite Booths and Vendors Update - Updated October 31!

The Sewing Workshop - No
Creations - No (They will be at Market, not at Festival)
Art Girlz - No (sob!)
C&T Publishing - No
Mekong River Textiles - No

However, this opens the opportunity to discover new booths, new vendors, new merchandise! I always like to "ring around" the show. The aisles on the perimeter and in the back are usually the new people and last-minute/wait-listed additions. They can have more innovative and cool things, and are often friendlier and happier to chat and talk about their wares. Seriously, there are more than a few booths where the booth worker barely looks up or acknowledges you. Hate that. Or have "Warning: Do Not Take Pictures" signs posted everywhere. Note to those people - "Warning: I Won't Leave My Money With You" Not that I would suddenly want to take a picture of a Santa pillow made of buttons, but they just come across as rude and hostile to me. If I like your design, I'll buy the pattern. I want to keep you in business to create more neat things. Duh.

These vendors will be there:

C&C Fabrics from Dallas - #1357 (Great knits, look in the center rack, bottom row)
Vogue Fabrics - Booth Nos. 425/324

Discovered this year (I'll be posting my prizes in a later post, too tired!) - and there's still time this weekend to check them out:

Lickety Grip - Booth #1803
Artistic Artifacts - #1257/1259
Salem Manufacturing - #1600/1602 (cutting boards and cool hinged rulers!)

Are you into Kumihimo (braided beads and cords)? I found these three friendly vendors:
Pat Powell Designs - #1227
Accent Bead Design - #557
Fiber Goddess - towards the back, to the left before the Embellishment section

Purchase Your Bernina Fashion Show Rendezvous Tickets Early!

Instead of having to wait in two long lines on October 30, purchase your Bernina Fashion Show "Rendezvous" ticket in advance. Ticket price is $13. Mail your check payable to Quilts Inc. with a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to:

Kim DeCoste
Bernina Fashion Show Ticket
Quilts Inc.
7660 Woodway, Suite 550
Houston, Texas 77063

Deadline is October 16. Those requests received afterwards will be returned.

Houston International Quilt Festival - October 30-November 2, 2008 - Updated 10-31

Even though the publication I used to write about the Quilt Festival is now defunct, I still get the media kit in advance. Here's some interesting tidbits to whet your Festival appetite.

Dates: October 30-November 2, 2008
Classes and events begin October 27
Preview Night is October 29; your ticket for that evening includes admission for another day.
Next year's festival is earlier in October -- October 15/18, 2009

Ticket prices -- $10 daily, $8 seniors and students. Children under 10 are free. Full show pass is $35.

"Rendezvous," The Bernina Fashion Show is 6:30-8:30 PM Thursday evening, October 30. Ticket price is $12, which includes the "Through the Needle" program with all the garment photos and designer information.

The "Stitch in Time" Fashion Luncheon is Friday, October 31. Ticket price is $32. If you participate, this could be an opportunity springboard to get that coveted invitation to be in the Bernina Show...

Alex Anderson is the 2008 Silver Star Recipient and the Silver Star Salute dinner honoring her is Saturday, November 1 at 7:30 PM. Ticket price is $39. There will also be a special exhibit of her work at the Festival.

Pfaff leads the pack of sewing machine companies offering their machines (250) for classes, followed by Janome (150 machines), Baby Lock (100), Bernina (75), Husqvarna Viking (50), Brother International (50) and Elna (25). Here's an insider tip -- visit these companies' booths during Festival...they sometimes offer special deals on these gently-used machines at a great discount! Also good to know -- if you are in the Houston local area, the dealer stores will often beat the Festival Show Special Price on brand new machines.

Speaking of stores, there's shopping to be had! On Wednesday there's the "Truly Texas," ($108) and "Missouri City" ($106) tours. Thursday is "Houston Sights, Fashion Fabrics, Antiques & Tea," ($91) and "Gateway to the Bay" ($96). New this year is an after the show overnight to San Antonio, "Out West Quilt Shops & Alamo City Tour" - departing 8 AM Monday and returning 6 PM Tuesday ($306 double/$361 single).


The 2008 Hoffman Challenge fabric for this year's wall hanging exhibit display is #E9062116 "Green Tea Gold"

"Make It University" will be back with Cloth Paper Scissors workshop sessions for $10 each. Class size is limited to 25 and admission by lottery so everyone has a chance. Really you do, many people just drop in their name and if you are not nearby, they pull the next name. It could be you! The Festival Program, Q2 will have the official schedule. There will also be a "Take It and Leave It" ATC swap.

Want to take a class? If you do, your separate $38 enrollment fee has some great benefits. Repeat admission to Festival (a savings of $10/day), the VIP Preview of the Show (you are allowed in before Preview Night's official opening time - sometimes you need that 2 hour head start on some of the more popular booths!), Q2 Festival Program, the official show pin and tote bag.

Be a Quilt Angel - volunteer for 3 hours and get a Quilt Angel Pin, volunteer for 6 hours - you get the pin, free class catalog and priority advance enrollment next year.

Mention the Quilt Festival to get a special rate for the nearby hotels (Hilton Americas, Doubletree, Four Seasons, Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza). FYI - Filling up quickly are the Hilton (it's right across the street and there's a skyway adjoining the George Brown) and the Four Seasons (just a few blocks away). However, there are hotel shuttle buses. You need to call the hotels directly for the discount, not the 800#. And if the reserved block is full, do check back a week, a few days and the day before, even the day of your arrival. Also if these hotels are full, check the hotel and http://www.quilts.com/ websites for other Houston locations. Especially around Loop 610 (The Galleria) and the Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59). Often they become back up hotels with special rates and a shuttle bus to the Convention Center.

Continental and Northwest Airlines also have special telephone numbers and discount codes. And Hertz is the official car rental company. Given the increased airfare cost and extra fees nowadays, you may and probably will be able to do better on your own.

To get a class catalog and for more information, visit the International Quilt Festival website, http://www.quilts.com/

Click here to get a recently updated post about some cool booths I found yesterday and today.

Parking update: If you arrive early (around 9 AM) you may find surface parking on either side of the George R. Brown Convention Center for $7. Otherwise, there is underground parking right across the street underneath the new Discovery Green Park. The entrance is in the middle of Avenida de las Americas. Well-lit, safe, secure, two levels - only $10.

The Fabric of Our Lives

The January 2008 issue of Texas Monthly has a great article about the Houston International Quilt Festival on Page 116. Author Michael Hall, son of quilting author and winner Jane Hall, followed his mom around during three days of Festival. Pick up your copy at Costco for $3.47. Or for you out-of-staters, the code is "HOUSTON" so you can read it online.

The numbers are in!

2007 Houston International Quilt Festival stats --
54,247 attendees (new record!)...537 exhibitors...1,084.5 booths
2008's Festival dates:
Chicago April 11-13...Long Beach (debut!) July 25-27...Houston October 30-November 2
Visit http://www.quilts.com/ for more information.

Houston Quilt Festival - Part 4 - Bernina Diamond Odyssey Outfits

After the Bernina Fashion Show, different selected garments are on display each day. Here's a few of Friday's. . .

"With the Suns & Moons All Over the Place" by Starr Hagenbring won the 'Creme de la Creme' award and justifiably so! I only wish it could have been displayed so we could have seen the back better. I practically fell into the manniquins trying to see it. It was sublime!

"Starry Starry Night" by Linda S. Schmidt.

And part of "Zebra Rose IV" by Sharon Meaves Commins. Aren't those roses luscious?

Houston Quilt Festival - Part 3 - The Uncommon Quilter

I love to look at the art and journal quilts each year at Quilt Festival, and hope someday to create one. In fact, last week I even bought "The Uncommon Quilter" by Jeanne Williamson (ISBN: 978-0-307-38122-4) to finally nudge me along the way. On Friday Hanne and I are looking for the display and find them -and the book! -And the author!