Just got home from International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston. Texas was a very welcoming and friendly place, like always. I didn’t get to many places as it was primarily a work trip, but I did make it to Phoenicia. Unfortunately, I never made it to Guadalajara’s for lunch with my quilty pals, Cathey and Leslie – maybe next year.
I am deliriously happy to be writing this post on my trusty desk top computer instead of the laptop I took with me to Houston, which fought me every step of the way. What a relief to type and actually see the words show up on on the screen one at a time instead of me typing and waiting and waiting some more before my words actually made it it onto the screen.
It’s always great to get home after being away for a while. You should have seen my pup, Bailly, when I walked in the front door. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself – her little backside was wiggling like crazy and her tail was doing circles! There’s just something so incredibly special to come home to a furry pal, even if you were only gone a few hours. The cats were also happy to see me and showed me in their much more reserved cat-like ways. It feels so good to be loved like that. Of course, I brought goodies home for each of the fur babies from my trip! And Bailly is wild about her new yellow squeaky dog shaped like a banana. LOL!
Before I jump into a bit about Quilt Festival, I want to share the NEW November Rose Card patterns with you, which came out while we were at Festival last week.
NEW November Rose Card Quilt Patterns
We’ve got 5 new throw-sized quilt patterns for this month from 5 different VRD designers.
I’m excited to finally show my new throw-sized pattern, 2M Junior. If you loved the original 2M pattern (see below), but maybe didn’t want to make a large bed-sized quilt, then 2M Junior is just for you. And I’m absolutely thrilled to tell you that I used Pat’s new Riley Blake fabric collection, Bedazzled, in 2M Junior. Bedazzled is shipping to shops in December and you’ll be able to pre-order it soon.
Get your 2M Junior print pattern HERE or your digital pattern HERE
Get your original 2M print pattern HERE or your digital pattern HERE
And we can’t forget this month’s table runner, Bespoke, and our new snack mat, Little ‘Shroom.
Get your print Bespoke HERE and your digital Bespoke HERE
Get your print Little ‘Shroom HERE or your digital Little ‘Shroom HERE
With 7 brand-new November patterns to choose from, which one will you make first???
International Quilt Festival’s 50th Anniversary
This year, 2024, International Quilt Festival celebrated its 50th Anniversary! How amazing is that??? There were something like 1100 quilts on display!
I spent some time exploring the quilt displays, but I definitely did not see all of the quilts this year. I did take lots of photos to share with you, however!
There was a special Red, White, and Blue quilt display hung from the ceiling in the quilt area. Oh my goodness! It was mind-boggling! So many gorgeous quilts from traditional to modern from small to large all in red, white, and blue.
Let me share some photos I took, although they cannot do justice to the display at all, but I hope you will enjoy them.
Inside the circle of quilts hanging from the ceiling was a mini quilt display.
There were also more red, white, and blue quilts all the way around the ceiling display, too. Here are 2 of my favorites by the amazing Combat Quilter, Andrew Lee.
Well, I guess that’s it for me today. I hope you enjoyed a peek at some of the quilts on display. Stop back next Thursday so I can tell you more about my trip to Houston for Quilt Market and Festival. And, yes, there will be more quilts, I promise.
As I sit and write this post, sadly, Quilt Market is over. I must apologize that I did not pop onto the blog to talk about anything going on here at Market in Houston, TX. But it just all went so fast!
Working in the VRD booth was lots of fun! I just loved chatting with folks when they stopped by the booth and I spent a lot of time hustling to pack up patterns (we all did!). And time just zipped by. By the end of each day, I put on well over 10,000 steps and I was plumb worn out.
I also must admit that I only took maybe 2 photos during the whole of Quilt Market. Sad, sad, sad, I know. It’s okay, you can roll your eyes at me, I don’t mind….
Here’s a photo of Market looking down from the second floor back in the good ol’ days before the Pandemic.
Here’s an old photo of the VRD booth from 2018. This year’s booth was set up a little different, but still had all the same components — current quilts on display, fat quarter bundles and kits, and our patterns (of course).
One of the very best things about Quilt Market is getting out there and networking with real people. It was great meeting lots of new folks and catching up with people I work with online so we could actually meet face to face.
Of course, it’s also a great time to connect with old friends. I had lunch with my pal Cathey Laird from Cathey Marie Designs. Catherine of Running Doe Quilts (one of our VRD designers) stopped by — it was so nice to see her again. I also met our newest VRD designer, Deanne Moore of Creative Sewlutions. An old quilt guild friend, Sondra Raby of Art Quilts by Design, was here doing demos and I at least got to say hi as she was running off for her next demo. I caught up with Christa Watson of Christa Quilts, a favorite machine quilter, author, and fabric designer and Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique, who is also a fabric designer and author. This is what Quilt Market is all about — meeting people and making connections. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Quilt Market, I totally say “Go For It” — you won’t be sorry.
Although Market is over, the good news is that we’re rolling right into Quilt Festival and I promise to take lots of photos, including of the VRD booth, too. If you’re coming to Quilt Festival here in Houston, TX, don’t forget to stop and shop at our Villa Rosa Designs booth #801. You won’t believe the “dump” table which is piled sky high with fat quarter bundles. Oh. My. Goodness. It’s a quilter’s paradise.
A smiling Molly!Kits, kits, and more kits. And quilts! Oh my!Majestic Bundle Mountain — AKA, the “Dump” table.Here’s our VRD Rose Queen, Pat.Bolts just waiting for you at the booth.Kits, kits for everyone!
One of the coolest things about Festival, besides that it’s my first one, is that I finally get to meet Villa Rosa Designs designers Molly and Heidi Cook (it’s Heidi’s first Festival too) in person! Yay! Oh, the mischief we could get into together…. Sigh…..poor Pat.
And here’s a really funny thing — my friend, Gaynel, from my neck of the woods, is coming to Festival on Friday. What a long way for us to come just to meet for lunch, huh? LOL!!!
Now, let’s move on to some awesome announcements we made at Market about what’s NEW at VRD!
Villa Rosa Designs NEWS
I am happy to share some great new stuff coming soon with Villa Rosa Designs with you!
Designer News
Kate Griffin will be returning to Villa Rosa Designs. Some of her wonderful patterns are coming out of retirement, so stay tuned for more information….
Deanne Moore, designer of Creative Sewlutions patterns, is joining the VRD Family! Check out her 2 patterns coming in November, Oh Henry and Messages. You can visit Deanne’s website HERE.
New Pattern Collections
Coming in November, we will have 2 brand new exclusive 12 pattern collections!
We are delighted to announce we are partnering with the Quilts of Valor Foundation to bring you a collection of existing VRD patterns that meet the size requirements for QOV quilts. A portion of every sale will be donated to QOVF.
We will also be offering a brand new “12 Quilts of Christmas” pattern collection just in time for the 2023 holidays! This collection will feature 12 new holiday patterns for projects ranging from table runners to place mats to throw quilts and more featuring designs of many of our wonderful VRD designers.
Coming in 2024
Back by popular demand!
Coming in January/February 2024, we will host our second Fast and Even More Fun Blog Hop. More information to follow soon!
The Quilt that Followed Me Home
You know the saying — “what happens at Quilt Market (or wherever you are), stays at Quilt Market”? Nope, not this time — this story is meant to be shared.
Every time I attend a Quilt Market, the first place I literally visit besides our Villa Rosa Designs booth is Quilts from Mulberry Lane and my friends Carolyn and Don Springer. You can visit their website HERE.
I think I met these dear folks way back at my first Market in 2010 when my first book, Orphan Block Quilts, debuted (psst — this was also when I met Pat Fryer, our VRD Rose Queen, and you know how that turned out).
As most of you know by now, I personally LOVE antique and vintage quilt and textile stuff, so of course I found my way to Mulberry Lane. Anyway, when I stopped to check in with Carolyn and Don, they couldn’t wait to tell me about this interesting quilt that had found its way to them. The quilt had opened feed bags on the back of it and one of the bags was still very easy to read. They knew of my love for feed sacks and knew I’d be interested. Sadly, there was no provenance.
It really warmed my heart that they thought of me! They are such kind people. Don showed me the quilt back first. What an interesting find, for sure. I’d heard of people using opened feed bags for utility purposes such as quilt backs, sheets, underwear, etc., but I’d never really seen it in person. Until now. Then Don finally showed me the front and it had humble Snowball blocks in plaid and stripe shirtings with a few Indigos thrown in for good measure set side by side. I’m thinking perhaps circa 1920’s-1930’s. As a reference point, I have my grandpa’s Nine Patch quilt which was made by his mother when he was a young man and it also features shirtings and such. Very similar quilts. Also as a reference, printed design feed sacks weren’t available until the late 1930’s.
It definitely needed a good bath, but Don said they were concerned about washing it because of the printing on the back feed bags and they were concerned it might fade or wash out. It’s well-loved with typical wear and tear and could use a new binding. But all in all, this quilt still has a lot of love to give.
The Springers gifted this quilt to me. I was so so touched by their desire to put this quilt into the hands of someone (me) who would love and cherish it. We named him Harold (I have a quirky habit of naming everything).
Then the weather turned chilly here in Houston and Harold fulfilled his purpose once again and warmed me during the cooler nights — I definitely did not bring any cooler weather clothing with me (by the way, Wednesday morning we had 8 inches of snow on the ground at home in Pennsylvania — way way too early). Thank you Harold! And thank you to my dear friends, the Springers, for their kind generosity.
Now to figure out how best to get Harold back home to Pennsylvania….
I did grab a few quilt blocks and feed sacks from the Springers, too. Adding to my stash, of course because one can never have enough stash. I bought the blocks because they had feed sack fabrics or other interesting vintage fabrics in them.
Here I come, Quilt Festival!
See you next Thursday right here. Same place, same time —
As you read this post today, I am on my way to International Quilt Market in Houston, TX. Yay! I’ve been so psyched recently as well as frantic because I’m always afraid I’m going to forget something important. Whew! I will admit that I’m not an easy traveler. Most of the time I overpack and I overthink. I’d like to be more spontaneous but sadly, I don’t think that’s in my genes.
Although I’ve been to Quilt Market more times than I can count now, this year’s Fall Market is going to be a first for me because I am staying for both Market and Quilt Festival, which follows right after Market. I’ve never been to a Festival, so I am doubly excited for this trip! Houston, here I come!
International Quilt Market is the trade show part for companies, shops, and industry professionals while Quilt Festival is the retail show for everyone with tons of vendors, classes, and beaucoup shopping!
Right now I’m in the packing phase, so I packed all the clothes I thought I’d need. Well, silly me, now it’s time to cut that down by 25% or 33% if I can manage so I have room for other essentials. Thank goodness Pat, our VRD Rose Queen, rents a house with a laundry! Thanks, Pat!
I’ll be taking my laptop along for the first time on the plane, so that’s a new experience too which made it necessary for a brand new travel laptop bag on wheels with extra space for clothes and such. Sigh….by my estimation, I should be done packing sometime next week — you know, a week after I leave. LOL!
Are you headed to Quilt Market or Quilt Festival in Houston? If so, we all hope to see you there. Please stop by our Villa Rosa Designs booth and visit — we’d love to meet you in person and tell you about some exciting new things coming for Villa Rosa Designs.
You can find Villa Rosa Designs at Booth #803 on the show floor.
We have a Schoolhouse Session scheduled for Session 13, 4:40-5:10 PM in Room 362D. Gosh, I hope the room is big enough — it was standing room only last year.
You can find Villa Rosa Designs at Booth #801 on the show floor.
Don’t forget to stop by the blog next week for more Quilt Market Adventures! And who knows? Maybe I’ll pop in at the blog sometime before next Thursday….
Jelly Roll Quilt Races
Have you ever participated in a Jelly Roll Race? Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company (MSQC) did an awesome video years ago which started a massive Jelly Roll Race response. You can find Jenny’s video below if you’ve never seen it.
A couple friends and I were reminiscing about the fun Jelly Roll Races we had way back then (Jenny’s video came out in 2012). Our group actually raced another group in Chicago! Twice! So not only were we racing against each other to finish first, we were racing as a group to finish before the Chicago group! Wow! That was so awesome — I swear my sewing machine was smoking! That conversation sparked our interest in having another Jelly Roll Race (or maybe more). So I asked my local quilt shop owner here in PA, Gail, if we could do it again. She agreed, of course.
So while I’m flying from Pittsburgh to Houston, you can enjoy some great Jelly Roll quilt tops (flimsies) made recently at our super fun Jelly Roll Race events.
As you’ll see in the photos, every top looks entirely different! Individual fabric choices — choice of straight seams, angled seams, or even posts to sew the strips together — adding a border or not — horizontal strips or vertical — all of these things make each Jelly Roll quilt unique.
Drum roll please!
Here’s our newest and fastest Speed Queen, Donna, with a smokin’ hot 36 minutes to make her quilt top! She was one determined quilter!
Pretty Christmas fabrics, Donna!
Our Runner Up was Jill with a not too shabby (wink, wink) 38 minutes — Jill was our original Speed Queen from our races way back when.
Love the neutrals, Jill!
The best thing about a Jelly Roll Race, is the fact that everyone really is a winner regardless of their finishing times because each participant gets a throw-sized quilt in a short amount of time! Here are the rest of the quilts in no particular order.
Kim’s favorite colors!Sherry went stash scrappy!Timing is everything, isn’t it? Phyllis was one of the original Chicago ladies way back when and she just so happened to be visiting her sister, Mary Lee, when we had our first Jelly Roll Race. Coincidence???Mary Lee added posts between her strips. Isn’t that cool?
Two quilters even participated twice. Weren’t they smart? That way they each made 2 quilt tops in record time. Good thinking, Lisa and Robin!
Great job, Lisa! And she’s a beginner!She turned this one on its side because it had a few extra strips in the roll. Neat variation, huh?Robin’s Autumn throw sure is cozy, isn’t it?Another stash scrappy flimsy!
Donna added a border and even finished her flimsy and showed it off at our next gathering! Way to go, Donna!
Not only are you our current Speed Queen, Donna, you’re also the Fastest Finisher!
Phyllis (who went home to Chicago before this photo) and Mary Lee added borders onto their tops to make them larger and plan to use fleece on the backs. Great idea! (Psst! Did you miss my post about quilting with fleece? You can find it HERE.)
There you have it! Looks like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? Go ahead — I dare you to ask your local quilt shop to host a Jelly Roll Race. And don’t forget to check out the selection of Jelly Rolls while you’re there!
Did you know that Villa Rosa Designs (both the online shop and the physical shop) have a nice selection of Jelly Rolls and other precuts? You can see them HERE. We also have lots of VRD Rose Card patterns just for Jelly Rolls — you can find those HERE.
One more photo…….
Although I didn’t actually race as I was the “host”, I did complete my own Jelly Roll top, using a fun Christmas strip set. Sigh, now to get this one finished……….
Yup, that’s me grinning like a crazy quilter from behind my Jelly Roll flimsy.
Speaking of quilt tops, I hope you had the chance to read last week’s post about finishing flimsies. If you missed it, you can find it HERE (or just keep scrolling down).
Hope to see you at the Villa Rosa Designs booth at Market and Festival as well as our Schoolhouse Session at Market. Just tell ’em Tricia sent you….
Villa Rosa Quilts 