Quilt Market booth

Before market I usually get asked:

"what's the booth theme gonna be?"

here's a hint:

(also a sneak peek at Shawn's latest print)

more hints?

think: "Mad Men" style, early 60's vintage, 

think: Carol Burnett's "Went with the Wind" classic,

what??. .. you say?

.....hmmmm....

stay tuned

...

Pre - Quilt Market

Don't get the wrong idea - this isn't a vacation picture............

The studio's  in lock-down mode getting ready for market.  All hands-on-deck, crank up the music, get it done - ship it out.  But as most artists will tell you food (the kind you crave) is what you need to fuel the mind and body- lucky for us this place is right down the road.

Did I mention fresh- local - Bohemian fish tacos!!!!

I'll post more diversions before market

but just remember: when you see me at market looking a little rounder:

  just smile

The Creative Connection

Every once in awhile it's good to get away.  Listen more, learn more, get outside your normal realm.  And sometimes it's good to go when YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME.  With  Quilt Market around the corner it wasn't a convenient time to attend The Creative Connection Event  but it was the RIGHT time.  Event co-founders Jo Packham of Where Women Create magazine and Nancy Soriano former editor and chief of Country Living magazine pulled off an outstanding debut event.  There were hands-on craft classes, panel discussions galore: editorial panels, blogging panels, women entreprenuer panels, fabulous breakfast, lunch, cocktail and dinner events with inspiring keynote speakers.  Whew! and if that wasn't enough there was The Handmade Market and the Junk Bonanza!

 Me and Ree

Ree Drummond AKA The Pioneer Woman

This is after I went up to her and blabbered on about our common bond, Oklahoma and how I'd told my daughter about her website and how perfect it was for her- laptop on the kitchen counter kinda thing - yada-yada gush-gush. As I was walking away The New Yorker magazine writer that was there doing a story on her stopped me to repeat what I'd said - at which time I stopped mid sentence and requested she snap this picture since I'd forgotten in the midst of my  star struckness.

MaryJane Butters

Organic farmer extaordinaire; MaryJane shared her amazing story

as well as the "breaking news" of her upcoming license line for Michael Miller fabrics!

for more Creative Connection details and great pix check out; I see the moon blog.

win Sew Retro & 5 yds

Awhile back I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A with Author Judi Ketteler for her book Sew Retro.  I recently received a copy of it and  am sooo pleased to have been a part of it! This is no fluff stuff, I love the historical background details and her thoughts contrasting the women's Lib movement,  high school Home Ec. and where we're at today. We've come a long way baby! (and by the way, great projects in it too!)

She's giving a sneak peek of the of the book's  interview ALONG WITH THE GIVEAWAY.........

here's the deal:

Go to Judi's Sew Retro Blog and  mention your favorite Michael Miller print 

for the chance to win a 

signed copy of

Sew Retro 

by Judi Ketteler 

AND 

5 yards of the print of your choice 

 (or pick assorted prints totaling 5 yds).   

The deadline is Monday August 30th 

so get a move on and good luck!

Michael Miller Clubhouse

The News is out! 

We've partnered with Swirly Girls Design to form a contemporary quilt club....

TA DAH!!

The news was posted a little earlier than expected but here it is on FabShop News blog.

The  Club and the Bonne Amies collection will debut at October Quilt Market (wholesale only).
more photos and info to come.......
 

Bonne Amies
Collection

Ruff ruffles

  Raw edge ruffles  - gathered and ready:

endless possibilities

 flower tutorial

 sew easy - sew quick

check em' out here

Pillow and Maxfield on Sew 4 Home

If you haven't already found the Sew 4 Home blog - chock full of great projects - check it out - amazing!

Baby gifts featuring Pillow and Maxfields'  latest Pretty Bird Collection.

burp cloth

baby blanket

 changing pad

Binky leash & carry bag

applying snaps

whew! - amazing!

A Snowy Booth in May

Thanks to great pictures taken by others, (along with some really nice write ups)

I'm able to give you an idea what our booth was like at market:

Here's a great shot of the entrance taken by Kelly of  Ever Kelly.  A fun blog

journaling  her artistic journey and giving some photography tips I need to practice.

  these photos courtesy of  Patty Young - thanks Patty!!!

we featured our new
Antiquity collection
kind of Dr. Zhivago meets Anthropologie.....

this photo and nice write up thanks to Kim at True Up

Everything's white and cream,
with accents of aqua and plum and lots of sparkle and bling.....

........lots and lots of white......
  to pull it all together

 Beautiful quilts all designed by Marinda Stewart
free downloads here

that's Becky at the appointment desk  (maitre d' extraordinaire)

trust me- she's earned the tiarra she's wearing-
she's a pro juggling appointments, accommodating everyone in the nicest way.

we didn't get everyone in the picture but here's just some of the happy faces that..... 

Made this happen!!!

more to come......

Ruffle guys

This has been bouncing around our office email:

Round trip ticket to Spring Quilt Market: $279.00
Hotel for 3 nights:  $547.00
Grande Café Latte right before the 1st day of show:  $9.00

scroll down

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:

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Seeing your supervisor in a white ruffled shirt, pink tie, and a pearl neck tag 

(and knowing you’re going to keep this pic forever):
Yeah…you better believe it!!!!!!

priceless!!!!
  

now the back story: 

The joke  (we've got a history of  'em at MMF) was on Ben Rubin (left) our international sales manager.  I wish I had a picture of his face when  Michael Steiner (right) the Michael of Michael Miller, knocked on his door, handed him the shirt  and said "see ya downstairs for breakfast." 

I hear the response was total silence.

  Then, "This has gone too far!  My customers will never take me seriously!"

well.. serious or not they pulled it off...

and they weren't the only ones; 

check out that ruffle skirt Christine's wearing.

left to right: Michael Steiner,Debi Porreca,Christine Osmers, Ben Rubin

and then there was the bean bag chair

Ruffles, ruffles everywhere!

check 'em out

here

Minneapolis quilt mkt.

Mary Tyler Moore welcoming us!

We came, had fun, worked like crazy
and it all went  sooo  f-a-s-t! Just like the toss of Mary's famous hat!

It's always so rewarding to see the booths come together.  And they all did!
  It was a beautiful day in the  neighborhood at Michael Miller Fabrics!

Anne Maxfield and Valerie Pillow, aka Pillow and Maxfield had a booth as bright and cheery as they are, featuring their new collection Pretty Bird.  Check out their new website!

 Laura Gunn  was there with her wonderful Poppy collection and her new patterns.
She had us all in stitches.
Couldn't resist sharing this photo, her laughter's contagious-

if you haven't been to one of her schoolhouse presentations - go -
 here's a wee bit

Sandi Henderson featured Meadowsweet 2
the colors are soooo soothing
makes you feel like you just came from the spa.... ahhhhh...

and - maybe while you were at the spa- you took along a  signed copy of her new book to peruse!
lucky you!
(sorry my photos are pretty spotty this show- no photo of Sandy OR her ever helpful hubby Dustin!
big oops!)

Patty Young featured her new collection "Play Date" along with her debut knit collection
AND
patterns to help even the most timid sewer feel confident sewing knits.
Here she is with husband Jon
AND
Their 2nd place/ double booth award!

(next we'll cross the aisle to the other side of the neighborhood!)