Apologies for the radio silence this week, but I was away for a week and a half, mainly going to Quilt Market, and also hanging out with a friend for a couple of days, then it was back here and straight into the day job for 2 days! I think I’m finally sorted out, both mentally and physically, so are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…
After the fiasco of arriving at Sewing Summit by the skin of my teeth and without my luggage, I planned a little better this time, and flew in to Pittsburgh on Monday the 12th, a couple of days before things kicked off. That allowed me to have dinner with a friend and her family, who I haven’t seen in over 6 years, and spend my first night in a hotel out at the airport. The next day my friend came over after work and dropped me off at my hotel downtown.
It was swelteringly hot the first 3 days I was there, and I had not packed any shorts, but given that the Wyndham was opposite the lovely Point State Park, I sucked it up and ventured out in the heat in my jeans so that I could explore a little, enjoy the sun, and visit the fountain. Of course the plus side to the fountain was the slight mist of cool water that you go standing next to it ;o)
After about an hour I couldn’t stand it any more and headed back to the air con in the hotel and waited for Leanne, one of my roomies, to arrive. We hung out that night, and the next day, where we got our culture on at the Andy Warhol museum before wandering round town for a while:
That evening Rachael and Al, our remaining roomies, arrived, and we got ourselves psyched up for the first day at Schoolhouse.
I laughed every time I saw that ‘My First Market’ banner thing, it reminds me of those toys you get as a toddler. Come to think of it, I did feel kind of small…
Schoolhouse was a bit of an all day scrum, running around between classrooms, but we were lucky enough to be able to attend the Cotton + Steel presentation, which was first, and get practically front row seats:
I’m sure you’ve read about this all over now, but fair to say the hype was totally worth it, they did an amazing job all weekend.
I got to see many online friends doing their own Schoolhouses (see my IG feed if you didn’t catch it at the time), but I might have been a little awed by the Tula one. And bless her, she barely batted an eyelid when I queued up behind the people wanting her to sign books and fabric and asked if she’d take a photo with a bear (it’s a bit blurry, I was nervously trying to remove myself from her presence again ASAP):
We were lucky enough to get to near the front of the line for Sample Spree that evening, and suffice to say we shopped (although some of us came away with rather less than others ;o) ). I got a couple of the Cotton + Steel bundles, and a couple of Art Gallery Fabrics ones too, and was happy with that (ecstatic when I found they were at wholesale prices lol)
Over the next 3 days I toured around this (this is actually only a fraction of half of it on setup day)
There were 25 aisles, each with a good 30-40 booths, and it was utterly mind blowing! Good thing they had maps is all I can say! I spent the Friday hanging out for most of the day with the lovely Becca from Sew Me A Song (and getting a hug from a bewildered Pat Sloan, but that’s another story), and I can tell you there’s lots of fabulous new stock that will be arriving soon!
Saturday and Sunday were more down to business, and there’s hopefully some new developments coming to the Thistle Patch, but it was also time to meet up with friends, enjoy their successes and eat ice cream:
I got to spend the Monday with my friend again, and we headed off to the zoo and her son’s baseball game, then on Tuesday I started my journey home, finally arriving at lunchtime on Wednesday.
If anyone has any particular questions, let me know, but I’m sure you’ve all seen a ton of Market posts already, so I thought I’d spare you the full tour!
Sound absolutely perfect, and very, very tiring!
Fun idea to take your bear for picture taking 🙂
I love the way you managed to be up the front for things! I never get tired of hearing about Quilt Market.It sounds like a wonderland.
YOU GOT TO MEET TULA!!!!!!! I love her and Im pretty sure I would have been completely star struck.
Oh Katy – it looks like heaven. I would have been in awe of everyone and everything the whole time I was there. Such a fun post!
I saw your little face in someone else's market write up and I was a teeny bit jealous (all right, a lot) that you got to go to market. You and the bear have the best trips! Glad you got to go and meet so many people – especially Tula! I'd love to see a picture of your Cotton & Steel bundles, and all your acquisitions actually – I need to live vicariously through you!
I wish I could have gotten my hands on some cotton and steel. I have to wait for July…..
Glad you had fun. Looking forward to future posts
Jealousy is a bad thing, but fully bloody justified!
I'm with Hadley, but I am glad you had a good time!
I'm still laughing that they have to warn exhibitors that not only is it your first market but you're an international visitor 😉
You met Tula!!!!!!!!!
It was fun watching your travels with bear on Instagram 🙂 glad you had such a fun time 🙂
Looks like you had an amazing time and I'm insanely jealous of you!! I'd have been fabric designer star stuck the whole time!
Oh I am pleased bears were allowed. Plus he took part in the socialization like ice cream eating.
I'm glad you had a wonderful time.
hugs Kay and Wilbur
It takes a while to digest it all for sure!
Sounds amazing and await your future developments with great interest.
hope you had flat shoes on, you certainly covered some ground
Looks like you had a wonderful time! I can't wait to hear about the new things that will be happening for you!
In all the posts I've seen giving an over view of the booths it looks fast but kind of devoid of people. Does it get to be one big scrum like when you go to Stitch type shows over here?
That is such a great photo of Tula and Jack! Sounds amazing, can't believe you were so restrained at sample spree ;o)
hope the rest of it went well too sweetie. x
That looks so awesome! I'm happy you had such a great time 🙂
I grew up near the Pittsburgh ZOO, I even worked there a young girl. I hope you enjoyed my hometown and your first quilt market
Jack seems to have fun wherever he goes. Too bad he can't collect frequent flyer miles.
It looks like Jack had a whale of a time, I hope you did, too!
P.S. Yes, I'm catching up on blog commenting!!