The whirlwind of Spring 2014 Quilt Market is finally over and everyone has returned home to the daily grind that makes market happen in the first place. Market is a wholesale show for the quilt industry. It is always an overwhelming experience. This year had a more subdued and easy feel possibly because of some credentialing changes made by Quilts, Inc. Ebony Love of Love Bug Studios articulated this change really well in her post here.
I attended market as a shop owner, there to buy all of the pretties that will stock my shelves for the next few months. This was just one half of the ocean of choices to be made…
The biggest buzz at Market this year was Cotton+Steel. They were swarmed at sample spree, most likely almost crashed Instagram, and won a best new exhibitor award. With all of the fuss and muss, these are five of the kindest designers I have met and took it all in stride.
My favorite new exhibitor was Kori Turner of Olive Grace Studios. Kori has a lovely shop in Cortland, Ohio and has now debuted a line of patterns for quilts and accessories under the same name. Kori received a B.F.A. in Interior Design from Savannah College of Art and Design and then headed off to the corporate world of Architecture. The corporate side of design did not fulfill her need for self expression so she opened her “eccentric quilt shop” in a little red schoolhouse that sits on her parents’ farm. I think Kori is a rising star. I see fabric in her future!
Serendipity Studio’s Kay Whitt was one of my favorite pattern designers. Her patterns are easy to follow, fit well and come in a range of sizes. Kay took her pieces to the next step and embellished a dress and coat with designs by Alison Glass.
Carolyn Friedlander had a book signing for Savor Each Stitch in the Brewer booth. The book will be out on July 1, and is a work of art that I have already read cover to cover! We will definitely have a review of this book up soon — stay tuned!
Fabric…wanna see more fabric?!
Kokka had introduced a new line of quilt cottons, Irome. It has four color ways to represent the four seasons, fall, winter, spring and summer. It will hit the shelves in August. The price point will be comparable to other quilt shop quality cottons unlike Kokka specialty fabrics like double gauze and linen cottons. I am really, really excited about these!
photo via Kokka
What excited you most about market? What fabrics and patterns can’t you wait to play with?
