Going to market is kind of like preparing for a big family holiday gathering – it consumes everything you do for a long time before the event.  And then it’s over in what seems like an instant!

I didn’t see as many shops at market as I have in the past, but it was so good to reconnect and hear from owners who continue to support Perkins Dry Goods!  Thanks for stopping by!

My neighbors at market are Susan Marth from Suzn Quilts and Susan Knapp & partner Mary Jane Mattingly from The Quilt Branch.  I appreciate all of the help I get from these guys!  Be sure to check out their websites for all of the great new stuff they had to offer too.

I have pictures – still on my phone.  I promise to post them as soon as I can figure out how to get them from there to here .

Check out the Kits link under Fun Stuff in the sidebar.  I’ve started a list of shops that have kits for my patterns.  Here are two that I recently discovered – Pieces in Time at Quilted Treasures in Rogers, MN and at The Fat Quarter Shop!

Quilted Treasures

The Fat Quarter Shop

Happy Quilting!

Celine

The laundry is done and my son probably has enough clean clothes to get him through the weekend. He’s going to Prom Saturday – I hope they get lots of pictures.

This trip culminates months of work designing, sewing, writing and testing patterns. It’s a little nerve wracking to coordinate all of this. I hope you all like what you see!

I figured out that I can manage this on my own if I have a half-booth rather than a full 10 x 10 space. I pack my booth in one big suitcase weighing in at just under 50 pounds. Four boxes are shipped to the hotel and I usually rent a car with another designer. Going to Target in a new city is a highlight of the trip!

I know you are curious about what’s new, so I’ve linked to my brochure for market below. The patterns should be showing up in quilt shops soon…if you see something you like, please let your favorite shop know about it!

If you happen to be at Market, be sure to stop by – I’ll be in Booth 2602.

Happy Quilting!

Celine

It’s bound to show up one of these days here in the upper Midwest. But boy, it’s been a long, snowy and cold winter. We just cancelled our third college tour because of snow. I’m afraid to re-schedule, because every time I do, we have significant weather!

There are lots of things going on behind the scenes. In fact, I am taking a break from writing the last pattern for spring market to do this blog post. I think it’s also called procrastination!  I will be sending out a newsletter within the next week with the new patterns – there are eight titles that you haven’t seen yet.  Be sure to sign up for the newsletter here.

One thing you will want to mark your calendar for is the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol. 3 Blog Tour. I have another block featured in this issue! The magazine will be on news stands and in quilt shops  May 10th. You won’t want to miss it!

Market was busy and lots of fun – and I’m always glad to get home.  I was there without a full time helper – but had some really good friends make sure it all went smoothly for me.  Susan Marth (Suzn Quilts) and Robin Koehler (Nestlings by Robin) drove from the St. Louis area and brought booth supplies for me, made sure I got fed and drove me all over creation.  Susan Knapp (The Quilt Branch) spent hours helping me set up my booth, with school house and then came by frequently so I could walk a little bit of the show and eat lunch.  Pam Mathews (Pam Mathews Designs) helped with booth set up and school house.  I couldn’t have done it with out them!

One of the coolest things I saw at market was The Binding Tool by the Quilter’s Mercantile.  I’m not sure when it will be up on their website, but I know that Quilted Treasures in Rogers, MN thought it was cool too.

A few people have asked about the pattern for the large quilt in the picture. It’s the queen size quilt from the Great Expectations book.
Click here for more information.

Remember When is simple, traditional and great for the collection of scraps you have in your stash…and it even works with planned fabrics too! Throw and Queen sizes. $8.50 retail.

Jewel Tote is another Twist and Shout project that surprises with the end result.  Embellish with buttons and yo-yo’s as desired. Two sizes and two styles with inside pockets to boot. $8.50 retail.

Piccadilly is simple, straightforward and traditional.  Who doesn’t love pinwheels? Great with a plan or scrappy – either way.  Runner, Throw and Queen sizes. $8.50 retail.

These patterns will be available at Market and will be on the website next week.  If you are a shop interested in wholesale and not going to market, email me here – you’ll get the market special!

I have been busier than usual getting ready; finishing new patterns, getting samples ready to hang in the booth and working out the details of packing all this stuff into a suitcase and a few boxes. I will only be going to Market – not Festival and will  be in Booth 719. Quilt Market is the wholesale trade show that shop owners attend in the Fall and Spring.  They can see hundreds of new products for the Quilting Industry all in one place!

I’ll have several Market Specials for shop owners and will be doing two school house sessions.  One at 10:20 and one at 2:15 on Friday October 9th.

If you want to know even more about Market, click here to go to the Checker Distributors blog, they have a great summary with lots of good information.

Stay tuned, I’ll be posting my newest designs this week!

Here’s a little bit of what I was up to last weekend….

The Perkins Dry Goods booth!

Sue Daley and hubby from Patchwork with Busyfingers.

Kathy Mack from Pink Chalk Studio.

An early birthday at Buca in Station Square.

Getting around town after dinner Saturday night with Beth and Carol from Quilter’s Garden, Susan and Mary Jane from The Quilt Branch, Jane and Tammy from Thimbles in Lockport, IL and my college roommate Barb from Charlottesville.

I have been working hard on all of these new things and can honestly tell you that it was worth it – thank goodness my husband does all the cooking around here!

Introducing my new book and versatile Block of the Month……

Great Expectations!

Four Fabulous quilts with an easy medallion centerpiece.  These projects are all straight-set and look more complex than they really are!  The book has twenty pages is $14.99 retail and will be available in quilt shops and on my website by mid-May.

Four Patch Topper is charm friendly, no border fabric required and a quick technique for those Y-Blocks makes this design a winner.

A secret about Fortune Teller is that there is not one single triangle in the project (except the big ones in the corners!).  Super easy, super quick.  Charm and Layer Cake friendly too!

This new Just for Fun! design is just that – fun!  It goes together quickly, and I think makes a statement as a wallhanging or table topper.  Medallion Star will be available from quilt shops and on my website after May 18th.