Glimpses of Quilt Marke#1 and a Giveaway

I wish I could share insights on Quilt Market in one simple post, but this was just too amazing of an event for one post.  I also needed to go over my notes and organize my thoughts and photos to be able to share.  I attended Fall Quilt Market for several reasons, but primarily to research and share insights with you on:

If you have insights on Quilt Market that you would like to share, possibly as a guest blogger, or by emailing me insights you'd like to share with others, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we can help those in the business by sharing such insights, as well as to increase awareness with shoppers on what the Quilt Market experience is all about. You may be in the business, or a consumer, but your insights matter and I'd be happy to discuss how we might incorporate yours as I also share my insights, over the coming weeks.

So, for now, plan on  "Glimpses of Quilt Market" through a special series of posts where I hope to share insights which will be of interest to those in the business, as well as "us" quilters who would like to better understand what the Quilt Market experience is all about.

Bottom Line: SewCalGal recommends to everyone "in the business"  to attend Quilt Market.  Where appropriate  have a booth to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to increase awareness and sell your products.  Take advantage of the business presentations and networking opportunities that go on at Quilt Market.  This is a wonderful "trade" show that helps to educate those in the business, as well as connect buyers and sellers on a wholesale level.




For those attending Quilt Market, if you don't attend the business seminars that are offered you are missing a great opportunity.  There are many tips and tricks shared at these seminars that can help anyone in the business.  And, this is a great opportunity to network.  Besides listening to the speakers, introduce yourself to fellow attendees and share contact information.  The presenters and attendees may become your lifeline in the future to help you through a problem for your business, or to give you a tip that could help you grow your business.

For attendees, you will most likely find amazing products that will sell like hotcakes in your store.  And, you can also find tips and tricks to increase sales in your store too!

You may also find other opportunities, like projects you can teach in your shop, how to draw in more customers to your store, how to move more inventory and many other excellent tips and insights that can help you be more successful in your business.  But to learn these, you really need to attend Market!  So, start planning for Spring Market 2014 now!


Quilt Festival is open to everyone, whereas Quilt Market is only open to those in the business.

International Quilt Festival / Houston

October 31-November 3, 2013

George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston, Texas

Festival starts later this week and there are some amazing quilt exhibits and an amazing collection of vendors.  Go, you'll have a blast.  And be sure to check out their classes as you may be able to find some that have room available and you can register for at the show!  

While there are several hotels that are recommended by Quilts, Inc. and they are all quite nice, they are also pricey.  I found the Club Quarters of Houston, to be about a ten minute walk from the Convention Center and offered a great value.  Club Quarters has friendly staff, a restaurant and room service that was yummy and reasonably priced, plus they offer a free shuttle to the convention center (only on week days).  I do hope you get a chance to attend Festival!

For those attending Festival, here are a few vendor booths that I recommend you take time to visit:

944   Aurifil USA, Inc.
213   Akonye Kena - check out ways to embellish with beautiful handmade buttons from South Africa
911   C & T Publishing
608   Electric Quilt Company
909   Embroidershoppe - ask Zandra for a free downloadable design
344   Gütermann of America - ask about their new rotating table thread holder
313   Java House Quilts
200   Kaleidoscope Collections, LLC 
1265   KennyKreations
133   LoveBug Studios 
1210   The Quilt Show - ask about their new policy for TQS members in 2014
117   Sew Ezi - check out their amazing Holiday special
124   Sizzix  
1733   Steady Betty, Inc - great new products you won't want to miss!
300   StudioKat Designs Inc. - cute new purse designs

Did I mention a Giveaway ?




Thanks to   F+W Media/Interweave, C&T Publishing, and Craftsy, as well as Quilts, Inc. for hosting Fabric 2.0 Splash That.  They gave away a nice swag bag that SewCalGal wants to give to a follower.  To clarify, this prize will include this beautiful Quilt Festival tote and as many swag bag items that will fit in a flat rate envelope and can ship to a US winner.  The other items that were given away at the Fabric 2.0 party will be added to gift baskets for the upcoming Quilter's Bee Giving Charity Fundraiser that kicks off November lst.

Want to win this bag and a few mystery items that will be shipped inside of it?  Followers can simply complete the following rafflecopter form to enter.  Deadline to enter is November 6th.  The randomly selected winner will be notified via email and this post will be updated to announce the winner accordingly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



You can find more information on Quilt Market and Quilt Festival at:

http://www.quilts.com
https://www.facebook.com/QuiltFestival
https://twitter.com/QuiltFestival
http://www.youtube.com/user/QuiltFestivalVideos
http://www.pinterest.com/quiltfestival/
http://instagram.com/quiltfestival?ref=badge