From 6 a.m. to into the wee hours this morning, my guests were busy sewing, eating, and shopping. Teresa said it was like a rhythem--sew, eat, shop, sew, eat, shop. And, every one seemed to fall into it just fine. We awoke to a skiff of snow on the ground and chilly temperatures, but nothing to worry about. Santa had been good to us and brought our family tradition of Christmas bread for morning and Grandma's chicken and biscuts for supper. We decorated cookies and opened (and stole) gifts in a friendly gift game. Colleen demonstrated how to make a cell phone bag at 11:45 p.m. Yes, p.m. It's now nearly 7 a.m. and only three of us are up and sewing. Where are the rest? I do hear some stirring in the room above us. I better get busy, as I have binding to put on a quilt this morning.

Pictures of the day:

The weather might be brisk outside, but inside the sewing machines are humming, the irons are steaming, and giggling quilters surround me. We've had a fun day of sewing and getting to know each other.  Here's just a few of the photos I've taken!

If everything seems under control, then you're just not moving fast enough.
Mario Andretti (1940- )
Race Car Driver

When I saw this quote, I knew it was for me. Each day I waffe between trying to be under control and being out of control. But, I love the rush that I get from that. Does that sound crazy? Well it's been crazy around here since I returned from Houston. There's been kisses and hugs and lots of playing with dolls and tractors, laundry, dishes, e-mail galore, the start of an on-line workshop (more on that later), and most importantly sewing and other preparations for today.

By 10:30 a.m. my guests will be arriving...what am I doing sitting here! The to-do list is long. I don't think it's under control. Better run. Watch for pictures and posts from the retreat.

My trip to Houston is coming to a close. Today is the last day of International Quilt Festival and I'm on a 7:40 p.m. flight headed home tonight. My bags are FULL. The extra boxes that seemed to get filled are ready to put on the truck headed back to the factory. I'm ready to hug my family. But, as always it's been fun to see old friends and meet new ones. I've looked at beautiful quilts, including the DAR collection. Wow!

I've got several photos still to share.

This is a bundle of cherry fabrics that my friend Sandra from Baton Rouge left for me. What a sweet heart she is. She knows I love cherries. I know it's hard to see the prints when it's all bundled up. But, you can just feel how cheery those cherries are going to be when I open this.



I had to go back to visit Mary Flanagan again. Aren't these colors of wool fun? And happy.



Because it's fall and the show ran over Halloween, we saw lots of pumpkin themed garments. When I saw this pumpkin bag I thought it was one of the more original ideas I had seen. Becky Harkey of Paris, AR, said it is her original design. How clever. Look at the detail in the handle.



There were costumes everywhere, including in the APQS booth. Cheryl Uribe and Marilyn Badger had special hats for the day! I wish I looked that good in a hat.



I loved watching Marilyn sell the machines while wearing the hat. What talent she has.




I have a few more photos to share and some info about a great new magazine I found, but I will write my final Festival entries from my wonderful home office.

International Quilt Festival opened officially at 5 p.m. last night for members and at 7 p.m. for the public. The lines were long, the walking was brisk, and the energy was high. Then came that glazed look. You know, the look that you're looking but not seeing. Like you've seen so much color and pattern that you just can't look at any more. The walking was slower, the energy was slow. It was time to go home.

Well, I don't want you getting that glazed over look on my blog, so I'm not going to show quilt related photos today. Something different. Something to make you smile. Well, it made me smile. On Tuesday, Pat Sloan and I went shopping researching. We were saying that we would have loved to have had our friend Roseann with us. (Roseann had to leave after Market and go home an man the shop.) But we knew she was with us in spirit when we came up behind the Spam mobile. Yes, a Spam mobile. All the way from Minnesota, where Roseann lives. Visit the Spam web site...it's a hoot.





And, I loved this art work at our favorite Houston Mexican restaurant--Chuy's. It's made from beer and pop cans and other metal.

Wool is so fun to shop for. Deep reach colors, wonderful texture. And, who could resist this wall of wool! Mary Flanagan had a beautiful booth at Market, and she'll be at Festival, too! I can't wait to go back to see what she pulls out for Festival.



I love running into blogging friends like Mary Lou, Pam, and Elizabeth. No pictures to prove it, but there were hugs! Still other blogging friends found themselves the object of my photograph.

Like Renee Plain of Liberty Star. Her booth was so sweet.





And Holly Holderman from Lake House. Let her introduce you to Rick and Rack, her pet dogs!




Cindy Taylor Oates had this yummy display!



Cupcakes are such the rage! So when Pat Sloan and I were doing some serious research on our day off on Tuesday, we couldn't resist stopping here!



Crave Cupcakes is in Uptown Houston and has shelves of yummy cakes to purchase and eat. I got the cinnamon spiced cake with vanilla cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Worth every bite!! Probably good thing I don't live closer.



We were almost back to the hotel when we saw a street median with topiaries. So we had to make a u-turn and check that out. These are all available at River Oaks Plant House at 3401 Westheimer in Houston. Worth a visit if you're in town.





My favorite--the dancing bears!



We're off to open up Quilt Festival tonight!

Quilt Market officially ended last night. It was a whirlwind of three days and I have lots more photos to share. But, I first must tell you about the Tina Turner concert. Yes, Tina Turner. Some of my quilting peeps asked if I wanted to go. How could I turn that down. And, WOW! Is she an entertainer or what. The costumes...the music. Those legs! I'll be rolling, rolling, rolling down the river the rest of the week.

Back to the sites of Quilt Market.

Bonnie Sullivan of All Through the Night has such a wonderful line of flannel that looks like wool. And, how could I not love the cherries on this quilt. I also had to get the pattern for her new framed samplers.



I wish I was better at making objects. These are right up my ally.



The Buggy Barn girls were not in their booth, but husband Ron was! And, this was what he was wearing.



Ron is also going to have his own fabric line and some patterns. I can't wait, as I have a little boy that is going to love it! Check out those trucks.



In August 2007 I was a guest speaker at the Buggy Barn event they do. It was so fun for so many reasons. One of those reasons was that I met Virginia Cole. Her work was hanging in the show and I was immediately drawn into her combinations of quilts and vintage pieces she includes. We chatted and exchanged cards. I've visited her website a few times. I was thrilled to see her featured in the pages of Mary Engelbreit a few issues back. So I was thrilled to see Virginia at Market.



Karla Eisenach has been in the quilting/creative business for years. I've always enjoyed her work. In the last few years she's also been in the scrapbooking world. At this market she was showcasing personallized fabric labels. I LOVE them!! I asked if she'd help me make Hen and Chicks fabric labels. Oh, the fun I could have.





Besides seeing all of this wonderful stuff, I'm also seeing lots of friends. Jane Sassaman has such beautiful fabrics and wonderful designs. Her booth was cheerful!



I'm always in search of the perfect bag. I bought this pattern from Lila Tueller Designs. I think it could be just the right size...not to small...not to big.



More photos of Market tomorrow! I'm off now to go some serious research around the city of Houston. I'll keep you posted on that, too!!

Quilts are everywhere at International Quilt Market. The colors are beautiful. The designs are fresh. I love seeing all my friends. I've been taking tons of pictures and will start today with just a few of the new, young designers that are including girl dress patterns in their lines. I wonder why I'm so drawn to them!!!



This is Jess Goldman from Rigby, Idaho. Her company is Bananafana. Don't you think the girls will be adorable in this princess outfit?



This new hib design had wonderful fabrics with Michael Miller. Patty Young is the designer and her fabric collection is AndaLucia.



She didn't have a pattern for this dress yet, but she said she would in the future!



Chelsea Andersen started designing clothes when her oldest daughter was 18 months. I told her I had the cutest twin 18-month girls that would look awesome in her patterns! Her company is Pink Fig patterns.



And between the cherry fabric in her Farmer's Market line and these patterns from Portabellopixie--I am in love!

My flight takes off in three hours. Masterpiece quilts, new fabrics and patterns, and old friends. And, of course a shopping frenzy. Watch for posts from both International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival over the next 10 days. And, if you're coming to Houston, be sure to stop by and say hello at the APQS booth.

I have one favorite little boy in the world and his name is Henry Jack. He's four. He loves pre-school. "Mom, I wish every day was a school day." He loves tractors. Green of course. He loves dually trucks. He told me on Friday while we were shopping that we need a Ford truck that is red with dually wheels. He's learning to count. He's learning his alphabet. He could eat spaghetti every night. He is sitting on my lap as I type this (up a little early). And, he loves to be Superman. Each day we put it on and have fun. On Sunday, he showed Grandma McNutt, too.