Sentimental Stitches

The International Quilt Market in Houston wrapped up on Monday. It is the one and only trade show dedicated to quilting. Shop owners from all over the world travel there to see what the new and upcoming products and trends are. Last year while I was there, I experienced World Series Mania with the Houston Astros playing just down the street from the convention center. The Astros didn’t win last year, my Detroit Tigers didn’t win this year and I didn’t go to Houston. Almost sounds like I’m whining but I’m not, I had a great set of eyes and ears walking the show floor for me and thought I’d give you a little preview of what you might be seeing in your local quilt shop during the next several months.

Free Spirit Fabrics brings us Susanna by Brenda Papadakis. Available in two color ways, these classic 1848 reproduction fabric prints are perfect for the
Susanna Culp 1848 quilt.
A book with the pattern for this quilt will be available in the next few weeks. This beautiful, 20 piece line of fabrics will arriving in shops soon. You can purchase it now in fat quarter bundles and by the yard at Susanna Fabric

Vanilla House Designs has a pattern for Pincushion Balls. I think they look like so much fun. The brightly colored candle stick bases just jump right out at you. It wouldn’t be hard to keep track of your pincushion with one of these. They would make great gifts for a secret sister but be sure to make one for yourself!

I don’t know about you but I can never have too many purses. Even with a storage box filled with purses made with everything from leather to felted wool, I have to make one ( or two or three) of these new Building Block Bags from Indygo Junction. The pattern features a shoulder purse and a Schlep Bag style tote bag. How about a pieced or appliqué block inset where the light squares are on the shoulder bag?

Next on my list is a great design to celebrate the coming New Year. From Fig Tree Quilts we have New Year’s Wishes, one of their seasonal wall quilts based on antique postcards. If you start this one now, you can continue with the others throughout the year.

Lakehouse Patterns brings us a meaningful wall quilt destined to become a family treasure. Love, Hope and Family by Holly Holderman is the perfect quilt for any household to remind us of the important things in life. Look for the Lakehouse line of fabric this great pattern was designed for.

Now that I have your attention, stop back on Monday and we’ll take a look a Moda’s new fabrics coming out this Spring and some new books too!