Aug 24 and Sept 28 are the next two dates for our Charity Sewing Days. Please make a note, and RSVP if you plan to attend. (See updated travel and classroom dates below)
This week I snuck out of town for one day, to attend a giant trade conference for the garment industry. I have been going to these trade shows since 1980, because of my roots in the fashion industry. It is a great way for me to look for trends that are due to trickle down to our quilt textile industry.
One of my interests as you may know is environmental protection, including topics like endangered species, and sustainable textile and garment production. One of the reasons I love our industry is because many of our high quality suppliers actually care about these topics too. In addition you may be interested to know that many of the overseas factories used by our suppliers, are geared up for European standards, which have a much higher bar for environmental protection and human rights than US standards. It is cheaper/easier for the factories to just continue to operate at these European standards, than to drop the standards for their US customers. For cheap fabrics produced for chain stores, not so much. And yes, in case you have wondered, there IS a difference when you pay extra for organic fabrics. It is obvious and measurable when tested in labs.
As for the trends from the trade show – you’ll be seeing the fruits of my trend-harvesting here at eQuilter over the next year! I found some new sources that are very exciting.
This week we are sending out supply lists and class prep instructions for students in Jacqueline de Jonge‘s Oct 8-10 workshop. You will need to choose between the 2 patterns (Dream Flight or Enchanting Stars) so we can send the correct instructions. If you have been thinking about signing up – now is the time! A link to our local Hampton Inn with our corporate discount rate is at the bottom of the registration page. Jacqueline is one of those very special creative people I have met in my travels, and I am so delighted that she agreed to come teach here at eQuilter this Fall. Her sweet personality, wild color sense and amazing piecing techniques have earned her a loyal following around the world.
Sophie has started her senior year of high school which is rather surreal, but she is planning to join me in Houston this Fall, and the Tokyo Quilt Festival in January. In the meantime she is a TA (teachers assistant) for the Boulder High orchestra teacher, and is taking Calculus and Physics. Our oldest son Mason is leaving for Australia today, flying to Perth, and will be visiting one of our old industry friends who lives in Western Australia. If any of you would like to meet Mason while he is in that part of the world (within 5 hours of Perth) let us know and we’ll put you in touch. He is now the Director of Operations of Rockley Music Foundation.
Thank you for telling your friends about our online fabric service – we appreciate your support!
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul
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Luana’s Travel Calendar:
Oct 16-22 – Winnipeg & Churchill, Manitoba Canada
Oct 25-31 – Quilt Market & Festival – Houston
Nov 13-17 – Color Marketing Group – Tuscon AZ
Jan 24-29, 2020 – Tokyo Quilt Festival – 1 day with Lisa Walton’s Japan Tour
eQuilter Classroom:
Aug 24 – 10 am to 4 pm – Charity Sewing Day
Sept 13-15 – Cas Holmes – FRCQ Workshop
Sept 28 – 10 am to 4 pm – Charity Sewing Day
Oct 8-10 – Jacqueline de Jonge – Enchanting Stars & Dream Flight – Registration OPEN
April 13-15 2020 – Susan Carlson
June 1-5 2020 – Paula Nadelstern
