Yesterday we woke up to our first fall view of snow on the high Rocky Mountain peaks. This morning we had snow on the top of the Boulder foothills, and slushy rain most of the day. I just got a Freeze Warning in my Inbox, so I am dashing out to pick my herbs and green tomatoes in a few minutes. My bad boy kitty is asking to come in and sleep in my studio at night, which is a sure sign that the weather is changing.
More and more of our customers are not just making quilts with colorful cotton fabric, but also sewing clothes for babies and children, making clothing for themselves, crafty gifts and practical handbags, aprons and table-toppers, even pillows and splashy bright curtains… oh my!
Groups like the Modern Quilt Guild are rediscovering quilt techniques that us patchwork old timers learned on our grandma's knee. Young mothers are buying entry level sewing machines, but also falling in love with the pleasures of hand-stitching.
There really is a revolution going on in our industry, and slowly these new sewing fans are finding their way to quilt shops – and eQuilter! – to find the wonderful variety of fresh young textile designers that have been streaming into the quilt industry for the last several years.
It is an exciting time to be a fabriholic! – because our sewing friendships are extending beyond age, race and gender, and attracting an audience that simply loves to sew… loves to make things from beautiful fabrics.
When I travel to quilt shows overseas, I am so excited by what quilters in other countries are doing. I've been especially impressed with the exhibits and competitions for children's art quilts, which you've undoubtedly seen on my blog and my photo page if you read the eQuilter midweek Creative Nudge. I've been most impressed with the children's exhibitions in Tokyo and in Birmingham over the last year.
I am hoping to see more quilt shows for and by kids in the coming years, because they can tap into the pure joy of creation just as well (or better!?) than the adults.
Right now I am planning to go to Bangkok in February, to speak on color trends at the Color Marketing Group Asian conference, and I am just starting to make plans to go to Melbourne's Australian Quilt Convention in April. (my plans for the Sydney show in June fell through because it conflicted with Sophie's birthday) If any of our Aussie quilter friends would like to connect with me in Melbourne, or have me speak to a group while there, please do get in touch with us!
Sophie and I will be at Quilt Festival Weds night through Friday night, and if you see us please do come and say hello. Sophie is planning to run the company some day, so she likes to meet our customers and friends too!
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Check out our new eQuilter Facebook page!
(Sneak peaks of new collections throughout the week)
Visit my photo page for the latest travel photos.
Follow me on Twitter or Luana's Facebook for creative ideas and trends…
clips of my Quilting Arts TV segments on my video page.
The Emerald Isle Tour – June 5 – 15, 2012
Travel with Luana Rubin on this 11-day tour of Ireland visiting Galway, Dublin, Cobh, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, Adare, and we will be spending 3-days in the Galway area for the festivities that surround the very first International Quilt Festival of Ireland!
