Party Time!

When you hear the word "quilter" you probably think of your grandmother. White hair - sitting at a frame with her glasses on her nose and a needle in her hand. It's a lovely image. Just go ahead and keep thinking that way because if you all really knew what we "quilters" did when we go off to a conference - it would get even more impossibly crowded than it already is.

Saturday night at the International Quilt Festival the governor of Texas sponsored a Gala on the Green. Amazingly talented live band, food, and lots of us "quilters" dancing the night away.

Here's Helen Gregory (one of the many indispensable women at Quilting Arts) and I just a-hoofin' it. I have to tell you - I haven't danced like that in 20 years. Actually. I don't think I've ever danced like that. When it's just us ladies there is no pressure - no weirdness - no teenage angst from the last dances I remember attending. Just plain fun and celebrating another wonderful year with needles and cloth!

Big Fish, Little Pond

It feels very strange to have someone come up to you with a wide eyed grin and say, "Oh! You're Lyric!" As though I were somebody famous. Big fish. Little pond.

I had a book signing. Want to see my head swell to about 20 times it's normal size? The most amazing part was finally meeting my project editor face to face. Linda Griepentrog is one talented, patient, and hard working lady who really helped bring my book together.

Luckily for me - my family is great at bringing me back down to earth. I've done loads and loads and loads of dishes since I've been home. Laundry. Cleaning bathrooms. Fighting with kids to get their rooms clean. Back to reality! Wouldn't have it any other way.

To Market, to Market, to Market I Go

I'm at the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. It's my first time at a trade show so I had no idea what to expect. I knew it would be as big as Festival which begins in a few days. The quilt exhibits are set up and I've had a couple hours to take in some of the exquisite textile ART on view. Two hours and I think I made it up and down three out of the 20 or so isles of displays. Last year I had two hours total to see the exhibits - didn't make up and down all of them - even at a running pace. An amazing thing is that there is no crowd in the exhibit - I feel like I had it all to myself.

Here we see the "Fabric Forest" coordinated by an amazing group of artists, the Groebenzeller Quiltgruppe from Germany.

I had it all to myself because everyone else here is WORKING! The vendors or promoting their stuff to the shops and designers. The shop representatives and designers are here looking at everything and ordering stuff.

Here is Pokey and John Bolton, with http://www.QuiltingArts.com - working hard to get their publications into even more shops and stores.

It's very interesting to see the rows of tables with seats at the big fabric manufacturers. The shop reps sign up for a time, go sit and look through stacks of samples of the new lines and fill out order forms. Pattern designers will have a small booth with samples made up handing out brochures. Lots of smaller fabric designers have incredibly clever little booths that draw you in with their colors and quilts.

Put It On Your Calendar!

Publishing a book is like having a baby. A long gestation period. A painful amount of work right at the end. (Loooooooong wait - unlike babydom). Then WOW! You have an absolutely amazing piece of work in your hands.

So I'm having a PARTY! And you are all invited!

NOVEMBER 20th

5-9pm

send me a quick e-mail for the address if you'd like to come.

lyric@pobox.com

I'll have plenty of books here for purchase. And food.

If you can't make it to the party but still want to order the book from me, mention the party and I'll throw in a little gift to go along with it. Hope to see you there!

Optical Illusions in Art

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Rob_Gonsalves

Rob_Gonsalves

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Open Studio Tour

Want to see something cool and scary? Quilting Arts magazine's STUDIOS issue is hosting an Open Studio blog event.

That's not the scary part. This is the scary part. October is the month where I teach a lot (schedule here) so I'm putting together kits and supplies. I bring a lot of stuff for my students. That includes books and DVD's and lots of fun surface design goodies too. Last spring my studio was gorgeous in preparation for it's spread in Studios Magazine.

Um - not right now. Want to see some real life Studio work in progress? Watch this at your own risk!

It's always a ton of fun to see where someone else works isn't it? You can see a whole bunch more studios starting October 3rd at http:/www.quiltingarts.com.

Books and Blogs

A guest post today over at the Subversive Stitchers blog - great place - go check it out! I wrote a little about trying to carve out time for your art making. I'm trying my hardest to be more disciplined. Which means this little post is short. Gotta get back to the sewing machine.

And the most fun I've had at the post office in years!!! Sending off a stack of my new book. I had to restrain myself from climbing up on the desk and dancing and telling everyone there that "I Wrote A Book!!!" I still can't believe it myself.

So go read over there. I'll stitch over here. Perhaps I'll get some pictures and other wonderful stuff up for you soon.