A New Adventure...

I am writing this blog with a full heart this morning.  Life is an amazing adventure and the last few months have been just that.  I have been working really hard to make one of my dreams and a huge goal come true.  That was designing patterns and hand embroidery projects under the Olive Grace Studio name. Well, I proved to myself just that.  I DID IT! I took the leap of faith and vended in Pittsburgh, PA at International Quilt Market.  I still cannot believe it!  I kept this to myself not many people knew that I was taking this huge step.  Believe me it is huge.  I had to prove to myself that I could do it before I announced it I guess. My family and close friends have been cheering my on along the way and without them I could have never done it.  Below you will see some of the pictures that I captured.  Like, mom having to sit in the back seat while we set off to go to the convention center because we had so much stuff as you can see by the luggage cart.   Josh was a patient trooper from being the heavy lifting guy to being in charge of the booth while I did some buying for the quilt shop.  I met new friends, I made industry contacts and I plan on working harder for Fall Quilt Market in Houston!  Now to ship out the patterns that I sold and start working hard again  on design and sewing more projects... until next time... I know sooner that later right! I guess I need to change the header on this blog too!  Im not just a quilt shop owner I am a designer... always have been just never thought I would say that again...

Reporting from Don’t mess with Houston, Texas

Hi Y’all… when I typed that I thought of Paula Dean. Although in my

college days that word was used a lot. Anyway… So mom and I are here at the International Quilt Market in Houston. This is our second quilt market the last one I reported from Pittsburgh. Although, I just want to say the convention center here in Houston is very nice but Pittsburgh’s is an architectural beauty. All you architecture buffs need to check it maybe I am a lil biased to because it’s so close to home!It is the end of day two and well we are really tired but we have one more day to find more neat things

for the shop! We are still tired from our

complimentary dinner, bingo and dancing hosted by Moda Fabrics last night so we stayed in tonight. So here are some pictures that I took… let me tell you guys quilters are not lil old ladies who sit around and drink tea. They are Miller Light drinking and get jiggy wit it hip ladies. All you quilters out there know Eleanor Burns…I mean come on Quilt in a Day books! Well this lady can dance with the best of them I tried to get proof of this I promise but she was moving around so fast I couldn’t get one! I did catch a few friends doing the Cotton Eye Joe!

There is a lot to do tomorrow! We have an early start with a fabric rep in which I probably be ordering the new line of Amy Butler fabric! Mom took a picture of us on Saturday… I am really short. That cute lil smock she has on is one of her new patterns. I have notions to buy and a big decision to make on wool! I found an amazing wool dyer it really is to die for. Oh and I got to play on a long arm machine today I think I fell in love! The quote of the weekend was from Oklahoma Alicia who is a long arm quilter “I love my long arm I get to dance with it as I quilt”. It really is true you stand there and quilt in big motions and it really compliments the patchwork! AMAZING…I want one… maybe when I grow up someday!

Mom and I have met some really awesome people and found some really neat patterns for the shop and can’t wait to share them with you. Leonie and Deidre from The Quilted Crow in Tasmania, Australia are two great and talented designers and shop owners who I bought some very cute patterns from. I hope to carry more of their patterns eventually! They were so excited to be at market and Leonie was so cute she said that she couldn’t stop taking pictures of our American flag! Too Cool… I think I will be signing out from Houston for now…

P.S. I forgot to tell you I found DOVO scissors for the shop if you have never used them they are AWESOME! They are a bit pricey but well worth it and would be a great

heirloom for later generations. I have to admit I bought a set for myself. Please stop by the shop in a few weeks to try them out you will be addicted! If you don’t live close ask your local quilt shop about them .