Quilt Con 2013

[View of the show floor on Thursday, before it got crazy busy. Starting with the closest one, quilts are by Jacquie Gering, Cristin Wilson, Rachel Hauser, and Melissa Corry]

Oh my goodness! I'm back from a weekend in Austin, home of good food, warm(er) weather, food trucks, funky shopping, and yes, more than it's share of general "weirdness." I loved it! I feel fortunate to have attended the inaugural QuiltCon, organized by The Modern Quilt Guild. Thank you to my husband and friends for watching the little ones, and thank you to the ModernQuilt Guild board and QuiltCon Staff, who put on a very professional, well organized show. I can't imagine the planning and work it would take to pull something off like this for the first time.I have 50 pictures, mostly of quilts in the show, in my QuiltCon flickr set, if you would like to see more.

[One of my favorite quilts in the show, by Latifah Saafir]

I had such a fun time rooming with Faith and Lee, and we spent a good part of our time laughing (and instagramming). I love Kim, and it was fun to see her so much! Those three ladies had quite the Austin adventure Saturday night.  My husband was right--part of the reason I wanted to go was for the girl's weekend! I have been to a number of industry events over the last few years, and I love getting to hang out with people I only see at these events.  I enjoyed making new friends, and am happy to report that I came home without a tattoo, although it seems I was in the minority here.

[Front row for Heather Ross' lecture. Why not!]

So, how did I spend my time at QuiltCon? I did a little bit of shopping (more on that another time), had fun walking through the booths, and I'm not sure I actually took the time to visit every booth. I walked the quilt exhibit a few times, but know I missed some quilts.I enjoyed my only class, and learned different quilting patterns and technique from Angela Walters--she is a great teacher! I had a lecture pass, and these were the highlights for me:  Kristen Leijniecks gave a fascinating lecture on copyright, I heard a rumor the powerpoint might be posted online--I'll let you know if it is.  Heather Ross read an essay from an upcoming book, and it was spellbinding. Anna Maria Horner was just as beautiful in her lecture as she is in her blog--I know I'm not the only one who cried when her daughter went to college! I took a yoga for quilters class, and should have ditched the tight jeans for yoga pants. Next time.Craftsy videotaped a few of the lectures, which are available for free. They also have a "People of QuiltCon" video, which I am in twice.  That was a fun surprise!

[Another favorite quilt, made by a bee and quilted by Krista Fleckenstein]

46 beautiful quilts hung in the lecture hall--each was put together by a Modern Quilt Guild Chapter, and they were donated to the Austin Children's Center, and will stay on the 46 beds permanently. The quilt made by my guild's members is on the left. Didn't they do a fabulous job?

 I enjoyed seeing my quilts hanging, and was even happier that my friend Lee won first place in the Modern Traditionalism Mini Category!

Streetscape by Me

Desert Stars by Me

And finally, the icing on the cake was that my sister and brother-in-law roadtripped from Houston! I was so sad I got sick Saturday, and wasn't as peppy as I would have been, but loved hanging out with them on his birthday.

[Raffle Quilt assembled by Elizabeth Hartman out of blocks pieced by Modern Quilt Guild members]

Thanks, QuiltCon! See you in 2015!