There is nothing more inspiring than to attend the International Quilt Market (in Kansas City, MO) and brush shoulders with our stars.  Aisle upon aisle present opportunities to meet Amy Butler, Stephanie Brandenburg, Patty Young, Amy Barickman, Eleanor Burns, Nancy Zieman, the list goes on. They are there for me and for you - the consumer, they have time to chat, to visit, to laugh. Their job is done, they are relaxed (or relieved) - their products are in place, perfectly poised to catch our attention and hopefully our order.  But my job has just begun as I schedule appointments, attend classes, wander the 1000's of booths, place orders, run into old friends and of course make new ones.  

The class I took called "Needleturn Applique - the gluestick way" with Australian, Helen Stubbings and her beautiful accent, left me inspired and I can't wait to use her technique -with you- on my next project.  We were entertained at the Clover counter with the Clamshell Case demo and continued to be intrigued by 'twilling', chipboard and stretched canvas!

I am excited to now get to work on new ideas for classes, on a pin cushion challenge, on a new mini block of the month, on some crafty concepts along with the exciting new patterns, fabrics and notions and on and on.  

As always I come home exhausted with my head a blur and full of creative energy.  But what fun we had and even took time to explore the cutest antique shops in sleepy Blackwater, MO.  A little railroad town, population 199, with one block of charm.  What did I buy there you ask - well a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt, a Shawnee corn casserole dish to add to my Iowa corn collection and some painted heads - what? sign up for our pincushion challenge to find out more about those!

SamSarah Designs            Indygo Junction               Blackwater, MO                 Nancy Zieman

Off to the studio, Jenice