Tales from Houston 2011

[Eileen K.]

:lol: What a grand time we had! I loved everything about this special trip! The meet and greet at the TQS booth was fabulous! I couldn't believe I was actually talking to "Alex the Great" about making a pendant for her!!! Just giving/getting the best hugs from so many terrific quilters will keep me motivated to finish my HST quilt! I'm really happy I stopped working on it when I did because I learned so much about all you wonderful quilters who will be symbolized as Sunbonnet Sues and a Ricky!

My 6 classes began with Cynthia England, then Paul Nadelstern, Patti M. Culea, Robbi Joy Eklow, Laura Murray, and finally Caryl Bryer Fallert! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) Cynthia's beautiful pictorial quilt that's on the cover of her book was hanging in a special exhibit where I read it has won 5 Best of Shows 8) and 6 Viewers' Choice 8) awards!!! She and her work are amazing! I'd like to buy a bottle of her energy because she's the Energizer Bunny! Paula Nadelstern's class was enlightening and inspirational when she demonstrated how she thinks up all those fabulous Puzzle Quilts! My mind is spinning from all the new ideas I brought home from my classes!

In retrospect, if I went next year I'd give myself at least 2 extra days: one for a tour of Houston and new Quilt Museum and/or possibly the Space Center, and I'd stay to hear Ricky's concert to close the show! Five days of classes was a bit overwhelming, but I did it and I'd do it again! However, I might just take one 3 hour class for 3 days each instead of 4 of them in 2 days. Two all-day classes were just fine at the beginning of the week, but I'd plan more time to see the show and vendors after that. I'd still go to Preview Night, the winners' luncheon with speaker, and absolutely the TQS Reunion dinner!

I enjoyed everything about the IQF show, but most of all, I enjoyed meeting all of YOU! :lol: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

Hugs,
Shirley

[Terry K.]

Shirley, I'm looking forward to hearing all about your experience and seeing your class samples/purchases in person!!!!

[Terry K.]

Shirley, I'm looking forward to hearing all about your experience and seeing your class samples/purchases in person!!!!

Terry, I'm looking forward to getting together with you and JoJo in a couple of weeks so we can all share in the excitement of "The Houston Experience"! BTW, luv your new profile photo! 8)

[Eileen K.]

Well, reality has set in. The new furnace is awesome! I've never been this warm in my own home and we've been here over 27 years! I'm back to work on customer quilts.

Houston was a dream come true for me. I've wanted to go almost as long as I've been quilting. To be able to walk or run up to someone I've never met in person, but love as a friend, made the week more than I could have ever wished for. I'm not kidding when I say that. To me, that was so much more impacting on both myself and Mike than the rest of the show put together. I just wish I'd had the opportunity to sit with each of you for a while and just talk.

However, the show was so much more than I expected. I've always heard "they do things big in Texas" and it is so true. The quilts, oh the quilts. I thought every single one deserved a ribbon. The quality of workmanship at this level is so over the top and I'm including the quilts from our own TQS friends in this statement. We did get to see every quilt in the show and I got a hug from Deborah Kemball from Chile. I've been reading her blog every since I saw Alex's interview with her. Sharon Schamber worked her magic on the pain in my shoulder; unfortunately, it was temporary and she refused to come home with me. :lol:

We didn't get to all the vendors but we did get to all the ones on my list; plus a lot more. I brought home a bracelet by Mary Fisher, Libby Lehman's dvd, Ricky's Kaleidoscope dvd, the Stitched dvd and Randall Cook's Stretching for Quilters dvd. I bought thread, patterns, BoNash, and some dies for my GO! The one thing I didn't buy was fabric. I'm at the point where something really has to "hit" me; I'm sure you know what I mean.

Once again, thank you to ARJJ for starting this wonderful community. Thank you to all my new and not so new friends; I truly love you all. Somehow, we'll be back in Houston. I couldn't bear not seeing you all again.

[Eileen K.]

I have to tell you a funny story. :lol: On Preview night I began wearing my HST pendant/necklace and had just finished my first round of scoping out the vendors...when what to my wandering eyes should appear but Dawn with a Debbie (Wolf and Kendall) seated on each side of her near the entrance. She called my name and said she recognized "my pendant" (while I was walking aimlessly by them)! How's that for being recognized by what you wear and not your profile photo? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

PS: My apologies to anyone who might have been offended and felt my last comment sounded arrogant. ops: I was sincerely recalling how we all were laughing while I seemed to be walking around in a different time zone and my necklace was at eye level for Dawn and her two Debbie sidekicks to see! That's all! :wink:

[Eileen K.]

I had hoped to hear that Debbie (Wolf) had worn her Sorting Hat and been recognised &accosted because of it :mrgreen:

[Eileen K.]

This was not my first time at Festival, but it was certainly the best time. First, I had the most fun birthday by spending it with my friend Debbie Wolf and my new friends, Dawn and Margo! We had the pleasure of being some of the first visitors to the new Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas. It was such a treat to spend the day with Debbie, Dawn and Margo before heading to the convention center for Preview Night. It was my first time attending the Meet and Greets at the TQS booth. It was so much fun meeting so many people in person that I recognized from the forum. There was always a lot of energy flowing around that booth! I also managed to walk up to the booth just in time as Ricky was ready to give away a copy of "Stitched" to the member with the closest birthday! I beat out Mary Jo (Josew) by one day - sorry Jo! Anyway, what a nice birthday present that was. Thank you Ricky and ARJJ. 8) 8) 8) The TQS dinner was another wonderful treat. What a great way for us to come together at the end of the day. After three full days, I went home with an empty pocketbook but lots of goodies and a wish list for a Handiquilter (thank you Margo!)

[Margo C.]

So glad to help, Debbie!! :lol: Keep me posted!!

[Margo C.]

I had hoped to hear that Debbie (Wolf) had worn her Sorting Hat and been recognised &accosted because of it :mrgreen:

I brought mine around and showed it off whenever I heard the hats mentioned. A lot of quilter's hand touched it! It made everyone of them smile. Thanks. Clara

[karen f.]

I agree Eileen. Even with all those magnificent quilts the best part for me has been meeting so many TQS members in person. Everyone is just as nice as they seem on the blogs and forum.

Rosemary I saw the hats being admired several times by lots of amazed and impressed people. They instigated lots of smiles.

[karen f.]

[Margo C.]

I had hoped to hear that Debbie (Wolf) had worn her Sorting Hat and been recognised &accosted because of it :mrgreen:

Everyone at the dinner loved the hats!! (Clara took these photos!)

[Jill B.]

I have so much enjoyed reading about your Houston trip, its been a lot of fun and lots of laughs. You all bring tears to my eyes with the friendships on this forum.

[Jill B.]

Jilly, have you looked at the thread "Houston Festival 2011 TQS dinner"? All kinds of fun happening there with the huckleberries.

[Karen M.]

What can I say , other than going to Houston Festival is the bomb! It was my second time there and it was just as awesome as the first time....read that as overwhelming! The meet & greet times were the best, it was so good to finally get to see some of you personally and to chat. The dinner on thursday night was the greatest again and many thanks go to Wanda for all her hard work. Can you believe that there was over 60 TQS people there? It was a noisy group having a lot of fun for sure!