Spring Quilt Market Review Begins!

We're home from Spring 2016 Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are going to share lots   -- but first, we must get our orders out! So maybe tomorrow, I will get the pics of Market posted. For now, here's our booth.

We had a good show! Lots of visitors to our booth -- lots of interest. Orders were average though! Shops need to know to order direct from us at Market and not the distributors. We love our distributors, but at the Show, we need shops to order direct to make it worth the reason we are there! Thanks to all the shops that did order from us at the show! Thank you, thank you!

And though we had lots of interest, I think attendance was half what it should be. Many vendors were pretty disappointed there wasn't more traffic. I don't quite know what Quilts, Inc should do but they need to get more traffic at their shows! 

For the shops point of view, I think they loved the show. Displays, booths, vendors, etc. went all out and gave a good offering. Lots of beautiful things to look at and buy. Congrats to all vendors  -- we did FABULOUS!

So here's our booth:

Vanilla House Designs, Booth 1232 at Quilt Market (Spring 2016) in Salt Lake City, Utah!
 

PS. Market Drawing Winners will be announced in a few days! Stay tuned!

Boo is in on the photo shoot!

Nabou (or Boo) is getting in on the photo shoot! She is now about 15 (human) years old. Though pretty, she is scruffy   -- cause she won't let me brush her anymore without nipping me! 

Nabou (Boo)! with Manhattan Bag (P220)

Also showing at Spring Quilt Market!

We are also showing these beauties at Spring Quilt Market!

"The Place Setting" P215 Place mats, napkins with napkin rings, and bread basket!

"Basket Liners" P213 Customize any square or rectangle basket with the  Basket Liner formula!

"Sew ImPressed" P209 Pressing boards with a pocket to hold and carry your grid rulers!

Other Market releases!

So here's the other three patterns we are releasing at Spring Quilt Market!

"Wall Buckets" P218

Comes in two sizes: one that fits a sheet of paper and another #10 envelopes. A dozen appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.

Simple way to turn the double-folded trim at the corners!

"Manhattan Bag" P220

Love the vertical zipper! Size is 13" deep by 12" x 5".

"Fabric Caddies" P221

Use segments of 4" diameter PVC pipe to create these fabric covered caddies. 3", 4", 5", and 6" tall. Six appliques included.

It's Time! For Quilt Market!

Okay everyone! It's time for Quilt Market! Booth 1232! Are we ReaDy? -- I don't think you are ever completely ready but I feel unusually unworried this time! It is about our 25th Quilt Market so we should have this down. Of course, on our 24th Quilt Market, I didn't get copies of our order form. You would think after 23 Markets, I wouldn't forget something like that on the 24th Market. So wonder what I am forgetting this time!!?
Anyway, you haven't heard from me much lately because ---- pre-show, for weeks, I concentrate completely on the patterns. But here are a few of the new releases (more later) ---- TA DA:

"Boho 4 Corners" ----- P216.

A Bohemian version of Vanilla House's signature Four Corners Apron. Scooped neckline, big pockets, lined, one size fits all!

"Ergo Mitt! oven mitt!" ---- P217

Weird-shaped oven mitt ergonomically designed to fit your hand so your thumb does not dip into that hot dish! Two sizes included! Right and left option! Loop or no loop!!!!

"Zip Folios" ---- P219

Sophisticated zipper pouch for your important office papers. Lined, inner pockets. Size 13" x 15". Three appliques included and nine more appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.


Okay, all for now. I will add the other three patterns tomorrow! And eventually post all the pics of fabric options! There's tons to come!

The place to be when wearing a Four Corners apron!

Teresa is on the back right. Madie is next to her. That's all I know but you can just call all the other Angels!

 
I received this sweet picture from Teresa from California the other day, with her friends, working at a community homeless shelter wearing our Four Corners Apron. It is totally awesome! She sent this note with the picture:

"A side story for you:  I placed an assignment in the pocket of each apron, such as dish the casserole, plate the salad, pour the drinks, etc., etc. As servers arrived, they chose an apron and checked their pocket for their assignment.  The aprons really facilitated handing out assignments. I didn't have to choose who would do what. I love this pattern. The aprons were well-received."

Well, her picture was well-received here at Vanilla House. Mostly we loved the big smiles while doing such good deeds, and yes, cool, they are all wearing a Four Corners! Wish I was there with them!

New patterns on the horizon!

With Quilt Market around the corner, I am finishing up models for the patterns. I will be able to release pictures of patterns coming soon. Here's a sneak peek:

Boho 4 Corners apron!

A Bohemian version of our signature Four Corners Apron!

What's the hardest part of pattern writing?

So as I am writing six new patterns this spring, one thing has become increasingly obvious. I would love to write using all sorts of techniques  --- using specialized tools I have access to  -- but everyone's equipment/sewing machines are so different! I have to stay somewhat generic, writing for all brands and the average machine that might not have a lot of bells and whistles  --- or feet! Hmmmm!

Faithfully Yours is now in Quilt Shops!

Clothworks picked some Vanilla House patterns for some fabric reviews. They dub out the fabrics on my covers and place their prints in, all in Photoshop. It looks amazing! The fabrics are great! Love the colors!

Barbara Tourtillotte's fabric, Faithfully Yours, is in your local Quilt Shop today!

My best advice yet!

So I haven't posted in a while. Guess I will never be a consistent blogger - oh well!!

But there is definitely a bit of advice I would give out today. I am currently working on cover samples for Quilt Market - which is eleven weeks away. So I am in pretty good shape. Since I am not in a terrible crunch this spring ---- I have been able to re-write and re-do. And Slow Down! Right there at the sewing machine too! Plugging along one stitch at a time instead of one seam at a time!!

Normally, I am a energizer bunny, going a hundred miles an hour. But wow -- when I actually Slow Down, taking one stitch at a time, I am shocked at how much better my projects look!

So my advice for today, Slow Down!

Sharing some random tips - my gift to you!

My Christmas Gift to All of You -- some random tips!

1. Erase some negative thoughts by giving your head a good shaking!
2. Eat eggs to block fat absorption.
3. Eat ginger before you work out to prevent postworkout soreness.
4. Freekeh. Fewer calories that rice with three times as much fiber, plus protein and antioxidants.
5. Own too many necklaces to get them all worn? -- wear several compatible necklaces together!
6. Eat yogurt to reduce belly fat storage, apples to fill you up on a few calories, lentils to boost your fat burning.
7. Smell peppermint for an instant energy booster.
8. Hold a plank pose for one minute -- it will do more for your belly than 30 sit-ups.
9. On a cold winter night, toss a cotton blank in a hot dryer for a few minutes to crawl in bed with!
10. Never give up what you want most for what you want now!

(Credits: Some tips come for SELF!)

Spoonflower Contests!

So for those of you still unfamiliar with Spoonflower, I can briefly can explain this website.

Spoonflower.com is a service where fabric designers can design their own fabric prints and send images to Spoonflower to have them printed in small quantities -- even yard by yard. This would never be possible without the fabric printers that Spoonflower has developed. It is an amazing business model that I am very impressed with. Good job Spoonflower!

For a good amount of fun, they also run contests for fabric designers to participate in. Spoonflower sets a theme and fabric designers by the dozens turn in submissions. The audience, which is the rest of us, can go to Spoonflower and vote for our favorite on the current contest. Of course, my favorite is always my daughter's -- I am a loyal mom! Even though I am biased - 'cause I'm the mom, I never feel it a stretch to think she is well-deserved for a top ten placing or even a win!

The current contest theme is 'Gift Bag'! Vote for Rachel's 'Foxy Gift Bag' by spottedpepperdesigns. Very, very cute!

'Foxy Gift Bag' by spottedpepperdesigns

Make a mother proud!

I am happy this morning as I see my daughter, Rachel, get in the top ten of the latest Spoonflower contest - 8th! She is working so hard at her art and is really doing great! It just makes a mom proud. AND, on top of that, she is due in six weeks! Wow! 
Rachel is soo talented. As an artist [limited] myself, I can tell she is leagues better than I. She is born with it. Seriously, her dad's side of the family has famous artists. And many of her cousins are amazing artists themselves. I truly appreciate seeing all this natural talent in the family.
But talent still takes work. And Rachel has been working her little heart out. This is just the beginning!

Thanks to all of you who continue to vote for her in Spoonflower contests and supporting her other work projects too. Her latest Coloring Book got a huge response. Thanks for that too! Next contest theme is 'gift bags' and Rachel's is titled "Foxy Gift Bag" by Spotted Pepper Designs.

'Family Dog House' by spottedpepperdesigns

Their heads are too big!

So there's a stretchable neck strap on the Kids' Four Corners Apron -- kind of like a scrunchy -- on the Kids' Four Corners Apron. It has to be that way if you are going to have a single neck strap that circles around their neck and does not tie in the back with a knot. And why? Apparently, little kids' heads are so disproportionate to their bodies that if you don't make it stretchable, by the time you get it over their heads, the apron hangs down to low. It's not that way with adults! Does that mean kids are smarter than us  - Probably!!

Anyway, new epattern available for Kids' Four Corners Apron - vhE137. 

P137 for the hard copy; vhE137 for the epattern version!

 

Dick and Jane Fabric!

Non-directional prints are the easier to use than directional prints when making a Four Corners Apron!

This is what Four Corners looks like when it is laid flat!

Binkie Bibs has also been added as an epattern - vhE206. And note - it's actually a binkie holder more than a bib!

Binkie Bibs - P206 for the hard copy; vhE206 for the epattern version!

The Doggie version!

The Fox version!

Yeah, Binkies!

Bed Runner!

So trying to decorate a new bedroom, I was not up to doing a whole bed cover. But I did want to add some color on what was basically a neutral backdrop! So, this bed runner yielded itself, using the turquoise to match the bed skirt. Eventually, tune into a wall art piece that will match also!