So right before quilt market my computer crashed. As in Dead. As. A. Doornail. Fortunately, my tech savvy hubby backed everything up so that nothing was lost. As you can imagine, the timing wasn’t great, but is it ever good timing for a hiccup like that?
One of my many demo’s at quiltmarket. My mom and I made the shirt I’m wearing from my fabric.
Now that at I’m back from quilt market and Jason has set me up on a new laptop, I can stop and breathe (for about 5 minutes) before it’s time to start working on the next fun quilty thing! (More fabric, more classes, more patterns, oh my!!)
So this post is a quick catch-up of what’s happening in real time along with a thank you giveaway for sticking with me and reading to the end!!
Quick Quilt Market Recap
Quilt Market was a blast! This is the industry trade show that takes place each fall in Houston, Texas, the week before Quilt Festival which is the consumer show. Many industry folks stay for both but that would be way too exhausting for me! Maybe once the kids are out of the house we’ll consider doing both…
One of the many quilts made from Modern Marks. Free & paid patterns coming soon!
I was in my booth most of the time at market showing my fabric line Modern Marks to quilt shops in the hopes that they decide to carry it in their shops. The response was really great as so many folks are attracted to the fun bright prints. I promised the shop owners a couple of free patterns coming soon, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t also share them with you. So be on the lookout as I’ll be sharing those as soon as my graphic designer has made them look pretty!
Demoing machine quilting + wearing another top made from my fabric.
I also introduced new customers to my book, Piece and Quilt with Precuts, and my awesome publisher set up several book signings and machine quilting demos while I was there.
My good friend Annie Unrein from By Annie made several bags and accessories for my booth and my mom help me sew up several shirts from my fabric to wear during the show.
The quilt on the left is a free pattern coming soon; the one one the right was remade from my book Piece and Quilt with Precuts using my fabric! Notice the cute bag by Annie and my matching shoes!
Be on the lookout for more about the individual Modern Marks quilts and projects a bit later after I’ve had a chance to recover! Then save the date: Starting November 27th, Benartex will be hosting a blog hop to share even more ideas of what you can make from Modern Marks!
Quilt Kits for Sale
I’m continuing to sell quilt kits for the upcoming Quilt Along I’ll be hosting here on the blog in January. Click here for the QAL schedule. Most folks voted for us to make Squiggles from my new book for the QAL, but I know several of you really wanted to make Gridwork as well.
I’m now offering kits for each quilt, along with optional backing kits. You’ll need a copy of Piece and Quilt with Precuts for the patterns, but hey – if you want to make BOTH quilts, you just need ONE copy of the book. I really like it when you can get more bang for your buck!
And of course either of these quilts would look fabulous in other fabrics, too!!
Click here to purchase Modern Marks quilt kits and bundles.
Upcoming Teaching
I head to St. George, Utah this weekend to do a trunk show on Friday and machine quilting class on Saturday for Dave’s BERNINA. Then on December 1-2, for my last gig of the year, I’ll be flying out to visit my friend Stephanie who runs Quilt Addicts Anonymous in Illinois. I’ll be sharing a lecture and full day free-motion class at her shop, so if you are in the area, be sure and join us!
I’ll be super busy in January, and it’s the last time I’ll be in driving distance of Las Vegas for awhile. On January 3-5 I’ll be teaching one day of machine quilting and 2 days of improv piecing at Quilting at the Lake. Click here for registration info.
Then, January 15-18, I’ll be teaching four different machine quilting classes at Road to California. At last check, two of my classes at Road had sold out with waiting lists, but there are still spots open in my Monday and Tuesday classes. Click here for class schedule info.
If you aren’t near where I’m teaching, you can catch my live webinar for the Modern Quilt Guild next week! On Wednesday, November 8th at 6 PM Pacific Time, I’ll be sharing tips and tricks for quilting on a home machine, answering the most asked question, “How Do I Quilt It?”
Click here to register for the webinar/or join the MQG.
If you aren’t yet an MQG member, be sure and join now so you don’t miss the fun! Members have access to all of the MQG webinars, so you can also catch it later.
The GiveawayS – Win my Fabric!
I have 3 fabric giveaways for you today, as a thanks for your continued support! First, I’m giving away a box full of fabric scraps which is mostly Modern Marks plus a few misc. pieces. These are leftovers, large and small of all the projects I’ve been making from Modern Marks over the last few months. It also includes some nice chunks of funky shapes that were the cutaways from the shirts I made, plus tons of small to medium scraps that frankly I’m just too lazy to sort through! But I know one of you will love them!
Win my Modern Marks scraps!
The second and third giveaways are Modern Marks precuts. At Quilt Market, there’s a night of shopping frenzy called Sample Spree where attendees can purchase bundles before they are available in shops. I wasn’t there, but apparently all of my precuts sold out except for one 2 1/2″ strip bundle (Benartex calls them Pinwheels) and one charm pack (aptly named 5×5’s) that were held back for promotion, so I snagged those puppies to give to you all!
Modern Marks precuts coming soon! Ask your local quilt shop to stock them.
I’ll make this easy – just leave any comment to enter. I’ll give the scrap box and the Pinwheel to two separate US winners, and send the charm pack to an international friend. So be sure to mention in your comments which prize you’d like to win and where you are from!
I’ll pick the winners first thing Monday morning and notify them via email.
Whew! I think that’s all for now!! Now it’s time to unpack and sew!
Christa Quilts 
Love Modern Mark fabrics, so fresh and colorful. I’m in NC
I had the opportunity to volunteer at Spring Quilt Market and it is an awesome and overwhelming event. So much stimulation and creativity all in one place. Rest up.
I love the bright colors of your new fabric line. Either the pinwheel or the fabric scraps would be put to good use in my projects. Next week is my birthday week so it would be a joy to receive either. I will be sewing along with Squiggles.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Your fabric is “happy” fabric, makes me want to celebrate! They are great for kids stuff and just plain “day-brighteners”! I prefer the pinwheel, but would put any of it to good use!
Your fabrics are fun and bright, I am Canadian so I’d love the charm pack. I’ll be joining in your Jan QAL. Thanks for sharing,
djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com
Love your blog! You are super busy and super talented.
starting to rain here in the PNW and a lovely envelope of fabric would be just the thing to chase the grey skies away – precuts are fun to work with, but scraps would be my first choice!
I’d love any of the prizes, but especially the pinwheel. I’d love to get to go to Houston’s Quilt show! Fun to see the happenings thru various blogs.
What an amazing journey you are having. It’s so fun to remember when Annie began marketing her bag stabilizers and you attended your 1st market. Congrats, you’ve come a long way. I love scraps, I paw through Melissa’s before I stuff what is even too small for me into homemade doggy pillows. When we get a dozen I strongly invite the grandkids to help me deliver them to the animal shelter. I also use pinwheels. Thanks, just waiting to see what you take on next.
I love the star quilt on the right…great colors!
I love that star quilt on the left in the photo. Great colors!
Love your fabric. Love your teaching style. Thanks so much!
Love the bright colors in your line! Would love either!
I love this fabric and would be happy with either of the gifts but first preference would be the pinwheel. Thanks Christa!
I enjoy reading your blog. You’ve come a long way in the designing/quilting world. Congrats!
I would really like the pinwheel and I live in Illinois. I love all those tops you made, you’re looking good.
Nice! Happy with either! (US)
I enjoy making scrap quilts and would love to win the Modern Marks scrap box. I live in Richfield Springs, NY.
Just love Modern Marks…so wish I had purchased it a while ago when you were offering good deals….like I “need” more fabric. Good luck with this line, it is fabulous
I love all three! I can’t wait to get my hands on some Modern Marks!
Love your bright fabrics 💕
I would love to win the charm pack as I try to get brave about colour but I seem to god back to tried and true. It would be just the thing to help me explore. I live in Alberta, Canada.
I’m having more fun with scraps than anything right now and would love to play with your fabric bits — I’m in California. Thanks for the giveaway!
Love this fabric line and would be thrilled with your scrap box. thank you.
I would love love love to win the pinwheel. I am in michigan
Thanks for the recap of the market – how exciting this must be for you! Love the bright colors and patterns – both in the fabric and quilts. Awesome!
I really love the fabrics so I’ll take anything! I also love to play around and make pieces of “improv fabric” to use in big blocks and appliques. I have been asked to do a short program on improv techniques for our Modern Guild here in Central PA and it would be nice to have some scraps from this collection to use in some samples. Thank you for sharing this opportunity with us.
I just love your new fabric line!!! I can’t wait to start sewing with it.
Your “fabric scraps” would be “fabric treasures “ to me! 💕💕💕the Modern Marks fabric! I’m from Texas.
Have all of your books and love your quilting style and fabric. Looking forward to January- Thank you!!
I would love the charms pack if my name is one of the lucky ones.
I love them all. I live out of the country. However, I can provide you with a US address as some of my children still live in the States.
Great, happy colors!
I am a scrap gal. Would LOVE a box of scraps.
Beautiful fabric!!!!
I’m going to Quilt Festival tomorrow. Can’t wait. I’s love to win your scrap box. I’m in western NY.
I would love the pinwheel or the box of scraps!
I love all the colors in your fabrics and a quilt using them would be gorgeous.
I love the bright colors in this collection. I’d love to win either prize but if I must choose, I will select the fabric pieces.
I would love the scrap box! I make most of my quilts from scraps. I live in Utah.
Whew! I’m tired just reading all of that, but it’s a good tired, right? I’m so excited for the success of your fabric line! Congratulations! Stores will be happy to have it in stock. It’s great fabric to work with.
*If you should pick me as a winner, please pick another name. I just had to comment on your awesomely, busy post.*
I love your new fabric. Christa, I’ve watched your development from the beginning. I’m so proud of you. I was in your EQ class in Savannah and recently had a quilt I designed with EQ7 put in a local quilt show here in Colorado. Keep up the good work.
You are one busy quilter. Your new book is wonderful. I am looking forward to the QAL in 2018.
You are my new “quilting hero”! Love, love, love your new book. You have taken the fear out of machine quilting! I am from Central Washington.
Gorgeous fabrics. I would love to win any of them, but live in Canada so will wish for the charm packs. Thanks so much for sharing
Hi Christa, I love all the pictures!!! I got your new book on machine quilting and I’m enjoying reading thru it. Thank you for the giveaway. Hugs,
I’d love the pinwheel! Such great colors! and your quilts are fantastic.
It certainly seems like it is time for you to catch your breath! I’m ready for a nap just reading everything that you wrote. LOL
The scraps would work for me.
Great new fabric line Christa, your shirts came out great!
Fun fabric! Someday I’ll go to a show myself, just to be inspired to the point of being overwhelmed. I live in Northern Utah.
Wow…you have been busy. You are an inspiration. Love the new prints and hoping to join your QAL in January. I’d love the scraps..I’m picturing several bags and totes from them. Im in Albany, NY. Thsnk you for the chance to win…but more importsntly for the inspiration to sew!
Your fabric line is stunning! The colors are so vivid. I’d love to win the pinwheel or the scraps.