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 
I’m so glad you husband had backed everything up and you didn’t lose anything. I’d love to win those precuts, but the scraps would be fun too! Congrats on all your success- looking forward to seeing what’s next!
I would love to sort through those gorgeous scraps. Such beautiful colors!
Of course I would love some of your new fabric! Can’t wait to buy some!
Here in Arkansas, I would enjoy working with scraps, or I could always find a use for a pinwheel. Bless our husbands who are savvy about computers and backups.
Love all the bright colors. Thanks for a chance at a great giveaway!
I’d love the scrap box. I am addicted to scraps! I am from western Massachusetts.
Pinwheel or scraps with would be awesome, I’m so glad your fabric line is doing so well!! So Happy for you!
Your fabric line is full of color and design. I would love to play with the possibilities. I think the scraps sound like fun.
How exciting! I’m glad you got your tech issue sorted. I enjoyed all your photos showcasing Modern Marks; the range looks great in everything. Please put me into the international draw!
Beautiful fabrics. I know the quilts you made were beautiful too.
Thanks,
Peggy
Peggy_verdongibbs@att.net
I love your new fabric collection and rejoice in your success! I would be happy with either giveaway. Thank you for your generosity.
I love scraps so that would be my first choice but I would not turn down the pinwheels.
When are you going to bring your beautiful quilts and fabric to Australia, I would love to do a class with you.
You are in luck! I’ll be teaching at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival in Adelaide next September!
Wow so many comments. I’ve loved reading the blog and seeing the photos on Facebook. I’m in Australia so would love to be the international customer. I have ordered the fat quarter pack and I cant wait to get it.
I love your approach to quilting and teaching – so supportive – and always inspirational. I would be happy with anything you send. Blessings!
Hi! I would like to win the box of scrap fabrics. Pinwheels would be nice, also. Good give away! Thank you.
How thrilling it would be to see you at any of the Quilt Markets!! I would love to win any of your fabrics, but since I have to choose one, I’d love the scraps!
I’m glad your computer info is not lost. I am in the US, please enter me in the Pinwheel giveaway. Thank you.
My pleasure, as an International comment, to be eligible to win a charm pack. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity.
Love all the colorful fabrics but need some strips for a quilt I want to make.
Love your new fabrics. I like bright colors.
I just adore this fabric, (every piece & color). I would love any of it! Thanks Christa for being so talented!!
Wow! You have quite a schedule to keep up with. Too bad I’m on the other side of the country from your classes (Charleston, SC) since I’d sure love to take one.
Thanks for the chance to win such fun fabric! I sure would love those scraps. 😊
I am in the US and would love any fabric. Thanks!
I love your happy fabrics. I am in the US and would love to win a box of scraps.
Love your fabrIcs. I prefer vas scraps but doesn’t matter if i recibe a pinwheel.
Thanks for this oportunity.
I live in Spain
Love your fabrIcs. I prefer vas scraps but doesn’t matter if i recibe a pinwheel.
Thanks for this oportunity.
USA – either giveaway.
I’m in the U.S. and I guess the pinwheel would be my first choice, but I’d be happy with the scraps also. Nice designs.
Love working with scaps, yours would be a treasure to play with, pick me…. I so enjoy your process, thanks for sharing.
I looked at the Squiggles Quilt and thought about how great it would be for my wiggly little grandson.
love your fabrics and either the scraps or the pinwheel would be perfect for me
Love your new fabric line!
Love your fabric, but the pinwheel speaks to me!
Either one would be great to win. Love the fabrics.
I have your book and plan to join in on making the Squiggles Quilt in January. I’d love to win the scraps for Squiggles but the Pinwheel would be fine too. Thanks for the opportunity. Blessings, Beth
Any would be fun to use. las vegas NV
would love any of them but sure could use the pinwheel
Boston area quilter would prefer the scrap bag, but would take either.
Thanks for sharing your market recap! One of these days I hope to make it to Houston for the quilt show! I’m in the US and would love to win the jelly roll!
Such fun fabrics.
Hi Your 5×5 would find a happy home in Ireland and woul hake a lovely gift from santa. thanks for all the inspiration. lol eamd
Christa, Mahalo for the inspiration. You’re a rock star.
I’m a scrap lover.
Aloha.
Congratulations! Love your new collection, Christa! I would definitely use the Pinwheel in a lap size quilt for our dialysis center.
You did great in designing this line of fabric. It’s very fresh.
I love your bold fabric colors and prints, and happy to hear about a new uipcoming webinar.
What lovely fun fabrics for a cold, blustery St. Louis winter day. Straight line strips quilted with concentric circles (echoing the picture of the Pinwheel) would be dynamic. Wow!!
Your fabrics are very vibrant and fun! I can see them in a quilt to add that special “pop”. Thank you for the chance to win.
Wow! what a sweet line of fabrics. I really like the brightness of your prints. Thanks so much for the generous giveaway!
I enjoyed watching your demos at Quilt Market. Yo!u have a great way of teaching FMQ! I’m in the US, and any of the giveaways would be awesome! Thanks for sharing so much information about quilting with us