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 
Your fabric line looks great made up into the tops you were wearing. I would be happy with either the scraps or the pinwheel.
I think it would like the scraps. Hope I can get a fabric kit later on. Thanks for sharing your talent.
I love and admire all of your work, Christa! Fabric is my soft spot and I’d be happy to win either the scrap pack or the pinwheel…it doesn’t matter! I am in Iowa in the US!
Love those colors!
I love these fabrics, so bright and cheery! I would love the pinwheel but would be happy winning anything from this line! My favorite is that deep blue you used as a background to the one quilt, awesome designs! Congrats on your new line!
Thanks for the chance to win! I would love the scraps (but wouldn’t turn down the pinwheel). Writing this from the chilly Midwest.
Id love to win the scraps.
I love your new fabric! Such bright and fun colors. I would love to go to Market someday.
Wish you were at the quilt show portion. W ant to see modern marks. Brenda
Love Modern Marks’ bright colors and patterns! Looking forward to quilt-along in January!
Love the quilt on the left! Looking forward to the pattern. I’m sure I put those scraps to use in a tumbler quilt!
Cool fabric! I’d love the pinwheel. I’m from Indiana. 🙂
Hi Christa – I would love the pin wheel. Thank you so much for offering these special. I appreciate all you have to share with us Quilter’s.
I love your blog and quilts always brings a smile to my face.
Would love to win either but my first pick would be the jelly roll.
I love your fabrics and your quilting designs. Wish I could have come to Houston this year.
Would love to win any of your offerings!
I would love to win the pinwheel, so many things you can make with a strip pack. 🙂
Hi Christa! You continue to inspire me with your machine quilting tips…I love scrunching and smooshing! Love your book and am looking forward to making the Squiggles quilt during the QAL in January. Your bright colors are so fun and I’d be equally happy with the scraps or the pinwheel!! Thanks for the opportunity 😊
Well I’m international so charm pack please! Wow you’re so busy! I wish you were coming near. But have a great time being out and about.
Love your books and now your fabric. WTG Christa!!
Texas girl here! Go Astros!! Oh my word…scraps or pinwheels??!! If you force me I will choose pinwheel but I am up for any of your fabrics 💖 You’re so talented💯
Hi Christa,
Sounds like you had an exciting time at Quilt Market! I’m a scrapaholic and I love bright colors, so I’d love to win your scrap box! Or the pinwheel would be my second choice.
This week I’m in Ocean City, MD, with some friends and others attending Sewing by the Sea retreat, and today I made a quilt top for Quilts for Vegas, inspired by the quilt you posted last month using the Grayscale block. It went together fast! I hope to quilt it when I return home next week. Thank you for posting the info and for inspiring us to help comfort someone in need in Las Vegas. Quilt on!
Loved reading on the posts from Houston. Thanks.
I am from the Adirondacks in NY and would love the scrap box or the roll. Love your work and upbeat attitude!!
There is never a good time for your computer to die, but that seems to be on the bad end of the spectrum.
Love your book, Piece and Quilt with Precuts! Can’t wait to find more fabric so I can finish my hop quilt.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I’d love to have the pinwheel, but the scrapbox would be wonderful, too. You had such a good blog today. I just love your new fabric colors, and I definitely will have to get your book. Thanks for taking us to Quilt Market!! 🙂
Would love to win the charm pack!!
Thanks for the chance to win. I live in Michigan.
I love the bright colors in your new fabric line. I live in Canada and would love to have the charm pack to play with (and see all the wonderful prints up close).
Love your Modern Marks! Good luck with it!
I’ve been looking at patterns for jelly rolls for a friend of mine. There are some great ones out there that would be lovely in your fabrics.
I would like to win u your awesome fabric.
I would love to win the box of scraps. I’m for Louisiana
I would love to use your fabric in a Dear Daughter quilt that I’m doing! Love it
I’m on the US. Surprise me.
Love your new fabric collection with all of the bright and happy colors … which are my favorites. I would be thrilled to win any of the giveaways you are generously offering.
What’s better than a box of scraps?
A box of Modern Marks scraps!!!! I’ll take scraps or a jelly roll (I’m in Texas)!! Thanks
Wow, your shirts look great! What a great way to use some of that stash! I would love the pinwheel if I were lucky enough to win- goodness knows that I have enough scraps already!!!
Love the new fa brick line and all of your quilting information.
Would be happy to win any of your fabric. Just ordered my kit for the quilt along. Can’t wait to get started!!
Love, love, love your line!
Hope you had a great show! I’m from the First State (Delaware). Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Hi Christa, Your photos from Quilt Market look terrific. Your shirts turned out great. I would be happy with either one of your giveaways.
I would love to win! Thanks!
I would LOVE a chance to make something fun & vibrant with the Pinwheel strips! It can be pretty dark & gloomy during the winter months here in Washington state – the Pinwheel would be like an early spring in my mailbox!
I would be pleased to win some of your fabric line. I just purchased your book. Thx for your videos.
I have enjoyed following you and your family. I love your color choices.
Awesome, I would love to receive your fabric scraps. But either one would be great. Looks like you are a busy women. Would love to make something with them.
I’m in US and would love either give away but am partial to the scraps.
I have been following you for a while now and you give me the courage to continue quilting my own quilts. I really love the modern quilting you do it really frees me up to not get too technical. Your box of scraps would be heaven sent I have been wanting to do a a modern twist on a crazy quilt. Love the fabrics.
Either of the giveaways I would be happy to receive but first choice is the box of scraps. I just received my kit for the squiggles quilt a long. Can hardly wait until January!!!