March 6, 2025 • 50 mins
Join me at QuiltCon 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona! I had the pleasure to speak with vendors, attendees and teachers, and recorded them to share with you. Find out more about them below:
Hollyann of String and Story
- Website - https://www.stringandstory.com/
Kristin of Laurastar
- Website - https://www.laurastar.com/
Lorelai Kueker of Pigs in a Blanket Quilting
- Website - https://www.pigsinablanketquilting.com/
Cheryl Koranda - Longarm League
- Website - https://www.longarmleague.com/
Natalie of OESD
- Website - https://oesd.com/
Amy Chappell
- Website - https://amerooniedesigns.com/
Karlee Porter
- Website - https://www.karleeporter.com/
Elizabeth deMoo of Brown Bird Designs
- Website - https://brownbirddesigns.com/
Enjoli Strait with BERNINA
- Website - https://www.doodlequiltingstudio.com/
Sew Becca -
- Website - https://sewbecca.com/
Melissa Renfrey of Storyteller Stitchery
- Website - https://storytellerstitchery.com/
Chelsie of Pink Door Fabrics
- Website - https://www.pinkdoorfabrics.com/
Blair Stocker
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
welcome to Season 5 of MeasureTwice, Cut Once.
This whole season is anexploration into behind the
scenes of not just quilting, butbuilding a creative business
that truly lights you up.
As someone who's navigated theexciting, sometimes bumpy world
of turning a passion into aprofession, I'm excited to pull
back the curtain and share myown experiences.
(00:27):
Some episodes will be just me.
Diving deep into my personaljourney, while others will
feature guests who are alsonavigating the world of creative
entrepreneurship, will explorethe nitty gritty of building a
creative business, the lessonslearned and the unexpected
challenges that come withtransforming your craft.
Into a thriving enterprise.
And don't worry, I'm not leavingstorytelling behind.
(00:49):
Instead, I'll be weaving theminto the conversations about
what it takes to grow a businesswhile staying true to your
creative spirit.
So whether you're dreaming ofstarting your own business, or
you just love hearing aboutcreative entrepreneurship, this
season is for you.
Today's episode is a bonus,99.5, and also a little
(01:09):
departure from my normal.
I was fortunate to be able toattend Quilt Con, the show in
Phoenix, Arizona this year.
And so I tried something whichwas new to me, and that was
lurking about on the floor,meeting attendees and vendors
and faculty and asking them forbrief little snippets of their
thoughts about Quilt Con and.
(01:30):
Their business is there, and soI'm sharing some of those
interviews with you today.
I hope you enjoy them.
I'm with Hollyann of String andStory.
How are you loving QuiltCon?
I love QuiltCon! It's so good tosee you! Okay, this is not your
first time to this radio, right?
No, this is not my first.
It's not even my first time toPhoenix with QuiltCon.
Oh, really?
Yeah, so we then did QuiltConfor the first time when it was
(01:50):
here before here in Phoenix.
And it's really fun to be backand see the way that the energy
has grown.
And I hear everyone coming in.
It's so exciting! I know.
The doors are opening as we'retalking, so we'll try and keep
going as the noise level rampsup.
What is your very most favoritething about QuiltCon?
from other quilt shows?
This is the hardest questionbecause how do I pick one thing?
(02:11):
Quilt Con?
It's all the things.
The energy at Quilt Con is verydifferent.
It's a high energy show.
I think it sits at a reallybeautiful intersection of
getting to interact with ourcustomers and our students, but
also getting to engage as folkswho are in the industry.
And the bright color and vibe ofit all just sets Quilt Con apart
in a lot of different ways.
You nailed it.
(02:31):
This is my first time.
Oh my gosh.
Welcome.
It's the best.
And I'm largely getting thatsame answer from both attendees
and vendors.
Energy.
Yes.
Vibes are impeccable every year.
Absolutely.
Yes.
String and Story is a quiltingeducation company based in
Duluth, Georgia.
It is my job to guide everyoneto quilt with confidence.
(02:52):
I want folks finishing the dangquilts on whatever machine you
already have.
And String and Story opened theshop in support of that.
We have a brick and mortar indowntown Duluth, Georgia.
We put the whole thing together.
and drove it here to Phoenix forthe show.
But we have paintbrush studiosolids, Ruby star society, fable
ism, Aurifil thread, brunettesewing machines.
(03:12):
We really try to do it all sothat folks can have a complete
experience and feel like rockstars the whole time.
So good.
So good.
Thanks for taking time to chat.
Absolutely.
Great to chat.
I'm standing in the Laura Starbooth talking to Kristen.
Kristen, what brings you toQuiltCon?
I'm actually here representingLaura Star and we're working
with 35th Ave today.
Cool.
Yeah.
This is your first QuiltCon?
This is my first QuiltCon ever.
(03:34):
Me too.
Me too.
We're newbies.
Do I understand correctly thenthat you're not a quilter?
I am not a quilter.
But I've had a lot of funtalking to all the quilters and
sewists throughout the show andactually getting to see a lot of
really amazing quilters.
I would tell you that I thinkthere's so many modern quilts
here, and I think they're sobeautiful.
Emily has definitely been tryingto get me more into quilting,
(03:55):
and so we took a walk thismorning to go see maybe what my
first quilt pattern could be.
There you go.
So Emily is your colleague here.
Yeah.
And maybe tell our listeners fora second what Laura Star is, in
case they maybe don't even know.
Yeah, so Laura Star is a ironingcompany.
And so we have a 45 years ofexperience in ironing.
We're Swiss designed andEuropean built.
(04:16):
We have had great success in theU.
S.
Especially with our quilting andsewing community.
And we have a great opportunitywith both portable options as
well as full systems.
And, We have a great drymicrofine steam, not going to
shrink or distort your quiltblocks.
And you're able to press andcontinue on quilting and sewing
without any worries forshrinking, distortion, or wet
(04:36):
blocks.
All true.
Now you packed a whole bunchinto those couple of sentences.
Yeah.
I drive a LauraStar at home too,and it is so helpful.
And it does such a beautifuljob.
of pressing.
It's not just a one note wonder.
I don't know what I want to say.
Yeah! Iron's just iron, and youstill need a clapper, or you
still need steam, or you stillneed accessories to get that
perfect flat seam.
The LauraStar system is just onepress from one side, and you're
(05:00):
good.
Absolutely.
And on top of it you can alsouse it to refresh your garments
and disinfect throughout thehome.
So you can use that steam, thatgreat dry.
My confined steam is going toallow you to disinfect those
high touch surfaces throughoutyour house and refresh garments
because it's going to kill thatorder causing bacteria.
And it is Okay, so what do youhave a favorite in the ribbon
(05:24):
wringing quilts?
Did you get an opportunity tolook at those?
I didn't get to walk throughthose this morning yet.
Oh, okay.
Yes, you got to.
There's some really great onesup there.
Yeah.
Are you drawn to the supermodern feel, the contemporary
feel with the more solid colorsand space and those sorts of
things?
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Good to know.
Okay I look forward to seeingyour first quilt.
Maybe next year.
Yeah, maybe next year.
Thanks for chatting.
(05:45):
All right.
Thank you.
I am standing here in front of agorgeous quilt and a young lady
in a gorgeous quilted coat.
Would you introduce yourself?
Yes, so my name is Lorelei, I'mwith Pigs in a Blanket Quilty,
and my quilt is magnetized.
I'm a 15 year old quilter.
Ha! Which, and you're definitelyattracting a crowd.
I would like to know your toptips for a quilter getting
(06:06):
started.
Tell me first, because I suspectthey'll be different.
What you would say to a youngquilter and what you would say
to someone my age, more middleaged that's just getting started
and is a bit fearful.
You'd be surprised how similarit is.
Sometimes the young quilterspick things up faster because
they have no fear.
And I think that's just awesome.
I've taught some, I've taughtsome youth classes.
And I think that quilters thatare older or quilters that are
(06:27):
adults could learn a lot fromyouth quilters as far as, just
don't be fearful.
If you mess up, you can pourfabric, you can use your scraps.
There's always a way topractice.
But my very first advice wouldbe to do a lot of YouTube
research.
There's so much free resourcesout there that people just are
using.
I completely agree.
Especially about the don't befearful part.
Yes.
You can always figure out aproject as you go.
(06:48):
Don't wait till you know how tostart.
There's almost always a fix.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Have you found it beneficial tocome to quilt shows like this
and learn from other people, goto their lectures or classes or
even viewing their quilts?
Oh, 100%.
100%.
I've gotten so many ideas fromwalking around these quilts.
Walking around with quilts atHouston.
That was so much fun.
I've taken a lot of garmentfitting classes in Houston.
So I learned a ton, like how tofit my body.
(07:10):
How to fit others bodies, how todraft a pattern, all kinds of
things.
That's awesome.
What does your business looklike now?
Yes, so my business began asclient quilts, longarm mean for
clients, as I was trying to payoff my longarm.
But now it's morphed intoinfluencing, slash show quilts,
slash just quilts.
I've gotten to make a ton ofoutfits, I get to walk around
these show floors and talk to somany new quilters, talk to so
(07:32):
many seasoned quilters,experienced quilters, everybody.
It's been so awesome.
So much to learn.
Okay, tell us once again yourwebsite.
My name is Pigzena, my name isLorelei, I'm from Pigzena
Blanket Quilting.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram, andthen I do have a website as
well.
Beautiful.
Thanks so much.
Thank you.
I'm here with Cheryl Karanda atthe Long Arm League booth.
(07:53):
How is QuiltCon going?
It is going really well.
A little slower and more spacedout than, um, probably last
year.
But still busy and super fun.
And I'm really excited about allthe new new vendors here this
year.
Um, that's been really fun tojust see new people and get to
(08:13):
meet some riders I haven't met.
And we've had pretty goodtraffic at the booth, and the
couches are still very popular.
The Sierra Solana Lake booth.
So that is another win.
Our viewers, of course, can'tsee them, but the League booth
has a couple of couches, and ifyou've ever walked a quilt show,
you know how welcoming a couchto sit on can be.
So for me, this is firstQuiltCon.
(08:34):
How many have you guys been to?
Um, so this is my third one.
I know that Jess has gone tomore before.
So awesome, so awesome.
What is your very favorite thingabout QuiltCon?
Seeing people.
And just the excitement.
Everybody is just happy to behere and excited, and it's so
(08:55):
fun getting to meet people inreal life that you, Only talk to
online 3D people.
Am I right?
We're so used to knowing eachother in virtual spaces and it's
lovely to get to meet face toface.
It is.
It's great.
That's definitely.
Thanks Cheryl.
Yeah.
Thank you.
I'm here with Natalie of OESDand how are you enjoying
(09:17):
QuiltCon this year?
Oh, it is a wonderful, wonderfulshow.
It's the happiest show.
Is this the first time for youor many times?
Many times.
Yeah.
It's a highlight of the year forsure.
Awesome.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhat OESD is.
OESD, we have been around forabout 30 years selling home
embroidery designs for homeembroidery systems.
(09:39):
And about five years ago, wereleased a wonderful collection
of longarm designs through, withAmanda Murphy.
Right.
And, um, from there, we justkept growing.
We got a great response fromthem and wanted to continue to
grow that category.
Uh, we had longarmers coming tothe site, though, and they were
(10:00):
seeing it was very embroideryforward.
So, this year we made a sistersite at quilting.
oesd.
com.
Oh, perfect.
And we're expanding it.
We have, uh, about a thousanddesigns currently.
A lot of We have the Amandacollection, we have wonderful in
house artwork, but what we'restarting with here at QuokKon
(10:22):
this year is amazingcollaborations with Tula Pink,
Carolyn Friedlander, and RubyStar Society, translating their
fabric, their most belovedfabrics and appliqués into edge
to edge Oh, that's gonna be anamazing resource for long armors
how exciting So if you're a fanof one of these ladies, you can
(11:13):
totally fangirl on them fromstart to finish.
I love that.
Well, thanks for taking the timeto chat with me.
Oh, So, I've met a new friend,Amy, at QuiltCon.
Amy, is this your first one, orone of many?
This is my first.
I haven't been to QuiltConbefore.
I have been loving it.
It has been so delightful tomeet so many people.
It really has been so much fun.
(11:34):
Oh yes.
All the time.
Yeah.
I mean, and I did buy quite abit of fabric, and also being
inspired by the quilts, likewalking through the show.
It's just magnificent to see allof the talent that is out there.
It's so fun to watch people.
So I have a business pattern,designing patterns.
It's Amaruni Designs, and Ispecialize in small quilts.
(11:59):
Table toppers, table runners,pillows, and things like that.
I love projects that you can doin a short amount of time.
Because when I first startedquilting, I couldn't afford to
do a big quilt.
And so, I started designing thepatterns I could afford to make
as a young mom.
And I could do it in a nap time,work on it on a weekend.
And then it would be done in areasonable amount of time.
Because there's nothing like thesatisfaction of holding up a
(12:19):
project that's finished.
And you look at it and you'relike, I did that.
And I love it.
Yes.
And as a mom, you know thatthose things are few and far
between.
Well, I am standing with KarleePorter in front of her booth,
first time ever, yes?
Yes, hi, uh, so okay, it's mythird year trifecta.
(12:42):
First year, I taught the wholetime.
Second year, I floated aroundlike a butterfly and did nothing
productive except for hang outwith people and give them
tattoos.
So my third year at QuiltCon,I'm having a booth.
So now I've kind of done all theexperiences of QuiltCon.
You have, I guess I was justthinking the booth, but you're
right.
Yes, my first time with thebooth.
Those were very significantthings at QuiltCon.
So what do you think?
I love it, it's so fun.
I'm grateful to have my husbandhere.
(13:04):
He, I thought, I could do abooth by myself, and then I was
like, wait, no I can't.
So, luckily he's here with me,and I have a great squad of
people behind me that are justhelping me keep things going,
but it's been so fun.
It's been great.
You guys will see, you'll see mybig eyes over, I could do a
booth by myself.
Yeah, yeah, I'm such a dummy.
I have no idea what thatentails.
Karlee's booth is full of hersamplers, wall of tiny quilts.
(13:26):
Yeah.
Those are the ones we seepictures of all the time on your
feed, so that is so awesome.
So awesome.
Yeah.
What is your favorite thingabout quilt con the show as a
whole?
Oh my gosh, I think this thecommunity.
So this year being my firstbooth, I just finished my 10
year anniversary graffitiquilting class last fall and
it's been so fun to havestudents from my class come up
(13:47):
to me and be like, I'm soinspired.
So, and put a face to a name andgive them a hug and have like
the real human connection thatyou kind of miss with online
classes.
It's been so great and I've madea lot of new friends and a lot
of new quilters who are startingmy online class and that's been
fun to have that crossover andreally connect with people.
So, I think my favorite thing iseye contact, like, yeah, yeah,
(14:11):
thanks for having me.
I'm in a lovely little shopcalled Brown Bird Designs.
Do you want to introduceyourself to our listeners?
I write under Elizabeth DeMoux.
I'm a pattern designer.
And I have multiple patternshanging, um, multiple kits of my
patterns.
hanging in the booth and Ireleased Drift, um, here at
(14:33):
QuiltCon.
It's a bird pattern.
It's beautiful.
And you definitely have a RubyStar esque.
I do.
I do have lots and lots of theirfabrics.
This is, um, Bird is the Word,one of their new lines and Love
it.
(14:53):
Are you a regular attender atQuiltCon?
Have you been?
Only on this side.
So I love QuiltCon.
Yeah, so I've gone to Californiaand Phoenix QuiltCons.
What is your favorite thingabout the show as a whole?
It is just amazing.
The modern quilts are inspiring.
(15:14):
The people are so much fun andit's just wonderful seeing
Quilty friends from around theworld because it's a national
show.
It's amazing.
Thanks for taking time to chatwith us.
I'm with Kelly on the floor ofQuiltCon.
Kelly, how are you loving theshow?
Love it.
I'm really inspired by a lot ofthings this year, but I'm happy
to meet you because you'rereally a huge inspiration to me
(15:35):
in quilting.
We met a few years ago.
I think you did the owl quilt.
Yes.
I loved it.
Yes.
And so, it's fun to see youagain.
Well, it is very fun to meet youin person.
Your quilting's awesome.
What do you love the very bestabout coming to QuiltCon?
Well, I haven't even been ableto walk all the way around yet
because I'm here at the booth,but um, So, I love the bright,
colorful Well, if I stand at thebooth and quilt, could you go
take a five minute break?
(15:55):
Oh yeah, I'd love to see youquilt.
Okay, maybe that would work.
Let's do it.
a try.
Okay.
Okay, thanks for chatting.
Okay.
I'm standing with Enjoli in theBernina booth.
Enjoli, tell our listeners whereyou're from.
Hi Susan, I'm from Anchorage,Alaska.
Enjoli drove a long, long way tobe here at QuiltCon.
What do you think of QuiltCon?
Oh, I love it.
This is my, gosh, I've been to afew.
(16:18):
So I probably, I have attended afew just, you know, for fun.
And then I have worked, I think,three or four times, so.
So you're currently working inthe Bernina Longarm booth,
right?
Yes.
What does that entail?
Um, so we're here to demomachines, sell machines, talk
about machines, talk aboutlongarm leaves.
So it's a lot of fun.
(16:39):
And this is something you do fora business as well, right?
So you bring that into yourknowledge base, basically?
Yes, yes.
What does your business looklike in Anchorage, Alaska?
Yeah, my business at home, myeveryday job is what I tell
people, is a quilting studiothat I run with five Bernina
Longarms.
Four of them are automated, oneis just for custom work.
And um, so that's what I do whenI'm not traveling.
(16:59):
Cool.
Um, do, like what, is it similarin Anchorage?
Like similar volume of quilters?
If you have five machines,clearly there's a demand for it.
Or are there in fact a lot oflongarmers up there, and I just
don't know it.
Um, well there are a decentamount of longarmers to other
places in the world.
Like probably Utah has a muchhigher concentration of longarm
(17:20):
quilters than Anchorage, Alaska.
Um, but yeah, there, I have thebenefit of being in a location
right next to um, a quilt shop.
So my twin sister owns two.
A local quilt shop and Berninadealership, and we happen to be
in the same building, so Well,that's perfect, isn't it?
Well, thanks for taking the timeto chat.
Appreciate it.
Of course.
Good to see you, Susan.
(17:42):
I'm sitting with Becca of SewBecca.
How are you enjoying the show?
I'm good.
I've had a Thursday and Friday.
I was in classes today,Saturday.
And it's kind of my first chanceto get out and actually see the
vendors and all the quilts.
So, so far loving it, buthaven't seen even a quarter of
it.
It's only an hour in.
Oh gosh, well I won't keep youlong.
(18:02):
Oh, no worries.
Do you, have you come to manyquilt cons?
I, my first one was in Atlantain 2023.
Wasn't a lot of people there, wewere just getting over the
pandemic.
I went to Raleigh last year, sothis will be my third.
No, the people.
I just, I love being around somany people that share the same
(18:26):
passion that I do.
I like being around like mindedindividuals, people that share
the same passion for quilting.
And it's just, it's just nice toget away and have that common
interest.
Yes.
So, Becca, you're a YouTuberlike I am.
So, is there just thisrefreshing, do you feel the same
that I do, when you just seewhat other people are doing and
others are thinking, and justthis opportunity to soak in some
(18:48):
others work instead ofproducing, producing, which is
kind of what we do on a dailybasis?
Yeah, so, it's a little, so Itry, my tip, Go to culture in
(19:09):
the future.
I don't take the quotes in allon one day because it's too much
and you're just going to getinformation and creativity
overload So I like to break itdown and I'll do a few aisles
each day so that I can reallyspend some time That's a great
tip.
Well, thanks for taking time tochat with me.
Appreciate it Yeah.
(19:32):
So I create hand dyed yarns,fiber, um, silk floss and
everything.
All of my colorways are inspiredby stories.
So characters and adventures inplaces from books.
Um, and then all hand dyed herein Arizona.
Yes, I'm so inspired.
I've been recently on couchingat her quilting machine.
(19:55):
So that's something Idesperately want to try.
So I'm going to go home with oneof your skeins and play with it.
Um, what are your thoughts aboutQuiltCon?
Have you been here many times,or is this the first time?
This is the first time here.
It's actually my first time at aquilt event at all.
And so, yeah, most of the eventswe do are more of the yarn, kind
of knitting, crochet, fiber artsevents.
Um, so I am local to QuiltCon,to Phoenix area, decided to come
(20:19):
to QuiltCon, and it has been afantastic experience.
It is Next question.
One of the possibly the bestevent I've ever been to.
But definitely right up there.
Just it's so well organized.
Um, the people are wonderful.
And then it's been really funseeing the different projects
that people are working on andkind of seeing different ways
that quilting and textileartists use some of the products
(20:42):
like the, you know, the woolroving and the silk floss.
And it's a little bit differentto the, you know, knitting and
crochet.
community.
Um, so it's been reallyinteresting kind of seeing
people's projects and chattingwith them a little bit.
Um, so yeah, a lot, a lot offun.
Really, really glad we came.
Yes, we are on, um, most of thesocial media platforms and
(21:05):
storyteller stitchery.
Um, and then the website isstorytellerstitchery.
com.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
I'm with Chelsea of Pink DoorFabrics and Renaissance Ribbons
in her booth.
She's got these bags hanging inseveral places which say,
measure twice, cut once.
So of course I had to stop andsay hello.
(21:26):
How are you loving QuiltCon?
We are having so much fun.
We're so excited to seeeveryone.
Is this a first time for you orare you a regular?
We have done, this is our thirdQuiltCon, but our first with
Renaissance Ribbons, so It'sfun.
So tell me a little more aboutRenaissance Ribbons.
Renaissance Ribbons waspreviously owned by Edith
Minnie, Adit Minnie and she waslooking to retire and go live
(21:49):
her best life and so often, orroll off into the sewing sunset
and so I acquired that companyabout a year and a half ago and
so it's been just a great ridesince.
So what would you use these kindof elaborate, woven, gorgeous
ribbons for?
I'm seeing them on Incrediblebags.
I'm seeing Tula Pink ribbons, amI right?
(22:09):
Yes, yes.
Tula Pink and Ruby Star Societyand CAFE Facet are all designers
of ours.
And so we, um, license all oftheir designs for our ribbons.
And so they're really a hugewide array of things that they
can be used on.
We primarily use them on bags,but you could use them for dog
leashes, or adornments on jeanjackets, or clothing, or all
(22:32):
sorts of different things.
So if you really want to blingup the latest sewing project,
come for one of these, right?
Yes, yes.
What is your very most favoritething about the quilt?
Oh, I love that we get to see somany, we're primarily an online
shop.
We have a brick and mortar justnorth of Denver and Frederick,
but I really love being able tosee all of our customers in
(22:53):
person.
So many people come up and say,Oh, I did your block of the
month, or I did your, you know,queen of diamonds, or I buy
online from you.
And so it's fun to put a facewith a name and it's just such a
joyous atmosphere.
Nobody's having a bad day hereat QuiltCon.
That's wonderful.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with me.
Thanks so much for having me.
I'm sitting at a table withSarah, who's attending QuiltCon.
(23:15):
Sarah, what brings you all theway from California to QuiltCon?
I'm at QuiltCon.
It's a great chance to seeartists and um, 30 members from
(23:43):
our guild, the Silicon ValleyModern Quilt Guild, who are here
and that's really exciting.
And I also volunteered and didwhite glove for two days.
So I, I really enjoyed it.
I love the energy.
I love seeing everybody weartheir me made things.
Um, it's been a very A real joyand a bright spark, um, in this,
(24:05):
in this time where things arekind of challenging, so I'm very
grateful for that.
So was volunteering kind of yourway of getting to know people?
Getting introduced to people?
Yeah, that was a little bit ofit.
Um, you know, it's been a reallynice thing, and I have my name,
(24:32):
my guild, my social mediahandle.
And I think it's a really niceswap item.
People can put it on theirlanyards or on their bags, and
so that's something really fun.
Everyone I've met so far hasbeen really nice, and it's just,
it's so incredible to see all ofus who are passionate about the
same thing coming together andgetting excited about fiber
(24:53):
arts.
So I wasn't able to take any ofthe classes, but um, I've been
enjoying some of the make ittakes.
Cotton and Steel, they have abookmark, Make and Take, uh,
other people have made things,uh, and so that's been Make and
(25:13):
Take, just being in case ourlisteners don't know, just a
tiny project that you can sit inand in just a few minutes make
it, take it with you.
Yeah, but it's interestingbecause, for me, as someone
(25:38):
who's involved in our SiliconValley Modern Cook Guild, and
our group ends up planningretreats and such, these are
really great ideas for us totake back home to our guild.
For, um, for little make andtakes for activities, that sort
of thing.
So I, I'm very inspired byeverything I see around me and
(25:58):
seeing the clothes and seeingthe quilts.
And just, it makes me want to bea better sewist, a better
quilter.
I love all that.
Thanks for taking time to chatwith me.
My pleasure, my pleasure.
Thank you for talking to me.
Taylor's joining me.
Let me have your quick top, topthree or top highlights of
QuiltCon.
(26:18):
Putting you on the spot.
Um, let's see.
Last year I absolutely lovedseeing all the quilts on
Instagram.
But, I mean, this is their sideand seeing other people's
response to these quilts inperson.
There's nothing.
I mean, Instagram is great, butlike Oh, I couldn't agree more.
(26:44):
This is my first QuiltCon, too.
So, yeah, I do the same thing.
Just get right up close andpersonal to those quilts.
And then, also, step back fromthem about 20 feet.
And that gives you a whole otherperspective, too, doesn't it?
Any other highlights for you?
Something you're looking forwardto taking home with you?
(27:18):
What type of workshops have youdone?
I just didn't know how to dothat partial seam.
And now I'm like, ooh, I haveoptions now.
I have skills.
Um, so I'm excited about that.
The teacher did a great jobexplaining, um, the actual
(27:41):
techniques for how to do that.
And then I took a few, um, did afew seminars on color, which
were so exciting.
Cause I never got any artclasses in high school and like,
just learning about actually howcolors work and how they respond
to each other has been sofantastic.
(28:01):
And I'm just, the whole thing isjust, I'm overwhelmed with how
amazing it is to be here.
I'm so, so glad that I made thechoice to, to come.
Good.
Well I look forward to seeingyour future quilts.
very much.
Thanks for stopping andchatting.
Am here with Blair.
We're on the quilt floor.
The doors have just opened forthe final day of QuiltCon.
(28:22):
What are you finding you lovebest about the show this year?
So, I would have to say, I lovethe hand stitching that I see.
It seems like people are moreand more interested in learning
about it.
I teach a lot of chicken scratchembroidery, so.
I love hand stitching myself.
(28:44):
I love seeing it on the quilts.
I love seeing it as texture andused as a design component in
these.
And yeah, it's just been fun totalk to people about hand
stitched components, whether itbe embroidery, whether it be
chicken scratch, cross stitch,and just kind of talk together
through all these different waysthat we're seeing it displayed
(29:06):
on these quilts this year.
And what kind of is yourbackground, or what are you
doing at the show here?
So I am a vendor.
I am sort of sharing a spacewith Denise Schmidt.
And this is the first time I'vevended at QuiltCon.
It's been fantastic.
Um, and I do, uh, I come from anapparel background and what I do
(29:29):
is mainly Color value based,very scrappy patchwork.
And then this whole component ofchicken scratch embroidery sort
of emerged in my business.
Well, it, it, it was a personalobsession that sort of, um,
emerged into like this wholeother side of my business.
So it's two arms under Wisecrafthandmade and yeah, we're having
(29:54):
a blast.
Brainstorm behind that.
Is it the ruby ruler?
Yes.
Tell me a little bit about that.
I find that so fascinating andthen we can take it to your
vendor booth and get it.
(30:16):
Look at a group of fabrics, orlook at a group of blocks on
your wall, on your design wall,and it distorts the color of the
individual fabrics just enoughthat you can focus on the value.
And I find that if we look atour stash, we often look at it
for color, like I need a blue,and you go through your stash,
(30:39):
but if we look at the wholestash, Through the lens of a
color value concept that it sortof reignites our inspiration and
so I, um, over the years haveDeveloped some tricks and things
to sort of help us reimaginewhat our stash could be I mean
we bought all that fabric wechose it I feel like we should
(31:00):
use it.
We all have more than we'll everneed So true it because I love
scrappy quilts, too It makessuch a difference in how I view
them and how I arrange them Itjust makes an enormous
difference.
I can't overstate that.
It really does.
And a lot of times I think we,we feel a design barrier, a
personal design barrier, ofbreaking up things like a
(31:21):
curated fat quarter set orthings like that.
But when you break it up and youmix it in with fabric you've
already lovingly purchased andchosen, it really becomes your
aesthetic.
And sometimes it takes You know,a little work to get there, you
know, trial and error.
But once you get there, and onceit clicks, I love seeing that in
(31:42):
my students.
Once it clicks, they're like, Iget it now.
I understand.
It's great.
It's really fun.
So good.
Well, thanks for taking a fewminutes to chat with us.
I'm with Brandi Maslowski in herown little podcast booth corner
in the Oliso Iron booth.
Um, have you been here for thewhole quilt show, Brandy?
Yes, so this is my fourth yearat QuiltCon with the Podcast
(32:04):
Lounge, and it's actually calledthe Oliso Story Space.
So we're asking quilters whostop by just to give us a two,
two minute snippet, tell us alittle bit about their quilting
story, what they love aboutQuiltCon.
And then of course we're gettingall these influencers and
amazing creators coming inthere, so I'm trying to talk
about their biz, share theirInstagram handle, and lift them
up as a creator.
I just love that.
(32:25):
For people who can't physicallycome to QuiltCon, this is such a
great way to get a littlesampling of the people that are
there and feel like you've metsome of those people and had a
chance to sit down and chat withthem, honestly.
So, I love that you do that.
Yeah, and this time I did it ina different way.
I chose to be here 9 a.
m.
to noon every day, so people canfind me at a specific time.
And then the rest of the day Iam doing lives in the show,
(32:46):
showing the quilts, meeting thevendors.
I'm doing stuff for people whojust can't come to QuiltCon.
It's just not feasible for them,and I'm getting some good love
in the comments.
They're like, oh, thanks forshowing the show, and you know,
thanks for showing my quilt fromCanada, and those kind of
things.
So it's been a lot of fun.
That's so nice, because ofcourse there are many, many,
many people.
Yeah.
That can't make it worse.
Yes, absolutely.
And so, to be able to give thema little of that flavor and that
(33:08):
feel is just very, very good.
Thanks for being so generous.
It's my pleasure.
I am having a blast.
All right.
Well, till next time.
Catch you at the next quiltshow.
Take care.
I'm sitting with Melody, who isone of the designers for Ruby
Star Society.
I, well I'm such a fan ofcourse, but this is my first
QuiltCon, so I want to hearabout the genius that's behind
(33:28):
the fashion shows every day.
Hi, We spend a lot of time inour studio and in our weekly
meetings with our designers whoare kind of spread out all
across the country, talkingabout what we can bring to this
show.
This is such a big show for us.
So, along the way, we just tryto collect ideas and then we, we
kind of have this policy ofcoming up with as many crazy
(33:51):
ideas as possible.
Weird ideas, bad ideas,especially bad ideas.
And then over time we narrowthem down and pick our
favorites.
I think last year we realizedthat people love to dress up for
the show.
I wore a jumpsuit last year,some, some of the attendees had
them, and we were like, oh yeah,that, that looks like a great
thing, let's do that.
And we've always loved caftan,so that was a no brainer.
(34:13):
So yeah, that's just some of ourfavorite things, and we'll see
what we do.
We'll go home and compare notesand see what we do for next
year.
What does that look like on thefloor?
One day was jumpsuit day, isthat right?
That's right, so first day wecalled it spirit day, and that
was sort of like, wear your rubystar.
garments, whatever they are,anything goes.
The second day was jumpsuit dayand people were wearing,
(34:34):
variations on jumpsuits, but alot of coveralls with patches
and, little quilted pieces sewnon.
They were just amazing, like somuch creativity.
The third day was caftan day.
And so there were a lot of womenwandering around in these
lovely, flowy, comfy dresses.
It was great.
(34:55):
Around it all.
It does.
Yeah.
Like, which is just lovely.
Thank you.
And I'm sure QuiltConappreciates you bringing that
too.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with me.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
I'm in the Auroville booth withClaire, and I've confessed to
Claire that I am a quiltmakerand a long arm bra.
(35:16):
I'm going to try my best.
So, um, Aurifil's the thread.
I'm a quilter myself and Iswitched to Aurifil and I've
never looked back.
And that's before I worked withthe company.
It is just a dream to work with.
It works on every machine.
It just slides through.
There's never any problems.
There's 270 colors to choosefrom as well.
So there's a massive variety.
(35:36):
There's different weights.
So you can get differentdefinition in your quilting.
It's just the perfect.
I totally understand the appealof having different weights for
different effects.
But one of my big old questionsis, when I use 100 percent
quality thread, I get super lowlint and I love that because I
do a lot of remotes.
(35:57):
That matters to me.
So kind of, how does it measureup and where's that sort of
tipping point?
The way that the thread isactually produced is, um, it
goes through a whole process andit's actually like seared and,
um, like a burning process.
So it actually gets rid of allthe lint.
So there's very, very littlelint with our cotton thread.
Um, if you look up, do you seeanything?
Ladies are showing me howbeautifully smooth it is.
(36:19):
Do you see that?
Yeah.
So when you look at, you can'tsee any fuzz coming off of that.
So everyone does think there's alot of lint that comes off our
threads, but there really isn't.
And that it's never been anissue.
And, um, it's.
You know, once people startusing it, they tend to never
look back, so.
Yeah, yeah.
(36:39):
Yeah, I mean, you love it.
Thank you.
I'm taking a little walkingbreak with Calista Wonderfill
threads.
Calista has a long armor.
I know my favorite of yourproducts is the Depobob bobbins
with the 80 way thread because Ifeel like they last forever.
What's one of your favoritethreads?
So, I've been really into handsewing recently, and
(37:02):
specifically hand embroidery.
So, I'm always reaching foreleganza, but when I want to add
a little bit of like sparkle,and like a little bit accent of
a special area, I like to usethe dazzle.
I love dazzle too.
I agree, that's such a prettydecorative.
If you, if someone was abeginner to hand stitching, are
(37:23):
those threads that they wouldwant?
I think I would definitelyrecommend the eleganza.
It's like a really nice and easyto use thread.
And I think a lot of people whenthey think about hand sewing or
like hand stitching or like handembroidery, they think about
like floss and things like that.
And while that's Perfectly fineto use as well.
I actually prefer like the pearlcotton, which is what eleganza
(37:43):
is because you don't have tosplit it so and the other the
plies especially and alsobecause when you have um Floss,
it's actually a little flatterthan a pearl cotton, which is
more round in shape So whenyou're doing especially things
like bullions or even just likea running stitch It's got more
definition to it and I reallylove how it like sits on the
(38:06):
fabric and everything So it'sdefinitely my go to and it's
super easy to use like even ifyou're like the most beginner of
beginner You cannot mess upusing that thread And she was
showing how to make labels.
Would that be a suitable threadmaking quilt labels?
Yes, absolutely.
(38:26):
So that is the one that she wasusing to make labels and, and
she was actually using, um, 50weight thread and doubling up
before.
But then when I saw her usingit, I was like, wait, why don't
you use the elgan?
And actually showed her and, andthat's actually what she
switched to now That's perfect.
And it's like got more dimensionto it.
So I really love it.
And it's nice that she's used itfor this application as well.
(38:48):
I think that's awesome.
Thanks for taking a minute tochat with me.
No problem, it was great talkingto you.
I'm standing with Erin at theInnova booth, and we're chatting
about all the different waysthat you can load quilts on long
arm rails.
What's your opinion about theright way to load a quilt?
Well, first of all, I try andalways tell people there is no
right.
Just kind of knowing what you doand why you do it.
(39:11):
Make this reach up or reach forit.
So at home in my studio, I usethe Sewtypes.
I really love the way that theyare.
Great because they're so fast toload.
I love that they're a little bitmore So I typically load the
bottom of the Red Top Bar.
I get to grab from that canvas.
(39:36):
As I'm pulling, making surethings are straight.
And then just about as thatfabric gets to the bottom side
of the dead bar, I have enough.
I know I have enough if I goaround to the back of the
machine, to then pull it underthe dead bar and up right on top
of the edge of that um, up tothe bottom.
And that's when I put myserpents in.
And even just one of yourcolleagues was standing here and
(39:57):
we were talking about, you know,red snappers versus so tights
versus pins, all the ways thatyou can attach to a leader,
right?
That too just depends as so manythings do on, on your budget, on
your wrist strength, all thosethings.
And so find the way that worksfor you, ask your friends and
see what options are out there.
(40:18):
That's a good idea.
(40:40):
I agree with that.
And perhaps even at shows suchas QuiltCon, where we're
standing now, there might bedealers that have a set, right,
where you can get a feel forthem and like, how are you with
that magnet strength and doesthat work for you?
So, yep, that's perfect.
Good way to try things outbefore you commit.
All right.
Thanks for taking the time tochat.
(41:02):
I am in the Bernina booth withVince, who's the Q Series head
of sales.
Am I right?
Yes.
In the U.
S.
And lots of you listeners willknow Stella, my long arm, but
Stella has brand new twinsisters, which have just broken
out in the last week or so atQuilt Shows.
Tell me more about those.
Yes, we actually are nowintroducing the, uh, therefore
(41:23):
the Q 16, uh, Q 16 plus wouldfit on one.
It's a Q Series hoop frame andwe have a domestic hoop, seven
series for the Berninas.
Uh, that you can put on thereand you can actually sew your
quilt on a hoop.
They're 5 foot frames and they,you can actually sew a king size
quilt on them because they're ahoop.
They don't roll, they are hoopedin.
(41:44):
So this is a great new productthat Bernina has and I think
you're going to love it.
The huge advantage is that smallfootprint.
So for people who have spacechallenged homes, or um, yeah,
basically small spaces.
But also the domestic machine,the frame can be lowered so low
that you can actually sit at itas well, if standing is an issue
for you.
(42:04):
It is, yes.
So, we actually have it set uphere at the show that we're at,
and we have one that is up soyou can stand up, and the other,
we have it lowered and then yousit at it so it's comfortable.
So there's so many options.
I just feel like this has hit somany midpoints between that, um,
the long arm that is a sit downmachine on a table and the long
(42:24):
arm that is on a frame.
This is hitting all the pointsin between.
that want to move to a frame youcan put your domestic machine on
the frame and then if you wantto go bigger you can actually
add the Q 16 to the same framelater down the road or you can
come and get a look at that oryou have a sit down which you
(42:46):
want to move to a frame and thisgives you that opportunity.
You don't have the space.
So good.
Well, I look forward to seeingthese come into more common use
over the next few months.
Thanks for chatting with me.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
Okay.
I'm standing with Carolina andit was hard to get close to you.
You have such a loyal fan clubwhich is awesome to see.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
To start with, will you say yourwhole name with your last name
(43:07):
so I'm sure to get it right.
Oneto.
Perfect.
Carolina Oneto.
Lovely.
Well we have just come, I'vejust sat through a lecture of
yours on color composition.
You did a fantastic job oflaying out some very complex and
a lot of concepts in smallmanageable bites.
I am not a trained artist in anyway, but I came away from that
(43:28):
thinking, I can do this, I canapply this.
Absolutely.
So is, I'm curious, what camefirst for you, making quilts or
the passion for color?
I think that was I always likeart.
I have been always like beforebeing a quilter as a hobby.
(43:48):
I started watercolor painting.
So I think color is being alwayssomething that I love, right?
Yeah.
And now and once I startedquilting, it was so.
clear to me that okay color isthe thing that I want to use.
I love that.
Yeah.
(44:09):
Being here at QuiltCon reallyhighlights how in North America
we have All the fabric, all thetools, all the gadgets at our
fingertips, almost no matterwhere you live, it's one online
order away.
How different is that living inMexico now and does that
influence the type of work thatyou do?
Yeah, I think, well now I'm justthere the last So before that we
(44:31):
live in Brazil and in Brazil itwasn't easy to get the
materials, right?
So commonly what I do is when Itravel I buy all my fabrics, but
you know what that means?
That I can't buy everything.
Yards, I just buy a small amountof each color and in some way I
(44:52):
think That makes me create thequilts in the way that I create
with small pieces Creating manycolor transitions because I
never have more than a half ayard in one color Right, right.
Yeah, so that's definitelyinfluence.
Absolutely.
Yeah Absolutely, I just I soappreciated that your
(45:13):
presentation was full ofpictures not only of quilts But
of artwork.
Yeah.
You know, illustrating knowbecause that, uh, we all can go
also with mu to museums and, andthere we can apply this concept
and understand better what weare seeing.
Right.
Uh, trying to bring what we seethere.
To your quilts.
To your compositions.
(45:34):
Because these are principlesthat are not new.
No, no.
And they are in as they are abit, yeah.
Yes, exactly.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Thank you.
I'm standing with Chris in frontof his booth Modern American
Vintage and Chris makes the mostincredible wooden quilters
tools.
(45:54):
What got you started in this?
Okay, so my mom is the quilterof the family.
Um, she had a little chopstickthat she was using as a point
turner.
Right.
And, uh, it snapped on her whileshe was using it one day.
Splintered.
And, yeah, and, uh, so I hadcobbled together just a small
smattering of, um, tools fromFacebook Marketplace and, uh,
garage sales to, uh, You know,kind of give my son and I the
(46:16):
same experience that I hadgrowing up with my grandpa
making, you know, wooden toysand stuff like that.
I love that.
And then, uh, so, her pointturner snapped on her, and I,
uh, I just made somethingquickly out of, uh, quilted
maple and spalted Hawaiian koa,and she showed it to the, uh,
her bosses at the quilt studiothat she was working at, and
they did a de stash video ofsome, uh, some, uh, Just simple
(46:38):
point turners, and they sold outright away, and it's just
snowballed since then, so.
What a great story.
So I was by your boothyesterday, and I got a thread
holder that's got a houndstoothkind of design in it.
It is incredibly intricate.
So if you were doing that, let'ssay a clapper with houndstooth,
like, how many pieces are inthat?
(46:58):
Hundreds.
Absolutely hundreds.
But the good thing about it isI, I do it in phases.
Like a lot of quilters, youknow, you, you, uh, sew
together, you strip piecing.
But with wood and glue insteadof, uh, you know, fabric and
thread, so.
So there's something to belearned between the crafts.
Right.
How cool is that?
So is this your first QuiltConor is this one of many?
This Your third already.
Yep, and we would not missanother QuiltCon for anything.
(47:19):
What's your favorite thing aboutQuiltCon?
The energy and the people thatcome here are some of the most
just friendly, happiest peopleto be here.
Uh, the creativity that you getto, uh, you know, talk about
with everybody just kind offills the tank for the rest of
the year.
So it's very, very inspiring.
Well, thanks very much forjoining me.
It's been a pleasure.
(47:40):
Absolutely.
Thank you.
My friend.
I hope that those snippets madeyou feel like you had a small
chance to be present at QuiltCon as well.
So thanks so much for listeningand let me know what you thought
of the interviews and if you'dlike to hear more of this style
of what I call little snippetinterviews.
So until next time, may yoursorrows be patched and your joys
(48:02):
be quilted.
welcome to Season 5 of MeasureTwice, Cut Once.
This whole season is anexploration into behind the
scenes of not just quilting, butbuilding a creative business
that truly lights you up.
As someone who's navigated theexciting, sometimes bumpy world
of turning a passion into aprofession, I'm excited to pull
back the curtain and share myown experiences.
(00:27):
Some episodes will be just me.
Diving deep into my personaljourney, while others will
feature guests who are alsonavigating the world of creative
entrepreneurship, will explorethe nitty gritty of building a
creative business, the lessonslearned and the unexpected
challenges that come withtransforming your craft.
Into a thriving enterprise.
And don't worry, I'm not leavingstorytelling behind.
(00:49):
Instead, I'll be weaving theminto the conversations about
what it takes to grow a businesswhile staying true to your
creative spirit.
So whether you're dreaming ofstarting your own business, or
you just love hearing aboutcreative entrepreneurship, this
season is for you.
Today's episode is a bonus,99.5, and also a little
(01:09):
departure from my normal.
I was fortunate to be able toattend Quilt Con, the show in
Phoenix, Arizona this year.
And so I tried something whichwas new to me, and that was
lurking about on the floor,meeting attendees and vendors
and faculty and asking them forbrief little snippets of their
thoughts about Quilt Con and.
(01:30):
Their business is there, and soI'm sharing some of those
interviews with you today.
I hope you enjoy them.
I'm with Hollyann of String andStory.
How are you loving QuiltCon?
I love QuiltCon! It's so good tosee you! Okay, this is not your
first time to this radio, right?
No, this is not my first.
It's not even my first time toPhoenix with QuiltCon.
Oh, really?
Yeah, so we then did QuiltConfor the first time when it was
(01:50):
here before here in Phoenix.
And it's really fun to be backand see the way that the energy
has grown.
And I hear everyone coming in.
It's so exciting! I know.
The doors are opening as we'retalking, so we'll try and keep
going as the noise level rampsup.
What is your very most favoritething about QuiltCon?
from other quilt shows?
This is the hardest questionbecause how do I pick one thing?
(02:11):
Quilt Con?
It's all the things.
The energy at Quilt Con is verydifferent.
It's a high energy show.
I think it sits at a reallybeautiful intersection of
getting to interact with ourcustomers and our students, but
also getting to engage as folkswho are in the industry.
And the bright color and vibe ofit all just sets Quilt Con apart
in a lot of different ways.
You nailed it.
(02:31):
This is my first time.
Oh my gosh.
Welcome.
It's the best.
And I'm largely getting thatsame answer from both attendees
and vendors.
Energy.
Yes.
Vibes are impeccable every year.
Absolutely.
Yes.
String and Story is a quiltingeducation company based in
Duluth, Georgia.
It is my job to guide everyoneto quilt with confidence.
(02:52):
I want folks finishing the dangquilts on whatever machine you
already have.
And String and Story opened theshop in support of that.
We have a brick and mortar indowntown Duluth, Georgia.
We put the whole thing together.
and drove it here to Phoenix forthe show.
But we have paintbrush studiosolids, Ruby star society, fable
ism, Aurifil thread, brunettesewing machines.
(03:12):
We really try to do it all sothat folks can have a complete
experience and feel like rockstars the whole time.
So good.
So good.
Thanks for taking time to chat.
Absolutely.
Great to chat.
I'm standing in the Laura Starbooth talking to Kristen.
Kristen, what brings you toQuiltCon?
I'm actually here representingLaura Star and we're working
with 35th Ave today.
Cool.
Yeah.
This is your first QuiltCon?
This is my first QuiltCon ever.
(03:34):
Me too.
Me too.
We're newbies.
Do I understand correctly thenthat you're not a quilter?
I am not a quilter.
But I've had a lot of funtalking to all the quilters and
sewists throughout the show andactually getting to see a lot of
really amazing quilters.
I would tell you that I thinkthere's so many modern quilts
here, and I think they're sobeautiful.
Emily has definitely been tryingto get me more into quilting,
(03:55):
and so we took a walk thismorning to go see maybe what my
first quilt pattern could be.
There you go.
So Emily is your colleague here.
Yeah.
And maybe tell our listeners fora second what Laura Star is, in
case they maybe don't even know.
Yeah, so Laura Star is a ironingcompany.
And so we have a 45 years ofexperience in ironing.
We're Swiss designed andEuropean built.
(04:16):
We have had great success in theU.
S.
Especially with our quilting andsewing community.
And we have a great opportunitywith both portable options as
well as full systems.
And, We have a great drymicrofine steam, not going to
shrink or distort your quiltblocks.
And you're able to press andcontinue on quilting and sewing
without any worries forshrinking, distortion, or wet
(04:36):
blocks.
All true.
Now you packed a whole bunchinto those couple of sentences.
Yeah.
I drive a LauraStar at home too,and it is so helpful.
And it does such a beautifuljob.
of pressing.
It's not just a one note wonder.
I don't know what I want to say.
Yeah! Iron's just iron, and youstill need a clapper, or you
still need steam, or you stillneed accessories to get that
perfect flat seam.
The LauraStar system is just onepress from one side, and you're
(05:00):
good.
Absolutely.
And on top of it you can alsouse it to refresh your garments
and disinfect throughout thehome.
So you can use that steam, thatgreat dry.
My confined steam is going toallow you to disinfect those
high touch surfaces throughoutyour house and refresh garments
because it's going to kill thatorder causing bacteria.
And it is Okay, so what do youhave a favorite in the ribbon
(05:24):
wringing quilts?
Did you get an opportunity tolook at those?
I didn't get to walk throughthose this morning yet.
Oh, okay.
Yes, you got to.
There's some really great onesup there.
Yeah.
Are you drawn to the supermodern feel, the contemporary
feel with the more solid colorsand space and those sorts of
things?
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Good to know.
Okay I look forward to seeingyour first quilt.
Maybe next year.
Yeah, maybe next year.
Thanks for chatting.
(05:45):
All right.
Thank you.
I am standing here in front of agorgeous quilt and a young lady
in a gorgeous quilted coat.
Would you introduce yourself?
Yes, so my name is Lorelei, I'mwith Pigs in a Blanket Quilty,
and my quilt is magnetized.
I'm a 15 year old quilter.
Ha! Which, and you're definitelyattracting a crowd.
I would like to know your toptips for a quilter getting
(06:06):
started.
Tell me first, because I suspectthey'll be different.
What you would say to a youngquilter and what you would say
to someone my age, more middleaged that's just getting started
and is a bit fearful.
You'd be surprised how similarit is.
Sometimes the young quilterspick things up faster because
they have no fear.
And I think that's just awesome.
I've taught some, I've taughtsome youth classes.
And I think that quilters thatare older or quilters that are
(06:27):
adults could learn a lot fromyouth quilters as far as, just
don't be fearful.
If you mess up, you can pourfabric, you can use your scraps.
There's always a way topractice.
But my very first advice wouldbe to do a lot of YouTube
research.
There's so much free resourcesout there that people just are
using.
I completely agree.
Especially about the don't befearful part.
Yes.
You can always figure out aproject as you go.
(06:48):
Don't wait till you know how tostart.
There's almost always a fix.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Have you found it beneficial tocome to quilt shows like this
and learn from other people, goto their lectures or classes or
even viewing their quilts?
Oh, 100%.
100%.
I've gotten so many ideas fromwalking around these quilts.
Walking around with quilts atHouston.
That was so much fun.
I've taken a lot of garmentfitting classes in Houston.
So I learned a ton, like how tofit my body.
(07:10):
How to fit others bodies, how todraft a pattern, all kinds of
things.
That's awesome.
What does your business looklike now?
Yes, so my business began asclient quilts, longarm mean for
clients, as I was trying to payoff my longarm.
But now it's morphed intoinfluencing, slash show quilts,
slash just quilts.
I've gotten to make a ton ofoutfits, I get to walk around
these show floors and talk to somany new quilters, talk to so
(07:32):
many seasoned quilters,experienced quilters, everybody.
It's been so awesome.
So much to learn.
Okay, tell us once again yourwebsite.
My name is Pigzena, my name isLorelei, I'm from Pigzena
Blanket Quilting.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram, andthen I do have a website as
well.
Beautiful.
Thanks so much.
Thank you.
I'm here with Cheryl Karanda atthe Long Arm League booth.
(07:53):
How is QuiltCon going?
It is going really well.
A little slower and more spacedout than, um, probably last
year.
But still busy and super fun.
And I'm really excited about allthe new new vendors here this
year.
Um, that's been really fun tojust see new people and get to
(08:13):
meet some riders I haven't met.
And we've had pretty goodtraffic at the booth, and the
couches are still very popular.
The Sierra Solana Lake booth.
So that is another win.
Our viewers, of course, can'tsee them, but the League booth
has a couple of couches, and ifyou've ever walked a quilt show,
you know how welcoming a couchto sit on can be.
So for me, this is firstQuiltCon.
(08:34):
How many have you guys been to?
Um, so this is my third one.
I know that Jess has gone tomore before.
So awesome, so awesome.
What is your very favorite thingabout QuiltCon?
Seeing people.
And just the excitement.
Everybody is just happy to behere and excited, and it's so
(08:55):
fun getting to meet people inreal life that you, Only talk to
online 3D people.
Am I right?
We're so used to knowing eachother in virtual spaces and it's
lovely to get to meet face toface.
It is.
It's great.
That's definitely.
Thanks Cheryl.
Yeah.
Thank you.
I'm here with Natalie of OESDand how are you enjoying
(09:17):
QuiltCon this year?
Oh, it is a wonderful, wonderfulshow.
It's the happiest show.
Is this the first time for youor many times?
Many times.
Yeah.
It's a highlight of the year forsure.
Awesome.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhat OESD is.
OESD, we have been around forabout 30 years selling home
embroidery designs for homeembroidery systems.
(09:39):
And about five years ago, wereleased a wonderful collection
of longarm designs through, withAmanda Murphy.
Right.
And, um, from there, we justkept growing.
We got a great response fromthem and wanted to continue to
grow that category.
Uh, we had longarmers coming tothe site, though, and they were
(10:00):
seeing it was very embroideryforward.
So, this year we made a sistersite at quilting.
oesd.
com.
Oh, perfect.
And we're expanding it.
We have, uh, about a thousanddesigns currently.
A lot of We have the Amandacollection, we have wonderful in
house artwork, but what we'restarting with here at QuokKon
(10:22):
this year is amazingcollaborations with Tula Pink,
Carolyn Friedlander, and RubyStar Society, translating their
fabric, their most belovedfabrics and appliqués into edge
to edge Oh, that's gonna be anamazing resource for long armors
how exciting So if you're a fanof one of these ladies, you can
(11:13):
totally fangirl on them fromstart to finish.
I love that.
Well, thanks for taking the timeto chat with me.
Oh, So, I've met a new friend,Amy, at QuiltCon.
Amy, is this your first one, orone of many?
This is my first.
I haven't been to QuiltConbefore.
I have been loving it.
It has been so delightful tomeet so many people.
It really has been so much fun.
(11:34):
Oh yes.
All the time.
Yeah.
I mean, and I did buy quite abit of fabric, and also being
inspired by the quilts, likewalking through the show.
It's just magnificent to see allof the talent that is out there.
It's so fun to watch people.
So I have a business pattern,designing patterns.
It's Amaruni Designs, and Ispecialize in small quilts.
(11:59):
Table toppers, table runners,pillows, and things like that.
I love projects that you can doin a short amount of time.
Because when I first startedquilting, I couldn't afford to
do a big quilt.
And so, I started designing thepatterns I could afford to make
as a young mom.
And I could do it in a nap time,work on it on a weekend.
And then it would be done in areasonable amount of time.
Because there's nothing like thesatisfaction of holding up a
(12:19):
project that's finished.
And you look at it and you'relike, I did that.
And I love it.
Yes.
And as a mom, you know thatthose things are few and far
between.
Well, I am standing with KarleePorter in front of her booth,
first time ever, yes?
Yes, hi, uh, so okay, it's mythird year trifecta.
(12:42):
First year, I taught the wholetime.
Second year, I floated aroundlike a butterfly and did nothing
productive except for hang outwith people and give them
tattoos.
So my third year at QuiltCon,I'm having a booth.
So now I've kind of done all theexperiences of QuiltCon.
You have, I guess I was justthinking the booth, but you're
right.
Yes, my first time with thebooth.
Those were very significantthings at QuiltCon.
So what do you think?
I love it, it's so fun.
I'm grateful to have my husbandhere.
(13:04):
He, I thought, I could do abooth by myself, and then I was
like, wait, no I can't.
So, luckily he's here with me,and I have a great squad of
people behind me that are justhelping me keep things going,
but it's been so fun.
It's been great.
You guys will see, you'll see mybig eyes over, I could do a
booth by myself.
Yeah, yeah, I'm such a dummy.
I have no idea what thatentails.
Karlee's booth is full of hersamplers, wall of tiny quilts.
(13:26):
Yeah.
Those are the ones we seepictures of all the time on your
feed, so that is so awesome.
So awesome.
Yeah.
What is your favorite thingabout quilt con the show as a
whole?
Oh my gosh, I think this thecommunity.
So this year being my firstbooth, I just finished my 10
year anniversary graffitiquilting class last fall and
it's been so fun to havestudents from my class come up
(13:47):
to me and be like, I'm soinspired.
So, and put a face to a name andgive them a hug and have like
the real human connection thatyou kind of miss with online
classes.
It's been so great and I've madea lot of new friends and a lot
of new quilters who are startingmy online class and that's been
fun to have that crossover andreally connect with people.
So, I think my favorite thing iseye contact, like, yeah, yeah,
(14:11):
thanks for having me.
I'm in a lovely little shopcalled Brown Bird Designs.
Do you want to introduceyourself to our listeners?
I write under Elizabeth DeMoux.
I'm a pattern designer.
And I have multiple patternshanging, um, multiple kits of my
patterns.
hanging in the booth and Ireleased Drift, um, here at
(14:33):
QuiltCon.
It's a bird pattern.
It's beautiful.
And you definitely have a RubyStar esque.
I do.
I do have lots and lots of theirfabrics.
This is, um, Bird is the Word,one of their new lines and Love
it.
(14:53):
Are you a regular attender atQuiltCon?
Have you been?
Only on this side.
So I love QuiltCon.
Yeah, so I've gone to Californiaand Phoenix QuiltCons.
What is your favorite thingabout the show as a whole?
It is just amazing.
The modern quilts are inspiring.
(15:14):
The people are so much fun andit's just wonderful seeing
Quilty friends from around theworld because it's a national
show.
It's amazing.
Thanks for taking time to chatwith us.
I'm with Kelly on the floor ofQuiltCon.
Kelly, how are you loving theshow?
Love it.
I'm really inspired by a lot ofthings this year, but I'm happy
to meet you because you'rereally a huge inspiration to me
(15:35):
in quilting.
We met a few years ago.
I think you did the owl quilt.
Yes.
I loved it.
Yes.
And so, it's fun to see youagain.
Well, it is very fun to meet youin person.
Your quilting's awesome.
What do you love the very bestabout coming to QuiltCon?
Well, I haven't even been ableto walk all the way around yet
because I'm here at the booth,but um, So, I love the bright,
colorful Well, if I stand at thebooth and quilt, could you go
take a five minute break?
(15:55):
Oh yeah, I'd love to see youquilt.
Okay, maybe that would work.
Let's do it.
a try.
Okay.
Okay, thanks for chatting.
Okay.
I'm standing with Enjoli in theBernina booth.
Enjoli, tell our listeners whereyou're from.
Hi Susan, I'm from Anchorage,Alaska.
Enjoli drove a long, long way tobe here at QuiltCon.
What do you think of QuiltCon?
Oh, I love it.
This is my, gosh, I've been to afew.
(16:18):
So I probably, I have attended afew just, you know, for fun.
And then I have worked, I think,three or four times, so.
So you're currently working inthe Bernina Longarm booth,
right?
Yes.
What does that entail?
Um, so we're here to demomachines, sell machines, talk
about machines, talk aboutlongarm leaves.
So it's a lot of fun.
(16:39):
And this is something you do fora business as well, right?
So you bring that into yourknowledge base, basically?
Yes, yes.
What does your business looklike in Anchorage, Alaska?
Yeah, my business at home, myeveryday job is what I tell
people, is a quilting studiothat I run with five Bernina
Longarms.
Four of them are automated, oneis just for custom work.
And um, so that's what I do whenI'm not traveling.
(16:59):
Cool.
Um, do, like what, is it similarin Anchorage?
Like similar volume of quilters?
If you have five machines,clearly there's a demand for it.
Or are there in fact a lot oflongarmers up there, and I just
don't know it.
Um, well there are a decentamount of longarmers to other
places in the world.
Like probably Utah has a muchhigher concentration of longarm
(17:20):
quilters than Anchorage, Alaska.
Um, but yeah, there, I have thebenefit of being in a location
right next to um, a quilt shop.
So my twin sister owns two.
A local quilt shop and Berninadealership, and we happen to be
in the same building, so Well,that's perfect, isn't it?
Well, thanks for taking the timeto chat.
Appreciate it.
Of course.
Good to see you, Susan.
(17:42):
I'm sitting with Becca of SewBecca.
How are you enjoying the show?
I'm good.
I've had a Thursday and Friday.
I was in classes today,Saturday.
And it's kind of my first chanceto get out and actually see the
vendors and all the quilts.
So, so far loving it, buthaven't seen even a quarter of
it.
It's only an hour in.
Oh gosh, well I won't keep youlong.
(18:02):
Oh, no worries.
Do you, have you come to manyquilt cons?
I, my first one was in Atlantain 2023.
Wasn't a lot of people there, wewere just getting over the
pandemic.
I went to Raleigh last year, sothis will be my third.
No, the people.
I just, I love being around somany people that share the same
(18:26):
passion that I do.
I like being around like mindedindividuals, people that share
the same passion for quilting.
And it's just, it's just nice toget away and have that common
interest.
Yes.
So, Becca, you're a YouTuberlike I am.
So, is there just thisrefreshing, do you feel the same
that I do, when you just seewhat other people are doing and
others are thinking, and justthis opportunity to soak in some
(18:48):
others work instead ofproducing, producing, which is
kind of what we do on a dailybasis?
Yeah, so, it's a little, so Itry, my tip, Go to culture in
(19:09):
the future.
I don't take the quotes in allon one day because it's too much
and you're just going to getinformation and creativity
overload So I like to break itdown and I'll do a few aisles
each day so that I can reallyspend some time That's a great
tip.
Well, thanks for taking time tochat with me.
Appreciate it Yeah.
(19:32):
So I create hand dyed yarns,fiber, um, silk floss and
everything.
All of my colorways are inspiredby stories.
So characters and adventures inplaces from books.
Um, and then all hand dyed herein Arizona.
Yes, I'm so inspired.
I've been recently on couchingat her quilting machine.
(19:55):
So that's something Idesperately want to try.
So I'm going to go home with oneof your skeins and play with it.
Um, what are your thoughts aboutQuiltCon?
Have you been here many times,or is this the first time?
This is the first time here.
It's actually my first time at aquilt event at all.
And so, yeah, most of the eventswe do are more of the yarn, kind
of knitting, crochet, fiber artsevents.
Um, so I am local to QuiltCon,to Phoenix area, decided to come
(20:19):
to QuiltCon, and it has been afantastic experience.
It is Next question.
One of the possibly the bestevent I've ever been to.
But definitely right up there.
Just it's so well organized.
Um, the people are wonderful.
And then it's been really funseeing the different projects
that people are working on andkind of seeing different ways
that quilting and textileartists use some of the products
(20:42):
like the, you know, the woolroving and the silk floss.
And it's a little bit differentto the, you know, knitting and
crochet.
community.
Um, so it's been reallyinteresting kind of seeing
people's projects and chattingwith them a little bit.
Um, so yeah, a lot, a lot offun.
Really, really glad we came.
Yes, we are on, um, most of thesocial media platforms and
(21:05):
storyteller stitchery.
Um, and then the website isstorytellerstitchery.
com.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
I'm with Chelsea of Pink DoorFabrics and Renaissance Ribbons
in her booth.
She's got these bags hanging inseveral places which say,
measure twice, cut once.
So of course I had to stop andsay hello.
(21:26):
How are you loving QuiltCon?
We are having so much fun.
We're so excited to seeeveryone.
Is this a first time for you orare you a regular?
We have done, this is our thirdQuiltCon, but our first with
Renaissance Ribbons, so It'sfun.
So tell me a little more aboutRenaissance Ribbons.
Renaissance Ribbons waspreviously owned by Edith
Minnie, Adit Minnie and she waslooking to retire and go live
(21:49):
her best life and so often, orroll off into the sewing sunset
and so I acquired that companyabout a year and a half ago and
so it's been just a great ridesince.
So what would you use these kindof elaborate, woven, gorgeous
ribbons for?
I'm seeing them on Incrediblebags.
I'm seeing Tula Pink ribbons, amI right?
(22:09):
Yes, yes.
Tula Pink and Ruby Star Societyand CAFE Facet are all designers
of ours.
And so we, um, license all oftheir designs for our ribbons.
And so they're really a hugewide array of things that they
can be used on.
We primarily use them on bags,but you could use them for dog
leashes, or adornments on jeanjackets, or clothing, or all
(22:32):
sorts of different things.
So if you really want to blingup the latest sewing project,
come for one of these, right?
Yes, yes.
What is your very most favoritething about the quilt?
Oh, I love that we get to see somany, we're primarily an online
shop.
We have a brick and mortar justnorth of Denver and Frederick,
but I really love being able tosee all of our customers in
(22:53):
person.
So many people come up and say,Oh, I did your block of the
month, or I did your, you know,queen of diamonds, or I buy
online from you.
And so it's fun to put a facewith a name and it's just such a
joyous atmosphere.
Nobody's having a bad day hereat QuiltCon.
That's wonderful.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with me.
Thanks so much for having me.
I'm sitting at a table withSarah, who's attending QuiltCon.
(23:15):
Sarah, what brings you all theway from California to QuiltCon?
I'm at QuiltCon.
It's a great chance to seeartists and um, 30 members from
(23:43):
our guild, the Silicon ValleyModern Quilt Guild, who are here
and that's really exciting.
And I also volunteered and didwhite glove for two days.
So I, I really enjoyed it.
I love the energy.
I love seeing everybody weartheir me made things.
Um, it's been a very A real joyand a bright spark, um, in this,
(24:05):
in this time where things arekind of challenging, so I'm very
grateful for that.
So was volunteering kind of yourway of getting to know people?
Getting introduced to people?
Yeah, that was a little bit ofit.
Um, you know, it's been a reallynice thing, and I have my name,
(24:32):
my guild, my social mediahandle.
And I think it's a really niceswap item.
People can put it on theirlanyards or on their bags, and
so that's something really fun.
Everyone I've met so far hasbeen really nice, and it's just,
it's so incredible to see all ofus who are passionate about the
same thing coming together andgetting excited about fiber
(24:53):
arts.
So I wasn't able to take any ofthe classes, but um, I've been
enjoying some of the make ittakes.
Cotton and Steel, they have abookmark, Make and Take, uh,
other people have made things,uh, and so that's been Make and
(25:13):
Take, just being in case ourlisteners don't know, just a
tiny project that you can sit inand in just a few minutes make
it, take it with you.
Yeah, but it's interestingbecause, for me, as someone
(25:38):
who's involved in our SiliconValley Modern Cook Guild, and
our group ends up planningretreats and such, these are
really great ideas for us totake back home to our guild.
For, um, for little make andtakes for activities, that sort
of thing.
So I, I'm very inspired byeverything I see around me and
(25:58):
seeing the clothes and seeingthe quilts.
And just, it makes me want to bea better sewist, a better
quilter.
I love all that.
Thanks for taking time to chatwith me.
My pleasure, my pleasure.
Thank you for talking to me.
Taylor's joining me.
Let me have your quick top, topthree or top highlights of
QuiltCon.
(26:18):
Putting you on the spot.
Um, let's see.
Last year I absolutely lovedseeing all the quilts on
Instagram.
But, I mean, this is their sideand seeing other people's
response to these quilts inperson.
There's nothing.
I mean, Instagram is great, butlike Oh, I couldn't agree more.
(26:44):
This is my first QuiltCon, too.
So, yeah, I do the same thing.
Just get right up close andpersonal to those quilts.
And then, also, step back fromthem about 20 feet.
And that gives you a whole otherperspective, too, doesn't it?
Any other highlights for you?
Something you're looking forwardto taking home with you?
(27:18):
What type of workshops have youdone?
I just didn't know how to dothat partial seam.
And now I'm like, ooh, I haveoptions now.
I have skills.
Um, so I'm excited about that.
The teacher did a great jobexplaining, um, the actual
(27:41):
techniques for how to do that.
And then I took a few, um, did afew seminars on color, which
were so exciting.
Cause I never got any artclasses in high school and like,
just learning about actually howcolors work and how they respond
to each other has been sofantastic.
(28:01):
And I'm just, the whole thing isjust, I'm overwhelmed with how
amazing it is to be here.
I'm so, so glad that I made thechoice to, to come.
Good.
Well I look forward to seeingyour future quilts.
very much.
Thanks for stopping andchatting.
Am here with Blair.
We're on the quilt floor.
The doors have just opened forthe final day of QuiltCon.
(28:22):
What are you finding you lovebest about the show this year?
So, I would have to say, I lovethe hand stitching that I see.
It seems like people are moreand more interested in learning
about it.
I teach a lot of chicken scratchembroidery, so.
I love hand stitching myself.
(28:44):
I love seeing it on the quilts.
I love seeing it as texture andused as a design component in
these.
And yeah, it's just been fun totalk to people about hand
stitched components, whether itbe embroidery, whether it be
chicken scratch, cross stitch,and just kind of talk together
through all these different waysthat we're seeing it displayed
(29:06):
on these quilts this year.
And what kind of is yourbackground, or what are you
doing at the show here?
So I am a vendor.
I am sort of sharing a spacewith Denise Schmidt.
And this is the first time I'vevended at QuiltCon.
It's been fantastic.
Um, and I do, uh, I come from anapparel background and what I do
(29:29):
is mainly Color value based,very scrappy patchwork.
And then this whole component ofchicken scratch embroidery sort
of emerged in my business.
Well, it, it, it was a personalobsession that sort of, um,
emerged into like this wholeother side of my business.
So it's two arms under Wisecrafthandmade and yeah, we're having
(29:54):
a blast.
Brainstorm behind that.
Is it the ruby ruler?
Yes.
Tell me a little bit about that.
I find that so fascinating andthen we can take it to your
vendor booth and get it.
(30:16):
Look at a group of fabrics, orlook at a group of blocks on
your wall, on your design wall,and it distorts the color of the
individual fabrics just enoughthat you can focus on the value.
And I find that if we look atour stash, we often look at it
for color, like I need a blue,and you go through your stash,
(30:39):
but if we look at the wholestash, Through the lens of a
color value concept that it sortof reignites our inspiration and
so I, um, over the years haveDeveloped some tricks and things
to sort of help us reimaginewhat our stash could be I mean
we bought all that fabric wechose it I feel like we should
(31:00):
use it.
We all have more than we'll everneed So true it because I love
scrappy quilts, too It makessuch a difference in how I view
them and how I arrange them Itjust makes an enormous
difference.
I can't overstate that.
It really does.
And a lot of times I think we,we feel a design barrier, a
personal design barrier, ofbreaking up things like a
(31:21):
curated fat quarter set orthings like that.
But when you break it up and youmix it in with fabric you've
already lovingly purchased andchosen, it really becomes your
aesthetic.
And sometimes it takes You know,a little work to get there, you
know, trial and error.
But once you get there, and onceit clicks, I love seeing that in
(31:42):
my students.
Once it clicks, they're like, Iget it now.
I understand.
It's great.
It's really fun.
So good.
Well, thanks for taking a fewminutes to chat with us.
I'm with Brandi Maslowski in herown little podcast booth corner
in the Oliso Iron booth.
Um, have you been here for thewhole quilt show, Brandy?
Yes, so this is my fourth yearat QuiltCon with the Podcast
(32:04):
Lounge, and it's actually calledthe Oliso Story Space.
So we're asking quilters whostop by just to give us a two,
two minute snippet, tell us alittle bit about their quilting
story, what they love aboutQuiltCon.
And then of course we're gettingall these influencers and
amazing creators coming inthere, so I'm trying to talk
about their biz, share theirInstagram handle, and lift them
up as a creator.
I just love that.
(32:25):
For people who can't physicallycome to QuiltCon, this is such a
great way to get a littlesampling of the people that are
there and feel like you've metsome of those people and had a
chance to sit down and chat withthem, honestly.
So, I love that you do that.
Yeah, and this time I did it ina different way.
I chose to be here 9 a.
m.
to noon every day, so people canfind me at a specific time.
And then the rest of the day Iam doing lives in the show,
(32:46):
showing the quilts, meeting thevendors.
I'm doing stuff for people whojust can't come to QuiltCon.
It's just not feasible for them,and I'm getting some good love
in the comments.
They're like, oh, thanks forshowing the show, and you know,
thanks for showing my quilt fromCanada, and those kind of
things.
So it's been a lot of fun.
That's so nice, because ofcourse there are many, many,
many people.
Yeah.
That can't make it worse.
Yes, absolutely.
And so, to be able to give thema little of that flavor and that
(33:08):
feel is just very, very good.
Thanks for being so generous.
It's my pleasure.
I am having a blast.
All right.
Well, till next time.
Catch you at the next quiltshow.
Take care.
I'm sitting with Melody, who isone of the designers for Ruby
Star Society.
I, well I'm such a fan ofcourse, but this is my first
QuiltCon, so I want to hearabout the genius that's behind
(33:28):
the fashion shows every day.
Hi, We spend a lot of time inour studio and in our weekly
meetings with our designers whoare kind of spread out all
across the country, talkingabout what we can bring to this
show.
This is such a big show for us.
So, along the way, we just tryto collect ideas and then we, we
kind of have this policy ofcoming up with as many crazy
(33:51):
ideas as possible.
Weird ideas, bad ideas,especially bad ideas.
And then over time we narrowthem down and pick our
favorites.
I think last year we realizedthat people love to dress up for
the show.
I wore a jumpsuit last year,some, some of the attendees had
them, and we were like, oh yeah,that, that looks like a great
thing, let's do that.
And we've always loved caftan,so that was a no brainer.
(34:13):
So yeah, that's just some of ourfavorite things, and we'll see
what we do.
We'll go home and compare notesand see what we do for next
year.
What does that look like on thefloor?
One day was jumpsuit day, isthat right?
That's right, so first day wecalled it spirit day, and that
was sort of like, wear your rubystar.
garments, whatever they are,anything goes.
The second day was jumpsuit dayand people were wearing,
(34:34):
variations on jumpsuits, but alot of coveralls with patches
and, little quilted pieces sewnon.
They were just amazing, like somuch creativity.
The third day was caftan day.
And so there were a lot of womenwandering around in these
lovely, flowy, comfy dresses.
It was great.
(34:55):
Around it all.
It does.
Yeah.
Like, which is just lovely.
Thank you.
And I'm sure QuiltConappreciates you bringing that
too.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with me.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
I'm in the Auroville booth withClaire, and I've confessed to
Claire that I am a quiltmakerand a long arm bra.
(35:16):
I'm going to try my best.
So, um, Aurifil's the thread.
I'm a quilter myself and Iswitched to Aurifil and I've
never looked back.
And that's before I worked withthe company.
It is just a dream to work with.
It works on every machine.
It just slides through.
There's never any problems.
There's 270 colors to choosefrom as well.
So there's a massive variety.
(35:36):
There's different weights.
So you can get differentdefinition in your quilting.
It's just the perfect.
I totally understand the appealof having different weights for
different effects.
But one of my big old questionsis, when I use 100 percent
quality thread, I get super lowlint and I love that because I
do a lot of remotes.
(35:57):
That matters to me.
So kind of, how does it measureup and where's that sort of
tipping point?
The way that the thread isactually produced is, um, it
goes through a whole process andit's actually like seared and,
um, like a burning process.
So it actually gets rid of allthe lint.
So there's very, very littlelint with our cotton thread.
Um, if you look up, do you seeanything?
Ladies are showing me howbeautifully smooth it is.
(36:19):
Do you see that?
Yeah.
So when you look at, you can'tsee any fuzz coming off of that.
So everyone does think there's alot of lint that comes off our
threads, but there really isn't.
And that it's never been anissue.
And, um, it's.
You know, once people startusing it, they tend to never
look back, so.
Yeah, yeah.
(36:39):
Yeah, I mean, you love it.
Thank you.
I'm taking a little walkingbreak with Calista Wonderfill
threads.
Calista has a long armor.
I know my favorite of yourproducts is the Depobob bobbins
with the 80 way thread because Ifeel like they last forever.
What's one of your favoritethreads?
So, I've been really into handsewing recently, and
(37:02):
specifically hand embroidery.
So, I'm always reaching foreleganza, but when I want to add
a little bit of like sparkle,and like a little bit accent of
a special area, I like to usethe dazzle.
I love dazzle too.
I agree, that's such a prettydecorative.
If you, if someone was abeginner to hand stitching, are
(37:23):
those threads that they wouldwant?
I think I would definitelyrecommend the eleganza.
It's like a really nice and easyto use thread.
And I think a lot of people whenthey think about hand sewing or
like hand stitching or like handembroidery, they think about
like floss and things like that.
And while that's Perfectly fineto use as well.
I actually prefer like the pearlcotton, which is what eleganza
(37:43):
is because you don't have tosplit it so and the other the
plies especially and alsobecause when you have um Floss,
it's actually a little flatterthan a pearl cotton, which is
more round in shape So whenyou're doing especially things
like bullions or even just likea running stitch It's got more
definition to it and I reallylove how it like sits on the
(38:06):
fabric and everything So it'sdefinitely my go to and it's
super easy to use like even ifyou're like the most beginner of
beginner You cannot mess upusing that thread And she was
showing how to make labels.
Would that be a suitable threadmaking quilt labels?
Yes, absolutely.
(38:26):
So that is the one that she wasusing to make labels and, and
she was actually using, um, 50weight thread and doubling up
before.
But then when I saw her usingit, I was like, wait, why don't
you use the elgan?
And actually showed her and, andthat's actually what she
switched to now That's perfect.
And it's like got more dimensionto it.
So I really love it.
And it's nice that she's used itfor this application as well.
(38:48):
I think that's awesome.
Thanks for taking a minute tochat with me.
No problem, it was great talkingto you.
I'm standing with Erin at theInnova booth, and we're chatting
about all the different waysthat you can load quilts on long
arm rails.
What's your opinion about theright way to load a quilt?
Well, first of all, I try andalways tell people there is no
right.
Just kind of knowing what you doand why you do it.
(39:11):
Make this reach up or reach forit.
So at home in my studio, I usethe Sewtypes.
I really love the way that theyare.
Great because they're so fast toload.
I love that they're a little bitmore So I typically load the
bottom of the Red Top Bar.
I get to grab from that canvas.
(39:36):
As I'm pulling, making surethings are straight.
And then just about as thatfabric gets to the bottom side
of the dead bar, I have enough.
I know I have enough if I goaround to the back of the
machine, to then pull it underthe dead bar and up right on top
of the edge of that um, up tothe bottom.
And that's when I put myserpents in.
And even just one of yourcolleagues was standing here and
(39:57):
we were talking about, you know,red snappers versus so tights
versus pins, all the ways thatyou can attach to a leader,
right?
That too just depends as so manythings do on, on your budget, on
your wrist strength, all thosethings.
And so find the way that worksfor you, ask your friends and
see what options are out there.
(40:18):
That's a good idea.
(40:40):
I agree with that.
And perhaps even at shows suchas QuiltCon, where we're
standing now, there might bedealers that have a set, right,
where you can get a feel forthem and like, how are you with
that magnet strength and doesthat work for you?
So, yep, that's perfect.
Good way to try things outbefore you commit.
All right.
Thanks for taking the time tochat.
(41:02):
I am in the Bernina booth withVince, who's the Q Series head
of sales.
Am I right?
Yes.
In the U.
S.
And lots of you listeners willknow Stella, my long arm, but
Stella has brand new twinsisters, which have just broken
out in the last week or so atQuilt Shows.
Tell me more about those.
Yes, we actually are nowintroducing the, uh, therefore
(41:23):
the Q 16, uh, Q 16 plus wouldfit on one.
It's a Q Series hoop frame andwe have a domestic hoop, seven
series for the Berninas.
Uh, that you can put on thereand you can actually sew your
quilt on a hoop.
They're 5 foot frames and they,you can actually sew a king size
quilt on them because they're ahoop.
They don't roll, they are hoopedin.
(41:44):
So this is a great new productthat Bernina has and I think
you're going to love it.
The huge advantage is that smallfootprint.
So for people who have spacechallenged homes, or um, yeah,
basically small spaces.
But also the domestic machine,the frame can be lowered so low
that you can actually sit at itas well, if standing is an issue
for you.
(42:04):
It is, yes.
So, we actually have it set uphere at the show that we're at,
and we have one that is up soyou can stand up, and the other,
we have it lowered and then yousit at it so it's comfortable.
So there's so many options.
I just feel like this has hit somany midpoints between that, um,
the long arm that is a sit downmachine on a table and the long
(42:24):
arm that is on a frame.
This is hitting all the pointsin between.
that want to move to a frame youcan put your domestic machine on
the frame and then if you wantto go bigger you can actually
add the Q 16 to the same framelater down the road or you can
come and get a look at that oryou have a sit down which you
(42:46):
want to move to a frame and thisgives you that opportunity.
You don't have the space.
So good.
Well, I look forward to seeingthese come into more common use
over the next few months.
Thanks for chatting with me.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
Okay.
I'm standing with Carolina andit was hard to get close to you.
You have such a loyal fan clubwhich is awesome to see.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
To start with, will you say yourwhole name with your last name
(43:07):
so I'm sure to get it right.
Oneto.
Perfect.
Carolina Oneto.
Lovely.
Well we have just come, I'vejust sat through a lecture of
yours on color composition.
You did a fantastic job oflaying out some very complex and
a lot of concepts in smallmanageable bites.
I am not a trained artist in anyway, but I came away from that
(43:28):
thinking, I can do this, I canapply this.
Absolutely.
So is, I'm curious, what camefirst for you, making quilts or
the passion for color?
I think that was I always likeart.
I have been always like beforebeing a quilter as a hobby.
(43:48):
I started watercolor painting.
So I think color is being alwayssomething that I love, right?
Yeah.
And now and once I startedquilting, it was so.
clear to me that okay color isthe thing that I want to use.
I love that.
Yeah.
(44:09):
Being here at QuiltCon reallyhighlights how in North America
we have All the fabric, all thetools, all the gadgets at our
fingertips, almost no matterwhere you live, it's one online
order away.
How different is that living inMexico now and does that
influence the type of work thatyou do?
Yeah, I think, well now I'm justthere the last So before that we
(44:31):
live in Brazil and in Brazil itwasn't easy to get the
materials, right?
So commonly what I do is when Itravel I buy all my fabrics, but
you know what that means?
That I can't buy everything.
Yards, I just buy a small amountof each color and in some way I
(44:52):
think That makes me create thequilts in the way that I create
with small pieces Creating manycolor transitions because I
never have more than a half ayard in one color Right, right.
Yeah, so that's definitelyinfluence.
Absolutely.
Yeah Absolutely, I just I soappreciated that your
(45:13):
presentation was full ofpictures not only of quilts But
of artwork.
Yeah.
You know, illustrating knowbecause that, uh, we all can go
also with mu to museums and, andthere we can apply this concept
and understand better what weare seeing.
Right.
Uh, trying to bring what we seethere.
To your quilts.
To your compositions.
(45:34):
Because these are principlesthat are not new.
No, no.
And they are in as they are abit, yeah.
Yes, exactly.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Thank you.
I'm standing with Chris in frontof his booth Modern American
Vintage and Chris makes the mostincredible wooden quilters
tools.
(45:54):
What got you started in this?
Okay, so my mom is the quilterof the family.
Um, she had a little chopstickthat she was using as a point
turner.
Right.
And, uh, it snapped on her whileshe was using it one day.
Splintered.
And, yeah, and, uh, so I hadcobbled together just a small
smattering of, um, tools fromFacebook Marketplace and, uh,
garage sales to, uh, You know,kind of give my son and I the
(46:16):
same experience that I hadgrowing up with my grandpa
making, you know, wooden toysand stuff like that.
I love that.
And then, uh, so, her pointturner snapped on her, and I,
uh, I just made somethingquickly out of, uh, quilted
maple and spalted Hawaiian koa,and she showed it to the, uh,
her bosses at the quilt studiothat she was working at, and
they did a de stash video ofsome, uh, some, uh, Just simple
(46:38):
point turners, and they sold outright away, and it's just
snowballed since then, so.
What a great story.
So I was by your boothyesterday, and I got a thread
holder that's got a houndstoothkind of design in it.
It is incredibly intricate.
So if you were doing that, let'ssay a clapper with houndstooth,
like, how many pieces are inthat?
(46:58):
Hundreds.
Absolutely hundreds.
But the good thing about it isI, I do it in phases.
Like a lot of quilters, youknow, you, you, uh, sew
together, you strip piecing.
But with wood and glue insteadof, uh, you know, fabric and
thread, so.
So there's something to belearned between the crafts.
Right.
How cool is that?
So is this your first QuiltConor is this one of many?
This Your third already.
Yep, and we would not missanother QuiltCon for anything.
(47:19):
What's your favorite thing aboutQuiltCon?
The energy and the people thatcome here are some of the most
just friendly, happiest peopleto be here.
Uh, the creativity that you getto, uh, you know, talk about
with everybody just kind offills the tank for the rest of
the year.
So it's very, very inspiring.
Well, thanks very much forjoining me.
It's been a pleasure.
(47:40):
Absolutely.
Thank you.
My friend.
I hope that those snippets madeyou feel like you had a small
chance to be present at QuiltCon as well.
So thanks so much for listeningand let me know what you thought
of the interviews and if you'dlike to hear more of this style
of what I call little snippetinterviews.
So until next time, may yoursorrows be patched and your joys
(48:02):
be quilted.
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