Welcome to Spring Quilt Market!!

If I could have one wish for all my friends who sew, it would be that they could be Rita Farro, attending Quilt Market...for just one day. It is such an adrenaline rush...there is so much to see, and I have so many wonderful friends on that show floor...

IT IS AN AMAZING SHOW...full of the best and the brightest. I love the energy, and the excitement...

The vendor floor opens on Friday. This was the scene, moments before they opened the doors.

Right inside, there was a long corridor of glass cases, showing what's new...

Nancy Zieman has a new notion. A repositionable, two-part seam guide...

Of course, this show is ALL ABOUT THE QUILTS...

Row after row after row...starting with 100 -- it goes to 2500

I walked in, and turned left. My plan was to walk the LEFT side of the show on Day One.

Rhonda Pierce from Schmetz Needles was helping Joan Ford in her booth. We featured Joan in the current issue of Inspired To Sew magazine.

Click here to see the interview with Joan!!  She was a HOT PROPERTY at Spring Quilt Market.

Hey -- my intention was to blog about Quilt Market, day by day.  But, this post has only taken me through my first hour on the show floor...

At this rate, I'll have to write 460 posts about the Minneapolis Spring Quilt Market..and that would clearly be too much of a good thing....

(and, if you are not a quilter, you'd soon be thinking, Rita, you are dead to me...)

Minneapolis Spring Quilt Market

Rhonda and I discovered this gem on Wednesday night.   I PROMISE YOU -- I did not spend the entire week at this fabulous restaurant...

But that might be nice, eh?

And, as it happens, we ate there the next night.  Thursday is a very special day at Quilt Market.  IT IS SCHOOLHOUSE DAY.  Marti Michell does a terrific job of lining up dozens (hundreds?) of classes that go for 15 minute (or 30 minute) intervals. This is a very unique event that is FAST-PACED and informative. We only have FIVE minutes between classes -- so it's RUN, RUN, RUN...

Mary was part of a Schoolhouse class with some other fabric designers (more about that later)...

Deanna Springer was substituting for Nancy Zieman, introducing several of her new sewing notions and books...(sorry -- I should have taken better pictures!)

Deanna and Mary had both worked so hard to get their Schoolhouse Sessions ready in time for Market. IT'S NERVE-WRACKING, people!!

Mary was introducing something a little different, and Deanna was nervous about presenting Nancy Zieman's new sewing notions (she is usually the behind-the-scenes girl).  At the end of the day, most of us have attended 12 or 13 sessions...so we were pretty burned out.

SO -- YES -- that's who we had dinner with on Thursday night. Altho, it was raining, so the roof wasn't open...

Union Rooftop in Minneapolis

The fabulous restaurant in Minneapolis is called the UNION ROOFTOP.

On Rhonda's first night -- we got there early. In time for half price appetizers and drinks!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Even in Princeton, Iowa -- I can't buy appetizer and drinks for $4... (full disclosure -- we can't buy appetizers and drinks for ANY price...)

On this day, the weather was PERFECT

The view of the city was phenomenal

There were so many interesting choices on the menu...(the woman sitting behind Rhonda lives in the neighborhood and eats at this place several times a week.)

The drinks have floating flowers....

The El Camino Marguerita

The Persian Pussy Cat

Please note Rhonda's notebook.  WE ARE WORKING, PEOPLE...

Of course, the trick to really hard work is making it look EASY to other people...

Yes.  My life is wonderful.  THANK YOU, SCHMETZ NEEDLES AND INSPIRED TO SEW MAGAZINE.  I love my job!!

The Rooftop Union was only a block from our hotel.  We had such a wonderful experience -- we decided to return.  You will be green with envy when you see who we had dinner with....at the Union Rooftop...in Minneapolis....during Spring Quilt Market...

Minneapolis

Every city wants to believe it is defined by it's culture, right? Or maybe the architecture? The parks? The people? Jobs? Policy?  What makes a city special?

Whether it is intentional or not -- Minneapolis, Minnesota is a city defined by it's trash. Or, to be more specific, by it's trash handling...

I don't usually give much thought to the disposable things I throw away every day...

Until I went to Minneapolis...where it became a daunting part-time job...

Throwing away trash in Minneapolis requires a graphics art degree...

Why doesn't my paper cup go here?

THEY MAKE IT SO COMPLICATED, Y'KNOW??? And after awhile, it all feels so pretentious...

One of the best things about living where I live is we have a burning barrel in the back yard.

SO HAPPY TO BE HOME, Love, Rita

2015 Spring Quilt Market

Quilt Market is a gigantic trade show that happens twice a year. In November, it always takes place in Houston, Texas. But the spring show, in May, moves around. This year, it was in Minneapolis.

I was still enjoying the adrenaline rush from the Beaver Dam Sewing Weekend -- when I had to pack my bags for Minneapolis.

My very first day at the show -- who do I see??

MARK LIPINSKI...altho he was mobbed by people, and it's hard to get a real picture -- I had to settle for this photo bomb.

My purpose at Quilt Market is to find the most interesting people to be interviewed for the Schmetz digital magazine: Inspired To Sew.

OH, YEAH -- THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN...

Rhonda found this place -- and you ARE GOING TO LOVE IT...!!

Wisconsin Visitor's Center

Despite our healthcare system....America does many things really well.

And we should be very proud of our interstate highway system. Really. It is incredible. My friend Marion and I are planning another epic ROAD TRIP this summer -- and, no matter where we go -- one of the things we count on are clean bathrooms, good maps, and wonderful Visitor's Centers.

During my recent trip to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, I stopped at this Wisconsin Visitor's Center.  I was rushing in (to use the bathroom)...and I almost didn't pay enough attention to see this...

On the side of the building, there was this Plaza, with flagpoles...After my visit to the PRISTINE, SPOTLESS facilities inside, I went outside to walk around, drink a bottle of water, check the map.

 I started to read the plaques, but didn't quite get it...

Until I saw this explanation.

Go Wisconsin.

Whenever I encounter something like this, I wonder how it happened.

I wonder if any other states have a memorial such as this, honoring all the Medal of Honor recipients?

It seems to me that any time something lasting or worthwhile is built or erected, there is one person behind it. A mover and shaker...a person who believes in their cause, and spends countless hours getting it funded, planning it, often spending their own money to make it happen...

I went back to the wall, and slowly read aloud the name of every man...thinking about who they were, and what they did, the sacrifice they made.  And Memorial Day is a very good time to say thank you to all our veterans...

I would also like to say thank you to the person who made this monument happen. 

Grandma Camp

HOLY COW. I AM SOOO EXCITED. This year, I'm going to do "Grandma Camp" for Lillian.

Hey -- I have the time! And what would be a better use of it? (my time, that is.)

I don't want it to feel like a babysitting job....or, some lame kind of home schooling...

So -- what should Grandma Camp look like?

For one thing, we might have a jar with pieces of paper listing possible activities we could do that day. Lilly will pick a piece of paper, until the jar is empty, then we'll put all the pieces back in and start over.   There are so many possibilities: Hot Pad Weaving, Sewing, Painting, Scrapbooking, Card-making, hand-embroidery, bike-riding, puzzling, learn a new card game, work in the garden?? Any suggestions?

Of course, I could build some Lilly activities around my own days, which are already set:

Monday is Cleaning/Laundry Day
Tuesday: TMBC Day, Goodwill shopping...
Wednesday: Bettendorf Library/Concert in the park

Then, maybe every other week, we could plan a Day Trip.  It would be fun to look at the map, and do some online research.  My criteria would be the location has to be less than one hour away.  Looking at the map, that would include some very interesting towns and/or museums:

• Fulton, Illinois has a Dutch windmill.  
• Davenport, Iowa has the German-American Museum.  
• Iowa City has the University and many museums and children's programs. 
• Cedar Rapids has Grant Wood stuff, and a Czechoslovakia Museum. 
• Clinton, Iowa has the Sawmill Museum; 
• Rock Island, Illinois has Arsenal Island and a National Cemetery.
• West Bend, Iowa has the Hoover Presidential Library
• Walcott, Iowa has a weird castle on Main Street...
• LeClaire, Iowa has the Buffalo Bill Museum 
Wait...how many weeks are there in a summer??

Lilly loves getting mail, maybe she could start writing to a pen pal. She could write to Sarah, who is a few years older? And the bonus would be a meet-up in Cedar Rapids. (whadaya think, Anne?)

Of course, I'm already slated to take her to swimming lessons. And we have been keeping a Movie Review Book for about a year. There is Bicycle Riding, keeping a Kindness Journal…

So -- what was the best thing you did with your six-year old granddaughter??

Warren is only two.  And when he's here, I don't worry about activities. It's a full time job just trying to keep him from swallowing nickels...




And, when he's six, I'm hoping Uncle Ross will agree to take him to the Monster Truck Jam...

In Defense of Television

People love to bash television. Really. Dissing television has become a national pastime. It's a daily game of  "I am better than you, because I watch so-and-so". Or -- much more likely -- "I am better than you because I WOULD NEVER watch so-and-so."

Television has become the proof -- maybe the lightening rod -- for everything that is shallow or wrong with America.

I don't get it. YOU HAVE CHOICES, PEOPLE....I absolutely do not care what you watch. OR IF YOU WATCH.  To review -- IT'S A FREE COUNTRY.  But puhleeeze don't give me 'tude just because you have never watched an episode of The Bachelor...

I want to go on record.  TELEVISION has never been better. Our choices are amazing. Maybe because of the heavy competition -- the pressure from streaming shows via the internet -- Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.  The major networks stepped up their game. There is no more LONG BORING SUMMER full of tired re-runs. This week, when Dancing With the Stars ended, the new Bachelorette immediately began. (bye bye Britt). The minute the VOICE announced their winner, NBC is selling America's Got Talent for the summer. (remember the Willett family from Nashville? They have their own show on TLC now...)

I came to Downton Abbey late in the game -- but thanks to the fabulous invention of AN ENTIRE SEASON OF SHOWS ON DVD's -- Ross and I fell in love with the Crawley's, Carson and Mrs. Hughes, watching two episodes per night for one entire summer.

There are few things more enjoyable than looking forward to a television show you are addicted to. A quality show with complex characters, great writing, and memorable lines. Shows like West Wing or China Beach make you think.  All In the Family and Modern Family CHANGED our families...

This summer, for Lillian Claire's Grandma Camp, we'll binge watch one television series for three months. One episode a day...maybe Little House on the Prairie. Or -- how about the Walton's?
I am saving Designing Women for the year she is 10...

Just in case you didn't understand yesterday's reference...

Season FINALES

Ahhhh, television.

There is so much to love. And so much to hate. Like cantalopes and/or in-laws -- some are really good.  (Downton Abbey) Others are colossally bad. (Atlanta Housewives)  I watch them all. 

The good shows make you feel something...the bad ones make you grateful for your own life.

Shows come and go. May is the month when the traditional network shows have their big Season Finales.  Then, for the next three months -- we were forced to endure a long hot summer, with nothing to look forward to but tired reruns.

BUT THAT WAS THEN...and this is NOW. You won't hear any complaints from me.

When this season of Dancing With The Stars began, it looked unremarkable to me. I was taping both DWTS and The Voice, so I usually watched the Voice live, and DWTS a few days after it happened. But, by the end of the season, I didn't even know the names of the singers on the Voice -- and DWTS won me over. Completely. Especially Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

Oh My God....Rumer and Val....

I'll fall in love with the new shows...but right now, I'm missing Rumer and Val, Noah and Sharna.  I'm grieving for Dr. Dreamy, and afraid for my friends in Nashville.

But losing Don Draper, Peggy, and Joan and the 70's has put a hole in my life.  Mad Men was a complex show, with such great writing.  It often surprised me, sometimes disappointed me, but it always made me think.   

It feels like the night the lights went out in Georgia...

Sewing Weekend, Day ONE

On our first day in Beaver Dam, Mary and I HIT THE STAGE to do our "tips and techniques" class. We showed some of our favorite sewing ideas...(I'm going to take some close-up pictures to show you my BRAND NEW THING...)

The room was full of happy, smiling faces. Can you see who's sitting in the back???

As the ladies were being seated, I took a few pictures...

Then, I handed the camera to Dianna, who was in charge of this venue.

We were at Peace Lutheran Church. And that's Dianne Dhein working the camera...

If you look carefully.....

THEY CAME...!! Unbelievable. Chris and Judy -- the Ya Ya Stalkers!! They came all the way from Oregon!!

OMG. We were shocked. And we had no idea they would be in Beaver Dam. AGAIN. Later on, we found out they flew into Milwaukee. ALL THE WAY FROM PORTLAND, OREGON....Holy Cow!! This show better be good!!

My Sofa Zipper Cheat...

I am back from Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis -- and ALMOST ready to get back to my "normal" life -- whatever that looks like...

When I got home, there were several emails from ladies from my Saturday seminar in Beaver Dam -- asking about the Zipper Cheat on my porch sofa cushions.

Remember -- the challenge of this sofa was to NOT SPEND ANY MONEY. I was using fabric out of my stash (even if I had to PAINT it to make it work)...and buying six long upholstery zippers was not in the budget.

*********************
Besides -- I am NOT A ZIPPER GIRL...mostly I leave that job to Mary Mulari -- my Ya Ya Sister who inherited ALL THE ZIPPER GENES in our family....

I looked at the cushions -- and thought about my options.  It occurred to me that somebody else had already done the hard work. These six zippers work fine...they are the right size...they fit the cushions already...hummm...

I thought about how I could re-use the existing zippers...I have NO INTENTION of picking out the stitching...and, besides, I'd still be stuck with the job of sewing in six long USED, puckered upholstery zippers....

First, I cut the entire bottom (including the zipper) off the first cushion cover...

Then, I just topstitched two pieces of zebra fabric down both sides...

Here's what it looks like on the back side...

This is the front side. WHAT A GREAT CHEAT...!!

After I topstitched the new zebra fabric in place (hiding the ugly floral print) -- I cut it down to size...

AND I added a zipper stop at both ends...

IT IS OFFICIAL -- YES, I AM A GENIUS...

I am LOVING MY revamped porch sofa...