Sample Spree and Set up

Set up is really fascinating. The whole convention center looks like a bomb went off, there's quilts and packing material and huge crates and props and just crap everywhere and in the morning the crews have the carpets down and it all looks amazing.

Not having my camera with me on the first day really threw me off. I did take some photos with Elizabeth's camera and she'll be blogging those. So here's Gina's booth over at The Threaded Pear. I had every intention of going back there and somehow never made it. Their booth was darling. They have a lot of cheery patterns, very hip. Like Gina and Stephanie. Jan Lutz, who designs their apron line, has some wonderful patterns as well. They had great samples at Sample Spree. Gina was packing her camera, I hope they documented it.

This is over at Holly's booth, Lakehouse Dry Goods. She's got a bunch of people contributing designs to show off her incredible lines of fabric. She's outdone herself with Cherry Baby and the new colors of her hydrangea line.

Here's the lines out front of sample spree. I'm all about sneaking in but Elizabeth is a big baby when it comes to that. Thankfully we got in legit this time, helping Holly's crew get their stuff upstairs.

My pictures are all over the place aren't they? Feel free to cringe over it. Here's Brenda and her friend Jeree. Jeree totally CRACKS ME UP. Anyway, Brenda had the back of Holly's booth to display her lovely quilts, so head over to her blog and check her photos. She has more booth photos that are so much better than mine.
This is how Holly makes all the cute tags.. one stamp at a time! I just loved how they looked sitting there.
Hmm. Purses.
Here's Gina unloading her batch of quilts for Holly. I love her cute raw edge applique quilts.

Check out that crate. Brenda gave us a ride to dinner one night and took us out back where all the crates are stored. I love knowing more about how things work.

Up at sample spree Brenda and Jean are getting to work setting up. They completely sold out of charm packs. Glad I got mine.
Robin was there with her mom. Her fabrics are so wonderful. She's now got a distributor in NZ!!! She's another famous person we know.
Ok, more pictures coming up. Go check out Elizabeth's blog.. she's got photos too. Ask her about her sweat shop. I hope some of those photos turn out.