Hello, friends! I’m really excited to be heading to International Quilt Market 2023 in Houston, Texas! While I’ve attended as a blogger and author and exhibited as a Moda Fabric Designer many times, it has been four years since I last attended. So, you can imagine how excited I am to get back. Today I’m sharing a preview and a look back!
Preview: International Quilt Market 2023
What is International Quilt Market?
In simplest terms, International Quilt Market is a convention for the creative industry professionals associated with quilting. You’ll find companies of all kinds related to the sewing and quilting industry sharing their latest products and ideas. Fabric companies and designers attend, and there are shop owners from all over the world who participate in order to provide the best products and fabrics for their customers.
In previous years, International Quilt Market occurred twice yearly. Each late October the event heralded from Houston, Texas. And in previous years there was also a spring market that took place in a different location each May. There hasn’t been a spring market since Spring 2019–2020 and later spring markets weren’t held due to worldwide health concerns.
My Quilt Market Attendance Story
As I mentioned above, I’ve attended quilt market in a variety of capacities. (For several year before I was able to attend quilt market, I sewed samples for market for Joanna Figueroa, Camille Roskelley, Lori Holt, and Kate Spain). And I still remember the absolute overwhelm I felt after attending my first market in Salt Lake City in 2011. Luckily, I had a terrific mentor, Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms who helped me understand what the event entailed. I was also able to help her with booth set up and take down which ended up being invaluable experience for me that I would need just a few years later!
Since then, I’ve been able to give presentations at Quilt Market for books I authored, co-authored, and participated in as a contributor. We shared a booth with each of our first nine fabric collections. I’ve enjoyed seeing so many absolutely incredible displays of quilts and creativity. And I’ve made friendships that endure even with long periods of not getting together in person. You can find several posts about Quilt Market from past years here.
Quilt Market October 2019
Quilt Market 2019 in Houston was such a memorable event. We loved sharing our Summer Sweet collection in person and being together with our Moda family (above right). Little did we know it would be the last market for several years! My takeaway from that is to truly enjoy and appreciate every minute of quilt market this year!
What Would You Like to Hear About?
I’ll be taking in every bit of the experience and also taking photos of things to bring back and share with you. Leave your thoughts in the comment section about what you’d most like to hear about when I return. Chelsi and I will also be sharing a podcast episode in early November about our experiences at market. So leave any and all questions for that and for future blog posts here.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and Happy Quilting!
Margaret says
I’m very happy that you and Chelsi will be able to attend Quilt Market this fall, and I look forward to your posts/podcast about the event. My question is this – How has Quilt Market changed since you last attended? Is it larger/smaller, are there any new participants? Is anyone at Quilt Market talking about the effect Covid had on the quilting industry? What are people saying about the future of the quilting industry in the US? I sincerely hope you have a wonderful time reuniting with friends and coworkers.
Brenda Wall says
Those are great questions.
Joanna McMurry says
I’m heading to Quilt Matket today. Last year was my first time to attend. I so enjoyed it and meeting several of the designers. I can’t wait to stop by and meet you and Chelsi in person! Safe travels for you both.
Kaye Hlavaty says
Have a wonderful time as you reconnect with friends and other professionals! I would love to see a time lapse video of how you get your booth set up! Who helps you with all of that work?!
Love your podcast when I’m in the car. I often watch it as a video, too.
My favorite blog post is Saturday! I have learned a lot about mindfulness through your links which I hope I have used to be a better person. My family has enjoyed many of the recipes!
Kate says
Safe travels for you and Chelsi. I am sure you will have another super experience and get inspired even more. Thank you for all the inspiration to contribute to the quilting world and I always look forward to seeing your podcasts and reading your blogs.
Deb says
I am SOOOO excited that you both get to attend. I am hopeful that you can pop up some photos of all the wonders you see. OF course, you will be there with Strawberry Lemonade, the very best collection out there in my opinion! I am so excited to hear all about the market and the new designers you get to meet and perhaps see some great photos. You girls are simply the best! Thank you for all the inspiration!!!
SueEllen White says
Will you also be a vendor at the show next week? I hope so!!
sherri McConnell says
No…so sorry about that 🙂 But thank you for asking!
Rachel Summy says
Travel safe and enjoy your mother/daughter time! You two are such inspiration for all of us in the quilting community! You’ve got so many great ideas and are so encouraging and kind to everyone! Enjoy your podcasts also being part of your Patreon community!!
Thanks Sherri and Chelsi 😉
Elaine Heinrich says
Good Morning and I hope you both have a wonderful time at the quilt market. My question is: What inspiration do you take away from the experience of a large quilt market? I have never attended any kind of large quilting event and I hope some day I will have the chance. Thanks and travel safe and of course, have fun!
Elaine Heinrich
Mary Kauffman says
What a great post! Will be glad to hear about all of your adventures at market! That rainbow quilt in summer sweet is so cute!
Thanks for all that you do and hope you have a blast!
Cindy Worthington says
Hey Sherri! Well, I see from your pictures, you finished your banner for your booth! It looks so pretty and I’d love to see it after you hang it up! You and Chelsi have a wonderful time at Quilt Market and bring home lots of new and exciting ideas!!! . . .Cindy
Monika says
Wishing you and Chelsea a wonderful time at Quilt Market! Looking forward to hearing all about your experiences. Safe travels!
Valerie Meadows says
I wish I could meet you both. I wish regular quilt festival attendees could attend quilt market to meet all of you and see the wonderful new things that will be coming out next year. Safe travels and have a great time at quilt market.
Kathy says
Hi Sherri. Hope you & Chelsi have a grand time at Market! Cannot wait for your next videos to see what you’ve learned. Will you have a pattern for your banner? Would love to make it for my sewing room as well. Safe travels!
Susan Rivera says
Hello Sherri,
Thank you for asking. I don’t have a question.
What I love are your fabrics, patterns, tutorials but most of all, the family podcast that is always so inspirational. Your work and your family are making our world a far better place. THANK YOU for that.
As my favorite uncle used to say, ‘Vayan con Dios’ in spanish means ‘go with God’. Enjoy quilt market and your time together.
Susan
Melinda Hawkins says
So excited for you to come to Texas! I do want to go to Quilt Market it’s one of my quilting goals. I am interested in the trends coming our way and also what everyone has showing in their booths. Please share as much as possible. Enjoy!
julie kaplan says
how wonderful for you and chelsi for the opportunity to attend this years quilt market! i know you will enjoy yourselves tremendously as you see your friends in person, see all the new products, and have some special mother-daughter time. be safe, stay healthy, and i will look forward to seeing/hearing what new ideas you come back with. thank you, chelsi, and billy for all you do as you continue to inspire your online friends. God Bless you all….
Margaret L. says
Is it really like Disneyland for quilters? I have seen some of the quilts displayed there that are works of art. I’m glad you are able to go back and see your friends for once. Since you have a booth do you have time to go visit others there and see what their booth’s are like? It would just be nice to see some of the things there, new items, fabrics, notions and see you interviewing some of those you are familiar with.
Just wondering how the change-over goes from the shop owners show to the public show. Is there a day to take your booth down before the public show or is it like a festival and it is “Here one day and gone the next.”? Do many vendors stay for both shows? Thanks for “taking us along” with you! Enjoy your time there!
Pamela says
I would like to know if you hear anything regarding the price of fabric. I know patterns have gone up due to the paper shortage, but am wondering if fabric prices will stay the same or change. I enjoy your podcasts and cannot wait for Strawberries and Lemonade to be released. You have helped me improve my skills over the years. Thank you.
Gwen says
Would love to hear your thoughts about the show during your podcast but really want to see pictures and/or video of some of the booths and future projects- quilts/bags/small projects, etc. being that I’m not a vendor I’ve never had an opportunity to see that. I’ve felt like in the past market was so private & always to remain a mystery to the rest of us.
Karen Wolf says
Lucky you to be able to attend again. The chance to meet up with old friends and see new trends and to enjoy the energy and creativity that will be generated from every corner!
Sharon F says
Hi Sherri, So exciting that you’re going to Quilt Market again! I can only imagine how it must buzz with creative energy. I enjoy watching and listening to your podcasts, and look forward to the one you’ll do to share your quilt market experiences with us
I would like to hear what emerging trends you see, any up and coming new designers to look for, and new and cool notions.
Travel safe and Enjoy!
Teresa W says
Y’all look great! Sherri!! You’ve lost weight!! and better yet? IT SHOWS!! I’m challenged once more from your life! Chelsi…loving your new patterns! I wish I had more time in my days! Retirement can’t come fast enough!
Lynn L Young says
Wow! Such good questions you’ve gotten!and I do hope you and Chelsi have had a great time! All the discussions of Market bring bavk memories of my years doing booths at both shows and before that working for quilt market and festival in various capacities, from the very first shows wat back in the late 70s! And you’re right, the best memories are of the people you meet and become fast friends with for the rest of your life! In fact, the reason I joined Facebook was to keep up with my quilt friends Cheryl, Ann and Susan, thrn connected with Sandra, and thr list goes on! Then I found MODA BLOCKHEADS, and started at least thinking about actually making quilts again! Then I found you and A Quilting Life!
I’m so glad you’re getting the market experience, it is totally different from Festival, please do share photos of what you saw and were inspired by. And one bit of advice, you’re photos of friends and other people, do take the time to date them and write everyone’s name down, 40 years from now you have no idea how important it will be to trigger all those nice memories again!!!