Running time: 38:01 Size: 18.0MB

What a FABULOUS day and opportunity to spend the day with these two super-talented fabric designers! I heard about them from Gina’s Market reports and she mentioned that they were coming up to San Francisco to see the “Quilts of Gee’s Bend” exhibit. I thought, “…well… hmmm, if they’re from Australia, they probably don’t know their way around the City… I wonder if they would like a tour guide?” So I called Kirsten (pronounced kerr-stin, the English pronunciation) and they thought it was a great idea.
I picked Kirsten, Cath and Cath’s mum, Margaret, at their hotel and our first stop was straight-away to

the Pork Store Cafe for:

fluffy Banana Pecan pancakes (oh, my word!!!! They were GOOD) in

the heart of Haight-Ashbury. They have fun and funky stores in the Haight and two fabric stores that we enjoyed shopping at Discount fabrics and Mendel’s Far-out Fabrics, a San Francisco staple.

A memorable moment for Kirsten and Cath, under the infamous legs.

Kirsten and Cath had a lucky find in Mendels — Bark cloth, which they’ve been looking for for ages. The price per yard was a real deal, as fabrics are wicked-expensive in Australia.
The highlight of the day was definitely the Gee’s Bend exhibit.

Check out Kirsten’s vest and scarf, and Cath’s scarf and handbag. It just shows how you can use quilting fabrics for more than quilts. Although lighter weight than traditional garment fabrics, quilting cottons make beautiful clothing. We’re going to see more clothes from these clever gals, too! Actually, Kirsten and Cath made all of the clothes that they wore at Market, and I think their fabric line is great for skirts, capris and fun tops as well as quilts. I’m definitely going to be making some cool additions to my wardrobe with their fabrics too.

The Gee’ Bend exhibit has been extended, due to popular demand, until December 31st. Do not miss this show! We were all so inspired by the stories of these incredible ladies that we were moved to tears. Their quilts were simple, yet told a powerful story of the fortitude of these ladies who lived in poverty but are rich with the best things. I will never forget the lessons learned while enjoying the beatiful Gee’s Bend quilts. I ran across a quote in a publication while I was there and I had to buy it so I could get the quote right — it just tickled me:

“I really don’t like to sit down and do all that measuring. It just takes the heart out of things.” !!

How often do we labor over our shapes and measure, measure, measure to find that we have once again cut the piece wrong and now nothing fits? When I read that quote, I laughed outloud in the museum! I have to remember to take myself just a little less seriously.

The back lawn area of the DeYoung has these delightful apple sculptures, and what a beautiful autumn day it was in the City that day.
At the end of our trip to the deYoung, we stopped on Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights to have tea and catch the interview for this program.

I just loved getting to know Kirsten, Cath and Margaret. It was a perfect day spent with lovely ladies who shared quilting. I can’t wait to be able to buy their new fabrics and make a beautiful quilt to wrap myself in, and remember the day spent with my new friends.

Keep an eye out for Prints Charming, coming soon to your local quilt shop!

Running time: 35:18 Size: 8.4MB

This episode was really intended to be done during the last day at Quilt Market, but with the busyness of Market and life in general, Gina and I didn’t hook up until last week. I have wanted to interview Gina about her interests and her businesses, Quilter’s Buzz Blog and Threaded Pear Studio and help you know lots more about her. So here is the interview that I’ve wanted to do, with a tidbit more about Market that we didn’t hear in the first two shows.

I hope you enjoy the quilty information that Gina has to share and that you’ve enjoyed hearing about the inner-sanctum of Quilt Market. Wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall there? Here’s the scoop: if you have a quilt shop affiliation, or if you teach classes, you CAN go to Quilt Market! What a fun way to learn what is going to be popular in the local quilt shops for the next three months.

Here are the links that Gina shared with us in her interviews.

Gina’s Blog, chock full of trendy info!

Threaded Pear StudioGina and Stephanie’s Long Arm Quilting business in Brea, CA. Website in progess…

Gina’s favorite quilters from Market:

Amy Butler‘s website. Tres chic fabrics that are my daughter Kirsten’s favorite threads to play with.

Denyse Schmidt‘s website.

Heather Bailey‘s website HELLOmynameisheather. She is an incredible designer and has a brand new fabric line that is just beautiful. Heather is very crafty and is married to a talented photographer with two darling children. Coincidentally, her mother-in-law is none other than elinor peace bailey. Lucky girl!

The clothing designer for Heather, Sandi from PortabelloPixie — oooh lala — Sandi’s clothing line is just precious, exactly what I would have dressed my kids in when they were little. Sandi also has Christmas stockings and other holiday embellishments on eBay.

Anna Maria Horner‘s website. Anna Maria’s style is exquisite and I can’t wait to see her new fabric line. Both Anna Maria and Heather are Free Spriit fabric contemporaries — and stay-at-home moms. More power to them!

Gina took a picture of my quilt at the Hillcreek Designs booth at Market for me. “Simple Hearts and Flowers” is embellished with Theresa’s gorgeous hand-dyed buttons, which I think was the perfect finishing touch for the quilt.
Here’s a full picture of the quilt, which is a new pattern – available on the website soon!