Pokey : Houston

Let's Get This Party Started! Make It University! & QUILT SCENE

Pokey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:24:00 GMT

Above: My copy of QUILT SCENE sits proudly on my hotel pillow.

As I'm writing this blog entry, I am in my hotel room getting myself all dolled up for tonight's IQA Award Ceremony in Houston, where...drum roll...International Quilt Festival: QUILT SCENE will finally be making its debut! I am really thrilled to have our newest magazine baby see the light of day. Thanks to the hard work and artful contributions of so, so many talented people, QUILT SCENE really does encompass all of the things that make our quilting community so special. It was such an honor for me to work on this publication!

Make It University!

Above: Open Studios artist Jamie Fingal created a logo for MIU commemorating 35 fabulous years of Festival. Thanks, Jamie!

Tomorrow is the Preview Night for International Quilt Festival, so if you're here in Houston, be sure to stop by Make It University! and the Quilting Arts Booth (#1244). During the entire time the show is open I will be conducting random drawings and giveaways such as FREE magazines, books, videos, and Moda fabrics (that are to die for). We start things with a bang with our mixed-media raffle Wednesday night, and the raffle fun continues through Saturday night for the frivolous (and hilarious) event, "Surviving the Runway." And don't forget to post why you are happy to be a quilter on the Quilt Scene to put your name in the raffle for a tremendous bag of goodies.

PHOTO OP!

Want to be seen on the Quilt Scene in Houston? Buy a copy at Quilt Festival and we'll give you a special slip of paper that will be your ticket to getting your beautiful face published in an upcoming publication. More details at the Make It University! area, so be sure to stop by.

Make It University! begins tomorrow night, and I am so eager to see old friends and make new ones. Let's get this party started!

Be Seen on the QUILT SCENE-- Raffle Opportunity for Houston!

Pokey — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:24:00 GMT

All of us at Quilting Arts are really excited about our newest magazine to join the Quilting Arts family of publications: International Quilt Festival: QUILT SCENE!

To celebrate this very special issue, we have a number of opportunities to win great stuff, but we'll start with the first raffle opportunity for those getting ready to head to Houston. Want to win some great prizes? Details are in the video...

(Please visit the site to view this media)

More details on other Quilt Scene opportunities and events forthcoming. And for those who are not attending Houston, don't worry, we'll be hosting a second online raffle later in October!

Make It University! at IQF/Houston and "Surviving the Runway" News

Pokey — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:32:00 GMT

The Make It University!(TM) workshop schedule and list of events have now been posted. Click the link below to get the dish on what we've got planned. (And I hope you'll join me in making 35 ATCs to celebrate 35 years of Festival!)

Make It University! at International Quilt Festival/Houston

"Surviving the Runway" News...

Don't miss our "Surviving the Runway" challenge on Saturday night where you can win some great prizes including DVDs, thread, magazines, books, paints, fabrics, and other fun treats. I am going to do something I have never done before and let you all know in advance what the challenge will be:

In honor of the 35th anniversary of International Quilt Festival, we will honor the 70s, 80, 90s, and today's fashion scene. "Designers" will be asked to make one couture item of choice (such as a tiara, a toga, a t-shirt) that has something symbolic from each of these eras. (Don't worry...we'll provide all of the necessary supplies for your creations.) In other words you will look really silly, but will be listening to great music (and probably a lot of heckling) during the 90-minute challenge. But it's worth it: you could win some serious quilting loot!

To get everyone excited for this upcoming edition of Make It University!(TM), below are some videos of the challenges over the last year:

60s Challenge in Long Beach (California girls strut their stuff)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

There was the unforgettable 80s prom night in Chicago. (My absolute favorite part of this video is when an innocent bystander watching the shenanigans gets asked to dance and he completely got into the spirit of the thing.)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Houston (Who could forget the time that Kathy York nearly sacrificed her bangs by putting gel medium in her hair?)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Raise your hand (or leave a comment in the comments area) if you are coming to Houston!

Houston Day 2 - 3

Pokey — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:27:03 GMT

The fun continues...

Caroline Devoy & Co. who have some scrumptious fabrics out with Michael Miller...
See what I mean?

I want to thank all of the companies in our industry for making yummy products that will attract the next generation of quilters and sewing enthusiasts. This Kangaroo sewing table brought out the kid in me!

And Babylock came out with an affordable line of sewing machines that are both fun and attractive. Each sewing machine has a name/ distinctive personality. (I think we're looking a Sofia.) It's like "Sex in the City" meets sewing--smart marketing!

Houston. And so it begins...

Pokey — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:05:10 GMT

Blog woes:
I apologize for not posting over the weekend. If anyone has a Typepad account, you may know they're having lots of technical problems this month as they switch to a new server. I'm praying to the blog gods that they get this fixed soon so I can post from the show floor this week. In the meantime, some pictures of set-up day and day 1. Do you recognize the guy in the last shot? I have some news about him I can share a bit later!