Monday, May 27, 2013

Quilt Market 1 or yes I had purple carpet

You all know how much I was stressing about the booth before quilt market, well I have to say, walking into that Oregon Convention Centre for the first time, seeing the forklifts and moving boxes and giant structures being built made me pause for more than a second. The place itself is Huge.

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The booth space is a curtained structure with short side walls. Inside that structure you can build your booth (and I do mean build – one booth paved their floor with brick pavers).booth2 - Copy

On Wednesday Jem and I caught the train to Target and Ikea to gather supplies for the booth and to begin setup. I was super lucky that a blog friend (now real life friend) Angie had offered to loan me some furniture plus the use of her house to store stuff before market.  Angie came to help on Wednesday afternoon and we hung the curtains and got all the furniture and boxes sorted out.

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(Yes an iron would have been a good idea, thanks for noticing but I didn’t pre-purchase an electricity outlet so we just went with the wrinkles)

Although this space is only 6ft x 10ft it sure took a long time to set up.

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On Thursday we fussed and farted about for hours until eventually it was as good as it was going to get.

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and as we left the Convention Centre on Thursday afternoon at about 3…. this is what we saw… People lining up for Sample Spree !

I was gobsmacked – they planned to sit there until 8pm.

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and this is about 1/4 of the line by 8pm. It sprawled over three levels of the convention centre.

Sample Spree runs for two hours, exhibitors offer “samples” of their stuff at really reduced prices. Places like Moda and Riley Blake are completely mobbed with women four and five deep edging to the table to snap up fat quarter bundles and pre-cuts. It is a frenzy – nothing less. Wild crazy quilters running (I kid you not) into a room of tables and setting about to restore the whole US economy in 2 hrs.

19 comments:

  1. Oh wow- I reckon you need more than a day to brief yourself for that! Like, an 'orientation week'! so, were you part of the frenzy? I wonder if those lining up at 3 o'clock were the same ones lining up overnight for Bryan Adams (or- add your own super hero rock star) tickets 25 years ago!

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    1. I had a table at sample spree so was protected from the hordes of quilters. When it died down a little I had a quiet little dignified purchase or two.

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  2. when i think how long it too me to set up a 180x60cm table.... that booth would have just done me in!

    it looked fab and very you.

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  3. ... and I bet it was the time of your life! What better way to be, than with like-minded people.
    Looking forward to more instalments. :)

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  4. Your booth looks great!

    I would seriously consider going to quilt market just for sample spree :-P

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  5. Nah, it's alright. No iron required, you covered up the wrinkly bits with suitcases anyway.

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  6. The booth looked great, I forgot to take pictures because I was having such a good time talking to Jodie in person.

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    1. Totally ridiculous that we have to travel half way around the world to hang out. It was great fun, can we do it again in Pittsburg?

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  7. It is a very small world when blogs come into play. I never meant for you "head to nearly explode" when Kelli said hi from me :o)

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    1. it was like my "aussie blogs world" collided with my "real life meeting people" world with a little bit of "in a whole new country world".... I loved it ! It made me feel like a lot of people were there with me, thinking about me. Does that make sense?

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  8. Your space looks perfect. I've seen it a few times around cyber space.

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  9. People have been talking about the 'Selvedge dress they saw at Market' over on another list. So I have kindly given them the link and pointed out the chair as well. ;-D
    Sandy in the UK

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  10. have a great time, your booth looks stunning.

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  11. Sample Spree is CRAZY, isn't it? Your booth was so cute...how terrific to have a local friend offer her house and help. That makes it so nice indeed. Your have to purchase electricity? Sheesh. I often have wondered what happens to the stuff people buy for their booths after Quilt Market.

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  12. Pittsburg? Did you mean Pittsburg, Kansas?? Or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Either way, my chances of getting there are improving.

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  13. Ha ha, I was in the far right lane and was the fifth one in. Sadly Moda was on the opposite side of the zoo. Made some line friends though

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  14. thanks for sharing your booth. I trust you had a great time and you'll come back to North America again soon. even better, come up to Canada, you'll like us, I promise!

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  15. Your stall looks great. Brilliant opportunity to show off your work. I really adore the dress on the dummy. It's totally stunning.
    Rosie

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  16. Your booth looks AWESOME!!! I love the tire swing and the cute little guy with his super hero mask! ;p

    Sample spree? Not my idea of fun!

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Hellloooooo !!!!