On The Cutting Table........

'On the Cutting Table' is a series a started a little while back where I just fill you in on some of the behind the scenes happenings of The Cottage Mama.  Sometimes I disappear from the blog for a little bit, but I'm usually busily working away on different projects for other areas of the business.

So I thought I would share what's been going on around here this past week.......

First off, we are getting ready for International Quilt Market that is coming up this next week.  If you are not familiar with this event, it is a trade show (not open to the public)......but you can read about my experiences HERE and HERE.  I will not have a booth there this time, but I have some pretty great meetings scheduled with people and several of my creations will be on display at the Moda, Riley Blake Designs and Birch Fabrics booths.  I have been working away getting samples of my patterns sewn up for these three manufacturers using some fabrics that have yet to be released, which is always a lot of fun.

Samples for the Moda Booth of both my Shortcake Reversible Romper and Dress pattern as well as my Janey Jumper pattern.

This is one of the samples for the Birch Fabrics booth, though they will have about 5 of my pieces on display.  Isn't this whale fabric just too cute?  This is my new Run Around Romper pattern sewn in the shorts variation for a baby boy.

I've also been busy creating a new tutorial for Riley Blake Designs that will be posted next Wednesday.  I'm using their new 'Dress Up Days' line and we will be giving away a Fat Quarter Bundle of this adorable fabric next week.  I can't wait to show you this finished project ~ I think you're going to really like it!

My pattern covers and instructions arrived this week......all 27 boxes!  Right now they are hanging out in our mud room until we can figure out the best way to store them in the house.  I'm still waiting on the pattern sheets since those come from a different printer.  Due to the fact that they are printed on nice white pattern paper, each pattern sheet is hand folded at the printer.  Luckily the printer is shipping a small portion of the pattern sheets today so I should be able to fill all pattern pre-orders next week and have some left to take with me to market.  The rest of the patterns should be here the following week!

Also, this week I sold off a bunch of fabric from my stash over on The Cottage Mama Facebook page.  There are always new lines coming out so sometimes I have to make room in the studio for new arrivals, especially before market.  The pictures above are all the cut yardage and fat quarter bundles that will be mailed out (hopefully) by tomorrow.

And as if I didn't have enough going on, I am just dying to update my family room so I've been working on pairing some fabrics for this project.  I bought a wing-back style chair last year that I've had stored in my in-laws basement and I want to recover it in a bold print that will be the base for my design.  I love the bright and fresh looks I've seen in all the magazines lately, but I think I'm just a warm and cozy girl at heart, so I'm sticking to that color palette.  I'm trying to incorporate some Anna Maria Horner fabrics into the design as well.  This project is pretty far down on the priority list, but it's just something I can't get out of my head......do you know what I mean?

I've also got some new things I'm adding to the Etsy Shop as one-of-a-kind pieces as well as some custom orders that can be made in size 6 month through size 8.  The dress above will be listed later today as well as a few other things.  If you haven't visited The Cottage Mama shop in awhile, I would love for you to stop over: www.thecottagemama.com

Here are a few other things that will be showing up:

So today I will be working on putting a vintage-inspired children's look together for the 'Vintage May' series that is happening over at Craftiness is Not Optional and Skirt as a Top.  Not quite sure what I'm making yet, but I'm excited to come up with something for my post on Monday!

I hope you guys have had a wonderful week.  Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about doing the free pattern for the 'Little Linen Dress'.  It's coming.......eventually.

To stay even more up to date with The Cottage Mama, please join in our conversations over at The Cottage Mama Facebook page.  We'd love to hear from you!

Have a great weekend and a very Happy Mother's Day!

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International Quilt Market ~ Fall 2011

This past weekend I packed up myself and my little man (Caspian Finn) and flew down to Houston, TX for the fall International Quilt Market.  Luckily my mom lives in Houston, so attending market was not a 'must' this time, but it was a good excuse to visit family and do some business at the same time!

I'm not sure if you remember my post from Spring Quilt Market 2011, but in that post I explained that International Quilt Market is a trade show for the quilting and sewing industry.  Every fall the market is held in Houston, TX and every spring it is held in a random city across the U.S.  Spring 2012 will be in Kansas City, MO.  All market attendees must submit credentials to attend market as it is pretty much for wholesale buying.  However, there is the International Quilt Festival that will take place this weekend in Houston and it is open to the public.

I was so busy with appointments, meetings, and heading out to the lobby every 2.5 hours to feed my little baby boy (no infants or children allowed in the market) that I didn't really feel like I took all the pictures I wanted.  But after looking through my camera, I think I got enough to give you a feel for Quilt Market 2011.  Are you ready for some eye candy?  Here we go........

I love this fabric artwork found at the BasicGrey booth.  It's so pretty with all the different fabric prints, embroidery thread, and layered buttons. So creative!

 Printed fabric labels from BasicGrey.

 Pretty bags and gorgeous buttons also from BasicGrey.

My first appointment was with MODA fabrics.  I always love Aneela Hoey's whimsical fabric designs and her new line, 'A Walk in the Woods', was no exception.

 More from 'A Walk in the Woods'.

'Salt Air' by Cosmo Cricket was another line that I was really loving.  The colors are unique, but I don't think the pictures even do it justice.  Just so pretty!

 I don't do a lot of quilting, but this design made from 'Salt Air' had me at hello.

At the MODA booth a lot of the newer designers are together in one booth handing out samples of their fabrics.  I love these teeny-tiny squares of each line.  They are so much fun and they are free!!  I've got a few projects in mind for the fabric squares I picked up.

 I just had to share this gorgeous booth design!

 Buttons, oh how I love buttons.

In the morning of the first day of market, I ran into Dana from the blog MADE and Deborah Moebes author of Stitch by Stitch and owner of Whipstitch Fabrics.  I love being able to meet friends in person that I have chatted with over email.  Yes, I knew what these ladies looked like, but it was totally different actually meeting them and hearing their voices.  So glad I ran into you ladies!

The Windham Fabrics booth has some really beautiful new lines of fabric.  I can't wait to work with 'Cabana Blooms' (the pink and gray one in the middle) - it's just my style!

Also at the Windham booth was Lotta Jandsdotter, author of 'Simple Sewing for Baby' (and many other books), who is coming out with a new line called 'Echo'.  It's a really beautiful, modern line of fabric that is perfect for clothing and home decor.

Now I'm sure many of you have heard of Amy Butler, but did you know her husband designs fabric now too?  It was pretty neat to see David Butler in his booth with his line, Curious Nature by Parson Gray, set up next to his lovely wife.  He is a graphic designer so the transition into fabric design was a natural step for him.  He was a really down to earth guy and reminded me a lot of my husband, Brett.

Next to David Butler, was his always lovely wife, Amy Butler, with her new line 'Lark'.  I've said this before but I truly feel Amy Butler is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  She really is a celebrity in the quilting fabric world, but yet you would never know.  She speaks to each and every person as if they are the most important person in the world.  She is so genuine and kind - definitely a wonderful role model.

 More from Amy Butler's 'Lark' collection.

 Tina Given's gorgeous, creative booth.

 A pretty dress from Anna Maria Horner's booth.

Sandi Henderson and I had a little time to chat and she was promoting her 'Secret Garden' laminate fabric.  The umbrella and several of the kites were great ideas for using that type of fabric.  Sandi said she has another book in the works and will be releasing some new sewing patterns in about three weeks for women, girls and boys.

 Another pretty booth.

 I just thought this fabric cake was too cute!

There is a new division of Timeless Treasures Fabrics that was debuting at market called 'Dear Stella'.  This is a contemporary, hip, young group of fabrics and their booth was just that!  I believe they won the prize for best new booth exhibitor.  I loved all the white, clean lines.......it was like no booth I had ever seen there before.  I may be working with some of these fabrics in the future, so be on the look-out.

 Riley Blake Designs always has a fun, happy booth display.

 All the collections from Riley Blake Designs.

 Loved this bed display with the upholstered head-board and gorgeous pillows.

 Jenean Morrison's booth for her new line, 'Power Pop'.

 How cute is that lamp shade?

 Isn't that floor lamp so creative?  It's tied with strips of fabric.

My favorite part of Jenean's booth display had be the flooring.  She had these vinyl tiles printed to look like a string block quilt.  Genius!

Anna Griffin is one of my favorite designers and this year she has brought on several other designers with their collections to be licensed under her brand.  I would have loved a little bit of everything from each and every line in her booth.

 More from the Anna Griffin booth.

 These fabric prints were too adorable not to photograph.  The Japanese fabric is always to-die-for!

 I have a real thing for trims (if you haven't noticed).  May Arts had so many beautiful ribbons, velvet trim, lace and so on.

 More eye candy from the Japanese manufacturers.

 I was loving the large floral print from Camelot Cottons.

 I stopped by the organic fabric company, Monaluna, to visit with designer Jennifer Moore and her husband.  They were so down to earth and their fabrics are some of the best I have ever felt.  I'm thinking that apple print might have my name on it.

I had to show you Betz White's booth - isn't it adorable?  What a great idea way to use all of those embroidery hoops.  Her display really caught my eye.  I found myself drawn to her booth every time I walked by.

And finally, I leave you with another of my favorite booths.  Those 3-D flowers coming out of the wall are just so beautiful and creative.

This is my second time attending quilt market and I think it's going to become a semi-annual event for me.  Like I said earlier in this post, I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked, but I hope you got a feel for the whole experience.  With over 2000 booths, it's hard to make it around to everyone! 

I spent my time at market meeting with different manufacturers, distributors, promoting my new sewing patterns, purchasing fabric for my etsy shop, networking and just trying to stay on top of the new trends, tools, and fabric lines that will be released over the next several months.  I almost decided not to go seeing as though Caspian is only 2 months old, but I'm SO glad I did.....it was well worth the journey!

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