I returned from Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis today. I almost missed my third and final plane of the day due to delay with second flight! My thanks to the Air Canada personnel for getting me there and the nice gentleman who let me go ahead. My luggage made it too, first off the plane!

Not only did I come back inspired from the show but I got to visit Creative Homearts magazine and club headquarters and stay with club Executive Director and Editor Julie Stephani. Carol Zengraff and Vivian Peritts also stayed and we had a great time ending each night with something I have never played, Hollywood Dominoes. (I did win :) Getting out the door in the morning was a challenge with all the chatter and wardrobe consultation but it was very fun!

The show as always is filled with crisp color, a fresh vibe of retro and flowery prints. New interesting products, fountains of fabrics and wonderful books. Vivian has a new book out with Suzanne McNeil and Design Originals. Her new book incorporates the Accu Quilt Go machine in fabulous wearable designs.

C&T Publishing has a new imprint Stash, smaller books with fresh and whimsical titles, Little Birds is adorable! The Sock animal books is too cute and the City Quilts contemporary and fresh. More from the show this week! Holiday tomorrow so taking the day off. Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!

May is almost here! Creativity is blossoming everywhere! I wasn't able to participate in the Sizzix Scoreboard bloghop this week but you can check out all the talented designers and wonderful creations on Eileen Hull's blog! 

In about three weeks I am off to International Quilt Market in Minneapolis. Everything to do with quilting and sewing happens there! The magazine I write for Creative Homearts is also located there and I get to visit the offices plus stay with my dear friend and editor Julie Stephani! Big plans are in the works so exciting.

The show is inspiring and the displays are amazing, alive with color, pattern and texture! Quilting is a true art form! A great place to conduct business, connect with fabric companies and publishers. I am working on another book proposal and pitching a new fabric line so we will see what happens! 

Have a joy filled creative day! Follow the JOY! Debra

Quilt Market in Houston was a great show, inspiring, full of opportunities and reconnecting with good friends makes for an all around successful show! My demos went over well, the women retailers who attended were enthusiastic and I thank them for being so warm and welcoming! Many came by the Homearts booth to tell me how much they enjoyed the presentations. I was promoting my new book Sweatshirt Remix. The F+W people are always so supportive and wonderful to work with! In the picture I am wearing one of the tunics from the book and holding up another. One of the ladies attending took pictures for me, I had my mouth open in most of them!

I hadn't been to Houston for several years, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I stayed at three hotels in the five nights there and all the staff were very helpful.

The show was full of gorgeous fabrics, many so light and bright it was like displays of sunshine gardens. Heather Bailey's booth just gorgeous, a living room setting reflecting her very fresh and feminine look, a lifestyle. It was a trend to see booths reflecting not only fabrics, patterns but a whole vignette of a feminine, vibrant life captured in the booth. It made walking the show truly inspiring.   Follow the JOY! Keep Creating! Debra, CEO!

Fall brings an energy that crackles with anticipation as the vibrant leaves swirl through the air. Sunshine rays illuminate each glorious tree like a treasured masterpiece. Bushy squirrels run marathons through the bountiful branches and the garden becomes a rich explosion of damp earth as they bury their winter sustenance. I love the fall, it is a paradise of luscious color, scents and activity. It is a time to give thanks, of gratitude for all the gifts life has to offer. It has been a year of change, of loss and moving on, of new adventures and new friends. I sit in the warmth of the autumn sun illuminating the room and reflect on the bounty of my life. The richness of cherished family and friends bring joy each day. I will be away in Houston at Quilt Market for our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend but I will be giving thanks as I join with several dear friends celebrating our connection and our creativity!

Here is what I am up to! Friday October 9th, Schoolhouse Presentation for my book Sweatshirt Remix. Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th demoing Needle Felting in the Homearts booth. Sunday afternoon Book Signing in F+W booth. Then there are the appointments, the reviewing the show to line up new columns, it is a full schedule and the days just fly by. The evenings are catching up with dear friends for dinner.

Did I mention one of my favorite colors is pink? probably quite obvious so to my delight this burning bush is on the corner of my house. It is gloriously pink and delightful to walk by everyday. Follow the JOY! Keep creating! Debra, CEO!

I was away last week and upon my return have been thoroughly chastised by Fran & Freda for missing Fowl Friday! Still working on getting them computer literate and sometimes any kind of literate but please don't let them know I said that!

In just over a week I am off to Quilt Market in Houston to promote my latest book Sweatshirt Remix with demos and a book signing. I really enjoy the promotion side and getting to meet the retailers who are so passionate about quilting and sewing. It is an industry where the shop owners are avid quilters and love fabric! To celebrate I will be giving away every week one of my last book Sweatshirts which has 18 jacket, coat and tunic designs. Just leave a comment or email me. I will draw a name every Monday in October!  Here is one of my favorites from the book modelled by my lovely daughter Kate! She is a very patient and mostly willing model. I have only pricked her once with a pin but will never live it down!

I am busy finishing up some deadlines and getting ready for Quilt Market! I always return inspired!

Have a Marvellous Monday! Keep creating! Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!