Sit back and get comfy, or wander off to a different blog that updates a little more frequently - this is going to be a long one!
First! Quilt Market! We went, we had a great time, take a peek:
For those interested, the collage in the back wall was a love child of foam board and spray adhesive. Super easy and quick, big impact.
The letters the Meadowsweet logo were done in were a find at Joannes. They were a paper mache type thing. We painted them and whipped out the mod podge to adhere the fabric to the top. One Indiana Jones flick was all the time it took.
Flowers are a must have, and I generally take more pictures of the flowers than I do of anything else, go figure. I usually go pretty simple with my flowers, and since there are daisies in my new collection, daisies it had to be this time around. They really are the happiest flower, aren't they?
We were so honored to have won an award. Best Merchandising. I gushed and thanked them when they presented it to us (right after Michael Miller won the Creativity award!) and after they left, I had to turn and ask someone what the Merchandising award is. In case you are as clueless as I was, it's basically the way you show yourself off. Oh well-yeah, I think I've got that down.
It certainly helped that we had these two killer chairs in the booth. Good grief-how gorgeous, right?
A couple weeks ago, Caroline emailed and asked if I needed anything for market. Weelll.. "since you asked".. I sent her some pitifully small bits of fabric and she sent me the Eiffel tower of chairs. Thank you thank you Caroline!
Overall, market was great! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and met us. Meadowsweet was very well received as were the new patterns we debuted. Here, have a quick sneak.
I'm not going to put up the full reveal of them until I have them in hand - which should be in November. In the meantime, I'm finishing up the book, the pattern instructions and sewing up several Halloween costumes.
Oh, and we're updating the website with a new design and order management system.. About to put out an ad for a couple new employees to help handle the new pattern shipping and everything - All that behind the scenes stuff that doesn't seem very interesting and doesn't take a very pretty picture, but it's so much work that I feel justified in mentioning it here. :)
Next: Shoes (allow me a slight detour here)
Dear John Fluevog,
I love your shoes. They are the most comfortable pair I have ever owned and took virtually no breaking in. Thank you for your amazing product! I would like a free pair, as I believe I sold more shoes than patterns or fabric when I wore them to International Quilt Market last week.
Thank you,
Sandi Henderson
OK, here they are:
I own, ahem, three pairs of Fluevogs. The ones I was wearing here are the Malibrans and I also have these. There are not exactly a cheap pair of shoes, but I have found really great deals on mine-search around and if you get some, let me know the color and style. I'm about to start a Fluevog love club or something. They're great.
OK, next -the BEAR.
If you follow me on twitter, you'll have seen my ongoing issues with the wilderness beasties that are making our home theirs. Guess I can't really blame them, we live about a half a block from the woods and hiking trails. Anyhow, people keep asking me to try and get pictures and finally the other night we did.
It's a different bear pretty much each night and the night we took these, it was a mama with 2 cubs. She was really aggressive, hissing and throwing a fit anytime she saw a glimpse of a light or person. She finally hopped up the tree and we sat at our door for about and hour and a half to warn anyone that might be walking by-I was genuinely afraid she would attack someone that got too close. The other bears really didn't seem to mind people much, but mama bear - well now I truly understand the origin of the term "mama bear."
It's gotten to be a bit much and the neighbors have decided to pull out the tree. It's a shame, but they are getting too comfy around here.
I took these pictures from our front door-about 20 feet away. Insanity I tell you!
All right - bouncing back to the market section of this post - I took some videos again of some of my designer buds but this post is already long enough, so I'll put them up tomorrow. Did you know that a certain designer's husband is in a rock band? If you can guess who, I will be overly impressed. I had NO clue about it at all, and Dustin is now hooked to the band.
Sandi
Hmm, I think Amy Butler's hubby is in a band...but I'm not sure that it's a ROCK band :)
Posted by: Tami B. | October 20, 2009 at 05:50 PM
yay, ive been missin you! those shoes!! i have to get me some!
Posted by: april | October 20, 2009 at 05:55 PM
$239.00 BUCKS!!!! maybe i wont be gettin any, sheesh!!!
Posted by: april | October 20, 2009 at 05:58 PM
Love the new Meadow Sweet fabrics!!! So beautiful, Sandi! I don't suppose it would be Jenean Morrison's hubby, would it??
Posted by: Fiona | October 20, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Yep, they're pricey. It's good to treat yourself to nice things every now and then though, especially if you find them for over half off!
Posted by: Sandi Henderson | October 20, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Oh Girl! You had me at "Shoe"!
I am a total shoe-ie. I was wondering where all of your beauties came from....they are on my list of things to buy for next market!!
Posted by: Lola...again | October 20, 2009 at 06:12 PM
Your booth was so very very cheerful and full of your amazing things...I am not surprised you won the merchandising award...way to go and I LOVE those shoes....people, get a clue, we spend an amazing amount of money on fabric...I am going to buy the shoes and never look back! ~~Fun to see your mom!!
Posted by: sheri howard | October 20, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Those shoes are so amazing - and I am all about comfort...
I loved your booth (from what I saw of everyone's pictures of it) - the new collection looks amazing. At first I thought those chairs were covered in a new cheater print fabric - that would be fun!
Posted by: Amber | October 20, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Love the fabrics...tried to get as good a look as I could at the patterns...LOVE the shoes...and it was fun to see the bear that has been twittered about! Can't wait for the pattern reveals!
Posted by: sherri | October 20, 2009 at 06:54 PM
oh my! i love the chairs. I'll take one of those, and a pair of shoes, but not a bear.
Glad market went so well and congrats on the award. I bet you were very pleased!
Posted by: Angie | October 20, 2009 at 07:00 PM
I wish Michael Miller would hurry up and send out your new fabric. We are all drooling at the sight of it in action. I thought the chairs were a "cheater" cloth,too. GREAT IDEA- I loved them!!
Posted by: Monique | October 20, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I gushed about your shoes on Jona's blog too!! LOL! I love your shoes, seriously I am the queen of funky shoes and will wear anything. Shoes just make an outfit. LOVE THOSE and checking out the site ;)
I guess that Heather Bailey's hubby is in a band? maybe..hahahahha
Love the new fabric, can't wait!! and the patterns too. Your patterns are by far the easiest and funnest(word?!) LOL!
Posted by: Jen | October 20, 2009 at 07:17 PM
was it paula prass' husband, Tim?
Posted by: chelsea a | October 20, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Those shoes are amazing. I totally want some! And your fabric is pretty sweet, too. I cannot wait to get my hands on it!!
Posted by: Jana | October 20, 2009 at 07:28 PM
I love your taste in shoes!! When you posted the pink and red shoes in your Flat Betty post I had to run out and buy them. Now I'm going to be on the lookout for these. And I'm so excited to get Meadowsweet!
Posted by: Jenny | October 20, 2009 at 07:35 PM
Tell me what pattern shipping would entail... I might be interested. I'm checking to see if endless.com has those shoes. They always have great deals on shoes.
Posted by: Bev Jones | October 20, 2009 at 07:39 PM
The chairs are amazing!! LOVE THEM--and can hardly wait for Meadowsweet to arrive!!
Posted by: Kirsten Goff | October 20, 2009 at 07:51 PM
I love your booth - I saw so many pics from other blogs as well and even heard about your fabulous shoes - funny eh? I love the new line and can't wait to get my hands on some. Love it!
Posted by: Heather | October 20, 2009 at 08:08 PM
I love all the beautiful colors in your booth. Delicious! We get bears roaming into neighborhoods all the time and the only time they are agressive is when it's a momma bear and her cubs are nearby. Great pictures.
Posted by: Dena | October 20, 2009 at 08:44 PM
I don't see a picture of a for the dress you wore with the orange butterflies. Is that coming?
Posted by: Elana E | October 20, 2009 at 08:52 PM
You and your booth look so beautiful! Thanks for the photo's and update!
Posted by: Allie | October 20, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Daisies are happy, but also friendly. Remember this from You've Got Mail:
Kathleen Kelly: I love daisies.
Joe Fox: You told me.
Kathleen Kelly: They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?
Great post today -- amazing eye candy.
Posted by: wishes, true and kind | October 20, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Hmmm...I'm guessing it's Patty Young's hubby...I vaguely remember hearing/reading that somewhere.
And those shoes are awesome! Pricey, but how often do you find fab shoes that are super comfy?
Posted by: Marie | October 20, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Gerbera Daisies are THE BEST! My all time fav.
Shoes are awesome. I agree(with a cheerful nice tone) with Sheri, we do spend an amazing amount fabric...what's a couple of hundred bucks on a pair of shoes??? Your shoes are darling and worth every penny.
Your booth is beautiful. Seriously thinking about copying the chair idea.
And finally, thank goodness your neighbor is going to chop down the tree. I am all for fruit trees but not one that comes with bears so close to my house! We stayed in Jackson,Wyoming once and were given the 'what to do if you encounter a bear' rundown. We never had to use the prescribed tactics, but did see bears from inside our B&B running down the hill past the guest jacuzzi. NO, we never used the jacuzzi!
Posted by: Jenny Fish | October 20, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Well if the shoe fits and is comfortable as well as adorable...no price is too high. Right? Just loving Meadowsweet!
Posted by: Stephanie | October 21, 2009 at 04:33 AM