Irish Chain Quilts Schoolhouse at Spring Market

Thursday morning of Spring Quilt Market marked the opening of Schoolhouse and I absolutely love this day!!!  You go around from room to room and listen to presentations on new fabric lines, books, notions, programs ect.   It really is a What to Expect for the next 6 months. Normally, I am just in the audience listening, but . . .

This Market I was able to do a Schoolhouse on my book,  Irish Chain Quilts.  Here I am looking totally at ease, right.   Nope,  I have to tell you, I was so nervous.  I knew that once I got started it would be fine . . . but the waiting . . .  Luckily my hands were like ice cubes so I could use them to cool my face that was on fire ;)

But before you knew it, the waiting was over and it was time to start.   I was shocked when I got up to start and the room was jam packed!!!  Oh my goodness, so exciting!!!  And, like I had hoped, about 3 minutes into it the nerves settled and I was just enjoying myself (although the adrenaline didn't wear off so I still shook through most of it ;)  and sharing my love for Irish Chain Quilts!!!

I started with telling the inspiration behind Irish Chain Quilts and how I wrote it for all quilters.   (you can see more about that in this guest post ).  Then I got to show all of the quilts from the book in each of the 4 sections: Twists on Tradition, Modern Patchwork, Improvisational Piecing, and Appliqued Chains and share a bit about the techniques use to make them and the variety that can be used to kit them.

 The quilts were paraded up and down the aisle and there was a lot of oohing and ahhing, so I am going to assume that is a good sign that they liked the quilts ;)  Yup, that made my heart soar ;)  And Sidenote -  that gentlemen holding the quilt is Conner who did all of the amazing graphic design and layout for my book.  Thanks Conner!!!

And then before you knew it . . . It was getting the 3 minute wind up signal.  It went by so fast, but it really was oh so much fun!!!   I can't begin to thank everyone in that room, and everyone here at Happy Quilting for the wonderful reception Irish Chain Quilts has received.   It just means the world to me!!

And just for kicks . . . I had to share these.   As I was going through the pictures that wonderful Barbara took for me of the Schoolhouse I had to just laugh.  Ya, I really like to talk with my hands ;)  I think if you were to tie my hands behind my back, I wouldn't be able to talk at all.  Good Times ;)

And one last little tidbit before I sign off.   My wonderful friends at Fat Quarter Shop were on the front row smiling at me the whole time, as well as filming me.  Which luckily, I didn't know at the time ;)   So . . . If you want to see Irish Chain Quilts entire Schoolhouse (with me shaking like a leaf and all) , keep an eye on the Fat Quarter Shop You Tube Channel.  It will be up soon.

And ya, my twin sister didn't make it to Market so Kimberly stepped in, aren't we so cute and matchy matchy ;)

Thanks for joining me today.  I'll be back tomorrow with more from Market ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!