What a trip! Krista and I had a great time browsing the quilt galleries and exhibitors at the International Quilt Show this weekend. It was inspiring, overwhelming and just a little intimidating.


We made it to the show by 10 a.m. Friday morning. I decided right away that I would only be able to handle one day lugging lil' chunky butt around, so I only paid $10 to get in. It was more than worth it, and I would love to go back again without a babe to carry.


Highlights from the show include:

• Actually getting to touch a lot of the fabrics I have lusted after after seeing them around blogland, including designs by Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Amy Schimler and Sandi Henderson.
• Learning the lingo: I now know what fat quarters, jelly rolls and charm packs are.
• Seeing several detailed quilts designed and sewn by guys (one using 1/2 inch squares and the other using rough-edged appliqué to create feathers).
• Buying a jelly roll of Wee Play to sew my first quilt.

Highlights from the trip include:

• A wonderfully relaxed baby, who slept most of the day on the drive and at the show.
• Standing in the Target parking lot, looking up at the bellies of planes as they came in for a landing.
• Starbucks!
• Chicago pizza so good that Krista and I nearly finished an entire pie by ourselves.

I'm not sure if we will go again next year, but I would like to go to at least a couple of art or quilt festivals a year now that I know what to expect and what to do. Like writing down the names of the quilters who sewed the creations I take pictures of...doh!