Through Friday-use code “mybirthday” make that “mybirthday1” at check out for 20% off your purchase! While you’re over, be sure to check out all the yummy newness that’s already been arriving!

What? What’s this? You mean we don’t just go back to our rooms and pass out between laps around Market? Yes, that’s right…Market is a full time social event as well and you better be ready with your party shoes! I find the moments “between” Market (the lunches, meet-n-greets and one on one time with designers, publishers, shop owners, etc) to actually be the most productive. Besides meeting great new people, it’s a chance to get a little “inside dirt” on upcoming collections, books, etc.

So on Thursday, after all those Schoolhouse Series classes, Jona, Bari J and I strolled over to the Omni Penn to enjoy a little Starbucks before the evening’s festivities in the lounge there. On the way, we ran into Sandi Henderson and I HAD to ask her about the current issue of Ottobre magazine and an apparent lack of crediting fabrics to her. Let me tell you, Sandi is too much of a lady to say so herself, but she did confirm that her beautiful Farmer’s Market fabrics had indeed been copied by a European manufacturer! This was followed by a very loud swearing by me and, while I AM loud, I am not in the habit of swearing. So, if you want to recreate those lovely looks, be sure to do it with REAL Farmer’s Market fabrics, designed by Sandi and manufactured by Michael Miller!

After all that, I really DID need to sit down and have that cool, refreshing iced coffee…

Here’s me and Bari J cooling our heels and tweeting. I lifted this picture from Jona…she REALLY needs a smartphone of some kind so she can tweet and stuff too (Joey, if you’re listening…lol!!!) What I really enjoyed that you can’t see happening in this picture, was the business related conversation Jona and I were having. I picked her brain a little on how she keeps it all together with her 5 kids (vs the paltry 2 that I have, lol!) and how she seems to squeeze in almost daily sewing and blogging. The best info? She pointed out that I am in a different place in my life…my kids are only two and five, compared to her 3 teens, the oldest of which is really helpful both with business and the siblings. Right now I’m just looking forward to the day they are both in school full time! lol!

After resting up a bit, we relocated to the main lounge/lobby area and positioned ourselves so we could catch people coming in, looking for our little gathering. I won’t even try to tell you who arrived and in what order…I’ll just say it was so fun!!! The more relaxed atmosphere of a casual gathering, combined with a few drinks really lends itself to getting to know each other more than you can on the show floor.

Ok, so totally embaressing or not, I don’t know…I didn’t take ANY pictures during the party! I know, terrible, right? But again, I like to travel light people! The mingling was fun…meeting new people and catching up with old friends…Scott (Blue Nickel), Geniveve Gail (Windham), Susanne (C&T Publishing) are just a few names coming to my mind…I need to get out my business cards to remember everyone’s name! Yikes! I did get to hang out with the elusive Tula Pink and HER MOM! And I met Jessica L (juicy bits blog…if you haven’t checked it out, you’re missing out!). Totally one to shut a party down, I think Jessica and I were the last ones to leave! She was just around the corner from me, so we walked and chatted and of course, I invited her to dine and hang out…I collect friends like that

Omg, I look like a hot pink grimace *shudder* Ok, everyone look at Jessica instead…Did I mention her blog?

I’ll see if I can find a few pictures to bring over…there’s one of me and Paula Prass and, for once, I am not the one with the open mouth! I know, it’s like a miracle, haha!

I suppose you want to know who’s getting the prize from the last post too? Ok…how about Chops says #12 Vanessa…whoo hoo!!! I have your address girl! I’ll get this right out to you!

Now it’s late, too late to take pictures, dang it…but if you come back tomorrow, I promise MORE Market blogging…Friday was when the REAL action started…AND another fun little giveaway!

Whew! What a busy couple of weeks! As most of you know, I was in Pittsburgh for Quilt Market, excitedly choosing new fabrics and vendors and stuffing my suitcase with wonderful new patterns to help use up those growing fabric stashes!

All orders from the big ol sale are cut and are in the process of being packed and shipped…I am up to order #3783 and anticipate getting the rest out through the weekend. My apologies for the delay…I just didn’t realize how busy I would be when I got back and then *of course* I ran out of labels and boxes…doesn’t it always happen that way? But now that those are caught up, I’m ready to tempt you with a little more

This week’s special-25% off SELECT fabrics…this includes everything in the Asian Imports section, Neptune, Oh Cherry Oh, Soiree, Proud, and get a jump on Halloween (omg, did I just say THAT?) with Halloween and Pirates and Punks fabrics also on sale.

I do need to add some pictures, but I also got a huge box of new trims and patches, including new colors of twill tape and elastic cord, soft stretch lace (great for leggings), elastic ruffle trim, size tags in XS,S and M…and of course, lots of new patterns! You can always check out the newest items HERE.

Next week, I expect to be adding more Clover yo-yo makers in all sizes (including the newest HUGE one) as well as their bow and rose folding kits…and, my new favorite…patterns from My Favorite Things! If you haven’t worked with these, be sure to come over and pick one up…classic styling for women and children with women’s sizes up to 22. My Favorite Things always get rave reviews and I’m sure they will become your favorite too!

Be sure to stop by the blog to catch up with my Quilt Market reporting…if you can’t come, it’s the next best thing…and there are GIVEAWAYS too!

Also, in the coming weeks, fabrichound will be getting a rebuild. The look of the site will not change much, but the features, oh the features! How about an advanced search that actually works? A fully integrated blog so that you can click on a store page link and go to a tutorial or picture for inspiration…How about a design wall IN the shopping cart? I know I’m looking forward to a more streamlined shopping experience for YOU to enjoy and can’t wait to unveil that!

As always, YOU are my most valued customers AND friends-our love of fabric and sewing ties us together and I appreciate your business. Thank you for making fabrichound your choice!

So, let’s clear something up right away…I’m not like WAY into “being green”. But I guess when your whole life is lived in a desert with constant messages of water conservation and you spend your childhood visitng national parks instead of, say, Disneyland, you can’t help but have some “green” in your everyday life.

I live in a great area where a car wouldn’t really be neccessary. I can walk to the grocery store and even Old Navy or Target. For years I rode these little 50cc scooters that got INSANE gas mileage…I miss them…then there’s the kids…and the MOUNTAINS of packages that have to go to the post office…and the PILES of stuff from Costco (that’s not as bad as it sounds…bulk packaging is environmentally friendly and reduces the number of shopping trips). So WHERE is a busy mommy supposed to put all this stuff?

Well, HERE of course!

Tell me that is NOT the most amazing and awesome bike you have EVER seen? Seriously, I have crazy bike envy now and am totally entering to win. I’m always tempted to keep these sorts of contest on the DL, but it’s better to share the love than hoard it, right?

So just clickety clicky on the picture on the left…that will take you to Madsen’s site and you can find all the details there…I’m thinking about just buying one if I don’t win, but I wonder how the HOA will feel about a bike parked in my car spot? We’re supposed to keep bikes on our patios and I just don’t see me carrying this up the stairs and through the house, lol! But where there’s a will…

Yes, another day with no pictures…lol! Not really…and at the same time, ummm well…

I stayed at the Hamption Inn on Smallman which was totally close to the convention center…like across the parking lot and around the corner close. LOVE that! So first thing after the yummy breakfast buffet, I had a nice little walk over. I passed this sign and was WAY impressed…

Honestly, this might not be that big a deal to some of you, but it just so happens, I have been to the Western end of this expedition, in Seaside Oregon. Being from the Western US, I’ve seen so many National Parks and monuments and really enjoy visiting them. But the Eastern US, especially the Northeast is so full of a different kind of history that I haven’t had a chance to explore much yet. Anyway, I was totally tickled to be able to say now that I’ve been to the beginning and the end

OK-I guess it’s good I don’t have a bunch of pictures. These posts would be crazy long!

Market Day #2 was the Schoolhouse Series. This is a day’s worth of 15 and 30 minute presentations for the Quilt Market attendees. Some are educational, such as the benefits of using the internet…some are designers and manufacturers introducing a new product. Sometimes you get freebies (great for blog giveaways ;)) or win a prize. I mostly went to more business oriented and internet presentations, but HAD to see Michael Miller debut new collections from Laura Gunn, Paula Prass and our pal, Patty Young, as well as others. I was so stunned by the bright colors, I completely forgot to take pictures!

I also went to see Jenean Morrison present her new line, Picnic Parade…she told me she had a giveaway, which I LOVE because it was fabric so I could see it in person before I even got down to the show floor. I know Bari J tweeted a picture of me, walking some samples around…

…glad I was wearing that coordinating pink shirt, haha! Phyllis Dobbs showed off some fun new lines from Quilting Treasures…and let us make off with a couple of fat quarters from their licensed Golden Books line.

I think that our Thursday evening Meet-N-Greet in the Omni Penn lobby deserves it’s own post, so I’ll be back with that, later or tomorrow…the photographic evidence is out there, LOL!!!!! But before I go, I owe you some winners and another giveaway…

The WINNER of the Moda Home Calender Tea Towel is Kelly (comment #8)-the 16th is Ziva (my younger dd)’s bday. I need your address to send this to you

The WINNER of a boutique eye mask and plain (but new in plastic) earplugs is Dawn (comment #5). Anyone who’s been through all that NEEDS any extra naptime she can sneak in! lol!

And I GUESS *eye rolls and big sighs* I can part with the fun lil fq’s of Little Golden Books fabric and a bit of this gorgeous new trim from the shop…

that matches perfectly. Leave a comment, blah blah blah and maybe you’ll get lucky!

Am I finally ready to start my Quilt Market blogging? oh, yes, I guess I am! I do still have to go collect pictures from my camera toting pals for other posts, but this one I think I can handle…Chops got me a 4G microSD card for my BlackJack, so I didn’t even take our small point-n-shoot. And those of you who know me know that, while I do love pictures, I love even more to travel light. And that I’m usually too busy working and socializing at Market to take pictures…if you find my blog lacking in photographic evidence, just facebook me or take a lil bloggy tour…it’s out there, hahahaha!

Ok-back to the real blogging!

Wednesday May 13-I am a morning person, but I don’t think that really applies when you’re calling a cab and it’s still dark out! My flight left at 6:50am, which meant getting up about 4:30am *yawn*. And double humbug on the Starbucks in the airport for not having my usual Espresso Truffle. I had to let a couple of people go ahead of me because I didn’t have any “backup” plan…story of my life, lol!  Got on the plane, got an aisle seat (yay me!), popped a couple of Benadryl (which have the same active ingredient as Dramamine). While waiting for the meds to kick in and the rest of the plane to load, I started making new friends. I can usually tell who’s going to Market. I met the fabulous ladies of Hillcreek Designs who happen to be local for me…I can’t wait to get over to their place and add their buttons to my shop…

I digress…I do that you know…once the plane was up, I slipped on my eye mask and earplugs and actually slept most of the way to Chicago. Believe me, the people around me have NO IDEA how lucky they were. I’m usually that person who wants to talk your ear off the whole flight, lol!

Coming in to Chicago…well, let’s just say I don’t need to ride any rollercoasters anytime soon. And it sure doesn’t help that I’m afraid to fly. But once we were safely on the ground, it was all good and I was STARVING! Which brings me to…

YUM YUM YUM!!! Who could possibly resist an original Chicago style Superdawg with all the toppings? Not me, that’s for sure! Add extra “I’m impressed” points for super ease of carrying with the fries in the box and the mustard already on it AND the fact that they pair it with Coke so I don’t have to hunt that down seperately. Superdawg-I love you!!!

At my gate, I met the fantastically talented Marci Baker. She has a new quilt book coming that is all stripwork. I’m not even a quilter and I was so impressed at the ease of the projects in her upcoming book. She let me take a peek at the galley she was holding and I just couldn’t believe that the finished products were made from strips! I might have to take up quilting ;)  I also lucked upon Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig Boutique Patterns. I know Chelsea from previous Markets and way back in the days of eBay boutique. It was a pleasure to sit with her and chat in the more relaxed atmosphere of the plane. She told me she had a few new goodies to show me, as well deals for buying at Market, so you KNOW I was all over that!

Finally on the ground in Pittsburgh, we ran into Jona and her husband Joey (fabritopia) and *squeal* Bari Ackerman (Bari J). Chelsea had to scoot so I hung out with Fabritopia and Bari J while I waited for Lori (buythebolt) and her daughter Jamie (maricopa fabrics). The airport was like a mini Quilt Market! Handmade bags abounded! Several made up in the new Moda line, Wonderland by Japanese designer, Momo. Eventually Jamie and Lori arrived and they were kind enough to drop me by my hotel for check in, then we proceeded to the Sonoma Grille and Wine Bistro for a delish late supper with Paula Prass and her daughter Jenn Storey. I have to get the picture from Joey to add here…I CLEANED MY PLATE! If you’ve ever eaten with me, you’ll know that this is a HUGE deal! I’m usually way too busy talking!

 So, I’ll be back with a couple more pics and more market posts…I owe someone a Moda Home calender dishtowel from LAST Market, LOL! And I need to announce a winner for the eyemask/earplug combo mentioned in the previous post.

So I promised pals (via Twitter and facebook) that I would write a post regarding minding your manners while traveling. Nothing sets me off more than rudeness and it’s usually amplified in the microcosm of the airport and planes. Let me also state for the record that it’s not like I’m new to flying…I might no like it, but I do it…what are the alternatives really? I don’t have days and days to drive from San Diego to wherever fabric shows, friends and family might be. I took my first flight that I can remember when I was about 3. We had to cross the tarmac and climb the stairs, they let me pass out mints after the MEAL (yes, I said MEAL), let me taste the Coke syrup (anyone else remember that?), showed me the cockpit and gave me those great plastic wings. Quite the heady experience. And I understand truly…it’s a business. Flying isn’t an occasional luxury like it once was. People commute by airplane and we’ve gotten used to cramped quarters and less considerations.

Let’s get one thing straight though. Just like any rather uncomfortable situation, flying frustrations can be eased by being patient, courteous and considerate of our fellow travelers. When I’m annoyed, it’s not the airline that’s usually the problem, it’s the other passengers! I realize that some people don’t fly often or sometimes the situation requires extra manuvering, such as flying with children or if you need a wheelchair…no, that’s not what I’m talking about…

I’m talking about you…you know who you are. Apparently you’ve been living in a cave for the past 20 years or so or this is your first plane trip EVER! You knew full well that bag you had to sit on to close wasn’t going to fit in the overhead bin, but you’re impatient and don’t want to wait for your bag at baggage claim, so you insist on trying to stuff it in, holding up the whole process and keeping others from sitting down, not to mention taking up the entire bin when we all know a couple of people need to share it. Once, I saw a woman with an impossibly large rectangular basket struggling to even make it down the aisle. Heaven only knows where she thought she was going to put it. Eventually, the flight attendant tries to gate check the basket. The woman is having none of it. What’s in that basket anyway, that’s so important that the whole boarding process is delayed? Bread. Yes, bread, rolls, flour, water, yeast, etc…bread was more important than everyone else getting where they needed to on time.

And I’m talking to you, guy in the last boarding group who always tries to slip in before his group is called. Why do you think YOU get “cuts”? Maybe it’s me? I must not realize how important you are, that you think the rules don’t apply to you.

And lastly, I’m talking to YOU! Guy next to me on that flight from Pittsburgh to Chicago Midway yesterday. I tweeted about you and everyone on facebook saw it too…you were a grown man, trying to push my arm off the armrest at every opportunity. Everyone KNOWS the person in the middle gets BOTH armrests. Not to mention how your leg was all hanging over in my personal space and you were one of those knee jumpers…AND I also have to point out that you were left handed and sitting on the left side of the plane on the aisle seat, doing sudoku the whole time, poking me with your elbow. You had the be the rudest person I have EVER met in my travels and only the facts that the flight was relatively short and that I didn’t want to make trouble for the flight attendents kept me from calling you out. You’re a big fat jerk!

The worst thing of all? You know these people will never read this…they should make giant signs of airplane etiquette and post them at the gates. Violation of common courtesy will result in immediate explusion from airport or plane, even if in the air at the time.

BONUS CONTEST-share your worst travel experience for a chance to win a set of earplugs and an eye mask. Perfect for ignoring those crummy people!

So, I’m still here kids…won’t be flying out until later this evening. I’m heading out for lunch and the Andy Warhol museum now as I have about 4 hours to kill. The food in this town is AMAZING! The tally so far…1 cheesesteak sub, 1 fancied up Pittsburgh salad, 2 corned beef sandwiches, 2 filet mignon and 1 chef’s special halibut. If you’re ever in Pittsburgh, you MUST try The LeMont on the Dusquene Incline and Primanti  Brothers just off Smallman.

Of course there will be blogging, picture sharing and GIVEAWAYS when I get home starting later this week…lots of fun was had by all, evidence on twitter and facebook and probably everyone else’s blogs, lol! I hope they let my bag on the plane…it’s stuffed to the gills with patterns, a Windham fat quater bundle, my signed copy of Heather Ross’s Weekend Sewing and juicy catalogs of fabric goodness.

The best news so far…fabrichound.com will be getting a revamp. Same look, but streamlined ordering, better cart system and a DESIGN WALL!!!! I can’t wait for the unveiling!

If you want to catch up with my Pittsburgh adventures today, catch me on twitter…link on the left

or, as Chops suggested, the “I don’t want to be bored when I get back from Market” sale, lol!

Since I can’t take you all to Market with me, and to make up for the fact that these orders won’t start going out for about a week, I’m offerring an AMAZING 50% off almost everything! Your chance to get a true wholesale price and stock up on great fresh fabrics! Still free shipping for US and Canada orders over $100 (10% off other International). Prices good through Sunday May 17.

Check HERE for newest products or SHOP THE SITE

Be sure to stay tuned to the blog for updates from Market as I’m able

thank you for shopping fabrichound

to buy some new fabric, patterns and MORE!

I leave for Quilt Market next Wednesday and will be working hard, walking the floor and carefully selecting new fabrics, patterns, notions, trims and MORE! I’m also going to their Schoolhouse Series, where manufacturers and well known fabricistas will show off new techniques and products, as well as lots of freebies usually…I love to giveaway the schwag when I get home, so be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed or have updates delivered to your email inbox so you don’t miss out!

ORDER DEADLINE 10am PST Tuesday May 11! Orders received after this will not be shipped until I return from Market (Tuesday May 18). As always, I am available by email to answer questions as best I can: myrinda@fabrichound.com . Email is ALWAYS the best way to reach me or please leave your email when leaving a phone message. You can, of course, continue to place orders while I am gone which will be filled in the order they are received.

Be sure to stay tuned as I bring you updates and PICTURES from Market!