Quilt Market

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Trish

The quilts on exhibit were jaw dropping! {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

I know, quit complaining, right? I mean seriously, how much can you possibly stand to hear me moan and groan about my nervous stomach and anxiety over this whole process of trying to become a textile designer. This has been a long and trying journey so far. OK…so here’s the “story” of my experience and interviews at Quilt Market.

The night before day one, I could not get to sleep. If you were following me on Twitter, you know, I was up way late, up way early and was losing my mind. Not to mention the fact that I’m still nursing my baby, who I left at home, and who I have never been away from for more than a few hours. Heart wrenching. A few tears were shed.

Once I got to market the next morning, within minutes I had my first appointment. And it went well. I got great feedback and was asked to resubmit in a different format and add some things to show my line in finished product within the next 10 days. I had two other companies who liked me and we had a really great connection. Crossing my fingers. I had two complete rejections which was ok. They said, and it’s true, that the market is getting saturated with designers. Scrapbookers and graphic designers – everybody is designing for fabrics and it’s just very competitive right now. They both told me that before they even looked at my designs and then looked and gave me advice and feedback. That was very nice.

Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studios - sweetest girl ever! {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

In the midst of the interviews, I got to visit with some people who have been mentoring me through this process as well as some new friends. I had the best time meeting Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studios. She is just without a doubt the sweetest thing ever! We had talked before market about intellectual attorneys via email. She was wearing this super stylish coat! I love it! I bought the pattern to try making one for myself. I told Kay it will be cold weather again before I get it done! I think Kay and I could have talked all day about dust bunnies in our machines, top stitching, button holes and dishonest people. Super wonderful person!

Amy Butler has organic cotton bedding coming out soon! {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

Amy Butler is a “neighbor” of mine. She lives a few towns over from me. I have met her once before and I was absolutely shocked that when I walked over to her booth she greeted me with, “Hi Trish! You made it here! So good to see you!”. One time I met her and she remembered my name, remembered the thank you card I had sent her for helping me out, wow! I hope I can have a memory like that! I mean, she is one busy person so that’s pretty impressive. No doubt, one of the reasons why she is so well liked. Not only does she make amazing things but she is one heck of wonderful people person. So very warm and just nice, nice, nice. One of the things I’m trying to push with my line is for it to be green. And Amy and I had a nice conversation about organic cottons and dyes, and recycled materials and where the demand currently is. SO, listen up…if you are someone who thinks it’s important for us to support farming in the US, support organics, support sustainable business practices – you need to let the textile companies know that you want and will pay for organic cottons. It would be great to see there be a cry for green products in this industry!

She's bringing "denim" back! Cute jeans coupled with her fabrics. {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

(Are you sick of seeing photos of me yet? Sorry, my first market – playing major tourist!) Patty Young had a colorful little booth and her handy husband was with her over in the Michael Miller area. You gotta check out her blog and read about what happened before she got to market. Holy moly! But as you can see, her booth looked fabulous. And her new sewing patterns – they are really cute.

Lila Tueller - top notch lady! So wonderfully sweet! {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

Lila Tueller, she started all of this! Oh, she may not remember BUT Lila was kind enough to browse my portfolio last fall and sent me the nicest, longest e-mail about how I needed to take my work to the next level and that I had really great quality work. She gave me all kinds of tidbits of advice that got me started on my portfolio. So when I met Lila finally in person, she could not have been nicer. She made my day because she was just gushing over my portfolio and made me feel so good on a day when I was feeling incredibly nervous and doubtful.

And her niece Chelsea,

Pink fig patterns - I love 'em! {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

you’ve heard me say before, amazingly easy patterns! Looking for something cute to make, easy – I mean I made my girls Easter dresses from her Lily pattern in about 3 hours.

All in all, a great trip. I took that first leap. I made all the connections. I networked. And now I have 3 great leads I’m working on. Within a month, I should either know if I’m getting my own line now or if I have to try again later. I’ll keep ya posted!

Aren't these beautiful? Wouldn't they be great for an outdoor evening party? These were at the Baby Lock booth. I would LOVE a new serger from them. hint! hint! wink! nudge! hip shimmey! I know my husband reads my blog so excuse me while I drop a HUGE hint here. {Spring Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - 2009}

I can say, my stomach feels much better now. I got so many emails and voicemails from family and friends who said they were praying for me while I was at market and I have no words to tell you how much I appreciate that.

I was asked to provide a giveaway for a website called TryHandmade – way cool! Hop over and give them a peek and subscribe to their newsletter. This country is packed with fantastically talented women!

I may be slow to post for the next few weeks…drawings to complete, orders to go out, shows to prep for, kids to take care of, and oh yeah, I actually have a “real job” too! So what’s new with you? Drop me a line and let me know what you have going on in your sewing room!

Xoxo, Trish

{May Giveaway}

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Trish

Just a quick note that I have one of my applique shirts to giveaway this month. You choose adult or kids size and your design. All you have to do is leave a comment.

Preferably something nice about how I’m not as stupid as I think I am for taking such a huge risk in spending oodles of dollars to produce designs that someone may or may not love and thinking that maybe someday, I could make a purse with my very own fabric. Yeah, like something nice like that. Or not.

Hey, do you recycle? Here’s a thought…between our composting and recycling, we generate ONE bag of trash per week. Can the paperboard milk jugs be recycled? How are you doing on reducing waste in your home? Next month, June giveaway, a set of farmers market bags to go along with our recycling theme. I make them from recycled material I get from the thrift store.

And this time, I mean it, I’m really not posting again until after market. Today I just happen to be twiddling my thumbs until everything comes back from the printer and then work on my dot.com tonight. New website launch VERY SOON! Yea! See ya later, and by later, I mean later, like next week-ish or so.

xoxo, Trish

Off we go….

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Trish

This little new design will be holding my portfolio for me at Quilt Market. I'm still working out the kinks on it so expect to see this bag for sale sometime next month with a bit more angle to the sides. Love it though! What do you think? I think I'll call her "Charlie".

This little new design will be holding my portfolio for me at Quilt Market. The fabrics are from Anna Maria Horners Garden Party and also Heather Bailey Pop Garden. I'm still working out the kinks on it so expect to see this bag for sale sometime next month with a bit more angle to the sides. Love it though! What do you think? I think I'll call her "Charlie".

OK, so I have barely touched my sewing machine in the last couple of weeks. I have had meeting after meeting with my design team about my portfolio. Picking out colors and getting things just so…so…so, I have to confess. I don’t know what I’m doing. This whole, “trying to be a textile designer” thing has my stomach in such knots. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. It’s all one big guess. I drew up some sketches, my wonderful girls – Sonya and Melinda (you girls ROCK!) managed this whole project, digitized my designs, and made me look way cool on paper. Never in a million years could I have accomplished any of this without them. And for as much as I have prayed about this process, about the path I am on – I have to believe I’m moving in the right direction. Melinda goes to my church and we started chatting about this months ago and it has snowballed from there. I just see God working in so many aspects of this journey and it’s pretty darn amazing. Whatever happens, happens. I have faith that I’ll be just where God wants me to be, what is best for our family. But…I could sure use some prayers. When I say my stomach has been in knots I mean like morning sickness anxiety crazy blah magnified like 20 times. My heart is pounding the minute I wake up because I’m thinking about what I have to do that day for deadlines and orders and getting things out so I can make it to Quilt Market. Very stressful. Although, Thursday night before market, Carla (my husbands way wonderful Aunt who has been one of “the” buyers for a HUGE retailer for the last 25 years – she’s been so supportive and calming for me) will be arriving early at our hotel and plan on a nice long relaxing meal out. Rarely do I go anywhere without kids so I’m kind of looking forward to just a little night out.

This all started with Joan. My friend Joan said, “you ought to do home parties” for my purse sales. So she hosted a party for me at her house. It went well and so it grew from there. Then she introduced me to Jodi. Jodi is another graphic designer guru who created my logo. If you like my branding look, that is all thanks to Jodi. She has this way of crawling in my head and getting just the right thing. She designed my sewing pattern covers that will be out late this year. She’s awesome. Then there is Suann – from Bows and Blossoms, who said I should look into this site and that site for website designs and hosting. Saved me a ton of money (hopefully, I’ll be launching the new site in the next week or two). And there is Jill, one of my “best” customers who is turned into a great friend who shares retail therapy with me. Barb who keeps me sane and lets my use her computer because “we only have dial up” at our house. Crazy! And Kris who helped push my business further too – and just has been a wonderful friend. There have been so many wonderful people, friends, collegues and my sweet family – along the way that have helped push me along the path. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you guys – I am so grateful and incredibly blessed. No matter what happens, I got friends and in the end, that’s all that matters. :>) Ahhh…ok enough mush mush.

Adult tee

adult tee

caterpillar onesie

little birdie onesie

Just a few more shirt designs…the little onesies are $12. Not up on etsy yet but eventually. Email me if you’re interested at twopeasinapoddesigns@gmail.com. I HEART the little caterpillar one. My girls are big on worms and the like so this is their favorite.

I’ll hopefully have some positive things to report when I get back from Quilt Market. I leave on Thursday. I won’t post again until after I get back. Wish me luck! I could sure use it. I’ll try to keep everyone posted on Twitter!

xoxoxo, Trish