I loved this little quilt. It is funny to me that in a place with so many quilts – this captured my imagination. The fussy cutting and teeny tiny piecing just makes my heart sing. I am sure the class that I took with Debbie Grifka (read more about it here) made me realize what an accomplishment this is – and my deep admiration for doing something 100 days in a row. I digress.
Sash, Carson Converse 
Mountain Horizon, Brittany Lloyd 
Piece of Cake, Ann Feitelson 
Complementary Convergence, Cassandra J. Beaver 
Slivers of Rivers, Simone Bradford 
Quilt Outside the Box, Debra Jalbert 
Lucy in the Sky, Alane Davis 
Woven Indigo No 57, Sarah Hilbert
I spent a lot of time looking at quilts – these are not all – but these are among the favorites I saw. I decided not to take pictures of the winners – but quilts that struck me. The aisles were awfully crowded so I even gave up on that after awhile, there really was so much to take in. Thinking next time (and I hope I do go in 2020 or 2021) I would do a more divide and conquer approach. Take the days and 2 hours for the show each day and divide the rows – so that I do a section or two each day and that is it. I hope future shows use more space between the aisles, it is just not enough.
Classes, Lectures and Comments:
- Season Evans : How to Quilt Minimalist Quilts (3 hours) I was a little unsure of this class but I learned a lot. Season began with an introduction to a few styles that work on minimalist quilts. Our exercises were to do 2 on her quilt an 2 on our own quilt – pencil and tracing paper. It was really helpful and I know you will see more of it in my quilting.
- Christina Cameli: Free Form Quilting (3 hours). Take her class, any, if you get a chance. She has a great style and great techniques. I am not so free form with my quilting, but she brought it out in me. One of her quilts at the show illustrated a lot of what she taught in the class. Check it out here. Also, a new Blueprint class, which I am definitely taking. It will reinforce what I did at QuiltCon – always a good thing.
- Elizabeth Townsend Gard: Quilting and IP: It’s Not What You Think (1 hour). Lots of great information in this one hour lecture. Listen to her when you get a chance if you are a designer. Watch for her book or listen to her podcast – you will learn a lot.
- Daisy Aschehoug: Technology in Quilt Design (1 hour). Daisy mentioned a lot of great tools. Only wish there was more time to delve into a few new ones I with which I was unfamiliar. More homework….for me. I’ll let you know if I find some that are interesting. I do need to up my game with a drawing app/program.
- Debbie Grifka: Everyday Creativity (3 hours). You can see what I thought about this in an entry a few days ago – here.
Some fabric for a purse and a few miscellaneous pieces I was given, a multi colored zipper, Clover bias maker and Sew Tites 
Stripology Squared, Daylight/Wafer I, some stripology patterns & arrow markers. 
Step by Step FMQ by Christina Camelli, a few patterns for one block quilts (gifts with Sew Tite purchase)
I really enjoyed Quilt Con and think I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. I will go again – just not sure if 2020 0r 2021. I’ll let you know. Meanwhile – the things I would do differently are: only one night class, maybe one free day entirely, maybe stay through Sunday, and volunteer. So go if you can – its a lot of fun and so many things you learn.
Update 3/4/19
WINNERS!!!THANK YOU to all who commented during my giveaways. My giveaways were sent on Friday, Karen T, Bernie K, and Kathy L won and should be getting there FQs and a few little things soon. I haven’t decided on the next, but it is coming.
Hi Kathleen! Fabulous quilts you have shared. It sounds like it was very crowded. I am kind of glad I missed it – I’m not a huge fan of tons of crowds, but the classes looked great. I’ll have to see where next year’s venue is located. ~smile~ Roseanne
It wasn’t a total zoo but even Thursday I was surprised at how crowded the hall was in the morning. I would have separated vendors and quilts. This is a huge national show and bigger I think as there is only “one” with this theme and maybe the more central the location (versus E or W) the more crowded – I know they were surprised (but how with preregistration by 90% of attendees?). Next year is Austin, last weekend in Feb again 23-26? I haven’t decided but a leaning towards yes.
Night classes are tough and require a lot of energy and focus to make it through. I’m glad you had a great time!
I did and am trying to see if I can do next year – kind of expensive but I think it is well worth it!
I would think a night class would be tough; I’d be exhausted from the daytime events. You took in so much, and have given us a good review of your experience. Thanks for the links to check out!
I am glad it was helpful and I thought sharing the links would be helpful. Let me know if any thing really captures your muse.
I received my fat quarters and fun things yesterday!! Thank you so very much. I am planning on attending next year in Austin as my daughter lives there. Which means I will have a free room and probably someone to accompany me. When will they start taking registrations?
I think it was November…..I will check back for you. Are you a member? You get notifications that way. Not very expensive for an individual.
The hotel reservations are early – I did mine in late April last year. The class sign up for guild members was late June.
Thank you for your review, Kathleen! That first quilt you posted is love at first sight!!! Is that some bark cloth you purchased for a bag? I bought some recently also. And I love everything Stripology.
You are welcome! Concerning the bark cloth – I was going for a heavier weight and don’t really know what it was. I will research it more. I just loved the pattern and the teal!
Stripology has been calling my name so I am anxious to play. I’ll get out her videos and maybe make one of the patterns. I am really curious about the squaring up which was part of the reason I bought this one – and size. My girlfriend had to put it in her luggage, it was a bit too large for mine (the old 1/2”).