SewbySanne

“I really do want to go to QuiltCon someday.” I think a lot of (modern) quilters have said those words at some point. Irene and I certainly had, and last year we finally decided to actually make it happen.

Full of excitement—and with a healthy dose of adrenaline and nerves—we were in the virtual queue for workshops the moment registration opened. Technically, everything that could go wrong with the website did go wrong, but we still managed to get into all three workshops we had our hearts set on.

It got a bit tense for a moment: due to the technical issues, registration was paused, and it wasn’t 100% certain whether we’d get to keep our spots. But after a little while, the redeeming email came in—our three workshops were confirmed!

After that, life got in the way and we kind of “forgot” that we were actually going to QuiltCon—so the hotel and flights were booked a bit last-minute. But eventually, the time had come.

We would have loved to add a few extra days in Phoenix and explore the area, but with young families and both of us running our own businesses, that just wasn’t in the cards this time.

And then, finally, it was happening. On Wednesday, February 19th, we left for Schiphol Airport in the early morning and flew via London to Phoenix. We grabbed a taxi to our hotel and arrived just in time to stream the Award Ceremony from our room. It already gave us a taste of all the beauty we’d get to experience in the days ahead.

Day 1

We started the day bright and early with a classic American hotel breakfast: bagels, weak coffee, and overly strong tea with a hint of coffee flavor. As soon as we walked into the convention hall, we were immediately blown away. There was already a massive line at the Ruby Star Society booth. Later we learned that on the first day, they usually sell older, hard-to-find prints for the serious collectors—and there are a lot of them. Ruby Star Society is hugely popular in the U.S. among modern quilters; almost every booth had something from them for sale.

Irene kicked off her day with a meet & greet at the Benartex booth, and from there, we spent most of the day walking around the vendor hall and part of the quilt exhibition. It was truly overwhelming—in the best way possible. So much to see, so many people striking up conversations, and such an open, social atmosphere.

By midday, we were feeling a bit overstimulated by all the impressions, so we took a break with a quiet cup of coffee and let everything sink in. We wrapped up the evening with dinner alongside other Benartex designers, and left filled with inspiration and amazing stories.

We went to bed early, still buzzing from the beautiful garments and bags we had seen—and definitely ready for some sleep. That jet lag and long journey were definitely catching up with us.

Day 2

We kicked off the day with our very first workshop: Curvelitos—tiny circles, half circles, and quarter circles. The workshop was led by Fiona Johnstone. We’ll be sharing a more in-depth post about all the workshops in a future blog.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a lovely lunch, followed by a presentation on the main stage featuring Irene and the other Benartex designers.

After yesterday’s inspiration overload, we had a bit more of a plan today—and that meant shopping! One thing I hadn’t quite expected (but absolutely loved) was the abundance of goodies and materials we received and could win. Both Figo and Art Gallery Fabrics held giveaways multiple times a day, so our bags were definitely filling up quickly.

At the end of the afternoon, we had a really special moment: the MQG Mini Swap in real life. We had both signed up for it back in the fall—because swaps are always fun, but being able to exchange quilts with your partner in person makes it even more special.

The room was filled with enthusiastic people and the most stunning mini quilts. It was funny to see how “mini” and “modern” were interpreted quite broadly—there was such a wide variety of styles on display.

I was completely spoiled with a gorgeous fox quilt (my favorite animal!), combined with my favorite fabrics from Giucy Giuce. Irene received a mini quilt with cathedral windows featuring beautifully fussy-cut Heather Ross fabrics.

If you’d like to read more about the swap, be sure to check out my previous blog!

Day 3

Saturday started bright and early with an event for guild leaders, organized by the MQG. The event, called Muffins and Mingle, was such a fun experience. There was a generous breakfast spread with coffee and tea, and the room was filled with quilt guild leaders from all over. Every half hour, you switched tables and discussed different topics. We talked about websites, membership fees, inspiration, whether or not to grow, and there was lots of great conversation all around. We also had the chance to meet the board member responsible for Europe, as well as other members of the MQG leadership team.

After that, Irene had another meet and greet on the show floor, and I treated myself to a bit of shopping. A fox pattern by Elizabeth Hartman had been calling my name since day one—so that, along with a starter kit for the quilt, went straight into my bag.

In the afternoon, we joined a screen printing workshop taught by Karen Lewis. It was such a nice change of pace—after all the hustle and bustle, it felt great to spend a few hours making and designing with our own hands.

We ended the day with a giant pizza at the sports bar next to our hotel—a pizza the size of a wagon wheel that even two hungry quilters couldn’t quite finish, but it was delicious! Tomorrow is already the last day…

Day 4

Sunday morning started with a calm and relaxing workshop: hand quilting with Jen Kingwell. The activity itself is already meditative, but Jen is also such a kind and laid-back person—it was the perfect way to begin our last day in Phoenix.
(Next month we’ll be sharing another blog post with all our workshop experiences—otherwise, this one would be way too long!)

We squeezed in some final shopping: those things we’d been eyeing for days, a few extra fabrics, some beeswax for hand quilting—and then it was time to stuff everything into our suitcases and head to the airport.

Four amazing days, from early morning to late at night, completely immersed in modern quilting—fantastic!

We landed back at Schiphol on Monday afternoon—completely exhausted, after a quick dash through Heathrow thanks to a delay and a tight connection. Tired but happy, with a suitcase full of goodies and purchases, and hearts and minds overflowing with inspiration, beautiful stories, and unforgettable memories.

I would honestly recommend QuiltCon to anyone—if you ever get the chance, go! I already can’t wait for the next one.

Sanne