And Now the REST of the Story
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008When someone writes about a recent quilt show you always hear about the gorgeous quillts, the awesome new techniques, the Best of Show, the list of Winners, new projects and what the author has spent their well earn dollars on. BUT no one ever reorts on the LIGHTER Side of a Quilt Show…and so, like Paul Harvey says, “and now the rest of the story.”
Â
The Dynamic Duo Has Returnued. To fight for justice, truth and the American Quilters, this team of fabric finders has returned from Des Moines! Shirley and I returned a few days ago from the Des Moines, Iowa AQS show. We got to introduce some of our new fabrics!!!!! Apparently the quilters in the mid west know great fabric when they see it…our new line was flying off the shelves! Come to www.batiksbydesign.com in a few days and see for yourself the wonderful, dreamy new fabric that came in JUST before we left.Â
Shirley and I left for Des Moines a week ago Monday – our trip started off uneventful (the best kind of trip) we drove to Bettendorf where we spent the night with friends. Ate a wonderful dinner with them at the Machine Shed Restaurant – WOW, great food! If you have never eaten at one – it is a great meal – but go hungry. Tuesday morning we left early to get to Des Moines and set up our booth. We were excited about going to the first ever AQS show in Des Moine when our excitment turned to dread…were those rain clouds up ahead? Yep… We got to the staging area only to wait and watch the rain on the windshield…we tried all the old tried and true methods to make the rain clouds blow over…even tried a new one…have you ever heard of a “WOO” chant? wooooooooOOO…WoooooHOOO…go away rain wooooooHooo WoooHooo…. Well trust me…it doesn’t work! But we did get a lot of laughs… We had to unload in the 
pouring rain…with rain ponchos on and plastic covering our wagons of fabric we managed to drag 1/2 of the puddles inside to our booth. Of course we had no rags to wipe up the slippery floor. BUT the Dynamic Duo improvises…and Patti is 2 t-shirts short for the week……Set up is alway a long day but also fun to meet your neighbors, see their products, size up the competition. One show we had a screamer…she wanted no pictures taken of her booth and would scream at people who raised a cameras…This show we had GREAT neighbors. Helpful ones unless the set up was too much then they ha
d to catch a nap.Â
pouring rain…with rain ponchos on and plastic covering our wagons of fabric we managed to drag 1/2 of the puddles inside to our booth. Of course we had no rags to wipe up the slippery floor. BUT the Dynamic Duo improvises…and Patti is 2 t-shirts short for the week……Set up is alway a long day but also fun to meet your neighbors, see their products, size up the competition. One show we had a screamer…she wanted no pictures taken of her booth and would scream at people who raised a cameras…This show we had GREAT neighbors. Helpful ones unless the set up was too much then they ha
d to catch a nap. Opening day was Wednesday. Alway a fun day to have customers come in and express excitment and love for our fabric. We have all sorts of customers come in. We have the OHHHH LOOK ones who have never seen our fabric and to give us the sign of approval.  We love customers like this – they make our day fun!
Â
Thursday we were sort of dragging coming in early in the morning…we were coming down the rows of vendors who cover their products with tuille, fabric, or other stuff…when walking down the aisle LOOK…”it’s a bird……it’s a plane….no it’s SHEET MAN! What a great way to start a morning - – with a big SMILE and a laugh!Â
Each day comes with new challenges. We met so many fantastic people. We meet elite quilters and some who are down to earth quilters and maybe some who are royality……Yes we met a queen and her jester…. We got to meet the Queen of Stain Glass. Diane Ku
ch…is a hoot and a half. 
If you ever get to a show where she is, you HAVE to go and meet her. She will have you laughing in the first minute! Check out her patterns at Details by Diane.Â
ch…is a hoot and a half. 
If you ever get to a show where she is, you HAVE to go and meet her. She will have you laughing in the first minute! Check out her patterns at Details by Diane. Â
There comes a time when you have to say goodbye. We take down our quilts, pack up the kits, put the fabric back in the wagons and say goodbye to our great neighbors from Des Moines. We had a great show…we had a great time…but with fond fairwell I have to say goodbye to Shirley. It seems Diane has wooed her away to write Diane’s blog….UNLESS . . 
. I can figure out a way to convince her to stay and write for me……
. I can figure out a way to convince her to stay and write for me……Â
And so the Dynamic Duo is home again…resting up for a few days…Shirley has already made up 2 bags for Houston, Patti has started another Pumpkin sample since she gave the one we had to her sister, and we are making jackets out of our new fabric…you must come check us out if you are coming to the show in Houston…
All the best, Patti and Shirley
