Market Set-up Day and My Virtual Booth

Greetings from Iowa.
I know what you are thinking - Iowa?, did you mean Texas?
Actually, I am in Iowa. I am sitting out this market.
If you remember last Fall I prepared for market from a hospital room, waiting room and a tiny hotel room that I was sharing with my mom and two sisters, as my Dad recovered from a broken leg followed by complications.

Come spring, I prepared for market with the same scenario - just a different hospital, as my mother recovered from colon cancer surgery, followed by complications.

Along about the time our booth contracts were due, I had a third family member with a medical crises.
I immediately decided I did not want to prepare for another market from a hospital.
I took it as a sign I should sit this one out.
As it turned out, the crises was not as serious as first diagnosed, but by the time we found this out, the deadline had passed.

I still had the stress of making five quilts, two aprons and a tablerunner in just 11 days.
But I must say it was really nice not to throw booth designing into the craziness.

I also did not have to find time to pretty myself up, or clothes shop -

although I am disappointed that I did not have

an excuse to buy cute - somewhat uncomfortable - shoes.

Moda will be debuting my Lovely line of fabric at market.
If I were going to market, my booth would have to be...lovely.

I think I will start by covering my walls in this yellow fabric,

it's nice and neutral.

I always need a place to hide "stuff". The stuff that really is not a part of my booth but I need:
extra staples
tape gun
extra sell sheets
chocolate

I would use an old dresser for my "stuff"
And I would fill the top drawer with fresh flowers,
because I think that would be lovely.

I like to put a door in the corner of my booth to make a "closet".
Again to hide "stuff" like:
ladder
boxes
dolly cart

I would use the Accu Quilt Fabric Cutter machine

and charm squares to make a wreath to hang on my door.
(This is a computer generated one.)

If I was really good at Photoshop you would be able

to see just how cool it could be.

It is also very nice to have a table at market.
A place to sit and write orders.

I would put this table runner on the table.

Pattern #515 Kitchen-maids.

I would wear my green sweater dress with the apron on the left.
Bruce would reluctantly wear the one on the right.
He would NOT wear this shirt.
I wanted him to change but he did not have time,
as the boys were waiting outside in the car to head to Canada fishing.
He asked why HE had to wear the apron.
I said "because I have to take the picture".
It never dawned on him that I could wear the apron
and HE could take the picture????
I will give him a break, he had fishing on his mind.
You can make both aprons and the tablerunner on my table,
with one Jelly Roll™. #515 Kitchen-maids

I wanted Bruce to wear this cool vintage corsage I found in an antique shop,
but he REFUSED.

It looks just like the flowers in the large print from my Lovely line.

It is perfect with the apron.
You could shop until you dropped
and never find a pin that is more perfect than this one,
wouldn't your agree. (With Photoshop you can do most anything.)

I always have a picture of my kids in my booth.

I think I will use this picture

Abby, Deb and Anthony

I also would hang all of my Lovely quilts on the walls in my booth.
Unfortunately, these are the computer generated pictures.
If you are going to market you can see the real quilts; all quilted, bound and looking their best, in the Moda booth.

#513 Lovely
Panel pattern

#514 Perfect Arrangement

Charm Pack™ Pattern

#516 Best of Show

Layer Cake ™

#517 Eggs-tra Special

#518 Four O'clocks

All my quilts are hung, my booth is done and it is only 10:00 in the morning.

Record time!
It usually takes me two days to assemble a real booth.

I will miss seeing all of you at market.
But more than missing you, I will be most bummed about not getting to eat at Vic and Anthony's Steakhouse, my favorite place to dine in Houston.
If you are one of my followers who will be attending market, your should eat there. Order the Chicken Paige Scaloppine. Yummy!
In fact order me the following to go.
Appetizer:
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Salad:
Pear and Saga Blue Cheese Salad
Entrée:
Chicken Paige Scaloppine
Vegetable:
Potatoes Lyonnaise
Dessert:
Chocolate Collection
Key Lime Pie
Carrot Cake
Well maybe not all three desserts… I would probably just choose one.
Hmmm scratch the order to go...probably would not travel through the UPS system all that well.
But you should go there and order all of my favorite things. Think of me while you are dining.

Do you know what the VERY best thing about not going to market is?...

This will not be left behind in Oklahoma.

Have a Lovely day.

From my heart,
Sandy