Phew! What a weekend! I spent Friday through Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio, visiting family and going to the International Quilt Festival. I had a great time! Saturday we arrived to Quilt Fest at opening and started with the quilt displays. As usual, there was a LOT to see. I forgot my camera in Chicago, but my mom took pictures for me.

There were a lot of quilts with text this year…

And my mom really loved all the quilts with circles.

It was really exciting to see the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild’s exhibit. It was in a dark area, so these pictures really don’t do the quilts justice. And I know I don’t have photos of all of them, but really they were all great! They are all based on the Ohio star. The guild members did such a wonderful job, I hope they have an exhibit every year at the show.

After touring the quilts we did a bit of shopping. Almost right away we ran into Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics and Anna from Woollykat. They were part of a very fun group that came from Ann Arbor.

A few of the booth highlights for me were…

Meeting fellow Chicagoan and talented quilter/author Weeks Ringle:

Learning about rug hooking with wool from Lisa Wood of Woolylady – aren’t these circles AMAZING? They sell kits for a smaller pillow.

Seeing one of the nicest fabric designers out there, Marcia Derse. We stop by her booth and chat every quilt festival. She has lot of great new fabrics coming out and also some old favorites being reprinted. And she might be coming to QuiltCon this year!

I managed not to do TOO much damage this year. Here’s my loot.

I love this music fabric – all I know is it’s an import. I bought it from Fiber Art Furniture’s booth.

The text fabrics (from Moda’s Sweetwater Hometown and Reunion) were from the Olive Grace Studios booth. This is the super cute Kori who owns the shop in northern Ohio. Check out her blog, I’m pretty sure she is living the dream with her store.

After the show my family went out to dinner at the new Moerlein Lager House which is a pretty cool new brewery right on the river by the Reds Stadium. My daughter was really happy to see me. 🙂

Then later Saturday evening, the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild hosted a meet up. It was a lot of fun, just a lot of kindred spirits hanging out and having a good time. What a fun bunch! I am hoping to be in Cincinnati to crash one of their meetings sometime.

So finally, if you made it THIS far, I have a giveaway! Marcia Derse was super kind enough to donate a charm pack of her Modern Texture Solids. These are the colors – so pretty!

I’m also throwing in some patterns that I’ve been holding for a giveaway ever since the Sewing Summit! As well as some cool fabric I bought at the show. It is called “Scribble” from the Benartex line, Patternista by Paula Nadelstern.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment. I will pick a winner Thursday (April 19th) evening!

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Time to pick a winner! I’m closing comments now and will be back with the winning comment number.

The winner is #23, Emily! Emily said “Looks like so much fun! Those are some beautiful quilts.”

Congratulations Emily! I will be in contact for your address!