Paper and Threads

I am currently at the 39th Annual International Quilt Festival at the Houston Convention Center - one of my favorite trips each year.  When I went for the first time, it was held in the old Shamrock Hilton Hotel.  It now fills this entire space.

There are more than 1100 vendor booths - this is a photo I took of a small portion of the vendor floor from a window on the second floor. 

Non-quilters may be surprised at the direction that quilting has taken from the days of quilting frames and scraps of old clothing.  This is a prize-winning group quilt made by the 3 artists photographed in front of it.

I take several classes - there are more than 350 classes this year given by over 100 teachers.  But I also meet friends and make new friends.

Raena, a virtual friend from the online Everyday Matters art group met me there two years in a row for our very own sketchcrawl. 

And Roz, who I met standing in front of Susan Shie's Obama Quilt in 2008, drops by every year for a quick walk around the exhibits.  And has even visited me in New York City!

Last year we were trapped in New York City due to Hurricane Sandy.    I started attending Quilt Festival in 1983 when I was living in Texas and have only missed 2 in all those years - 1984 and 2012.  The category named "Threads" on the right side of my blog details my work as a textile lover!

I'll be back next week!