Two weeks from today, we'll be on our way to Portland, Oregon for Spring International Quilt Market 2018 - here!

Okay, we won't actually be at the Moda Center but we will be able to see it on the way to and from the Convention Center.

We really do leave for Portland on Tuesday with booth set-up starting on Wednesday morning.  Schoolhouse sessions are Thursday and Market starts on Friday.  It will be a whole lot of crazy and then super-fast days and... done.  It's over.  It sometimes seems more than a little nutty to work so hard for a couple of days but (1) that's half the fun of Quilt Market, (2) it makes a difference in presenting how the designers envision their collections, and (3) we really are all "makers" at heart so making quilts, pillows, bags and all manner of stuff is what we love doing.

I don't know how many quilts are being made here but since everybody here is making at least one, and a few have made a couple, it's a lot of quilts.

While I can't share any of that yet, I did want to make sure you got to see the collections that debuted last month, what is called the March catalog - or the pre-Market "bucket".

So let's get to it!

101 Maple Street by Anne Sutton for Bunny Hill Designs.  (Available August 2018.)

On the far eastern side of Lake Superior, you’ll find Maple Island just off the Canadian shore. Tree-lined paths lead down to the water, creating a canopy overhead. In the Fall, the colors are brilliant. The oak and maple trees color the island in spectacular shades of red, gold, orange and green. We hope we have conveyed the feel of this small, wondrous place with the fabric line we have designed for you.

Clover Hollow by Sherri & Chelsi.  (Available August 2018.)

Clover Hollow is a delightful collection with beautiful florals, whimsical prints, and terrific basics in an array of beautiful colors inspired by spring and summer vibes when everything is blooming and bright. The basics in this collection are micro-dots and loop-the-loops, and they are joined by darling bowties and sun prints. Three wispy floral designs in shades of raspberry, soft coral, navy, spring green, sky blue, yellow, gray and cream complete the collection.

Coledale by Jane Davidson of QuiltJane.  (Available in September 2018.)

Coledale is our little acre of happiness. This is where we built a home, then filled it with children, chickens and a dog named Jasper. The garden is full of life, it’s been hardened by drought and refreshed by the long rains. Feel at home as you wander amongst the delicate, native blossoms, fruit trees, and majestic rainforest trees. Be surprised by the array of colourful birds that feed on the trees and then feel the cool raindrops on your face as the summer storms roll in.

Guest Room by Kristyne Czepurk.  (September 2018 Delivery.)

Guest Room is a sweet collection of pretty little florals in fresh colors that evoke thoughts of spring gardens and cool evenings. Quilts made with this fabric will undoubtedly have the feel of the 1930s. Combining whimsical bouquets, tiny ginghams, posies, and an eyelet lace ticking stripe creates the perfect mix for quilts with heritage charm. The updated colors of rose, chambray, grass, white, and navy all sparkle together to keep things fresh. Add one or two solids to the mix and voila, you will have an instant heirloom quilt to welcome your guests and keep them cozy warm, whether they're playing board games in the family room, having a picnic in the park, curled up by the fire reading a good book, or sleeping in after a movie marathon.

Nature's Glory by Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles.  (In shops September 2018.)

I enjoy living in the Midwest where we experience the four seasons. After a long, hot summer, we can look forward to crisp autumn evenings and enjoying the crunch - ing leaves on a twilight walk. Selecting the perfect pumpkins to decorate my porch is a favorite activity. During the cold, snowy winters, we dream of warm spring days when the gardens explode in full color. Gathering bouquets of blooms for the house on my daily walk is a way to reconnect with nature and leave any stresses at the door. There are ups-and-downs in the weather throughout the year, but overall, those cycles make me appreciate and respect the ever-changing seasons.

Oxford by Sweetwater.  (Available September 2018.)

Sometimes the Men's department provides the perfect inspiration for a fabric collection. While thumbing through the pages of a favorite clothing store's catalog, we spotted a stack of oxford-cloth shirts in an array of plaids and stripes. They were so crisp and colorful, we were instantly drawn to the photo. Of course, we then thought about what a beautiful quilt they would make and Oxford was born! We mixed the wovens with a variety of prints, and we think they look spectacular together!

Rosewood by 3 Sisters.  (September 2018 Delivery.)

An heirloom rose. A beautiful country manor. A classic floral scent that inspires romance and poetry. Rosewood is all these things and more. Effortlessly mixing casual charm with elegance and sophistication, the 3 Sisters have taken a favorite palette of soft tan, chocolate brown, soft blue and vivid red, and used it to color bouquets of flowers, vines and paisleys. Whatever Rosewood means to you… we hope it is something beautiful.

Spice It Up by Jo Morton.  (In shops September 2018.)

The wind is rising and the ground is rich with the spiced residue of fallen leaves. Autumn. Inspired by Jo’s favorite antique fabrics and color palette, Spice It Up mixes shades of gold, rust, red, green, brown and natural to create a collection that evokes the beauty of the season.

Twilight by Beth Snyder for 1Canoe2.  (Arriving in shops in September 2018.)

To a painter, life is about color and how it changes depending on the light. The time between daylight and darkness, whether it’s after sunset or before a sunrise, the sky shines in shades of blue and coral. Beautiful flowers and moths are cast in these colors, and the artist’s eye mixes them with geometrics and watercolor brushstrokes. 1Canoe2’s Twilight captures the beauty of the palette for quilts, accessories and home décor.

There's still Play All Day, Badda Bing!, Flourish, La Vie En Rouge, Metropolis, Portsmouth, Smitten, Collections for a Cause, Lazy Days and Woodland Secrets to share so really, we'll be back.

I'm off to sew... something about new Cake Mixes coming.  That means new quilts, right?

Happy Tuesday!