Would you believe I’ve never been to a Sewing Expo?  My visit on 2/6/09 to the Rocky Mountain Sewing Expo was my first.  I’d been to a lot of trade shows during the decade or so that I worked at cable and satellite television companies, so I thought it might be something like that, only smaller.

Much smaller, as it turns out!  It really felt as if the venue was too small and the booths were too close together.  There was a good-sized crowd - some of the vendors told me they thought it was a good turnout, and others said they thought it had been slow.   I was glad to see that most of the Expo was aimed towards quilters - with a few knitters and clothiers mixed in.

I didn’t register for any of the workshops, but I did submit entries to win new sewing machines!  My favorite booth, the one that had me more tempted than any to go back to the car and dig out my credit card, was Hands On Hand-Dyes.  I’ve been interested in dying my own fabric, but I can’t get past the idea that it would be a big stinky mess.  This clever company has kits and very simple instructions and the results were absolutely beautiful.

My second-favorite booth was a fabric shop demonstrating how to make fabric-wrapped corded bowls.  The samples they had on display were stunning, and the process of making them is ridiculously easy.  At least it looks easy.  I can’t wait to try it!

Unlike the corporate trade shows I had been accustomed to, there wasn’t much in the way of swag.  Okay, there was no swag.  It was swagless.  Maybe sewers already have enough keychains and ballpoint pens?  For pete’s sake, hand out 12″ squares of fabric.  Wouldn’t it be great to collect enough at a show to make a patchwork quilt?

The best surprise of the day was the food.  I expected soda and hotdogs, but they had a great spread of honest-to-God cooked meals!  And fresh salads!  They had plenty of seating and I got to watch a Linda MacPhee fashion show while I ate.   She was very entertaining and I so want to try some of her patterns with the slinky fabric.  Imagine my surprise when I visited her website later that evening and found out it was $20/yard.  Yikes.

Overall, I’d say the experience was well-worth the $9.00 I spent to get in, if for no other reason than to know what to expect the next time I go.

Deadline:  April 1, 2009

What:  Fundraiser for American Cancer Society

Where:  Online

When:  May 5-7, 2009

Donate a collage or two or three!  These must be 10×8 or mounted on a 10×8 board (see mounting information here).  You can make an art quilt or paper and mixed fiber collages.  Take a look at all the incredible entries from last year, which raised $13,000.  The goal for this year is $20,000 and I bet we can beat that!!

Collage is a blast!  If you’re a quilter, try doing mixed media on a 10×8 board.  Get a little crazy with it.  I’m going to try to get several of these done in the next few months.  I think it will be a nice break from quilting.

Entry Information:    Collage Mania