2025 1st Half Recap: Vending at Quiltcon

2025 has been off to busy start and has just continued at that pace! A couple of "firsts" happened here! First time vending at Quiltcon. First time exhibiting at Nashville Needlework Market. And they just happened to be about a week and a half apart from each other. The learning curve has been huge, exhausting and exhilarating, all at the same time. I found out I got into Needlework Market about a week after I was accepted into Quiltcon for vending. I knew it would be a challenge to do both (sort of crazy) but they were both so rewarding! I thought I would choose between them for the future and now I think I'd stay with doing both. 

For Quiltcon we had LOTS of prep. We have been making fabric bundles and kits for quilts and cross stitch for months and months. A number of new things needed to be researched and decided, like what type of point-of-sale system I wanted to use. I use shopify for my online store but decided to go with square with the square stand for in-person selling. We figured out which barcode scanner to get, how to make our own inventory barcodes, setting up the database, and got wonderful advice and loans of lights and tablecloths and extra bins and exhibiting booth necessities from Lisa, my local quilt shop friend and owner.

So many questions to be decided, like "can this all fit in our SUV?" (no). "Is a cargo van enough?" (yes). "Do we need more help than my husband and I?" (yes and totally worth flying in my daughter!). And the biggest one, "Will this be worth it?" (yes, in numerous ways).

Fabric is heavy you guys. Paper is heavy. I still do not know why I did not lose 20 pounds doing these shows since I certainly got my workouts. Whew! Luckily we got the van the day before and could do most of the loading a day in advance. Then the 7-8 hour drive to Phoenix. It should have been faster but that's what happens with traffic. We were in the first group to unload the next day. Did I mention this stuff is heavy? One thing learned...the heavy duty dolly I bought was totally worth it! Definitely worth getting another one of those vs trading off with the collapsible wagon.

I had an idea for how the booth would be set up and it really did not go together in the way I expected. I'd like to say it all happened seamlessly and easily but that would be a lie. Tiredness (exhaustion) and tears ended the day but the next day started early and fresh and we got the booth together in record time before the vendor hall opened. I'd call that alone a success.

Luckily for us, our daughter arrived around noon and helped with getting things set up. She is a boost of sunshine and energy! Even though I have exhibited with Moda numerous times, this was the first time I was a vendor on my own and there is a lot to get put together. 

It is a fantastic rush of adrenaline to meet new people, see old friends, see pictures of things people have made with your fabric or patterns, and hear people's comments and stories. I loved seeing people come by in wonderful quilted couture or with colorful handmade totes and share in the creative energy of color, fabric and Quiltcon style! Quiltcon has a vibrancy that is hard to describe but you feel it and see it. The funny thing to me is that I don't have many pictures of the people I visited with and reconnected with since I was so busy talking and laughing and answering questions. The entire first day was pretty much a blur. 

One of the big treats for me was to experience seeing the show through my daughter's eyes. She was thrilled to meet some of the Ruby Star designers and especially Sara Watts, who so perfectly captured the essence of Audrey's cat in her print of "Salty". Yes, of course we had to do our own supporting of the economy! I mean, really, don't I DESERVE a new sewing machine as reward for doing this show???

I already have a Juki but I took it into the office to use and Melina likes to sew on it too. So I treated myself to a new one to replace it at home. I LOVE love love my straight stitch Juki and this TL15 will be a welcome newcomer in my sewing/computer room. I got this show floor model from 35th Avenue Sew and Vac from Pheonix and I'm so excited!! I have not unboxed her yet since I came home and got straight to work on Nashville Needlework Market stuff. 

I was also super happy to meet Chris Hanson and Lisa of Modern American Vintage! I have been drooling over his handmade wooden tools for awhile now and I got a beautiful tailor's clapper with other tools. The variety of woods is so gorgeous!!

On Sunday it was time to take it all down.

What would I do differently when vending again? More space. 30' x 10' instead of 20'. More bundles of color mixes of Thatched. A second way to process orders/register. Also I was surprised by how many people asked if I had brought bolts for Thatched background yardage. I'd think about those floor tiles that give you padding to stand on. I wonder, would people want to have yardage of the Thatched 108" widebacks? (they are so nice to use on a longarm!!). Would they want to mix their own color bundles or want them already curated? I'd have more fat quarters vs half yards of bundles. More help with me probably. I know that whatever you think you learn, the next show can be completely different!

I feel so grateful for the time with my husband and daughter! They are the best vending partners and are so supportive in every way.  

After the show ended and we packed up and our tired, exhausted bodies hauled totes out to the van, we went back to the hotel and basically collapsed. My daughter flew out early the next morning and Scott and I made a special stop before hitting the road at The Attic, a wonderful cross stitch shop in Phoenix. But that is for another post...

​Quiltcon...thank you. It was great!