Pre-Market Peek at Bar Harbor - "Crunch Time"

I can feel the sea breeze and smell the ocean whenever I look at Minick and Simpson's newest line debuting at Market (just days away--what!!!??), Bar Harbor. They have been busily preparing for Market this weekend, can't wait to check out their booth! We asked these seasoned Market-pros what they do to prepare, especially since they live in different quarters of the country.


If you peruse quilting and fabric blogs you might know by now that we are in "market mode." It is the time of year when we, as fabric and pattern designers, are getting all of our ducks in a row to head to Houston. Some of us are making quilts, editing patterns, and getting our inventory ready. Polly and I do all of these things and more. Polly and I got together for three days this past week to finalize some things and compare our lists.

Polly hooks rugs and I make quilts, so a natural division of labor is started right there. We will need at least four quilts to piece and quilt and some extras that include clothing, bags and such. Once we get fabric shipped from Moda - Leigh Ann and I start cutting and piecing. (Leigh Ann is our go-to gal this time of year when we need four quilts made RIGHT NOW.) Polly's load is a little easier here so she is in charge of booth design, reservation making and overall Minick and Simpson managing. She makes lists. Lots of lists. Packing lists, to-do lists, you name it lists. Polly will fly to Houston, but Leigh Ann and I will drive from Michigan. I can guarantee that one of us will drive and another will bind quilts on the trip. Driving means that we won't have to ship our booth furnishings, but we will need a van rental and hotel stays on the way. Polly will make sure all of this runs smoothly. Let's see ... that means a cooler of Diet Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper and chocolate for the road trip - don't forget that on your list!

This year we are participating in a Moda Designers schoolhouse and we are signing lots and lots of half-square triangles to hand out to Market attendees.

Our Bar Harbor collection has been great fun to design and to work with. The booth will be Sea, Sand, Boats, and Quilts. See you on the blogs!

Laurie Simpson
Minick and Simpson
Minick and Simpson Blog

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