Quilter's Dream Come True

I’m counting the days until the Sewing & Stitchery Expo at the Puyallup Fairgrounds February 26 – March 1. It’s a chance to learn new quilting techniques, try out new crafts, and test drive the newest sewing machine models. And on top of that, the shopping is incredible, so I stock up on enough quilting projects, fabric, and supplies to keep me busy until well past the next Expo. Row after row of over 400 vendors demonstrate and sell their products, inviting us in with their latest innovations and ideas. Batiks, reproduction fabrics, novelty fabrics, Minkee and more flow off the bolts. Notions to make sewing faster and easier beckon from booths. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. My excitement rivals that of a kid on Christmas morning.

My quilting buddy, Carol, has the stamina required to “do” the show with me. We usually take a few of the seminars guaranteeing inspiration and then get started shopping for our lists of gotta haves. Last year we wandered through miles of aisles looking for the John Flynn quilting system. We did eventually find his booth before either of us collapsed, relying on chocolate to revive us. Two years ago I was on a mission to round up a fabric with lanky cowboys on it. Apparently, so were lots of other quilters. It was sold out almost everywhere, but after much searching, I did find it. Yee! Haw! This year I’ll be looking for Lucy and Ethel on some fabric I saw advertised in a quilting magazine. Their cheeks are stuffed with chocolate from a conveyer belt that’s moving too fast. I’m picturing aprons!

Then there are the celebrity sightings. Once we were bumping along through the crowds when some primitive, New England looking needlework stopped us in our tracks. As we admired the distinctive designs and sifted through the patterns, kits, and fabrics, we struck up a conversation with the saleswoman. She turned out to be Kathy Schmitz, the designer. It was the first time she’d been to the show. She told us all about the path her career had taken, packaged our purchases, and handed us our change.

We’ve had conversations with Kaye Wood, Nancy Zieman, and Mary Mulari, and held up quilts for Sharlene Jorgenson’s seminar. These women are all huge names in the quilting world. It’s amazing to be face to face with celebrities we watch Saturday mornings on KCTS-Channel 12, and find them so approachable and down to earth.

So how are we preparing for the 25th Sewing & Stitchery Expo? We’ve already pored over the 300+ seminars being offered and ordered tickets. We’re setting up where and when to meet friends for lunch, and making our shopping lists. We’re choosing our backpacks, lining up our most comfortable shoes, and thanking WSU for hosting America’s largest sewing show right here in Puyallup. Let the inspiration begin!

Laura Keolanui Stark has a silly smile on her face somewhere at the Sewing Expo. She can be reached at lkstark@yahoo.com. (Originally published in The Herald, www.puyallupherald.com, 2/26/09.)