Many of you don't know me yet, but I bet we have a lot in common. To begin with, we both love fabric. Am I right? Yup, I saw your eyes light up at just the mention. Buying fabric, dreaming of what we will do with that fabric, buying more fabric to go with the fabric we already bought, and maybe even striving to conceal just how much of it has found its way onto our workspace shelves—that's us! No matter your place in the quilting world—quilter, retailer, teacher, designer, or just admirer—fabric of all kinds is most definitely, the fabric of our lives.

Now admittedly, over the years, those lives go through many phases of different hues, different textures. Sometimes life is smooth and silky, sometimes even sparkly, and sometimes it's just plain old burlap and scratchy wool. But the thing about fabric is the journey it takes us on—how its artistic versatility leads us back to the smooth after the gnarly, the light after the dark. With it, comes community, mindful activity, therapeutic focus of energy, rejuvenation through creation, and self-discovery. So, what better place to gather than where you can be fully immersed in all that is fabric? At Quilt Market/Festival, there's no denying that everybody here speaks "quilts."

And speak “quilts” we will do! I'll pop up periodically to share the news of Education—faculty, classes, viewpoints, and plenty of new topics and offerings. With Houston’s Fall Market/Festival 2018 just around the corner, I encourage you to sample a bit of our 3rd floor offerings. Grab your Starbucks, cruise on up the escalator, and join us! Record-setting enrollment rates for Festival 2018 can only mean that you are as excited about this as we are. Longarm, computer, machine quilting, appliqué, fabric dyeing, garment fitting, thread painting, jewelry, embroidery, 2-day project classes—breathe!—and the list goes on.

Some great Education news for Fall Market 2019 and a great “bucket list” item for all of you trying to break into the industry—inventor, designer, online retailer, or writer. Mark your calendars now for October 26-28, 2019 when Fall Market will be buzzing as we launch Threads of Success, a curriculum dedicated to you, our industry hopefuls, and cultured to guide you to success. Keynote speakers, breakout sessions, mentors, networking opportunities, and best of all, unmatched access to industry leaders—that’s what is in store. Stay tuned!

I’ve just gotta say, I’m loving having this chance to chat with all of you—my “fabric” people! Clearly, we were Master Makers long before Amy Poehler made it "cool."