The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo was in town. I was pretty excited as it just so happened to take place about 5 miles from my house. Pretty cool. No driving hours to get to a convention center or paying extremely high parking rates or waiting in long lines to get there.
The last time I was at a the sewing expo was about 7 or so years ago. Maybe longer. I can’t quite remember the year (I’m sure something will trigger it just not right now). My Mom was in town and the show was at the Rosemont Convention Center along River Road. I remember this clearly only for the fact that after the show we stopped at a cute little Rubber Stamp Shop along River Road and both my Mom and I ended up at the check out counter being told to “F” off by the shop owner. It was just an experience never to forget. I mean. How many times are you ever told to screw yourself by a business owner for trying to ask a question?
I’ve digressed (so me) in the remembrance of that little episode. But don’t worry. The store ain’t there anymore (go figure, huh?) and the show was moved to another location further away. I had heard reports that the show was going down hill so I really never returned.
Then I was in Hancock fabrics on one of my quests for fabrics for the Robin Hood/Princess costumes this past October and they had a flyer for the expo. I was impressed. The show was holding a lot of classes along with the expo. I was curious to see it again. You know, I did answer my quest question a year ago…the one about ‘is sewing dead?’. It’s not, I know. Just different. So I was anxious to see the show and compare and contrast this one with the quilting expo and from the show I remember so many years ago.
Smaller, not as many booths, but it was nice. Quilting probably had a predominate hold on the show but there was some fashion sewing represented. I stayed for a fashion show of Independent Pattern Companies, had a snack to eat and that was about it.
The Photo Police put a kabash on me being able to get anything good of the exhibits but I was able to take photos of the fashion show (I just pulled out the Fuji Pro and stood at the end of the runway like I knew what the hell I was doing — nobody bothered me there). Some nice things to see, some incredibly weird things to see, and even some things that I just couldn’t tell you what in the world they were.
Here is a nice jacket, pants and knit blouse ensemble from either Christin Jonson or Silhouette, someone out there hopefully will be able to comment on that and let me know. I’m sorry that I don’t know which as I really wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have been. I was thinking too much about the anti-photo police. (where does one get a press pass for this show anyway?)
The only thing I wished there was more of were more pattern companies represented and more fashion fabric dealers. I can only hope for the future huh?
Well, if you get a chance to go to an expo I would recommend doing so. It’s good to get a little inspiration every now and then. Here is the link.
Sewing.for.Life! 
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