Checker Newsletter

Market was simply unbelievable!  I wanted to walk the show and take pictures of everything for all of you – but we were so busy, I rarely got to leave the booth.  And that is very good news!

Rachel Cross and Sheila and John Waterfield – the UK contingency of Creative Grids – came over from England and spent Market with us.  Rachel demonstrated her new Double Strip rulers the entire Market – and did she draw a crowd!  Combine a great product with a British accent and the most charming personality and you have a winner!

Pat Barry demonstrated her new line of Creative Grids templates for machine quilting.  She is a math brain and has thought of everything!  They are so clever and easy to use that customers were lining up to get a chance to play.  These are a Creative Grids product so the quality is amazing.  Pat is going to start writing a column for this newsletter on a regular basis so I’ll let her explain how they work – but it is genius!

Pat Barry demonstrating the machine quilting templates

Then we had 15 demonstrations and author signings at the other corner of our booth!  Rob and Jim designed an angled mirror that hung above the table so everyone could see exactly what was being demonstrated.  The speaker even had a microphone so everyone could hear and stood on a platform so she could see everyone.  It worked like a charm!

Rita Fishel also demonstrated the entire show and it was amazing!  Checker has a reputation for education.  We know you can’t sell a product unless you know how to use it – or know it exists!  Since we carry over 80,000 items, that can be a little daunting for everyone so we are doing our best to keep you abreast of changes in the industry.  That commitment was reflected in the numbers of you that came to see us!

One of our sales reps working with our customers

Remember!  This is a preview of what is to come!  Our buyers walked the show everyday picking up new products to add to our lines.  Rob even left on Monday with a full suitcase of products so the girls back home could get a jump start on entering the new stuff before the buyers even caught their planes!  Now that is commitment.  All of the items I talk about below will be entered into our system shortly – if they aren’t in it already – but this will let you know what to expect!

Two of the products that I am most excited about are Checker exclusives – and I had a hand in developing these products!  We are proud to introduce Batting by the Bolt!  When I was a shop owner, we used to hate to cut batting.  Carrying those rolls to the cutting table was never fun – and trying to cut something that wide on a table that was meant to cut fabric was a royal pain!  And, the batting widths NEVER match the width of the backing fabrics.

Enter Checker and Henry Glass!  Rob contacted The Warm Company and asked them to produce a 100% cotton batting that was 62″ wide and is folded and rolled on a bolt.  This batting is not over-sized so it is much cheaper to ship AND will fit on a shelf in a store instead of being relegated to a back room somewhere!  The quality is amazing and we are carrying it in bleached and natural – and it retails for around $7.50 a yard – depending on which one you get!  Isn’t it about time we had a batting size that matches the widths of our quilts???  Our customers don’t have to buy batting that they aren’t going to use any more – and at a great price!

THEN, the men at Henry Glass said that they would start producing 62″ wide cotton goods to coordinate with their lines of fabric.  This is a very high quality cotton fabric that feels absolutely wonderful and has a usable width of 60″.  The batting and backing are actually going to be the same size!!!  I am designing a line of fabric for them in the Spring that will include these backings so we can reduce the cost to your customers considerably!

We also picked up one of your favorite vendors again – and we are thrilled!  Bubble Jet and freezer paper are now available through Checker once again!  You no longer have to order it direct and we are thrilled!

C. Jenkins is back!

Mary Ellen’s Spray Starch is offering a gift bag of 2 ounce bottles of all of their Spray Starches at a special price!  This includes the latest scent – tea rose!  What great stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts!  I would order these puppies early – the packaging is adorable and everyone will want them!

Mary Ellen’s booth at Market

Landauer Publishing was right across the aisle from us since I also write books for them – and I couldn’t resist sharing a picture of the cover of my next book that will be out in March.  It uses Paula Nadelstern’s Nuance Fabric by Benartex – and the fall colors are absolutely beautiful!

One of the favorite fabric lines this Market was a Cowboy line by Maywood.  I loved this pattern by Animas Quilts!  Maybe Texas rubbed off on all of us!

Range Rider pattern by Animas Quilts

Acorn Quilts always have a beautiful booth.  These gals have a great sense of color – cottage chic comes to mind…..

Look at those smiles – they must be having a great Market!

Mimi Shimp was busy demonstrating the new bias tips and blades available for their bias tape makers and cutters.

Mimi is ALWAYS smiling!

You never know who you are going to see when you are running down the aisles!  I thought this was a great shot – the gals from Electric Quilt visiting with Amy of Indygo Junction.

Penny, the genius behind EQ is on the left!  Amy is wearing one of her designer outfits.

Amy is a great marketer and their booth always looks spectacular.  They set up all kinds of vignettes that make you want to go home and redecorate your entire store!

Don’t you love the old fashioned pin cushions and towels??? Check out the cake stand!

But, Indygo Junction also has amazing clothing patterns and this top would compliment anyone!

Edyta Sitar is one talented lady.  She has a new book out that uses Triangles and was promoting it at this Market.  It is hot on the heals of her best seller – Hop to It!

She is so cute and adorable – and is an amazing designer!

Debbie Caffrey was all smiles!  She was showing off her new patterns.  Her patterns are so clear and concise that they are always in demand!

Her booth was absolutely gorgeous!

The gals at FabShop were busy explaining all of the programs they had to offer to the shop owners.  They have something to meet the needs of every store!

Primitive Gatherings always has a beautiful booth – and this time of year, the colors couldn’t have been any more perfect!

Wouldn’t this display be perfect in your store?  I love the way she hung a fall quilt behind the pillows…

Heather Bailey also had a beautiful booth.  It was great to see YOUNG quilters at this Market who were creative and eager to learn!  It is always fun to welcome the next generation!

Heather in front of her booth – what a back drop!

And, by 8:30 that night it was gone!  When I came in the next day to set up at Market the Checker booth was gone and there were curtains up for eight other vendors!

Rob has already sent out an excel spreadsheet asking for ways we can improve for Spring Market.  But today, I just want to savor the moments and take a little time to appreciate the friendships that are renewed at every Market.  It truly is an amazing experience!  Thank you Houston!!!!