Well I think I'm the first of the KP/F+W Publications team to arrive here for Spring Quilt Market, but then I did set off from home (Devon, UK) on Monday! In my defence I had furthest to come - a quick calculation suggests 4874 miles. Approximately.

The others will be here soon, and Jay and I are really looking forward to meeting any Quilt group members who are attending Market. Please say hello if you are passing booth 2711, and drop in to any of our authors' schoolhouse presentations, which begin tomorrow. Most of the sessions are in room B110-111 beginning at 11.05am, except Darlene Zimmerman who will be presenting at 3pm in B117.

Now I wish I could have remembered all those times and room numbers when I bumped into a couple of lovely quilters, Linda and Debbie, in Powell's huge book store this afternoon. Naturally we were in the quilt book section, where the shelves were piled high with old and new volumes - everything on every topic, and a real quilting education. It was like a taster of what I'm sure is to come in the next few days: there was just too much to see!

For those of you who won't be in Portland, Jay and I will be reporting as much as we can about the show in this blog. Please post any questions or comments so that we can check anything out for you.

Best wishes

Slightly-Jet-Lagged Jane

Spring is certainly springing where I live, and the birds are going crazy with nest building. They do a lot of low swooping out of hedgerows, generally right in front of my car as I beetle along the country lanes between where I work and where my horse lives. It's a bit heart-stopping, but I think they know exactly what they are doing because I've never hit one. Thank Goodness!

The hedges of Devon are not the only place to find Spring birds. Check out Anna Maria Horner's stunning fabric collection, or Rosa Blue’s finches, or just about anything by Original Little Bird (pricey but oh so stylish). It seems that spring is here in the world of fabric too.

For a little bird project here’s a taster of a foundation-pieced tablemat and a fabulous cockerel from Mandy Shaw’s upcoming book, Quilt Yourself Gorgeous. Not out til July, but you'll be able to order it from the UK or US MyCraftivity shops very soon.