Even though both of those terms are actually standard measurements of a specific quantity, they're also used individually and together to mean "a lot".  That's the meaning I'm intending - just in case you wondered.

They're the kind of words you'd hear a lot on the farm, like maybe in a Farmhouse.

We love this a bushel and a peck - Farmhouse by Fig Tree.

This is a pre-Market collection.  That means that in the olden-days - a couple of years ago - most new collections used to debut at Quilt Market, but now an equal number are published in the catalog that comes the month before.  Pre-Market collections will ship in August and September while Market collections will be available in October and November.  At least that's always the plan.

Do you remember the stack of "flippers" - capsets / headers - I showed a few weeks ago?

On the left, from top to bottom - Hawthorne Ridge by Jan Patek / Chic Neutrals by Amy Ellis / Alice's Scrapbag by Barbara Brackman / Farmhouse by Fig Tree Quilts / Kindred Spirits by Bunny Hill / Polka Dots & Paisleys by Minick & Simpson.

On the right, from the top - Nocturne by Janet Clare / Meadowbloom by April Rosenthal / Hello Darling by Bonnie & Camille / Varsity by Sweetwater / For You by Zen Chic / Collection for a Cause Nurture by Howard Marcus.

That's a bushel and peck of new fabric, isn't it?  (Yes, more pictures coming very soon - including some quilt pictures.)

"Pre-Market" is also a big buzz-word around the office these days as there is lots of pre-Market sewing going on right now - specifically, the sewing of quilts made with the pre-Market collections.  Confusing, right?  You're not alone.

It gets worse.  Or better.  Depending on your perspective.  Sample yardage arrives in two forms - actual yardage that is rolled onto bolts and cut for borders, bindings, big pieces, etc., and the usual assortment of pre-cuts.  Sometimes those two things come in at the same time and sometimes they don't.  For some collections, the arrivals aren't even close - we've had the yardage of one  collection for over a month and the pre-cuts still haven't arrived.

We have both for this one - Polka Dots & Paisleys by Laurie and Polly, Simpson and Minick.  (Polly was first last time.)

(BAAP!)  (That's a "bushel and a peck".)  At last count, "we" are making more than 20 sample quilts in different sizes and using different collections.  Some are original in-house designs and some are duplicates of quilts made by the designers that will be used for various events and trunk shows.

This is where we really do need a bushel and a peck - of people.  Everyone in the company who knows how to sew pitches in and volunteers to make quilts.  And friends - they help too.  Right now, off the top of my head, I can name fourteen people who I know are making samples - and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.  Sometime before or after Market, I'll show you all of the quilts that were made and tell you who made them and who quilted them.  Yes, that's the other big group of people we rely on, the talented folks who machine-quilt the quilts.

Jan Patek's Hawthorne Ridge.  BAAP!  (You know it's my job to play with fabric, right?)

Out of curiosity, I went over the list of quilts being made and came up with an "average" quilt.  I didn't crunch the numbers - my head hurt just thinking about it - but it's also not a number that anybody needs to rely on.  So here goes - our "average" quilt measures about 60" x 60", it uses 12 yards of fabric, 20 feet of binding and 25 square feet of batting.  So for 20 quilts - or 500 square feet of quilt, that's 240 yards of fabric, 400 feet of binding - or 134 yards of it, and 500 square feet of batting.  (Not including the 8" to 10" of extra batting in both directions that our machine-quilters prefer.)

And there will be more quilts to make when the Market collections arrive.

To improve our efficiency and ability to quickly make samples and other business-related items, we have added a new machine to the office.  At least that's the official line anyway.  It will probably accomplish those goals when we learn how to use it - we got a Handi-Quilter Sweet Sixteen.  It's in Tammy's office - she has the space and she's the only one who already knows how to use it.

The balance ball "chair" is not required but Tammy likes it.  Me?  I'm more afraid of sitting on that ball than using the machine - I just know I'll forget that I'm sitting on a ball and wind up on my head before I remember.

It goes without saying that it will be awhile before any of us is game-enough to try quilting a Market quilt...

Of course that didn't stop me from telling Tammy that I'd heard that "the bosses" are expecting her to be ready to quilt all the sample quilts by Fall Market.

Given the velocity and accuracy with which she threw that big ball at me, the Texas Rangers ought to consider signing Tammy to a pitching contract.

But not until after Quilt Market, she's still got a sample or two to finish.

Happy Tuesday!