Dear Friends@Festival,

As we gear up for this year’s International Quilt Festival in Houston—our 50th anniversary!—we’ve got an issue chock full of interesting and exciting stories, featuring some folks you just might run into on the show floor if you’re here in H-Town for the show (and inside, away from the mosquitos!).

In this this issue, we’ll be telling you about artist Lisa Ellis and her special exhibit of Cathedral Windows quilts that will be on display in Houston (and how her late grandmother’s work inadvertently kicked off her obsession with the style). 

We talk with Natalie & Romel Santini of Sew Hungry Hippie about their wide-ranging pattern line. And how being “wingpeople” for their friends on a blind date led to their meeting. 

On the educational side, we learn from Quilt Festival teacher Cristina Arcengui Bono of Seville, Spain and how her career and passion for patchwork got kickstarted by…actress Winona Ryder??

Finally, we have a special story about documentary filmmaker Jenifer McShane and her film The Quilters. It takes viewers behind the walls of a maximum security prison to a small room of piled fabric and humming sewing machines. And where inmates make special quilts for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

We hope that you enjoy this issue, and it gets your juices going about International Quilt Festival in Houston this fall! Find out more about the show and all it entails by clicking HERE.

And, as always, comments, suggestions, and cool music links are welcome by writing us at friendsatfestival@quilts.com

Have a great rest of the summer, and we’ll be back with a fall edition!