Quilt Show with a Difference - got me to thinking

What is it that you enjoy about local type quilt shows? The number of quilts The quality of quilts The food The set up The number of vendors The quality of vendors

Just looking for suggestions on what makes a guild quilt show something to talk about it - in a good way that is. : )

Kathy in NH

I really like to see what others are doing in a show and tell format - where we can talk about each quilt with the quiltmaker and learn new techniques. I also like to see a variety of vendors available to browse through. When I say variety, I mean variety in what they're showing at their booths. If one is homespun, country, and another is batiks and patterns, and another is books, another fat quarters, etc. I also like to try out sewing machines. When quilts are on display it's very interesting to read about the pattern, the quilter, and the experience or story behind the quilt. If there's a prize, my favorite is always the viewers choice - letting the visitors vote on their favorite, which usually has nothing to do with the difficulty or experience level of the quilter but has everything to do with the reaction of the viewer to what they see and the impression that they get. Door prizes are a lot of fun, and if food is served (it ought to be) it should be in an aread with lots of tables and chairs where quilters can sit around, compare purchases and impressions, and just visit.

Musicmaker

Thanks for the reminder -- one of my favorite shows IS one of my favorites because they have lots of chairs spread around IN the show. Sometimes you just need to sit for five minutes, and if you can look at quilts while you do it, so much the better. :)

First and foremost is quality of quilts. Second is enough space to see the quilts. Third is quality of vendors.

Number of quilts and vendors isn't as important to me, but it will determine how long I stay at the show.

I rarely eat food at the show -- if it's a show I'm staying at all day I usually bring my lunch. If I'm staying for multiple days, I like the chance to walk a few blocks to go to a restaurant.

We've never been to a quilt show we didn't enjoy. That said, the attitude of the host guild is important. We've been to ones where the guild was friendly and delighted to see us. We've been to some where the guild had an attitude of "we're only here to see each other and hope you won't be a bother". Polly

I guess it would be the number of quality quilts.

Number and quality of quilts for me. Then the setup. I'm there for the quilts, not the food or the vendors.

Julia in MN

The number of quilts is important, each one has new ideas to share. I like the guild shop or boutique, with half finished ufos. blocks. old and new. special scraps and panels or yardage no longer being made. I have mentioned before the pattern and scraps to make Muumuu Sue and Surfer Sam that I really enjoyed. And some times the food is special, and I think of that guild because the members make lunch and I try to go every time, even if the number of quilts shown are less than some of the other guilds, but the food is "Quilty", for ladies. and made with special care. KayFl

I love vendors. The more vendors there are, the happier I am. I live in a place where we have very few quilt shops. It's a real treat for me to see stuff up close and personal.

Seeing huge numbers of quilts is overwhelming to me. They all start looking alike to me after a very short while.

The best shows I've been to have been ones where I can buy a catalogue, either a paper one or a CD with pictures of all the quilts that I can refer to later.

I can come away from a quilt show and not be able to accurately describe a single quilt.

I now have the attention span of a gnat. It's sad.

Oh, yes. I have been to one show that had that "you aren't one of us, please leave" attitudes. I won't be going to that show again. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Not too many not too few. I don't want to get home totally exhausted. I spend about 3-4 hours at a show looking at quilts and shopping, then a total of 3-4 hours driving to and from the show.

Very important.

I want to see every stage of quilting from good beginner quilts to quilts made by advanced quilters. It is uplifting to leave a show feeling as if I can do as well as some of the ones in a show, and depressing if I feel as if I can't ever enter a show unless I can afford to hire a long armer with a computer driven quilting machine to make each stitch eerily perfect despite the fact the quilting ignores the design of the quilt top. (Over half of the quilts at the last 2 shows I attended were quilted that way, and all of those won ribbons.)

I've been to about 6 shows and 1 exhibit and haven't seen food to be excited about. The exhibit had food (nibbling things like nuts and one bite pastries) but that was because I went on opening day. One of the shows had food for sale by the local Fire Dept. but it wasn't well organized and certainly wasn't the advertised meal. Something had gone awry and I felt a bit embarrassed for all involved in it. Any food vendors at a show should be experienced pros.

Personally I'm happy if there is a nearby inexpensive restaurant.

Number and quality are important. I don't have a local quilting store so when I am at a show I look for silk thread, applique patterns, quilting stencils, straw needles, thimbles, gadgets, books, and fabrics that I would otherwise have to buy online.

Clear signs leading the way to the bathroom are extremely important to those who have driven 2 or more hours to get to the show. No one wants to ask for directions while paying to get into the show.

Somewhere to sit occasionally would be greatly appreciated by those with standing issues. I've never seen a chair or bench at a show that someone could use when knees or feet started acting up, so sometimes people have to leave the show earlier than planned. A spot to sit for

15 to 20 minutes would make the difference between leaving early or staying to shop and look as long as they wish. Debra in VA See my quilts at

The number and quality of quilts. The number and quality of vendors. The set up.

Food???? Who cares!! I want fabric and tools and books!!!

There was a very good point made about the hosting guild. I, too, have been to shows where you feel like a bother and just want to look and leave. Others have "white glovers" who are a delight to talk to, informative and knowledgeable. I stay a lot longer, buy more and look forward to their show next year. I have recently run into a few show that will not let you take pictures. I hate that. When I show I feel like it is a great compliment when someone takes the time to photograph my work. Will they copy it???? Who cares! More power to them. Another compliment.

Shows are quilters way of sharing and such a blessing to everyone who enjoys them.

JMHO please don't throw stones,

Marsha

The number of quilts The quality of quilts - some that are simple for realistic inspiration for relative newbies like me The number of vendors The quality of vendors - they don't need to offer me things that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars

And please, no "in-group" constant chatter over the PA system.

Thanks everyone for your valued opinions

I think one thing I will suggest to our group is the idea of benches or chairs set up maybe in a few groupings around the show so people can sit a spell and just look at the quilts.

Thanks for starting this thread. My guild will be having it's triennial show next spring so I'll be checking out all the suggestions! (It's the West End Quilters and the first weekend in May for anyone who is interested!) Allison in Montreal

Kathy wrote: