Last week a group of quilters from our local quilt guild
rented a bus and went to the International Quilt Show in Houston, Texas. I hadn’t been in years and even went into
training to prepare myself.
(Training? - yeah, I did more
walking to get ready for the walking I would do at the Convention Center.
hahaha).
I am so glad I did.
There were over 1000 quilts and hundreds of vendors. All of it was inspiring and
overwhelming. The quilts were magnificent;
definitely the best of the best of quilting. (for copyright reasons I can’t
post any pictures.) They came from all
over the world. I saw quilts from Japan,
China, and South Africa as well as quilts from my state of Texas. You could just be walking along and hear languages
from all over the world. It is truly an
international event.
I was inspired by what I saw. The use of color and imagery was amazing. There were a lot of special theme
exhibits. One was having to do with
Mother Earth, another with Elvis Presley and a group of wall hangings from
South Africa. The different interpretations
of each theme were astonishing. It just
shows how diverse people are in their thinking and quilting.
There were a lot of traditional quilts that made you say Wow
when you saw them (I said wow a lot).
And lots of abstract art quilts and pictorial quilts. Some of the picture quilts looked like
photographs until you got up close and saw that they were fabric and
thread. There was a group of thread
painted quilts that really did look like photos. In fact friends I have shown my pictures to
can’t believe they are not photos. Look up thread painting on the internet and
you will see what I mean.
At times I would think “Just hang up your needle and thread,
Cheryl. You will never be that
good.” But when I would see another
different design or color scheme, I realized all quilts are wonderful and all
quilts need to be included even my own.
I am new at the craft of art quilts. I told my brother after seeing these quilts,
I now want to try and see what I can do. And that is what quilt shows are all
about. Not just to put a quilter’s work
on display but to inspire other quilters to keep on quilting and strive to be
the best.
If you go to a big quilt show like this, go with a friend or
friends. It is much more fun to share
the experience. You don’t have to look
at the quilts together; everyone looks at art at a different pace. But generally sharing the experience together
makes it more memorable. I will remember
the bus trip there and back as much as the show itself.
And dress for comfort not fashion. You will be standing and walking a lot so you
might as well be comfortable. If you
want to buy food there and not carry a lunch, go for it. But I had a feeling there was going to be
long lines at any food area so I brought my own water and sandwich. I didn’t want to waste any time waiting in a
line when I could be looking at quilts.
I am trying to use the supplies I have so I didn't buy much but I have to say the vendors were amazing. If that is what you like to do the most at
the quilts shows, bring a totebag to put your purchase bags in. You don’t want to be worrying about dropping
or leaving behind some purchase because you can’t hold on to all the bags holding your treasures.
And most definitely watch your money. This is just the place for those who can slip
their hand in a purse and walk away with your wallet without you knowing. I brought a purse with a flap that covered up
the opening and kept that flap toward my body when it was on my shoulder. One friend wore a jacket with breast pockets
and that is where she kept her money and credit cards. She said it did get warm with the jacket on
but she didn’t mind as long as her money was safe.
And I joked at the start of this blog that I went into
training but I have to tell you, I am so glad I increased my walking time
before the quilt show. I started off
with short walks in August and gradually increase the time and distance. I have done quilts shows before and have come
home so sore I could barely get out of bed the next day. But not this time. Oh my feet were sore but not hurting. And my back has felt better since I have been
walking more. (Now just don’t tell my
doctor it was the quilt show and not her medical advice that got me walking
more.)
My advice to you is if you have a chance to go to a big
quilt show and especially if someone else is driving, GO! It is well worth the time, the money and you
will be so inspired to do some more quilting.
©2018 Cheryl Fillion
