franc36

Yesterday, I attended a quilt show in my home town. The only vendor was the quilt club. In the past, there were 8 to 10 vendors at this show. Since I go to look at the quilts, I was fine without vendors. This year, they did not charge admission unlike in years past when there was an admission charge. I did see some lovely quilts and really enjoyed the turning of antique quilts.

jitkaau

I think that the only reason the vendors do not show up is the fact that a stall costs a lot of money and if they do not cover stall costs with their sales there is little point in going. The same goes for new gadgets etc. they outlay is not worth the risk if people are not buying. Hence, everything becomes ordinary.
I like to see the quilts and check out the vendors but after a number of years one does not need to buy new gear unless starting a completely new technique. I find it is an opportunity to get specialist stuff that saves my having to travel many kilometres to obtain. Perhaps the costs of having a stall need to be revised in order to keep people creatively active?

katesnanna

Bff and I find we enjoy the small show run by one or two groups. Bff actually won a quilt at the first one I took her to. We love to look at the quilts. At the quilt show in our State Exhibition we spent seven hours looking at quilts. We did break for morning tea and lunch. Several of the volunteers ask "are you two still here". We like to look at all aspects of each quilt. Some people just amble past and only stop if something grabs their eye. We feel if people have taken the time to make them they deserve our attention. We saw some very innovative small art quilts. It's great to see how others think.

SunlitenSmiles

My friends and I love quiltshows, we take off in different directions to see favorite things first and then meet at agreed on place and time for lunch......I always head for Superior Threads first ...they have great special show prices and my BERNINA loves Superior Thread. I love their booth because it is like a candy store to a kid....every kind of thread and every color and right there at my fingertips. Their sewing machine needles are great, best ever. My friends are usually a couple of minutes behind me because they stop first to see the booth of the Long arm machine they have...they all have different ones.....they all use Superior Thread, needles, tension gauges (?)(they love them), special tape, etc.. We have a great lunch a couple of hours later and compare notes on what we have seen, i usually have a double nickel project and a laser cut project by then because they are fun to do without having to think the whole thing through, and they travel great. The next morning there are classes, lunch, classes. Then that night lectures and intertaining......then light breakfast, one more circuit through the show, and the drive home with everyone talking at once........now that I am retired...cannot really spend like this anymore but the memories are with me everytime I sew I use an item that came from one show or another and i am smiling.

The memories of all the quilts.....rows and rows....fill my bucket list.....guess this kind of happy is called bliss.

acjacques

Local quilt shows are far more interesting than those sponsored by well-known manufacturers. Every other year, our local quild puts out a show for their members displaying those that have been juried and have won awards. The vendors are also local quilt shops, and I find it very satisfying to support quilters and vendors in my own state.

quiltmama22

----We love to look at the quilts. At the quilt show in our State Exhibition we spent seven hours looking at quilts. We did break for morning tea and lunch. Several of the volunteers ask "are you two still here". We like to look at all aspects of each quilt. ----

This reminds me of when my English friend and I went to the "big show" in Harrogate UK several years ago. We were staying with friends of hers but they weren't interested in quilts so the husband dropped us off at the show about 9:30 am and we said we'd call him when we were ready to leave. At 5:30 pm we called and when he came to get us the first words out of his mouth were "What did you DO all day?"

DonnaC

I can totally understand what Camille is saying. The same thing happened to me at MQX in Providence last April. Many of the vendors I had seen in the past were among the missing...I'm sure increased costs of vending at shows was part of the reason, and the economy. The vendors who were there were mostly selling longarm machines, which I don't have room for, therefore of no interest to me. But, their booths were crowded, so maybe there were some great show specials going on for those who were interested. The rest of the vendors, as someone mentioned above, had pretty much the same items. Lots of "modern quilting" type stuff, not too much traditional. Another thing I noticed was that there were almost no kits being sold. Personally, I like kits, but I know lots of others don't. It's just the luck of the draw when you go to the big shows, I guess.

oldtnquiltinglady

I, myself, have been to the Paducah show twice. Enjoyed it tremendously the first time, too ill to enjoy it the second time. My travel buddies went to view the quilts and visit the Gammill booth--I spent the day sitting at a thread booth (the lady was so accomodating after she noticed I was about to faint while looking at her selection of thread) and needless to say, I spent a ton of money on thread that year. Still using some of it, and have used up the best colors--I forgot the name of the thread, but my Gammill loves it (mine has a particularly contrary tension problem).....I noticed an ad recently on this board of a show that is coming up in January in Florida--and and considering talking DH into a road trip about that time. We love to go to FL in the winter.....

TexasGurl

We went to the Houston show this weekend and had a blast ... we've been going for 20+ yrs ... we all live within an hour of the show. Some years are better than others, both vendor-wise or quilt-wise, but it's always worth going !
I didn't buy as much as usual, NOT because there weren't lots of tempting things - just kept reminding myself of what's ALREADY in my sewing room !
I know quilters who ONLY go to see the quilts, and I know others who go ONLY to shop. They won't even bother to walk over to see the quilts ! Now THAT I don't understand ? ... can't imagine being a quilter and NOT being interested in seeing so many wonderful quilts !
We can shop any time - but the quilts are a once-a-year treat - not to be missed !!

DonnaFreak

I went to that same show in Cincinnati Becca. I agree with you.....the vendors were wonderful! I ended up spending over $300!!! Don't tell anyone though..... :::::looking up at the ceiling and whistling innocently:::::

Donna