No, not the holiday season. Although I get VERY excited about the holiday season. No, it’s almost time for the Houston International Quilt Festival! This will be my 21st year attending. I look forward to it every year.

Since my first blog coincides with the countdown the Festival, I thought I’d share some observations and tips for those who might be new to attending.

Observations

Quilt Festival has changed over the years. Change is hard and it’s been difficult to see the Festival change. Most of the changes are post-COVID. COVID seemed to change how a lot of teachers worked in the industry. There is much more electronic and on-line instruction now. Overall, I like that change as it increases accessibility to study with great teachers. Travel is expensive and I am in favor of anything that expands the access of our art form. The down side, is some teachers no longer travel to teach and therefore, no longer teach at Festival. Vendors have also sometimes been successfull selling on-line and no longer have to incur the expense of traveling to shows.

I also need to face facts and realize that as 21 years has passed, not only have I aged, so have a lot of teachers and vendors. So, bottom line, the number of vendors and teachers ebbs and flows. To their credit the Festival staff does a great job continuing to bring in new talent to teach and to produce a wonderful vendor hall. They have also managed to rebuild Festival and Quilt Market after the devastation of cancelling in 2020 because of the pandemic. I give them major kudos for bringing it back to life despite many challenges.

The Festival’s other challenge was the dssolution of IQA, who had sponsored the judged show. Quilts.Inc took on the task and we never lost a judged show. The quilt display area is still smaller than in pre-COVID years, but we still get to see amazing quilts.

Just on a personal note, I wish the art doll exhibit would return. I miss all the pressure and excitement of creating for it. (See a future post about my art dolls.) BOTTOM LINE: Quilt Festival is still amazing. Yes, it is worth going. It’s still like going to Quilting Disney World.

One of my art dolls exhibited at the Houston Internationsal Quilt Festival

Tips

All the common sense advice applies, such as wearing comfy shoes, bring a sweater if you get cold, etc. The convention center is huge. The classes are on the opposite end of the convention center from the Quilt display. It’s a LOT of walking.

Classes

If you want to get your first selection of classes, it still holds true that you need to be on signing up as soon as enrollment opens. If you dilly dally to the next day, you may have missed out on your first choices. Popular teachers fill up fast. Sometimes, you get in from the waitlist so its still worth getting on it for something you really like.

If you’re a newbie, the forums can be a great way to investigate various teachers and what they do. I still like forums. I found several amazing teachers from attending forums. I discovered Patt Blair, Bethanne Nemesh, and Cindy Lohbeck from doing the forums. They are AMAZING teachers and artists! I studied from all of them subsequently.

If you have a lot of supplies to take to class, bring a wagon. No, you can’t take it on the vendor floor, but it will make that LONG walk much easier than carrying a heavy bag.

Don’t overload with classes, especially when the main floor is open. Monday through Wednesday are great days to take classes as the floor isn’t open. It can also be good to have a class on a day after you spent a day walking, or to break up the day. Pacing is imperative. Quilt show can be exhausting. Yes, I have fallen asleep in lectures before from exhaustion.

Quilt Display

The quilt display area is never as crowded as the vendor floor. Choose Friday or Saturday to tour the quilts when the vendor mall is bananas.

If you want to take pictures of all the quilts, and I do, make sure you can recharge your camera or your phone. Trust me, your phone will die before you get through the display.

These quilts are the best of the best. Study them and you can learn so much. Get close (WITHOUT TOUCHING) and study the quilting of the quilts you really admire. Take some close-up pics. You may find a quilting motif you want to try. The quilting is the third design element of a quilt. Look at how the quilting makes that quilt a work of art.

Ask yourself: What made this quilt catch my eye? Was it the subject, color, technique? What emotion does it elicit? What technique does this quilt make me want to learn?

Houston international Quilt Festival Quilt Display

Vendor Mall

Unless, money is no object, you better set a budget for yourself. And don’t blow it all at the first booth! Like on $300 worth of thread at the giant Superior Thread booth up front. Do as I say, not as I do.

Make a list before you go of what you want to look for in the vendor mall. What are items can you not acquire locally? Some things may be on show specials, but even if they aren’t on sale, you save by not having to pay shipping. Are there international vendors there? You save tarriffs by buying at Festival. Mark the vendors you want to visit on the map in your program so you know where they are and can hit them early on Preview night.

Make a list or take a picture of your thread, pattern, ruler, machine feet, etc., stash so you don’t buy what you already have. I wouldn’t know anything about that.

On crowded days, head to the back of the hall first. People are such creatures of habit. Everyone starts in the front and everyone bunches up. Make a beeline to the back and beat the crowd.

The carousel in the back that holds mini classes throughout the day is a great place to rest and learn something cool. AllBrands has a stage with demonstrations and talks. Bernina does in some years. Look for booths with Make and Take’s. They’re fun!

Are their deals?

Welllll? Sometimes. Sometimes show deals are good, sometimes not. Know your prices. Sometimes deals can be made on Sunday when vendors don’t want to ship stuff home.

If you are in the market for a machine, this is your golden opportunity to test drive every possible brand and model. Classroom models are often a very good price if you fall in love with a machine. Also ask about display models on the show floor.

I hope this helps you enjoy Festival. Pace yourself, take breaks, hydrate, and pack your own lunch. (Food at the Festival is expensive.) Have a magical experience!

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

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