Our first day experience was a wowzer! Absolutely blown away by the crowd. Our first stop was at the National Quilt Museum and that was not too crowded. The quilts there were stunning - but, alas, no photos allowed. We were certainly impressed with the miniature quilts and some of the old quilts (mostly variations of a 9 patch). The art quilts were also something amazing.
Off to the Exhibition Hall - you could hardly swim upstream. But, we made it through and hit some of our key vendor interests along the way. Li'l Sis was interested in getting an AccuQuilt Go (the electric one) and thought perhaps there would be a show special . . . NOT. So she called our local dealer and put her order in. At least she's going to have some better support locally. She did buy a few dies though - they did have those discounted. (An aside, we were told that AccuQuilt would not discount their machines - yet at the shop of a very famous quilter who was there, we could have gotten one for a 25% savings . . . this was after Sis ordered hers . . . )
There was also a wonderful display of the Egyptian Applique (someone posted a video link here a couple weeks ago). The quilts were priced in the tens of thousands and were more impressive up close and personal. Amazing work - and the colors and workmanship were spectacular.
We visited several fabric stores - still don't know if some of these (like Eleanor Burns' shops . . . three there that we visited) were temporary for the show, although we certainly believe they aren't all permanent fixtures. Several of the shops had less than quality fabric though. The crowds were unbelievable. We bought fabric in Eleanor's warehouse set-up and waited in line for about 15-20 minutes to get to the cashier (there was only one). We also stopped in one of her shops and she was in the middle of doing her little spiel for the week. Crowded, and we didn't have tickets, but we did get to stand that the back by the big open doors and watch and listen.
Also visited a few artsy-craftsy type stores, went to a fiber arts museum, had lunch at the deli by the bakery (sandwiches on bakery bread - yummy).
Friday we finally made it inside the Pavillion (a giant bubble - anyone know if this is only set up for the show or if it's a permanent fixture?). Actually it was our favorite visit with the vendors - lots and lots of fun stuff to see and do.
Least favorite thing? Probably Hancocks!!!!!! Yes, you read that correctly!!!!! Part of it was because it was later in the day when we got there and we both were pretty tired from all the walking and being on our feet so much. It was crowded - but hey, it was SHOW WEEK!! There was no rhyme nor reason in the way the fabrics were displayed. And, not being true shopping lovers, both of us like to go and grab what we need and get out, it would have been difficult to find what you wanted without searching every aisle. And, perhaps that's their idea - or maybe because of the influx of people it is difficult to keep things straight and tidy. Sis was looking for pink fabrics for a quilt and there was no reasoning as to why you'd find a bolt of pink in with the batiks and another in with the Halloween fabrics and another over by drapery fabric, and one stuck in with the plaids . . . and I know that people will pick something up, change their minds and just stick it somewhere - but it was apparent that those carrying fabric back to the display from the cutting tables weren't putting anything back where it logically should go . . . BUT, we found that to be the case in every store we visited . . . aren't we demanding?
I'm glad I got to go, glad I had a chance to meet RHONDA!!!!! And, if I were 20 years younger I'd go back next year. Given the fact that I did not have a 'wish list' for anything (I have enough fabric in my stash and enough quilts planned to last the rest of my lifetime) I was really there for the eye candy. I did buy one stack of FQs at Eleanor's place because they had polka dots!! Bought a couple small items to put in PIF packages, and picked up a mat to use with fusible webbing for applique work (what is that thing called anyway??).
