I always get inspired seeing others beautiful work. Quilt shows are an overload,seeing so many at once. I like seeing all the beautiful work from all the talented members of the board, I never get tired looking at them.

I LOVE going to quilt shows. I set a budget for what I am allowed to spend and try like heck to stick to it but some of the bigger shows, like MQX have such great show only deals it is difficult to not buy. And I love seeing the quilts. they give me so much inspiration and loads of ideas that I want to try myself in LAing. Of course a lot of it is beyond my current ability but I won't ever get there if I don't at least try! I really want to go to MQX in Rhode Island next month but none of the classes really motivated me so I may just go as a spectator and see what gadgets I can't live without and what kind deals Superior and Filtec have on thread.

I like going to quilt shows. I do find them inspiring (even if they are miles out of my skill range at the moment). I enjoy seeing the result of people taking risks with techniques and what they accomplish. I always come away from quilt shows feeling energized and inspired to get into my sewing room and get sewing.

Jackie is it possible for sister and auntie to visit you instead of you going to them? Sounds like things are tight budget wise and you don't really sound that enthusiastic about the show. I understand being overwhelmed and exhausted at the end. My DH and I used to go to a 3 or 4 day jazz festival in Eureka CA. By the second or third day we were wiped out and sick of music - just exhausted. So we started planning breaks and giving ourselves some away time too - quiet hikes in the redwoods and picnics on the beach - just the ticket for renewing energy. Perhaps you can scale down your activity level (if you do decide to go) so that you can enjoy yourself more and not be as worn out when you are through.

Good luck making your decision - sounds like a fine pickle to me! :)

To be honest, they intimidate me! I love to go, I love to see what can be done, and I come away feeling totally inadequate, knowing that I will never get to the level of expertise that the makers of the show quilts are at!

I think that's why I love gathering and working on vintage/antique machines...THAT I can do! :)

I enjoy going to quilt shows, but not for any inspiration. Just to enjoy looking at what can be done.

i enjoy going but once I get there it wears me out just to walk from car to vendor and show building always have to sit awhile before I can shop Than I get going and shop till I drop and whoever I am with has to go mget vehicle and pick me up. After 2 or 3 days of this I always say never again. But the next year I go again I always buy more than I plan, but things that after I get home forget how to use them. I do enjoy looking at all the beautiful quilts. But than after spending about a solid week in bed from exaustion I go to my studio and have a hard time sewing because I know I can never produce something as beautiful as what I saw at show. And talking about high prices I bought a diet coke from a vendor thinking I would get some ice only to find out a glass of ice was the same price as my coke

I am off to Pigeon Forge in March and looking forward to going. I hope to see an old friend who goes every year. My son's mother-in-law and I are going together. I got her into quilting, and she is loving it and excited about the trip. I may over purchase, but it is also my birthday, so no guilt! I love to look at everything and do get inspired!

I love quilt shows. I try to go to the United Kingdom each year.We have very few fabric shops here so it is a great way to see whats new. I only buy what I can afford.

I love shows, but only go if they are local.

I love the shows, especially the larger ones. I definately go for and get inspiried. I collect the photo's and keep them sorted by the one (or two) interesting features of the quilt that I want to glean something from (ie "Quilted Feathers", "Linear Quilting", "Applique" etc) and I'll sort through them when working on other projects. I confess I do the same thing with photo's I see here on QB and elsewhere on the web.

I rarely spend much at the smaller shows (not that many vendors), but went wild in Paducah - of course most of the money I spent was spent at Hancock's of Paducah and mostly on the "batik bench". OH MY OH MY!!!

That said, Hubby offered to take me to AQS show in Lancaster PA this year. Actually ... he wants to visit folks in Lancaster County and I said "why not do it when the quilt show is happening?". In the end, I changed my mind. The show is in mid March and I'd really rather visit our friends in the summer when we can enjoy the nice weather on his farm (they're Amish).