Camille

Dh and I went to NH (1.5 hrs away) today to the Quilters Gathering show. I haven't been there in about 8 yrs. Last time I got some really good show prices on items. Today, there was nothing worth buying. The quilts were absolutely beautiful, but the vendors all had the same things, fabrics and patterns. Nothing exciting. I only bought 1 pattern on the insistance of dh and $125 worth of Superior threads. I just hope my Bernina's like the thread brand. They are very fussy about the thread I use. They hate Sulky. So between gas, parking, breakfast and lunch, admission and purchases I could have stayed home and did my shoppong on the internet. And....it was boiling hot in the hotel making my stay much shorter. If I sound like I'm complaining....I'm not, just disapointed. It seems like all these shows are moving in a different direction. My machine dealer sent an email apologizing for not having a booth at the show this year. And she is the largest dealer around. Is this happening all over the country? A very dissapointing day, at least my dh's company made it a good day. He's a trooper for putting up with my hobbies. Maybe cause I put up with his hobbies too.

MTS

So, no spectacular vendors?

It is called a quilt show, not a vendor show.
Just saying.

I came back from Houston last night.
Out of over ~550 vendors, I only bought from around 10.
So 540+ had nothing I was interested in.
And many of my favorites were not there this year (Sandy related or other reasons).

I wasn't the least bit disappointed.

Had a fabulous time (despite the travel related costs of plane, hotel and car).

Peckish

I could make the same observations as you regarding the last 4 or 5 shows I've been to, but I realized that as time goes on, I've become a better quilter, don't have any need or want for any new gadgetry, and can either figure out the patterns on my own or create what i want. It makes sense that the vendors have the same fabrics - they all have to purchase from the same manufacturers and they might understand that only certain types of fabrics sell well in your region. So, in other words, maybe it's not the fault of the show, maybe it's just that you're just in a different place than you were 8 years ago.

I've gotten to the point where the American quilt magazines just don't do it for me anymore, everything they publish is the same old same old. Been there done that. However, the Australian and Japanese quilt magazines have some really innovative and gorgeous quilts, and I've been drawing a lot of inspiration from them. Maybe it's time to expand your horizons!

dunster

My complaint is usually that there are too many vendors and not enough quilts! Unless I'm looking for something specific, such as thread or longarm templates, I don't spend that much with the vendors.

117becca

When I go to a quilt show, I do want to see the quilts. There are rarely vendors that I will buy from because I hand quilt - I generally only looking for specific things - I want YLI thread, and stencils for my hand quilting designs. Occasionally I'll find something to surprise me. My favorite show w/ vendors was the international quilt show in Cincinnati last spring. I'll definitely go back next year.

The last show I went to was way too crowded and I couldn't see or look at anything. I did get my scissors sharpened and I left pretty quickly.

luana

Yesterday I took two of my sisters to a very small quilt show in Iowa. Neither of them had ever been to a show, because neither of them quilt. It was fun to see things through their eyes. Everything was new and exciting, and I'm sure I saw things I would have missed on my own. I think Peckish is right, we've been there and done that, and we keep raising our expectations. I hope I never tire of appreciating the beautiful quilts made by others.

Just Me...

From a shopowner/vendor perspective...they need to make their money back on the booth fee, gas, food, etc., all the same things you spent money on. The easiest way to do that is to take the more popular fabric lines, patterns, books, etc., which leaves the consumer with less variety at the show. All the vendors have pretty much the same thing. It can be risky to take those items that are not advertised as well or that aren't the latest "craze". All the other shops around me carried Moda, so I quit carrying Moda. All the other shops around me carried Nancy Halvorsen Christmas fabric, so I quit. I started ordering fabric lines from Red Rooster, Andover, Wilmington, etc. so that my customers would have more of a variety. There were grumbles at first...but after a few months it was worth it. If we all carry the same exact fabric lines, it becomes an issue of who has it cheaper and you are left looking at the same ole same ole. Hard to do that at a show.... As is the case with pretty much everything these days, booth fees are higher, gas prices are higher....they have to take the items they know they can sell a lot of.....

Jackie Spencer

The first thing I do when I go to a QS is look at all the beautiful quilts. However the vendors are very important to me, as we have no LQS. Have to drive at least an hour to one and over that to others. So yes when I go to a QS I expect to see vendors there!

gollytwo

I seem to be the opposite of everyone else - I'm far more interested in the vendors than the quilts.
Am a big fan of Superior Threads. My Bernina takes them fine - even will take Bottom Line (their 60wt poly bobbin thread) top and bobbin.

Scissor Queen

I really don't understand how you can be disappointed at any quilt show.

One of the quilt shows I go to only has about 30 to 50 quilts at the absolute most and usually 8 vendors. I go to that show every year and have a great time.