This was my first time at the Lancaster show also. It was Friday afternoon before the start of a class that I was told there was another show downtown. I thought the show at the Host was the show. I was very disappointed in that, thinking it was the show. However, from comments I have read on this blog, I didn't miss anything, especially the entrance fee and the parking fee. A beautiful quilt is a beautiful quilt is a beautiful quilt. A talented quilter is a talented quilter is a talented quilter. It doesn't really matter whether it's an AQS show or your local quilt guild. I belong to a quilt guild where the quilts at their recent show were stunning. Absolutely stunning.
I did go to a class at the Host given by Stephanie Farrell on Beautiful Bindings. She was wonderful. She went over
everything she does in sewing a binding. I learned a great deal, and I even came home with a sample of joining the binding ends when you're finished with a quilt, which is always a problem for me. It is pinned. So, I'll have an actual example of what I need to do as I do it.
I love going to the various vendors more than I do the quilt shows themselves. I do, however, agree that the World War II quilts were wonderful. It is such a nice feeling to know that people are saving and treasuring these quilts.
The vendors, I thought, at the Continental Inn were great. There were two Amish women who were at one of the booths looking at items. I figured if it's good enough for the locals, it's good enough for me. I think they were Amish. I can't remember the color of their hats. I wanted to see the Old Country Store. I heard from people you will be disappointed. I didn't care. I wanted to see it. I did see it and I loved it. I also loved the checkout procedure. One cuts, one makes out the ticket, and then you pay at the front of the store. Great system. The line went quickly.
I went to Zook's. Could barely move it was so crowded. Their cutting table had six women cutting, six women making up the tickets, and two people at checkout. It was so crowded I was mumbling to myself when I left the store.
So many fabric stores, so little time, and not enough allocated in the budget. I did purchase a cutting gizmo, a new cutting board, some fabric (had to buy some from the Old Country Store), two Purple Thangs (for the double wedding ring bed runner I'm making. It was recommended in the pattern), had a couple of good Amish meals, and probably wwill go again, now that I know where to go and what to see.
I do know if I want to see the shows I need to do them first thing in the morning and then go shopping. The shows close at six, but the fabric stores were open until eight on Wednesday and Thursday and way later than that on Friday.
I could have gone to the AQS show on Saturday before I came home, but I had brought my cat with me and I didn't want to leave him in the car while I went to see the show. Maybe next year.