Here is a link to the post that I wrote regarding my haul and a couple of other thoughts:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t196064.html
I really enjoyed the show. The only quilt shows that I have been to previously have been local shows. Certainly the quilts entered in those shows were beautiful and well above my experience level for sure. However, the level of quilts in this show were spectacular. I definitely feel inspired to challenge myself more.
I saw that there were some hand quilted pieces in the show but true the overwhelming majority were machine quilted and then probably the greated portion of those quilts were longarmed. However, as I said in my previous post seeing that "America, Let it Shine" by Sherry Reynolds was machine quilted on older domestic sewing machine is just amazing to me. It also tells me and shows me that I can do so much more with what I have than I've been doing.
One critique that I do have about the show is I wish that there had been more detailed information about the quilts. When I googled the two quilts that I liked I found more information regarding them from previous shows than what was provided in this show. I would have loved to know what Beth Nufer's artist statement was. A little snippet about how ALIS being done on a DSM would have been great too.
Also, I would have liked to have some information or history of the show. In other words, what is the basis for the show or mission of the show. I feel like it would help me to understand the selection of quilts and the hows and whys of it all.
I enjoyed the vendor mall. It was particularly great for me because here on Long Island we don't have a lot of Civil War repros and we have no shops that have primitives or wool. I thought the variety was good and I was able to see and get information about some products that I have wondered about. I wanted to try out one of the longarm machines but in the end I decided not to. There is a shop near me that gives a class and then rents out there machine. That is a more viable option for me. I just don't have the budget or space for a longarm. Maybe I might be able to swing a sit-down longarm but even that is far off in the future so no use in playing if I can't pay.
I plan to go again next year. I would really love to make it a weekend and then get some other quilty things in as well as the show.