I attended the International Quilt Festival in Chicago today. Vendors from all over the world come to sell their quilt related items. Quilters from all over the world send photographs of their quilts then the very best are exhibited at the show.
I enjoy going to quilt shows for several reasons. The first and biggest reason is to spend a fun day with quilting friends. We all pile into a bus at some insanely early morning hour and travel together to the big arena or venue. We laugh and talk and laugh some more. We disembark, shop, look, buy, eat, (repeat until time to go back home on the bus). Then we talk and laugh and show each other what we bought on the trip home (and usually eat some more, too!)
Another reason is to shop the quilt show vendors. Yes, we have the internet and ordering from practically anywhere in the world has become very commonplace. But for quilters — we prefer to see and touch the fabric to make the best choices. The best way to do this is, of course, is at your local quilt shop — but the second best place is at a quilt show where you can shop from hundreds of different stores all in one day. Today we shopped stores with wares from India, Colombia, Ghana, Laos, and more countries than I can remember and from stores representing many of the 50 United States.
The third most important reason (and the order of these reasons is different for each quilter) — is to see the quilts. It is inspiring to look closely at the stitching, the threads, the fabrics and to study the different techniques that are used. We are awed by amazing workmanship and detail, among other things.
Quilters are a jolly bunch for the most part. It is not uncommon to strike up very meaningful conversations with people either as you look at the quilt show or as you shop the vendors. Offering advice, encouragement and/or commiseration is common and almost universally expected.
As I sat down to write this evening, the idea to write haiku about today popped into my head. I decided to bravely give it a try. Please let me know if you like them!
fabric lovers merge
inspiration strikes quickly
finishing falters
colors converging
eyes focus: rapt attention
image transfer zone
softness sliding so
slinky silky shimmering
slipping through fingers
like-minded spirits
find solace and joy as new
friendship begins now
color speaks to souls
inner space expands to meet
creator within
design, texture, space
line, color, style and movement
pleasing to the eye
Related articles
- How to Find a Local Quilt Show (quilting.answers.com)
- The Quilt That Started It All (housethatcraicbuilt.wordpress.com)
- Modern Quilting vs Traditional Quilting (allquilted.org)
The Tromp Queen 
I enjoyed both your pictures and the haiku. The haiku tell so much with so little words, and having made 7 quilts (mostly lap size) I could relate to them… 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
Amazing photos! 🙂
Thanks! I found most of them using Zemanta and on the Quilt Festival fb page. If you ever get a chance to attend a national quilt show, I encourage you to go. The quilts will amaze you!