Seattle Quilt Show

The Pacific Northwest Quiltfest in Seattle was as fabulous as expected. Every quilt was more incredible than the one before it. 223 quilts were juried into this show. There was also a display of antique quilts, a display of quilts made for both silent and live auction to benefit the Quiltfest, and a couple of other unusual collections. There were hundreds of people there, as well as 52 vendors. What a surprise to find that Norma had discovered me in the middle of all those people, though I didn't notice her until she stuck her name tag in my face. How fun to meet an Internet quilty friend! In reading her blog this morning I learned I can't post pictures of the quilts - rats! I can show you a picture of the best of show quilt here, because it won a big award at this years' IMQA show and there is a picture of it on their website. This artist lives just across the river from me in Lake Oswego, Oregon so I've been privileged to see many her quilts in person. Three members of our Clark County Quilters had quilts in the show, and two of them were ribbon winners.

I've been going through the pictures I took and unfortunately there are many didn't turn out well. I tried a new setting on my camera that made it unnecessary to use flash - this preserving the colors of the quilts better - but I didn't hold the camera steady enough a lot of the time. Pictures that looked just fine in the viewing screen on the camera turned out to be blurry when downloaded to the computer. A learning experience, but what a disappointment!

I should know myself better by now, and should never make a "no buy" pledge. I can go a long time without buying fabric - months and months! - I really can when I have to! But it just seems so silly to do so when I find something unusual that is very hard to get and is perfect for a project I'm doing. I wasn't even slightly tempted in most of the booths, because I'm not into batiks, orientals, brights, hand dyeds, and most of the other fabrics carried by the vendors. Only one booth was tempting, and I succumbed. Reproduction fabrics - a website I've visited many times - had a booth there. I love this website because they have their fabric sorted according to historical category. I've never ordered from them because much of their fabric is imported, available no where else, and more expensive than most. I don't like to order that sight unseen. Well, yesterday I got to examine all of it close up. The incredible reproduction chintzes important from the Netherlands made from 17th and 18th century designs. Real indigo prints imported from South Africa that feel like cardboard but soften to a beautiful hand when washed. Fabrics you just don't see anywhere in this country. Fabrics that are absolutely perfect for the pre-1830's medallion that I'm making in the year-long class I'm taking. Once I saw them in person I knew I wanted them for my reproduction quilt. It just seemed silly to wait until September to order them when I'd have to pay shipping on the purchase, so I bought them yesterday. And I'm not at all sorry!

As far as my other spending goes, here is the scoop. I joined the Appliqué Society, which I've always wanted to do. If you joined at the show you got copies of the last year's newsletters for free. I also fell in love with two Gund turkeys at the booth of a shop from Montana - the little one gobbles - which will be great for Thanksgiving, especially when grandchildren arrive. I love the striped stocks on the larger one - I'd love a pair like that for myself! I found paperback copies of the first two Emilie Richards quilt-related novels, about which I've heard so many positive comments. I've read two chapters of the first one and I'm really enjoying it. Of course I had to have a purple t-shirt with the show logo on the back, and a pair of purple socks also with the logo, and the show pin. That's the full report of my spending, other than Starbucks and meals.

It was a long day - we left at 6:00 a.m. and got back about 9:00 p.m. - but a wonderful day with quilty friends. As soon as pictures of all the winning quilts are up on their website I'll post the links. Now I need to spend today catching up!