On my way home from teaching and lecturing at the annual International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas, last year, it occurred to me that a lot of quilters will never have the opportunity to attend a big quilt exhibit like IQS Houston. So, I thought I’d give you the “scoop” on what it is really like. I guess the best way to describe festival is to imagine what your local quilt show or state-fair quilt exhibit is like and then magnify it by about a bazillion times!

As the line of quilters snakes around the block prior to opening on the first day of festival, the air outside the George Brown Convention Center is positively electric. Quilters of all sizes, colors, and nationalities chatter with one another, even if they are complete strangers! The minute the clock hits 10 a.m., the crowd bursts through the doors, practically foaming at the mouth, ready to see the magnificent works of art.

Jaws dropping, the crowd often stands 10 deep to see the “top dogs,” (the quilts that received top honors and monetary awards). If the gods are with you, you may be able to rub shoulders with the quilters who created these masterpieces, as they stand in front of their quilts, explaining their techniques.

Then it’s a mad dash through all the individual quilt categories to see the quilts included in the juried and judged exhibit, and then it’s on to the special invitational exhibits. The quilts are meant to be savored, to be inspected, and to be drooled over. Sometimes, you just stand there, spellbound, unable to mutter even an intelligent word, thinking, “How in the holy heck did the artist do that?”

There are traditional quilts, appliquéd or pieced, there are art quilts, hand-painted quilts, hand-quilted, and machine-quilted pieces. There are naturescapes, and portrait quilts, in a plethora of sizes from miniature to large. There are so many quilts and so little time …

Although you might feel like you’ve been run over by a truck by the time you’ve seen all the quilts, there is one more experience you positively can’t skip.

Trust me: Going through all the vendors at IQA is like no other shopping extravaganza you will ever experience. There is fabric. And more fabric. And more fabric. Commercial fabrics, hand-dyed fabrics, hand-painted fabrics, specialty fabrics, silks, cottons, you name it, it’s there. There are threads abounding, embellishments galore, and gorgeous garments to be purchased. If your feet hurt, you can buy comfortable shoes, and a hand bag to match, or sit down and rest your dogs. You can find the latest quilting gizmos and gadgets. And that’s just the beginning. Thinking about buying a new sewing machine? Step right up, and sit right down, and try out the machine of your dreams. Need a neck or foot massage or a quick bite to keep your engines going? No worries, the festival has everything you need or want!

As if that isn’t enough, there are workshops with famous international teachers who share the secrets of their techniques. There are “Samplers,” where you rotate around a large room, watching international quilting divas demonstrate their techniques, and computer workshops, and mixed-media workshops, other demonstrations, and so on. One of my personal favorites are the lectures. For a nominal amount, you can sit down for about 45 minutes and listen to your favorite artist give an informative lecture or power point presentation, and if you are lucky, you’ll get to examine their quilts up close and personal, and even get an autograph!

There are special luncheon and dinner events and never a minute to spare. When you short time at the festival is over, it seems like your feet may never recover and that your sleep-deprived brain is on chronic overload. If you are like me, however, when next year’s brochure arrives, you can’t wait to see what offerings there will be, and before you know it, you are signing on the dotted line, making hotel reservations, and flight plans!

For more information about International Quilt Festival at Houston, TX, go to: www.quilts.com or call (713) 781-6864.

I wish you happy quilting!