50 Years of Great Quilts- Houston

I told ya'll previously it would be so fun if many of us would enter a quilt into the 50th anniversary special exhibit at Houston Quilt Show.

I'm confused because the general instructions say a call for quilts will be April 10th, but I just got this email, so I say try to enter now if you want!

Here's the Calls for Entry Now Open for Houston Quilt Festival 2024! Have your quilt displayed at our 50th anniversary show Oct. 31-Nov. 3!

Check out our current calls for entry to submit your quilt to be show at this year's Festival! See them all below or click HERE. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Quilt Festival Judged Show with cash prizes is a separate exhibit. Rules and information will be available in late February.

CURRENT CALLS FOR ENTRY Here's the link https://www.quiltfestivalcallforentries.com/showrules.php?ID=186 Red, white and blue but not necessarily patriotic.  Let me know your thoughts!

Houston Quilt Festival

 Houston Quilt show is a terrific place to see beautiful quilts and meet with friends that sometimes you see only once a year!

 Last year my trip was fairly quick but I  avoided the weekend quilt show traffic and it worked out for me. 

Please let me know if you will be coming- I would love to see you if our schedules work out! 

(Kevin, ConnieR, Debbie S, Sue B, David  and Cecile will be there!)

November 1st - 5PM preview night. I love seeing the quilts at this time with less people. If you have a quilt in the show let me know so I can be looking for them.

November 2nd- 10AM- 6PM Quilt show and vendors

November 2nd I think I will check out the Open Studio from noon -2PM

November 3rd- 10AM- Noon Friday Sampler

And if you are wondering what that is: Twenty-three Festival teachers at separate tables around the room offer continuous demonstrations of particular techniques and methods. Enrollees circulate around the room informally and receive a booklet consisting of a handout from each participating teacher. 

Noon- 4ish- See any quilt exhibits I need to see again, revisit vendors- say goodbye to friends until next year.

And I see they are already prepping us for next year! You can enter a quilt in the show. It is pretty exciting. 

50 YEARS OF GREAT QUILTS

START WORKING NOW ON A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE QUILT FOR FESTIVAL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY SHOW IN 2024!

IN THE AMERICAN TRADITION

Contemporary quiltmakers often look to the art form’s rich tradition and history for inspiration in their own works. This exhibit features recently made quilts that incorporate traditional blocks, styles, and/or techniques.

You can see other categories HERE 

Lost Star Exhibit Houston

This was another beautiful exhibit!

So interesting how they shared the original with us!

Here it is! Technology truly is wondrous!

 

If you want to see more just do a google search of the Lost Star quilt, Lopez island, WA.

There were so many wonderful quilts. I opted to share only my favorite exhibits here on the blog.

Remembering Cynthia Collier

I shared a few photos of this exhibit on Instagram but it was so incredible I need to share on my blog. 

Her husband curated the exhibit and was on hand to talk about Cynthia and her quilts. It was very special.

I'm opting to share a few parts of quilts that I thought were so inspirational!

Sometimes  it is hard to know how and when to use a lovely floral border print. (at least for me!)

Secret surprises in her urns/vases/baskets. 

Toile with people in the windows! Yes, please!

Another beautiful urn.

I have some of this fabric in my stash and after seeing this I am determined to use it in a similar fashion. (perhaps the next challenge?)

Big beautiful columns!

Beautiful details.

I'll share one more exhibit on Wednesday. One more of my favorites!

Let's have an amazing week!

 

My Take on the Houston Quilt Show

I'll start with this quilt since it is relevant in USA right now. 

This was one that would have been really hard to miss! So cool and so graphic.

This was not traditional, not modern, but one of my favorites for the detail and the thoughtfulness in his face. 

Okay, now just the quilt show itself. 

2020 the quilt show was a covid bust. Last year I believe they cancelled Quilt Market and had a smaller version of the quilt show. 

So after 2 years I thought it would be a good thing to go!

I arrived Wednesday afternoon and went to get my badge and registration. Preview for quilters enrolled in class was at 5PM

At first glance everything looked as it was the last time I saw this view in 2019. Having a closer look I could see that the aisles were wider, food court was also on this floor and so were 2 other events (not related to quilting) They had rented a much smaller space of the George Brown Convention Ctr. 

As far as vendors, who did I notice was missing?

Mary Koval

Julie Silber Quilts

Cindy's Antique Quilts

Red Crinoline Quilts

Primitive Gatherings

American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine

Primitive Patchwork magazine

Material Obsession

Homestead Hearth

There were many more that opted to not attend this year. maybe they weren't sure the crowds would be there to help offset higher fuel and shipping prices. I hope the attendance this year will encourage vendors to return next year. 

These 2 booths were a lot of fun to browse through!

Personally I don't feel like there were as many quilts this year either, but I'm not sure why there would be less. If you look at this photo compared to past years it is an obvious change. 

You cannot go in with the vendors or quilts with any food or drink, but if you wanted an alcoholic beverage it was available! Maybe it was here before and I never noticed. 

These quilts, below, are fine quilts, but they were in the category "In the American Tradition"

I personally feel like another category would suit them better. 

You all know I believe quilting and friendships go hand in hand. 

I roomed and worked with Debbie in the Education office in 2016. We have so much in common and enjoy our time together! Love seeing her and catching up. 

I also met Janet O from Canada in Houston a few years ago and here she is in front of her quilt. I had a little time to see her Friday Am before I headed home.

Mona, Janet and I. 

I met Mona the day before! She is from Louisiana and is a blog reader. We had a nice visit! I hope to visit her guild in 2023 or 2024! 

Here is a little gift she brought me! Oh my goodness! So kind!! The Slap Yo Mama seasoning is a TX/LA thing, I think! I tried it this morning! Yum!!

I worked with Sue in the education office in 2018 and we have been friends ever since. Her coworker,  David, myself and Sue spent a little time bar hopping and watching the Astros play in the world series! So much fun!

You can see big winners HERE. 

The exhibits I loved the most? 

Quilts de Legende, France

Remembering Cynthia Collier

Antique Applique Quilts Revisited 

There are so many lovely ones, I'll share a few of each of these exhibits in another post. 

A few other things to note:

I stayed at Club Quarters and loved it. My room was tiny but it was only me. I felt entirely safe downtown Houston walking to and from the Convention Ctr to my hotel. The staff was amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. 

I arrived on Wednesday about 3:00 and had 2 hours to get checked in, registered at the convention Ctr. It was plenty of time. When I got in to see the quilts at 5 there was hardly a soul in there! I did a video of the Quilts de Legende and posted it in my Facebook group. It was great seeing the quilts without a lot of people. I saw all the exhibits I wanted to see then made my way to the vendors. 

I went through the entire place. (granted I was only scoping it out at this time) and had plenty of time before the doors closed at 8PM.

I attended a machine quilting forum from 9AM-Noon the next day and still had plenty of room, although it was getting a little busier. 

This was the line of Friday when they were just getting opened at 10AM. This line was going in to see the vendors! I made my way down to the quilts and only had to wait for about 1-2 minutes to get in. 

I got back to my hotel at noon, checked out and they were willing to hold my bags for me. I met back up with my friends and was able to spend a little more time to enjoy their company, then it was time to head to the airport. 

As long as my friends can come a little earlier, I'll keep that same schedule. It worked out great and I missed the larger crowds. 

I hope you enjoyed my view of the show! I had a really fantastic trip!

Another Favorite Houston Exhibit

I came across this lovely indigo exhibit and it really was inspiring! Quilting in Japan has always been so completely perfect and over the top, which I appreciate, but I'm not necessarily inspired by it- thee was something different about these quilts. 

If you haven't heard of many Japanese quilters, let me introduce you to the

 indigo work of Shizuko Kurohah. 

This was one of my favorites. It was so unusual and unique.

She had to have designed it on paper ahead of time to make this amazing design work. I think you can click to zoom more. 

As I browsed the vendors, I came across Shizuko! Hand quilting away with her family working the booth. Anybody know what the booth name was? I bought some hand quilting needles and wish I would have purchased the glove to help with hand fatigue. (I doubt I'll ever hand quilt as much in a day as she does!) She didn't seem to speak a lick of English but was so generous with trying to explain her hand quilting technique. 

And this was her adorable grandson wearing this bright red cowboy hat! And it is true that many Japanese love all things cowboy!! How stinkin' cute is he??

Here is the special exhibit info.

And her book published by Quiltmania. 

On another note: Elsa and I set the alarm early and went out for a hike to catch the sunrise on Friday,. Out weather has been wonderful for November and I'm eeking out every last drop of it before the weather really changes. 

 This is an apple orchard at the trail head. It was an old homestead 120 years ago.

 When I see these old corrals, still in use, it reminds me of the cowboy heritage in Central Oregon

Saturday we went on an easy hike so Porter could join us. . 

 This is the Deschutes River, popular for fishing and floating.

 This is what I look like before wanting a photo! LOL

 Another old homestead. 

An old store with Noah Vibbert on the side. The family named Vibbert still lives in the area.

Thanks for coming along with me today. 

Thank you Veterans and your family  for your service! Much love to you all!