Friday, April 17, 2009

International Quilt Festival

I'm always amused by the looks I get when I say I write quilting mysteries. "That's nice, dear. Your little sewing circle must be so proud. Is that shawl you're wearing crocheted from yarn from your own alpaca? Pass me some of your homemade succotash." Okay, no one says that out loud, but that's what they're thinking.

I wish they could be with me today. I'm at a "little" quilt show. Seriously this is not the biggest show that will be held this year and it's only one of several this size.

The Chicago International Quilt Show is less than five years old, but was a hit from the first day. It has grown quickly to include over a thousand quilts from artists all over the world and five hundred vendors selling fabric, machines, beads, buttons completely taking over the 250,000 square feet of the Donald E Stephens Convention Center. Attendance might be down a little from last year's high of nearly 25,000 but quilters are a hardy lot so I expect the numbers will be close.

Of course the best thing about these shows is meeting people. It's a very cool thing to be surrounded by someone people who like what you do. While I'm not sure how many people in the midwest have found my books yet, I generally find myself welcomed. Quilters like to read almost as much as they like to quilt.

So if you're in Chicago, stop by and take a look. You might just be amazed.

6 comments:

Betty Hechtman said...

I wish I could make it. I bet the quilts on display are beautiful.

It must be nice to be surrounded by so many people who share one of your passions.

Camille Minichino said...

So glad you could be there Terri. "Hobby" shows are always inspiring and exciting. I hope they all find your books!

Monica Ferris said...

I've been to that quilt show. The quilts are not just beautiful, they are astonishing. Awe-inspiring. Works of art.

Becky Preston said...

Wish I had known you were there! I took a class and worked in a booth and love seeing all the quilts and all the people. It is a great show.
Becky Preston
Rebecca955@aol.com

Terri Thayer said...

It was a great show. One I'd definitely come back to. Sorry I missed you, Becky.

Betty, this was my first time in Chicago and I really enjoyed the town. I took a trolley ride around and even though it was rainy and cold, I loved it. And I found four of my books at the Border by the Water Tower. Fun!

Anonymous said...

Terri, I won't be able to make it to the Quilt Festival but as A new quilter and a new reader(by new reader - I mean I just learned to read and enjoy it) - I am looking forward to your next book - I have read Wild Goose Chase and Old Maid's Puzzle - I look forward to see what will happen to Dewey next as much as I look forward to seeing what I will learn next in my new quilting experience.
Thank you for two great books

Keep quilting and writing,
KBA