April 28, 2008
Spring and early summer are some of the busiest times of the year for quilt shows. Quilters have been quilting during the winter months and want to show off what they have accomplished.
Organizing a quilt show is a lot of work. No matter the size of the show, whoever is heading it up needs a greal deal of help. There are so many details to be attended to. It all begins with finding a place to hold the show. There are many things to consider when finding that place. Some things to consider about a quilt-show location are cost, parking, lighting, size, ease of displaying the quilts, location and security. The cost of using the space is important for a small group without a large amount of money in their treasury.
More than 20 years ago, I was a member of a 200-plus members quilting group. We met in a beautiful church, and for many years we used that same location for our quilt show. We had to hire a policeman to manage the traffic outside of the church. Members of the group spent the night in the church to safeguard the quilts. As the show grew, the group found a larger, more open-space area that would accomodate the display racks that were rented from the state's quilting organization. The details involved in just getting the racks was more than one person's responsibility.
When you attend your next quilt show, look around. Notice the people with white gloves who are there to provide a closer look at the quilts. Appreciate their efforts to stage a quilt show for your enjoyment. Tell them how happy you are that you attended their show. They are already exhausted before the show begins, so your kind comments will lift their spirits.
If you have never volunteered to help organize and hang a quilt show, you should. You will be glad you did, even if you are exhausted when it is over! Look for a quilt show in your area and get out to attend and support the quilters involved.
What you see at the show should help you stay in stitches until next time.
