A Guide to the Houston Quilt Festival for Dummies

[Lois B.]

If you were to write 'A Guide to the Houston Quilt Festival for Dummies" what would you put in it? Where to stay? How to negotiate? Please help this Dummie!

[Margo C.]

First of all, be aware that the whole thing is so big that it really can be overwhelming!

You can get a hard copy of the show catalog or print one off the Internet: http://www.quilts.com/home/shows/vie...e=FallFestival

Read and study the catalog, not only for class info and schedules, but they cover everything from where to stay to what to wear!

Most important to me is remembering that fashion stops at the knees in Houston! WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! There are not many places to sit and rest.

When you get your catalog, go through the list of vendors and circle the ones that you want to be sure to visit. The vendor mall is so large that you probably won't even walk by some booths! If you are walking by, and see something you are interested in, stop right then to check it out, or write down the number of the booth so you can return later. Don't depend on remembering where the booth is! Trust me on this! :roll:

Same thing goes for the quilt show. Check out all of the special exhibits and mark the ones you think you want to be sure to check out.
Don't over-schedule your time at the show. It can take an entire day just to see the quilts, and the vendor mall could be another day or two. Pace yourself.

The first thing I mark is the TQS/Ricky Tims booth locations so that I can get there each day for the 1:00 Meet & Greet. It doesn't take but a few minutes, and you don't want to be late or you will miss the flash!

Speaking of flash. Always check before you take photos, both in the vendor mall and in the quilt show. Ask the vendors if it's OK and look for posted signs on the quilts.

Most of all....have fun! Houston is a fabulous experience.

[Sharon E.]

Margo -- you are a wealth of information. Will you be there this year? I understand that Wanda is not organizing the dinner due to health, so will there be a dinner? I am not taking any classes this time so that I can just "see" the vendors and quilts. I didn't realize there are special exhibits.

Thanks for all the wonderful information, Sharon

[Annis C.]

Great information, Margo. I missed the flash 2 years ago because I waited too late to go to the booth and it took too long to find it. So you definitely need to be a little early instead of a little late, unless of course you don't want your picture taken. Our bus group will be having dinner at the Aquarium on Thursday. Has anyone been there before?

[Lois B.]

Margo, Thanks so much. I am still thinking about coming this year but I am not sure. I will print out the catalogue today and do some serious reading this weekend. Perhaps after that I'll have more questions.

[Sharon E.]

Lois, if I'm jumping and going you can too. LOL

Sharon

[Margo C.]

Special exhibits: http://www.quilts.com/fqf12/events/exhibits.pdf

It looks like we may need a new volunteer to set up the TQS dinner on Thursday evening. Anyone up for it???

[karen f.]

Most important to me is remembering that fashion stops at the knees in Houston! WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! There are not many places to sit and rest.

Something I did the first time I went and wasn't sure what to expect, was sign up for a couple lectures. They are very inexpensive and I knew that I'd at least have some time and a place to sit down for a little while. You also get to listen to an interesting speaker while resting up!

[Lois B.]

Signing up for lectures so you can rest a bit is a great idea! Thanks!

[Hannelore N.]

I bet this applies for Houston too. I go to the biggest quilt show here in Europe every year (much smaller than Houston, I'm told, but plenty big enough for me). Because I can't hop all over the world I always check who is at the show from places I don't get to. That goes for vendors, workshops, lectures, special exhibits. So, in my case I look for quilters from the US, Australia, Russia, etc. You may decide to look for Europe and Australia. I had a fantastic time with Lisa Walton and Michele Hill (both Australian) one year, Frieda Anderson and Laura Wasilowski were brilliant. My big treat this year is Patti Hempen. Russian quilt exhibitions are always amazing. I can 'catch' the UK quilters and vendors every year, but not the folks who come from across the world.

May I also suggest that you carry a small bottle of water with you. It always surprises me how dry the atmosphere in big halls is, and if you de-hydrate a bit you'll get a nasty headache that'll stop you enjoying yourself.

Look at the quilts at the beginning of your day, and shop at the end of the day. That way you don't carry all your 'must have' purchases around with you.

If you go to Houston with friends, make sure that you have exchanged your mobile phone numbers, and that your phone's battery is charged. So if you split up it's easier to meet again.

I also often have a pack of small cards with me, with my name, email address, phone number, etc. So if you want to give it to somebody you don't have to hunt around for a spare piece of paper. Carry a notebook and pen. I scribble down all sorts of things at quilt shows.

Finally, Lois: Go, go, go........ You deserve to have some fun!!

[Margo C.]

Great tips, Lorchen! I don't know about your festival, but the Houston show has a place where you can park your purchases for safekeeping until you are ready to leave or ship them home! It is called "Reserve A Box" and is located at the Festival Services Desk above Hall D.
So...you don't have to tote it around with you all day!

BTW...If you decide to print out the whole catalog, be aware that it is 50 pages long plus 12 pages of supplies needed for the classes!! :shock:

[Hannelore N.]

Margo 'Reserve a box' is brilliant. At the show in Birmingham they have a couple of places where you can leave your coat and bags, etc., but they fill up very quickly, and they may be at the opposite end from where you are shopping.

Retirement in 2014...... visit to Houston Show in 2015....... I have started saving!

[Margo C.]

Retirement in 2014...... visit to Houston Show in 2015....... I have started saving!

WHOO-HOO!!

[Lois B.]

Great tips, Lorchen! I don't know about your festival, but the Houston show has a place where you can park your purchases for safekeeping until you are ready to leave or ship them home! It is called "Reserve A Box" and is located at the Festival Services Desk above Hall D.
So...you don't have to tote it around with you all day!

BTW...If you decide to print out the whole catalog, be aware that it is 50 pages long plus 12 pages of supplies needed for the classes!! :shock:

Good advice. I just returned from Staple's. My printer ran out of ink. Thanks again for all the help, Margo.

Lorchen, Now I will want to go again in 2015. That is exciting. Anticipation is the most fun.

[Margo C.]

Replacement ink makes the $3.00 for the catalog look like a real bargain!!