Thursday, July 19, 2012

My first BIG quilt show...YAHOO!!


As many of you have heard, AQS is hosting their first regional quilt show in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 22-25.  At the last minute a few weeks ago, I decided to enter "All Around the Town" and "Life of Riley" (my Civil War Bride quilt) in the show.  I had never entered anything in a major, juried show, and was a little daunted by the entry requirements (oh, the perfect photos required...sigh), but thought the process might be good experience and I really needed some good photos of these quilts anyway.

AQS wanted the photos taken outside, and as you Midwestern people know, there is ALWAYS a breeze in Michigan.  It took ALL DAY to photograph 2 quilts (waiting for the rare, windless moments so that the quilts would hang correctly and look square).

Well, I received envelopes in the mail a couple of weeks ago...not the regular-sized, "we're sorry, we don't want your quilt..." type, but the large, "here are some more hoops you need to jump through" acceptance letters...for BOTH of them!!!  You could have knocked me over with a small baggie of fabric snippets!  Those letters came on a day when I REALLY needed a boost!

So, then I needed to figure out how to make and attach the "right kind of hanging sleeve" to the quilts so that they could be hung with their hanging system.  Construction wasn't too hard with their enclosed directions.  

The hard part came when I had to quarantine the kitty and do a SEVERE and THOROUGH job of removing Weasley hair from the quilts with the lint roller.  Of course, that required removing cat hair (ahem...and the cat...) from that area of the quilt cave first, LOL!


It is fun to have the August quilt show to look forward to...road trip!  It will be thrilling to have a couple of quilts hanging at the show...don't you think a quilt show just feels different when you are a participant??  Don't get me wrong, ANY opportunity to go to a show is awesome, but it is fun to be an "anonymous lurker" in the area where your quilt is hanging...

Will I see some of you at the Grand Rapids AQS show? 

In stitches,
Teresa, the "lurker"    :o)

39 comments:

  1. It's easy to see why your quilts were accepted as they are fabulous works of art. I'm so happy for you. Wish I were nearby to go and enjoy them,and all the others, in person.

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  2. I could look at All Around Town ALLLLLLLLL Day!!! All Night and some more in between.. so I certainly hope it wins..

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  3. Congrats! That is really awesome. I'm laughing about the removal of cat hair, because about 5 minutes ago I ordered a case of lint rollers! I swear I should have bought stock in lint rollers years ago! Your quilts are beautiful - and such an honor to have them both in the show!

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  4. Congratulations. I love the All Around the Town quilt.

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  5. So excited for you! If they do it the same as Paducah they put a ribbon on your nametag so folks know you have a quilt in the show! Makes it very fun!

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  6. congratulations!!! double times. The loose animal hair is one of the main reasons I refuse to have a pet in the house!!
    I "know" one other person who will have a quilt in that show. I am too far away to go to the show but do let us know on your blog how you enjoy the show and how your quilts do.
    Karen

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  7. I so wish I could be there and see your beautiful quilts in person. Congrats!

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  8. How exciting! Congratulations, they both so deserve this honor. Now the mounting excitement of how they do - just the priveledge of being accepted - wow. Dancing along side of you.

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  9. Congratulations!!!!! I think you just sent me over the edge to attend the show! I can't wait to see your quilts hanging there.

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  10. What a fabulous thrill for you, I love both of these quilts and do so hope you do well with them. I am quite daunted at the thought of entering a show quilt,

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  11. Well, shucks, girl!!! I'd be there in a heartbeat if I could. Congrats on the entries and I'm sure you're gonna do just fine!!!

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  12. Congrats the quilt is beautiful (both quilts!)
    Did you use a pattern? What are they?

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  13. Yipee!! Have an excellent time lurking :0) around your INCREDIBLE quilts!!

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  14. Wonderful! Congratulations! I know how hard it is to get your quilts accepted so this is a great achievement. You deserve this, you make beautiful quilts that are so fun to look at.

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  15. that's awesome!! good luck with it, if these are the two quilts, then they are ribbon winners already IMHO :-)

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  16. Congratulations! Wonderful quilts, wish I was close enough to attend.

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  17. All Around The Town has always been my favorite ~ next to your husbands boxers.. Wish I was close enough to see both your quilts right where they deserve to be.. Good Luck!

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  18. congratulations!!! that is so awesome. Wish I lived closer so I could see your quilts in person. I am so happy for you.

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  19. Congratulations!! Your quilts definitely belong in that show. Don't take the judges comments to heart though. They almost destroyed me in 1992 until I realized some judges feel obligated to say something negative.

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  20. Awesome!! How very exciting!

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  21. Congratulations on the entries. How totally exciting. I hope you enjoy the show and don't take anyone's comments too seriously. Just so many negative ninnies out there.

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  22. Hip hip hooray! I remember you talking about THINKING about the possibility of applying. Wish I could be in Michigan to see the show, too.

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  23. Congrats!!! Oh how exciting!!! They are such great quilts, I am glad you jumped thru all the hoops to enter them and share.

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  24. Congratulations! Your quilts are beautiful. I'll be looking for them at the show.

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  25. Congratulations! Your work is gorgeous. I'm sure you'll win prizes. Have fun!

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  26. Your civil war bride quilt is very fun. I'm impressed with how you took elements of the original design and made it your own. It still has the feel of the original. Congratulations on being accepted in the show!

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  27. Congratulations!! Your quilts are beautiful and I'm so excited for you. Enjoy lurking, and hearing fabulous comments about these 2 quilts. mdmontalvo@yahoo.com

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  28. I am so thrilled for you! I can't wait to see blue ribbons on them good luck
    yes I wish I could be there to see them in person and get to visit MI again...
    too bad its the week after I bring my dd back to college in Indiana I could have taken a detour perhaps on the way home!
    keep us posted
    Kathie

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  29. Hey, COOL! Very exciting. :D I never would have doubted that either one of these would be accepted. You do marvelous work, and they are wonderful quilts. People will love seeing them!

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  30. What exciting news!! Congratulations!!

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  31. Yippee, so exciting. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a win! Good luck.

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  32. How fun!! Congratulations are definitely in order. That will be so fun lurking around and hearing people ooh and ahh over your wonderful quilts. I just love them both. I can't wait to hear all about it. :0)

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  33. Oh My Goodness! You're in the 'big times' now!! What a fantastic opportunity for you! Here's hoping all the judges comments lean more to the positive....If they are too rough we'll all just come up there and punch them out!!! HA! I seriously expect to see a RIBBON!!!

    Good Luck!!!

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  34. Dear Theresa: I am a hand appliquer, too. I love the two quilts you sent to the show. I'll have to keep reading to see how it all turned out. Very nice quilts. I hope you'll come by and visit me and Sue and, maybe, follow us when you have a minute. I have feline quilt testers at my house, too! Thanks for letting me visit.

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  35. Congratulations! Your quilts are beautiful and I'll be cheering for you to win big!

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  36. Congratulations! That is great news...wish I could see them in person!

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  37. How exciting for you! Have a great time at the show and everyone will be able to pick you out as the maker of those quilts .... by the huge smile on your face and they will know.

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  38. I missed this post - congratulations!! Wish I could see them up close too!

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