Quilt and Sewing Expo, Raleigh, NC

On Friday afternoon I did a quick run-through of the Original Quilt and Sewing Expo in the Convention Center in downtown Raleigh.  It was my first experience at this venue.  I knew I would not have time to sign up for any classes, but I wanted to see the vendor mall and the quilt exhibits.

I was already near the downtown area to visit my aunt in a nursing facility, so I pulled into the parking deck right next to the Convention Center.  Yikes!  Seven dollars to park!  And then ten dollars to get in, just to spend money! An expensive little visit!  If I had just driven a little farther, there were plenty of hourly parking spaces all around the convention center.  Next time, I'll know better.

I have seen lots of photos of quilted car covers, but this quilty car was right at the entrance to the expo.  Very cute!

There was a dazzling array of vendor booths, offering everything from machines to fabric to thread to patterns.

My friend Donna Sontag and her daughter were there running the Whatever's Quilted booth.  I may end up buying an HQ Sweet Sixteen sit-down quilting machine from her some day.

I immediately started looking at the traveling quilt exhibits.  There was one challenge to make scrappy quilts, sponsored by Fons and Porter.   Here are three from that collection.

X-Factor, Hidden Spools, by Alice Zeman, Green Bay, WI

Scraps I Couldn't Bear to Toss, by Gina Thachara, Kingston, PA

                                         

Sharon's Original Scrap Sampler, by Sharon Moran, Ft. Ripley, MN

There was an exhibit from the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild with quilts inspired by works of art.  Partners each made a quilt based on the partner's inspiration.

An interesting idea, but I did not think most of the resulting art quilts were very exceptional.

The two partners' quilts were hung side by side, with a photo of the original inspiration art.

I really loved the exhibit from the Quilt Alliance "Twenty" 2013 contest and auction.    After traveling, these quilts will all be auctioned on e-Bay to raise money for the Quilt Alliance.

These quilts were hung in colorful rows on drapes, but it was very difficult to read and/or capture the names of the quiltmakers from those tiny labels that in some cases were well above my head.

There were quilts donated from some well-known quiltmakers.  This one is by crazy quilt artist Allison Aller. You can see a revue of her Quilt Alliance donations on her blog here.

Twenty Years in the Garden, by Allison Aller, Washington

There were two by quilt artist Yvonne Porcella, who has been another devout supporter of the Quilt Alliance.

The first one surprised me, because it was in muted shades with lots of brown.  Yvonne is known for her brightly colored quilts that pop with great graphic impact.

The Mocha Tree, by Yvonne Porcella, Arnold, California

Her second quilt was much more typically "Yvonne."  Unfortunately, I could not read the label information from my photo.

Here is one more from the Twenty exhibit.  I think we can all relate to the sentiment expressed!

Oh to Be Twenty Again, by Nita Markos, Hillsboro, IL

There were other smaller exhibits.  One was "Quilts and Kimonos,"  by June Colburn.  I  loved this kimono-style jacket.

I love to visit the French Connections booth.  At each show, I try to purchase a new basket from Africa.  They are sturdy and colorful.  Here is the latest addition to the collection.

I think I will organize a field trip to their shop in Pittsboro, NC.  It looks like a delightful place to browse.

I also bought one pattern for a little girl's dress.  I am notorious for buying jacket and purse and clothing patterns and never making them.  I think my granddaughter Lily would love the freedom of this dress.

I have a few more pictures from the expo that I will save for a future post.