Trip to Hampton

I went to the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, Va this week. I traveled there and back with a former colleague and we had a great time. Wednesday was preview night with hours from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Not nearly enough time to see everything. Thanks for the great company, Jessica!

First, I made a b-line to the Hoffman Quilt Challenge special exhibit to check on my "Aqua Seltzer" quilt. It is holding up okay, but is beginning to look a little worn from its travels.

We visited many of the wonderful quilts and took many pictures of the spectacular showing. I can't remember seeing so many art quilts in one show. We hurried with our purchases before the last warning that the show was closing for the night.

I took an all day applique landscape class with Jo Diggs on Thursday. It was lots of fun and Jo is a lively teacher. Her ideas are wonderful, her instructions were clear and she was ready and willing to offer advice to anyone who asked for it. The class was full, but it allowed everyone to see how different students worked using the same instruction. I learned alot from my fellow students. After class, I went back to the vendor and quilt area and spent a few more dollars.

As we watched the nighttime news, there was a story on the Quilt Show. Apparently one of the quilts in the SAQA exhibit drew alot of attention....and not the kind of attention one would like. A show goer was escorted from the show for her loud, verbal objection to one of the quilts that revealed a woman's personal parts. Hmmmm......I must have missed seeing that quilt. I have to admit that the same exhibit was at another show I attended so I didn't spent my precious time looking at it. Jessica and I returned to the show on Friday, hoping to get a glimpse at the quilt in question. We did see it as it was drawing a small crowd. Frankly, I don't see what all of the controversy was about. I wonder if the SAQA members are aware of all the commotion this one piece caused?

Hopefully, I can get some pictures posted here soon of some of the beauty I saw this week. In the meantime, keep sewing and attend a show when one comes to your area.