The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in
New Orleans, LA
February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center

Industry News

International Quilt Festival draws big crowds

Attendees from 49 U.S. states and 32 countries thronged to Houston for 2008’s International Quilt Festival, in spite of concerns raised by an earlier visit to the city from Hurricane Ike.

“Out of towners, especially those from countries that do not experience hurricanes, were unsure the city would be ready to welcome them after all the news coverage. They were amazed at how fast Houston had recovered,” said Festival Director Karey Bresenhan.

While total attendance was down from 2007’s record-breaking numbers, 52,542 visitors proved once again that quilters are passionate about this textile art. The drop of 1,704, with Ike and the economy factored in, was surprisingly moderate, Bresenhan added.

The nearly 5,000 enrolled in Festival’s weeklong Quiltmaking Academy, and an increase of 57 exhibitors over last year -- to a total of 556 exhibitors -- were both strong indicators of quilting’s popularity, among dedicated quilters and the retailers who come from all over the world to serve them with specialty supplies.

In addition to shopping and classes, Festival had dozens of unique special exhibits in which more than 2,000 quilts, art garments, and original textile dolls were on display. Perhaps the exhibit receiving the most attention was “The DAR Museum Collection: Quilts From a Young Country,” sponsored by the Texas Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

It featured more than 30 quilts, none of which had ever traveled outside of the Society’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. Two stars of the exhibit were an 18th century Indigo-resist print quilt, and a quilt made by Mary Lloyd Key, wife of Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Festival producers Quilts, Inc. President Karey Bresenhan and Executive Vice President Nancy O’Bryant were honored with the National Historic Preservation Medal, presented on behalf of the DAR during a special ceremony on Festival’s opening night by NSDAR President General Linda Gist Calvin.

Festival was immediately preceded by the fall edition of International Quilt Market. It drew a total of 3,321 attendees, and 551 exhibitors. At the show, Luana Rubin of eQuilter.com won the Michael Kile Award of Achievement for her contributions to the business of quilting. For more show information, visit online at www.quilts.com.

Reprinted from the SQE Professional, January 2009