We call ourselves Best of the Valley because we strive to give you the best regional quilt show experience in Central California.

We heard glowing reports about our 2023 show from contestants, vendors and attendees. I hope you were one of them and will join us again this year! Quilters flock from near and far to our show. That is why you might see entries from as far away as Colorado or West Virginia. Some of our local friends have left California, but they come back year after year for our event. We encourage you to make BOTV part of your yearly quilt schedule as well, and bring someone with you! We need to share this art form we love with new people.

As always, we are a juried and judged show. This year we welcome back judges Andi Perejda of Arroyo Grande, CA and Cindy Seitz-Krug of Overgaard, AZ. Our judges are always impressed with the quality of workmanship, and enjoy the experience of evaluating each quilt and performing the difficult task of selecting a Best of Show. At Best of the Valley, that is never an easy job!

We are excited about our Featured Artist, Rebecca Haley, of Porterville. A retired art teacher, her growth as a quilter has been extraordinary. She has had many entries at BOTV over the years, and you have probably enjoyed seeing her efforts to push quilting in new and different directions. Her use of color is particularly dramatic. She won last year's award for "Best Use of Embellishment". Click here to learn more about Rebecca.

Our BOTV Challenge theme for 2024 is “Besties.” You can select whatever “bestie” comes to mind, whether it is your best friend, best pet, favorite quilt pattern - whatever your favorite (fill in the blank), celebrate it by making and entering a quilt. Narratives are always very important, both for competition quilts and for the challenge. They enhance the experience of the show, as they reveal a glimpse of the maker’s thoughts as well as their quilted expression of them.

Entry forms for the challenge and for competition quilts are available for download on the ENTRIES page of the website. Feel free to print as many forms as needed, and share them with your friends. However, please wait to send in your entry until after January 1, 2024. We are eager to see what you have been creating, but not until the New Year.

We will again have categories for quilters 80 and older, as well as quilters under 18. There is no entry fee, unless they wish to have their quilts judged. There is a limit of up to two entries in either age category, depending upon space available.

The dolls will be back, in the middle of the building, where they offer smiles to everyone with their quirky individual little personalities. The family of one of our longtime doll makers, Mary Sayre, has gifted a number of dolls for a Best of the Valley fundraiser. They will be available at the show, for a suggested donation, depending upon the doll. We are honored that her family has chosen to bless us with such a generous gift. If you haven’t taken the time to commune with the dolls, you have been missing out!!

We are always looking for vendors, but now, more than ever. Many of our longtime vendors have gone out of business, and we don’t always hear of new vendors seeking a venue. Please contact us and we will put you in contact with our Vendor Chair.

All in all, we are working hard behind the scenes to continue bringing you quilt show excellence. We look forward to seeing your entries in February, and to seeing YOU in April!

Suzanne Kistler

President, Best of the Valley Quilt Show

P.S. Be sure to follow our Best of the Valley Quilt Show page on Facebook, for updates and show details. While you are there, remember to “like” and “share” our posts with your family and friends.