04.27.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:48 pm by Suzanne Kistler
Wow. I post a few hours ago, lamenting my lack of Viewer’s Choice pictures, and go about my business. Imagine my surprise to receive an email from my Head Doll Lady, offering up pictures that she took during the show. Kay, you’re wonderful! But I think I told you that already. (I hope I told you that already!) Big Smile! 
Now, courtesy of Kay, we’ve got pictures. Enjoy!!!
This is Summer. She is the Friendship doll owned by Paula Cortez-Grijalva. She swept the hearts of the viewers and garnered the rosette. Congratulations, Summer!
This is “Dragon Around These Beads,” a jacket by Kathy Knapp of Belfre, Ohio. Congratulations, Kathy, on catching the eyes of the viewers. The jacket is beautiful, and all of those “dots” really are beads. Wonderful!
Thanks again Kay! Folks, if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it 1000 times: It’s the Committee that makes this show run so smoothly. Without them, there would be no show. And on that, I’m off for the evening. Enjoy!
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:02 pm by Suzanne Kistler
It’s been busy around here, even though the show is “over.” I have had many post-show tasks to perform, and I’ve been performing them to the best of my ability. I have more to do, but I’m going to take a break this afternoon. I thought it was high time I shared another one of the spectacular quilts from our show.
This particular scene, of at least one person studying this quilt, was very common. Every time I walked the aisle, someone had been drawn into it like a moth to a flame.
“America the Beautiful” by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer of Colorado Springs, CO - First Place, Small Quilts, Mixed Techniques
When the votes were all counted, was anyone surprised that it garnered Viewer’s Choice - Quilts? I hadn’t even tried to guess which quilt would be chosen, but I wasn’t surprised. It is a LOVELY quilt, worthy of such recognition. (This picture was taken at a bad angle. The quilt is absolutely straight and square.)
“America the Beautiful” by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer of Colorado Springs, CO - winner of Viewer’s Choice - Quilts
I am sorry to say (and a bit ashamed to admit) that on Sunday I was lax in my duties. It completely slipped my mind to run around at 3pm and also snap a photo of the wearable and the doll that also received Viewer’s Choice recognition. The Viewer’s Choice - Wearable winner was the jacket “Dragon Around These Beads,” by Kathy Knapp of Belpre, Ohio. The Viewer’s Choice - Dolls winner was “Summer, Friendship Doll,” owned by Paula Cortez-Grijalva.
I didn’t vote. To my mind, every single entry deserved recognition. Thank you to each and every one of you who so generously entered your work. I hope your experience was a good one, and I look forward to seeing what you’ve created next year.
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04.21.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:41 pm by Suzanne Kistler
Wow. We had a quilt show. We had a very good quilt show. The quality of entries was fantabulous, and it was a treat to view each and every one of them. I had a particular interest in the quilt chosen as Best of Show, Large Quilts. I kind of strong-armed my husband’s business into sponsoring the $500 award. At first he balked, but then decided that maybe it was a good idea to humor me. 
When he got to the show and saw the quilt, he was quite impressed. He’s not the only one. Everyone stopped at that quilt. Not only was it a show stopper, it was a work pauser.
Best of Show, Large Quilts: “Grape Harvest” by Lynn Drennen, Marilyn J. Smith, Gina Perkes and Jesse Marinas 2008
These fellows were SO helpful!! They were part of a crew that helped put up the show and tear it down when it was over. They were able and willing to do anything and everything to make our show a success. Thank you, thank you to McDermont, for all of your help. We couldn’t have had such a successful show without you!
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04.18.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:55 pm by Suzanne Kistler
Going, going, almost gone! Two days down, one to go. I need to report back in about 7 hours, but I couldn’t go to bed without giving you a taste of what you’re missing.
Here are some of our show-goers, enjoying their lunches.
What are they looking at, that has them in such a good mood?
Yep. When your feet are hungry and it’s time for a break, a climb up the stairway gives you a wonderful view. How refreshing!! Let’s go see the quilts again!!
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04.16.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:53 pm by Suzanne Kistler
Just a quick note to tell you to come tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday.
As one of the vendors was going up to the Mezzanine, we asked if she’d seen the view of the show. She turned and said, “Yes. It’s just like Houston.”
I almost burst into tears at the compliment.
This show is amazing.
BOTV Committee, you are THE BEST!!!!
P.S. (We’re not quite as big as Houston…)
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Posted in Uncategorized at 6:45 am by Suzanne Kistler
Good morning! I’m just about ready to head over to McDermont, but I thought you’d like another peek behind the scenes.
This is what it looked like at about 9am yesterday morning. The pipe and drape were going up, the quilts had come down to the room, the tables were going into position…everyone had a job to do and they did it amazingly well.
By the time I left, all of the competition quilts had been hung, two of the three special exhibits were up, and we were all set to receive vendors today. In addition to vendors, we’ll be putting up signage and ribbons and maybe I’ll finally find out who the winners are…
But seriously, everyone who has had a hand in putting together this quilt show is a winner, especially the fantastic quilters who have been supportive enough to enter their work. Without the quilts, there is no quilt show. We all know many talented quilters, but not all of them are willing to let their quilts be seen hanging in a show. I understand that. It’s an emotional thing, to have your quilt hung and allow strangers a chance to come by, look at it, and comment on it. The judges comment too.
All I can say is, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” to each of you who has taken that risk and is willing to share your quilt(s) with us. Each quilt has its own personality, each quilt shares a piece of its maker, each quilt is beautiful. And together? ohmygoodness!!! If quilters see the show and walk away without being inspired, I will be dumbfounded. There is much to be seen, and it is all absolutely incredible. It’s a feast for the eyes, and I can’t wait to share with you.
The show opens tomorrow at 9am. We’ll be there until 5pm. We’re open again 9-5 on Saturday and 9-4 on Sunday. Admission is $10/day or $15 for a 3-day pass. See you there!!!
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04.14.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:00 pm by Suzanne Kistler
I have no pictures for you today, sorry about that. It was all business from the get-go at McDermont Field House. The Show Committee arrived at 8:30am, the Judges arrived at 9am. Our judges this year were Ann Turley and Linda Schmidt.
Wow. Talk about getting down to business!!
Once everyone was in place, the judges began to work. And work they did!!! wow.
Each quilt was given the judge’s undivided attention and thoroughly examined top to bottom. Even though we took a break for lunch, we were finished by mid-afternoon. Wowie gazowie, I am so amazed.
I know you all want to know the results of the judging…so do I. I was in and out of the arena all day, and never sat through an entire category. I was talking to caterers and hunting down this or that and answering questions that needed to be answered. I was there, but I wasn’t, if that makes any sense.
And so, I will have to wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be the biggest pre-show day, because tomorrow is hanging day.
If I tell you that I’m excited, do you believe me? I hope so. This is gonna be GOOD!!!
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04.13.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:05 pm by Suzanne Kistler
Today the quilts arrived. The quilts are here, the quilts are here!!!
The Committee assembled at McDermont at 9am (give or take) to prepare for receiving. At 10am, the quilts began to arrive. By 1pm, most of them were here and the Committee began to relax.
Here’s Patty, delivering some of the last quilts to the judging room, where they’ve been sorted and stacked and readied for the judges.
Here they are, don’t they look lovely?
The judges should be resting comfortably in their hotel room, preparing for tomorrow. It’s going to be a big day for them, it’s Judging Day!!
Stay tuned…
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04.12.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:41 pm by Suzanne Kistler
…as in Delivery Day. Beginning at 10am, the quilts will arrive at our venue. Our doors will be open until 2pm. By then, all competition quilts should be present and accounted for, and we will prepare for judging on the following day. We’ve got a tight schedule, and I’m excited to see all of these months of planning finally come to fruition.
Not to mention that I’m THRILLED to get my garage back for a week.
One of the “perks” of being Chairman is that most of the BOTV property is on my property. I put in the shelving once I realized how much STUFF it takes to put on the quilt show. The boxes are full of drape (sheets) and they are already at the facility. The PVC pipes are to hang the quilts. I’ll take them over on Wednesday. They’ve been thoroughly washed once already, so it should be a piece of cake to wipe them free of any new dust or whatever that may have entered the garage during the past month or so.
woohoo! Tomorrow is Delivery Day, Tuesday is Judging Day and Wednesday we hang the show. Are you excited?!! I know I am! See you this weekend…we’re having a Quilt Show!!
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04.10.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:37 am by Suzanne Kistler
One of the exciting displays at this year’s show will be the booth of our Featured Artist, Susan Bellamy.
As you may or may not know, I came on board as BOTV Chairman in late September, 2008. By that time, Susan had already been tapped to be the 2009 Featured Artist. The only thing I knew about her was that she is a talented and prolific dollmaker.
Ohmygoodness, she is so much more!!!
Susan is a Master Fiber Artist, and yes, the caps are intentional. She not only makes dolls, she makes wearables and quilts, she knits, she weaves, she makes soft sculpture…if there is something a person can do with fiber, I’m guessing she’s game to try it.
I was privileged to visit her home in February, to help select items to display in her booth, and I felt like it was, “Welcome to Wonderland, Alice.”
The room was filled with a myriad of creations. Dolls peeked out from here and there, quilts hung on the walls, wearables were everywhere, and multiple cool little sculptures called out to be fondled. I had to hold my hands together, behind my back.
I hope that each of you will be as excited as I am to see what she’s going to share with us. My guess is that her booth will always be full of visitors, and that they will make a bee-line to the vendors, hoping to find the “ingredients” to create something as textural and delightful of their own.
I think I will leave the rest to your imagination. Susan’s is definitely active, and I know you are in for a treat. Wait until you see the marvels her hands have created!
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