Quilt & Bitch: My Summer Vacation 2018 :: Part Cinco of Four (The State of Maine

"Quilt entries will be accepted by postmark date."

"Only 100 quilts will be accepted in the Judged Quilts Division."

"An individual may enter a combined total of four quilts in the Chapter/ Group Challenge, Display Quilts Division, Judged Quilts Divisions, and / or 'Bee Sew Inspired' Challenged."

"An individual is limited to the entry of two quilts in the Judged Quilts Division."

"An individual is limited to the entry of one item in the 'Bee Sew Inspired' Challenge."

With the above guidelines, there are many opportunities for quilters to exhibit their quilts. But with the 100 quilts limitation in the Judged Quilts Division, it brings it different kinds of quilts. Competition quilts versus non competition quilts. I understand that a lot of quilters just want to exhibit without the pressure - so it is great that Maine Quilts accept both kinds of quilts.

Interestingly, on their website, under the "General Quilt Entry Information and Guidelines" it did not say that you need to be part of the "Pine Tree Quilters Guild Inc." to submit quilts. Weird. I would think that would be one of the first thing that would be explicitly spelt out. An outsider would not know this.

Overall - it was an ok quilt show. I am comparing this to bigger quilt shows, such as Vermont Quilt Festival. The hanging of the quilts could have been done better. Below you can see how much the wood stuck out from the actual quilt, creating a major distraction. It was not pretty, and that was done across the quilts. I don't think I will go back next year, unless someone else is driving. I bottled this into a "Maine Vacation" so it didn't hurt too much (lodging, etc.), but if I had known, I would not have booked a hotel room in Augusta, Maine and would have drove down to another part of Maine and rented there instead. Oh well, not all plans are perfect.

The space in between the quilts were too tight. I measured approximately 11 of my steps from one pole to the next. I found that difficult to take pictures of medium and larger quilts. An extra two more feet would have been good. Also walking around, there was often a traffic jam because it was just not wide enough. I understand that space is a commodity, but please give medium and larger quilts more space.

They had a wonderful assortment of vendors. As usual, I don't buy much at vendors, and if I know, I know exactly what I need. This time, I bought 2 paints from Pro Chemical & Dye, my new favorite vendor. They are so nice and welcoming and willing to answer questions and don't make you seem stupid. I would buy things any day from them.

The first set of pictures are actually a quilt exhibit inside the quilt show from Susan Carlson, who now resides in Maine. Her quilts are jaw dropping. Absolutely beautiful. She is actually coming to New England Quilt Museum in the next month or so, and I can't wait to see it again.