IQF Long Beach 2012 - Preview Party

The International Quilt Festival Long Beach 2012 Preview Party was well organized, plenty of room to move around, spectacular quilts and wonderful Vendors.  Absolutely a perfect party to quick off a Quilt Festival!

I'm delighted to be able to share a few highlights with you today, but I truly hope you'll be able to visit this show.  If not this year, hopefully you'll come next year.

Quilts, Inc. has also just announced that IQF Chicago will return on June 21-23rd 2013, with their preview party being held the night of the 20th.  SewCalGal is confident the IQF Chicago show is great fun, but don't forget the "Long" Beach is on the water, with cool ocean breezes and a lot of fun attractions nearby for the entire family.  To clarify, IQF Long Beach is a excellent event to attend in the summertime and bring the entire family with you to have a wonderful vacation in Long Beach, Ca..

Ok, time to share a few insights from the Preview Party last night. While there was a waiting line for this party to start, it was a lot of fun to chat with quilters from around the world that had come to attend this event.  Smiles were abundant with excitement and camaraderie.  And, don't let this line fool you.  This is just the eager beaver quilters that showed up before the party doors opened and once inside the party, there was plenty of room to move around, with very wide aisles and an amazing number of spaces to sit and relax too!

While some classes are sold out, there are still several classes that you can sign up and attend the day of the class.  Just check the online class catalog for availability and supply list.  Heck, you could pretty much buy anything you need at the show too!  Some classes are all day, some are a few hours and there are even some one hour presentations that are fun too.  Some attendees may have more fun giving their tootsies a rest, by signing up for a presentation or class last minute!  Seriously, there are some world class teachers at this show so don't overlook a great opportunity.

Debbie Caffrey is teaching a couple of Mystery Quilt classes.  In a class that ended up making a very cute table runner, one lady had coordinated beautiful fabrics that matched her new dishes.  Darn, she didn't ask me over for lunch!    All of the students had fun and made beautiful projects.  Don't you wish you had been in this class?  I do!

I also learned about a new book "Surprise Yourself", by Charlotte Angotti and Debbie Caffrey that has many fun designs.  These two talented quilters also share insights that can help you use their designs and tips to make your quilt uniquely yours.
 


 In the Quilt exhibit "Texas Quilts Today: Selections from the book Lone Stars III" I was amazed with the beauty and detail in this quilt titled "Iguana", made by Carol Morrissey.  It is a whole cloth quilt with ink and paint and beautifully quilted on a long-arm sit down machine.

Twelve by Twelve:  The International Art Quilt Challenge is a spectacular exhibit where nine quilt artists made a 12x12 inch quilted art piece on a designated Theme or Colorplay palette, over a four year period.  These pieces are beautifully coordinated and displayed at this show.

Artist Village is a fun whimsical exhibit where a group of fibre artists made this beautiful 3-D village.

Who wants to make a 3-D house after seeing this beautiful village?  I know I do!

While strolling thru the Vendor booths, I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful quilts "By Kay Mackenzie".

Many of the quilts from Kay's new book "Scrap-Applique' Playground" were also on display.  This new book is quite fun, so I hope you get a chance to check it out soon.  It will definitely help you create some beautiful projects, all with scraps!

I was delighted to see Famore Cutlery at this show.  I let them know that I first learned about their products thru Kelly Jackson (I Have A Notion) who recommends Famore.  And the more Famore products I have a chance to use, the more I  recommend Famore too.  Great quality and a reasonable price!

Karen Brow (Java House Quilts) has a cute booth with her whimsical quilts and sewn projects that are delightful.  She has two new applique quilt patterns:  Cat Acatemy is purrfect and something every cat lover should have. I know I love this quilt.

And Forest Galorest is another new design that is just so cute and whimsical that it makes me chuckle.

DreamWorld SewSteady has some great show prices on their portable sewing tables that are excellent tables and definitely a "must have" for those doing free-motion quilting. Be sure to pop by their booth to check out their new centering ruler with static cling, new seam guide and their polishing kits.

And, don't forget to check out the new "Create on the Spot" educational opportunities on the show floor.  You can take an hour, or less, to learn a new skill, and make a fun project.  Only $10 per session, with no pre-enrollment; just pay at the door (first-come, first-served).  What a great way to expand your skillset at a very reasonable price.  Plus, you get to rest those tootsies for an hour!


Do you wonder how many smiling quilters they'll be at this show?  What ever the number, I sure hope you are one of them.  I think I'll have a better chance counting the quilts with smiles.......

{above} This whimsical quilt is part of the Hoffman Challenge 2011 that is on exhibit at IQF Long Beach.The name of this quilt is "Floral Flipper" and it was made by Lana Sundheim.  It definitely makes me smile with delight!  As I like to tour quilt shows with a purpose, I'm definitely going to see how many quilts I can find that have smiles in them.  

International Quilt Festival
Long Beach 2012

July 27-29, 2012
Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
Long Beach, California

Hours:
July 26: 5-9 p.m. (Preview Night)
July 27 & 28: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
July 29: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ticket prices:
$10 daily adult
$8 seniors & students
Children 10 and under free.
$10 Preview Night (includes one free additional day)
$25 Full Show Pass (includes Preview Night)