Setting Up a Show

Steamers. Snickers. First Look. Bops on the hand.

Friday, I went to help set up the BAMQG area at the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association 40th Anniversary Show. I felt bad that I hadn’t been able to do it the past few years. I haven’t even ever been to that show!

The vendors were setting up as well and I saw Colleen (Sew Little Time Quilting) there. She has ALL of the American Made Brands solids and I have to say it took incredible willpower not to order half yards of all of them from her. She also has two of her Labyrinth quilts with her at the show. The patterns are finished and available.

This show is held in the same location as PIQF, but in a different hall (I think). I went late, but got there in time to help finish hanging the BAMQG quilts. Amanda, Kelly and Michelle had it well in hand. I added an extra pair of hands and driving skills.

Putting up with Poles
Putting up with Poles

There was some putting up and taking down, redoing and moving, but it went very smoothly. Kelly was well organized and Amanda has great project management skills. The quilt show has interesting tools for doing the hanging and some balance is required, especially for the larger quilts.

The biggest problem we ran into was the creases in the quilts. I know there isn’t much we can do about it in general, but Kelly decided we needed a steamer, but we needed a break and some of us were melting down from lack of food. We hopped in my car and went to lunch to decide on our next move. At lunch we decided that yes, we needed a steamer or a super duper steam iron. On the way back to finish our work, we stopped at Fry’s to see what they had.

Steamer
Steamer

We ended up buying a Conair Steamer and by ‘we’ I mean Kelly. There were 3 choices. We eliminated the travel version right away, because they didn’t have any (the hovering salesman who didn’t really add to our conversation, but wouldn’t leave told us) and after about 10 more seconds of deliberation Kelly decided on the Conair. We also got water, Snickers and an extension cord.

I have to say that steamers are the way to go. They don’t, however, absolve all sins, but it did a great job with the folds, etc, from storage. Kelly was really happy that she got it. The quilts looked better.

Funnily enough, everyone else at the quilt show came running over when they saw the steam, thinking there was a fire. When they saw what we were doing and that there wasn’t a fire, they thought we were brilliant. A few others, including the featured artist asked to borrow it. Every quilt show management should have one.

Bay Area Modern Banner Pre-Steamed

Pre-Steamed
Pre-Steamed

 

Bay Area Modern Banner Post-Steaming

Post Steaming
Post Steaming

We thought the quilting stood out a lot of more, though I think my phone photos don’t really do the work and expense justice.

 

All in all it was a good and fun day. I was glad I went despite the drive. I always enjoy hanging out with the BAMQGers!