Sunday, April 01, 2007

How do other Quilt Guilds do it?

Every Quilt Guild meeting, we have a Show and Tell. Show and Tell is so popular - we line up and give our speech and explanations about our latest projects, amidst oooohs and aaaahs from the audience, and a few photo opps. This takes about 1-2 minutes per person, depending on the chattiness of the speaker, then the project goes back into the pillowcase, back to the seat, and by the time Show and Tell is over, no one can remember who brought what, and we miss the opportunity of closer inspection, if the owner says it's OK.

I tried to solve part of that problem with this sign. I have to admit it WAS fun to make. My original plan was a folded cardboard arrangement, but by the time my DH and I got finished, it began to look like the entry gate into one of the local ranches! Anyway, I put this sign up on one of the unused tables, and remind the officers to remind the speakers to leave the quilts on this table, but I've been nagging -- uhhh, reminding a long time, and it still isn't 'taking' .. those lovely project just go back to the pillowcases, and we cannot admire them close up.

Suggestions anyone?

If you wonder how this was done ... really, I am not much of a painter, but it's a base coat of acrylic white, washed with water. The Flying Dutchman (my DH is Dutch) triangles were painted twice, and I chose similar values so as not to compete with the lettering. I had planned to paint on the letters, but got as far as printing them on fabric, then loosly cutting them out and gluing them on the wood - yes, there is some see-through. The 'stitches' were drawn with a Pigma Pen. The sign is loosely swinging on cup hooks. It was important that it be sizeable, to be seen about piles of quilts on the table.

9 comments:

  1. The sign is wonderful. I hope it does the trick! Looks very professional too. I like the colors you chose and you're correct, they don't compete with the lettering...good planning.

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  2. We just started doing this too. So far, so good.

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  3. Once we are done showing our quilts we put them on a table--just like you suggested. Our president this year wanted to encourage more participation in Show and Share so she puts your name in a bag for every quilt you show. Then there is a draw for some fat quarters or some other fun thing. You could change the draw to be one entry for everyone who leaves their quilt on the table for sharing with the other guild members on break time. Encourage the quilters who showed their projects to hang around the table to answer questions from the rest of the membership. This could be a wonderful learning moment for all!

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  4. Hi Elaine

    I am president of our local quilt club. At Show & Tell I am up the front directing things and when the person is finished speaking I say to them, 'can we display this' and sort of 'grab' it off them!! We have a couple of committee members on duty who take the quilts and display them. Some are pegged on a rope which is put up around the walls and some are put on the tables which have been used for basting quilts in the morning session. We do have an expectation that any show & tell will be displayed, so it is probably easier for us than for you if you don't have a history of doing this. To my knowledge we have had no problems with stuff going missing. Usually the reverse - someone leaves something behind!

    Our meeting is the first Saturday of every month and is kind of all day. The morning is a 'stitch and baste' session where members work on their own projects and the basting tables are put up for members to use. We often have a teaching session called 'techniques training' where someone explains/demonstrates some technique - new or old. The afternoon session is the formal meeting time with notices, sometimes a guest speaker and Show & tell. We finish with afternoon tea which gives people an opportunity to view the quilts close up (no refreshments allowed in the display area.) We have about 65 members, so we are not as large as the guilds in USA. I hope this helps.

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  5. What a fun sign.... so creative. I know what you mean about the drag and brag at guilds. Ours has the same MO. If I see one being shared I want to look at close up, I make a mental note who it belongs to and try to find them during the break because everything goes straight back in the bag. I think I'm going to share your idea with our officers.

    Your auction quilt turned out wonderful! One lucky bidder will be getting a true treasure.

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  6. Your sign is too cute! We have the same problem. My guild is tonight - I would love to use your sign and see if I could get it to work!

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  7. The sign is cute. I can't believe it didn't do the trick!

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  8. Our guild has Show 'n' Tell as the very last item on the agenda so there wouldn't really be much time for close-up inspection. I think the reason is so that people will stay for the whole meeting so they can see the pretties! I like your idea of a table for close-up looks and hope it will work out with your sign.

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  9. You are so clever! That is one fine sign! Tracey

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