Sunday, October 18, 2009

Houston Int'l Quilt Festival, Day 1

Last Sunday, with rolling walker and cane in tow, I boarded a plane to the Houston Int'l. Quilt Festival with my lovely friend Joyce C. who had a quilt hanging in the show!


What could be more exciting?! Joyce won a piece of Ricky Tims "fire dragon" hand-dyed fabric several years ago and it was the inspiration for this fabulous quilt. New York Beauty blocks are at the corners of the borders and there are more NYB-like blocks throughout, some of them with tiny piping around them. This is Joyce's original design. Outstanding...and the judges thought so too, because she was a finalist!


We were able to meet Ricky Tims the first night in town...



...and Joyce told him the story of her quilt. She was one happy lady!


This was my 5th trip to the Festival so to enter the George Brown Convention Center...


...we crossed the walkway from the Hilton Americas Hotel to the convention center so that Joyce could see the enormity of the building. This big baby is 1/3 mile long (there's more to our right and back) and 3 stories tall, and the Festival uses it ALL. That's the Houston Astros baseball field at the end of the street, and behind us is the Toyota Center where the Houston Rockets (NBA) play. Oops, and don't miss a relaxing coffee on the GRB center's outdoor terraces...


Not to neglect the Hilton Americas, let's check out one of the Chihuly glass pieces in the lobby...




This is one of a pair and it's huge. I'd say each ball is a little smaller than a soccer ball... and on the third floor ceiling is another amazing Chihuly piece. Check out his ceiling pieces on the link above. Anyway, don't miss the hotel if you go there...have a nice cup of tea and take in the marble, sculptures and glass.
It's true, everything in Texas is BIG. More on the quilt show coming right up...

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