Gathering of Quilters
The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority looks forward to welcoming attendees of the 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters March 18-19, 2011!
What is the Gathering?
Preregistration extended to February 28, 2011.
The 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters offers the opportunity for guilds and independents to "gather" for a prestigious four state juried quilt show and to view an exhibition show from the hosting guild, Heritage Quilters of Crown Point, Indiana. This event provides the attendee to learn first hand from renown experts in the quilting field (keynote speakers), participate in annual and traditional events (Ugly Fabric Exchange and Competition, Block Swap, Challenge Show), and to exchange personal knowledge with fellow quilters. Quilters "gather" to share their passion in quilt making and their appreciation in quilting as an art form. Come and "gather" with us.
Show Location
The Patrician Banquet Center, 410 East US Highway 30, Schererville, IN 46375, www.patricianbanquetcenter.com, is a single storey, carpeted facility which is handicapped accessible. It is located five miles west of I 65and Route 30. The building is one mile east from the intersection of Route 30 and Route 41. The Patrician has direct access from Route 30 and there is ample parking. This huge banquet facility will be able to accommodate the 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters under one roof.
Juried and Judged Quilt Show
The 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters is raising the bar by having a juried and judge quilt show. This show will be open to entries from the gathering area: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Entries were due by December 16, 2010. For specific Quilt Registration and Rules, Categories, and Quilt Show Entry Form please see the side menu bar at the left.The first step in a juried and judged show is to mail in your entry form with two pictures of your quilt. The piece has to follow the guide lines for acceptance. After the dead line for acceptance, the juried panel will determine, via your two pictures, if the quilt is of comparable quality and workmanship of the other entries. It is imperative that the pictures sent are an excellent representation. This juried panel will not have quilts entered in the show, are locally know for their quilt expertise, and will work as a group to render their decision. Applicants will be mail notification of the panels' decision by the end of December, 2010. Membership in any organization is not necessary to submit an entry.
When accepted into the show (which is a huge honor in itself!), you will receive additional instructions about the actual shipping and delivering of your quilt. The day prior to the show, Ms. Carol Butzke, National Quilting Association Certified Judge and American Quilter's Society Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles, will select the winning entries and places in each show category. Each entry will be judged anonymously and will receive a written critique from the judge.
Presentation of awards and prizes will occur Saturday, March 19, 2011, at 9:45 am. Best in Show will be awarded $500.00 and a ribbon, Judge's Choice will receive $250.00 and a ribbon, and Viewers Choice will garner $100.00. First, second and third place ribbons will also be awarded for each category.
Are you ready for a juried and judged show? If you answer yes to some of the following you just may be ready to submit an entry.
You have:
- family, friends, and quilting peers who rave about your workmanship.
- received ribbons or placed at a guild show, county fair, textile show, etc.
- heard and received positive comments from spectators at show(s).
- displayed your work in a ‘show and tell' format which resulted in a gasp (OMG), thunderous applause, cheers, and/or a standing ovation.
- a desire for a professional critique which will aid you in achieving a higher standard.
People love to see quilts, enjoy them, and are inspired by them. You don't have to be the best quilter in town to make someone's day. Are you still reluctant to send in your entry? Don't tell anyone!----Who needs to know?----And it only costs $10.00 to enter. Won't you have fun telling everyone that you were selected for a juried and judged show? Without any risk, there is no gain.
Quilt Show Challenge
Just Imagine 2011 Challenge is open to everyone. You need not belong to any group or organization and you can enter as many items as you wish. Even the qualifications are minimal so that your creativity can soar to whatever you can ‘just imagine'. Your entries are due March 7 - 16, 2011. Each entry fee is $10.00. All qualified entries will be displayed and judged strictly by a viewers choice format. First place is $250.00, second place is $150.00, and third place is $100.00. Go to the side bar menu on the left for the Just Imagine Challenge directions and Challenge Entry Form.
Snacks/Beverage/Food
A champagne reception will be held on Friday, March 18th, 2011, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm to celebrate the opening of the 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters. You must pre-register and prepay to be admitted. A variety of hors d'oeuvres will be passed and a cash bar will be available for other beverages and soft drinks.
On Saturday, March 19, 2011, beginning at 9:00 am a pastry bar will open. You will be able to purchase coffee, juices, pastries, and muffins throughout the morning hours of the show. In the afternoon the fare will be replaced with soft drinks and prepackaged snacks.
You may order and pre-pay a boxed lunch for Saturday. This boxed lunch will include your choice of a roast beef, turkey or veggie sandwich., chips, a cookie, and a soda at the cost of $10.00. The guest registration form contains a section to facilitate your boxed lunch request. This form can be found at the left side menu bar.
If you wish to have lunch outside of the banquet center, located just a short walk across the parking lot, you will find Tyler's Tender, Bronko's Carryout, and Buddy & Pals Place. Tyler's Tender will have a "quilter's special" featuring soup and sandwich at a special price.
Off site restaurants are plentiful and close to the show. Approximately a 30 second drive you will find a Burger King and Zel's Roast Beef. A mile west at the intersection of Route 30 and 41 is a Red Robin, Bakers' Square, Applebee's, Hooters, and Dunkin' Donuts. Teibel's is a renown regional restaurant which specializes in lake perch and fried chicken. Tiebel's also has a coffee shop on the west side of the building with a luncheon menu. Do check the side bar at the left for additional restaurants in the area.
Guest Registration
The 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters has become a two day event. You have several different options to plan your attendance. The first option would be to attend Friday, March 18, 2011, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. and Saturday, March 19, 2011, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at a cost of $30.00. This registration would include all events, speakers, two days of shopping, and quilt shows. You would receive a complementary goodie bag and show pin.
Another option would be attending only on Friday, March 18th, 2011, 5:00 to 9:00 pm at a cost of $15.00. You would attend the champagne reception, attend the speaker's trunk show, and have the rest of the evening for shopping. The juried and judged quilt show will not be open for viewing; you would not receive a goodie bag nor the show pin.
Your third option would be to attend on Saturday, March 19, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at a cost of $20.00. With this registration you will attend all events on that day and receive the goodie bag and show pin.
The final option would be not to register. As a walk-in you would not receive a goodie bag nor a show pin. The cost would be $20.00 for Saturday which would include all events and speakers on that day. The cost of admittance on Saturday does not include any food/beverage. You must register to attend the Friday evening events. No walk-ins will be admitted on Friday evening.
Please go to the menu bar on the lift side in order to access guest and boxed lunch registration form.
Hotel Information
Two hotels have been selected to provide a discounted group rate for attendees. The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN will offer a $99 discounted rate. The Holiday Inn Express in Schererville will offer a $119 discounted rate. To make your reservations click here or visit www.southshorecva.com/housing and look for the area marked Just Imagine.
Guest Speaker and Show Judge
Carol Butzke, National Quilting Association Certified Judge and American Quilter's Society Appraiser of Quilted Textiles
Carol Butzke has judged shows across the country including the American Quilter's Society show in Paducah, Kentucky and the National Quilting Association's National Show in Indiana and Ohio. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Quilters, Inc. and The National Quilting Association and also as a panelist for The Twentieth Century's Best American Quilts which was exhibited at the Houston Quilt Festival. She has served as a board member for NQA and fulfilled a two-year term as Judging Coordinator for the NQA's national shows. She has served as Recording Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Quilt History Project and now serves as Collections Management Director of the board. She is currently on the faculty of the Quilt Judging Seminar for NQA, which is a two-day course to familiarize candidates with the judging process and also is an instructor and board member of the American Quilter's Society Appraiser Certification Committee. She has served as reviewer for scholarship and applications for the Museum of the American Quilter's Society (now the National Quilt Museum). She has written articles on quilt appraisals and shipping and packing quilts for the $100,000 Quilting Challenge magazine published by Reality Publishers.
Her quilts have won numerous awards, including first place at the AQS Show and Contest in Paducah, KY, the Grand Showcase Award (Best of Show) at Quilter's Showcase in Kansas City, Missouri and the Great American Quilt Festival Honor of the Statue of Liberty Centennial, where her quilt represented Wisconsin. Her quilts have been published in several books and magazines including the cover of a college history book.
Rachel Wetzler 
Rachel Wetzler of St, Charles, Illinois, came to the wonderful world of quilting from a sewing background having learned sewing and needlework skills from her mom. Rachel transitioned to quilting in 1989 as a diversion from counted cross stitch. That diversion soon became her chosen pursuit. Heartburst, her first show quilt, made its debut in 1999 at World Quilt and Textile. Since then her work has won numerous awards at national and international shows including Best Wall Quilt at AQS in 2007. Each quilt is original or an adaptation of ancient ornamental designs. Many of her quilts are radially symmetrical but more recent works are architecturally-inspired pictorial designs. Rachel's work is characterized by strong visual impact, imaginative use of color, complex design and attention to detail.
Presentation - That's My Story
"That's My Story" is a PowerPoint presentation and trunk show telling a bit of Rachel's life and quilting background. Over 35 quilts are shown in the PowerPoint featuring the story behind each quilt as well as a lesson each quilt taught her. Many of the quilts are included in the trunk show following the presentation.
Vendor Information
Was shopping mentioned? Where else can you find 40 plus vendors under one roof to meet your quilting needs?!!
To find out more about how you can be a vendor at the 2011 Gathering, please click here. If you are interested in registering, please click on the link in the upper left hand corner of this page marked vendor registration. The deadline to register is February 1, 2011. Once registered, your name, business, and a short description will be added to this website.
American Girl Doll Raffle
The American Girl doll, Kit, who represents 1934, along with a trousseau of beautiful handmade clothing and furniture, will be raffled at our 21st Annual Gathering of Quilters. The American Girl dolls are a unique "toy" for today's youngsters. Each doll represents a different historic era and comes with a paper back book that not only reflects the time period but also the characteristics needed to face life's adversities. As one becomes engrossed in the stories, it is evident to the young reader how those characteristics are timeless. What a great opportunity to win such a fantastic prize. Please read more about the American Girl doll at www.americangirl.com.
The raffle tickets will be sold on Friday and Saturday at the gathering for $1.00 each. The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday afternoon before the gathering closes. The winner need not be present to win. Additional handmade outfits for the American Girl dolls will be available for separate purchase at the raffle table.
Schedule of Events
This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Please recheck this site for current information.
Friday, March 18th, 2011***Admittance by pre-registration only
5-9pm
"Just Imagine" Quilt Challenge Viewing
Vendor Mall (Diamond Room)
Silent Auction
American Girl clothes and doll raffle sales
Quilt Raffle / Retreat Package ticket sales
Recycled Books and Magazine sales
Concierge Desk
5-6:30pm Champagne Reception
6:25pm Welcoming Address (Sapphire Room)
Vera Bradley Representative, Heidi Floyd
6:30pm Bed Turning (Sapphire Room)
7:00pm Keynote Speaker: Carol Butzke, AQS certified appraiser and NQA certified judge
Lecture and trunk show: "Quilts in Women's Lives 1850-1950" (Sapphire Room)
9:00pm Adjournment
Saturday, March 19th, 2011***Open to non-registered guests
9am - 4pm
Juried and Judged Quilt Show (Pearl and Ruby Room)
Heritage Quilters' Exhibition Show (Pearl and Ruby Room)
"Just Imagine" Quilt Challenge
Vendor Mall (Diamond Room)
Concierge Desk
Silent Auction
American Girl clothes and doll raffle sales
Quilt Raffle / Retreat Package ticket sales
Recycled Books and Magazine sales
Professional Quilt Appraisals by appointment ($35/quilt)
9:30am Welcoming Address and Guild Roll Call (Sapphire Room)
Quilt Show Award Presentations
Vera Bradley Representative, Heidi Floyd
10:00am Ugly Fabric Exchange and Block Swap close
10:00am Keynote Speaker: Rachel Wetzler, "That's My Story" presentation and trunk show (Sapphire Room)
Directly following: Bed Turning (Sapphire Room)
12:00 noon "Just Imagine" Quilt Challenge voting closes
LUNCH BREAK
1:30pm Welcoming Address and Guild Roll Call (Sapphire Room)
Quilt Show Award Presentations
"Just Image" Quilt Challenge, Ugly Fabric Exchange, and Block Swap Awards/Winners
Vera Bradley Representative, Heidi Floyd
2:00pm Keynote Speaker: Rachel Wetzler, "That's My Story" presentation and trunk show (Sapphire Room)
Directly following: Bed Turning (Sapphire Room)
3:00pm Silent Auction closes
4:00pm Quilt Raffle and Retreat Package Drawing (Sapphire Room)
American Girl Doll and Clothing Raffle Drawing
Quilt Show Closes (Pearl and Ruby Room)
What to do Along the South Shore?
There are plenty of things for you to do while visiting the South Shore. For those not attending the conference spend the morning touring Albanese Candy factory and sample their world famous gummies. If candy isn't your thing, head down the street for shopping at Westfield Mall or travel to downtown Crown Point for antique shopping. Check out the link in the upper left hand corner of this page for other area attractions.
Local Quilt Shops
bits 'n pieces, 732 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307
Needle & Thread, 60 Jefferson, Valparaiso, IN 46385