2016 Playing Favorites quilts on display at Handi Quilter's gallery

The Playing Favorites exhibit has three more venue stops before reaching Festival:

-The City Quilter: Sept. 21-25 and the Quilters Take Manhattan Main Event at FIT, New York City, (on Sept. 24 only)

-Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Fredericksburg, VA: Sept. 29-Oct. 1

-Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Schaumburg, IL: Oct. 13-15

We will be announcing the 2017 quilt contest theme during Festival this year, in our booth, on our website, on social media and via this newsletter. We're working on some exciting new features of the 2017 contest. We want to better showcase the talent of our quilt donors, be more successful in our fundraising efforts and find new ways for the quilt community to get involved, even if they don't enter the contest. 

Our annual quilt auction is an important fundraising initiative for the Quilt Alliance, providing key operating funds that allow us to continue documenting, preserving and sharing the rich history of quilts and their makers. The contest also provides a regular opportunity for us to take a "snapshot" of what contemporary quiltmakers are making and donating to causes they care about each year. We try to keep our themes open-ended and our entry fees low to encourage quiltmakers from all genres to participate. 

For donating artists, we hope our contest provides inspiration to create new work, a chance to have their work seen by new audiences via traveling exhibitions and online exposure, and of course, a chance to win some fantastic prizes donated by sponsors like Handi Quilter. 

Because our mission centers around stories, we'd like to help you get to know our contest artists better.  To this end, soon we'll be launching a blog series called Inspired Giving, where we will spotlight quiltmakers who have donated work to the causes they care about--and there's no better place to start then our own generous and talented donors. 

First up, you'll meet Maude Haeger from West Chester, OH. Here's a sneak peak at one of Maude's pieces, "Go Fish!" her entry for the 2016 Playing Favorites contest. Like many of our devoted donors, Maude has donated quilts to many of of our contests over the years and is an accomplished artist and teacher. Subscribe to the Quilt Alliance Blog today, so you won't miss this post in October!

	"Go Fish!," Maude Haeger, West Chester, OH

Full details and ticket sales here.

Did you know for only $30 (Quilt Alliance members/ $35 nonmembers), Home Ticket holders will receive the QTM Goody Bag, packed with samples and treats from all of our sponsors, and a chance to win select door prizes. Home Ticket holders will also receive priority access to online video of our Quilt Match Manhattan challenge and our Sunday with Sponsors event (sent via email link 2 weeks after event). Order your QTM Moda Home Ticket today.
 

You've seen our Go Tell It at the Quilt Show! videos... now it's your turn! We're collecting quilt stories across the country everywhere quilters gather. The next event we'll be attending is the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Will you be there? If you have a quilt in the show or would like to bring your quilt with you to share, sign up to Go Tell It! in Houston.