Hello, I'm Deanna Springer live at the Great Wisconsin Quilt
Show with insights to this year's event.
[MUSIC] Lovdahl. Welcome, Tara.
>> Hi, Deanna. Thanks for having me.
>> Well, it's great to see you. It's set up day. Yeah. It's
Wednesday. We're setting up all the special exhibits, all the
central quilt exhibits, and we have a brand new exhibit that
we're standing in front of today.
introduced a new challenge to this year's event.
>> So announcing the quilted fashions. So it was probably
earlier this year. You put out the idea that, hey, we need to
do a fashion quilting challenge. >> Yes. I've noticed the last
few years, and I think a lot of us have that a lot of quilters
like to show up, you know, dressed to the nines. Show off
some of their sewing skills. And we thought, why don't we
make it an official part of the event? And in promoting the
event, I've also noticed on social media that a lot of
quilters like to either upcycle quilts or give quilts and
blankets new life, and we thought that's another great
way to just incorporate quilting into the event in a
different way. way to kick off our 21st year.
Yes. So cheers to another great 20 years of you know, every
year we try to think of something new and different
every time. We have many new things this year, including the
Quilted Fashion Challenge. When we put out the ask, it was, I
think right around May, June. >> Yeah. Right after the.
>> Right after my mini in May. >> Yeah. Right after modern.
>> And I thought, well, it's late in the game if we get 20
entries. And I didn't ever tell you this, I'm like, well, okay,
we get 20 entries. We're doing great. We had well over 40
entries. The jury met, looked at the photos and the entries
that were sent in. And then the the pieces that are hanging in
the show today are the ones that were juried in and
accepted into the show. So the judges are here today. They
will be judging the pieces as well as the other quilt
contests in the Central Quilt Challenge or the Central Quilt
exhibit. So there'll be ribbons on these garments so we can
take a look at some of the garments that are here. They're
all quilted. They all had to be quilted, made of quilted
fabrics. I see a lot of batting in Interlining. There's a vest
that's gorgeous, that's open flat. What a great creation
with buttons on the top shoulder seam and it opens flat
like a wall quilt. >> That's so cool.
>> So creative jackets. >> I didn't expect two pairs of
shoes. >> Two pairs of shoes.
>> I didn't even know you could do that.
amazing. You got quilters a challenge. They'll come up with
some unique ideas. >> They stepped up to the plate
and just knocked it out of the park. Not that I knew I was
going to use a sports analogy in this moment, but I guess I
did. you know, quilted fashions are
having a really a resurgence right now. We saw a lot of
quilted fashions in the 90s and a lot of the 90s jewel tones.
So okay, these are back in a new and a different and a
modern way. ballgown as well.
>> Did not expect a ballgown. Yeah. You have to come and see
all of the unique quilted fashion.
>> Right there hanging right on the front of the central quilt
exhibit, right behind the PBS Wisconsin booth. You can't miss
them. to check it out. I am so
excited and it exceeded my expectations. I'm really happy.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> You're welcome. And to be learn more about this year's
event and next year's event, and to get involved with quilt
challenges in the future. We're announcing them right here at
the Central Quilt Contest entrance and also at Quilt
Show.com. .