International Quilters Congregate In City

By Shereen Oca
Staff Writer

The International Quilt Festival attracts nearly 70,000 quilters and crafters at both its Chicago and Houston locations annually.

This weekend, the festival will make its West Coast debut at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, and organizers say they hope attendance will be in the tens of thousands here, as well.

“People on the West Coast are ready for something like this,” said Bob Ruggiero, director of public information at Quilts Inc. “Long Beach has a really good proximity of artists and art quilters. It was a good match.”

The three-day event, organized by Quilts Inc., boasts more than 500 vendors, 100 classes and 800 displays. It’s an event worthy of the millions of people who claim the tradition as a hobby, according to organizers.

“With our shows, we like to have all three areas,” Ruggiero said referring to the show’s appeal to education, merchandising and exhibition. “Even if you are not an avid quilter, you can come shop and look at really great art.”

Ruggiero went on to say that quilting has come a long way from its utilitarian beginnings.

“What’s being done today is artwork,” Ruggiero said. “(It’s) not you’re grandmother’s quilt. People (with) a certain stereotypical idea of quilts and quilting will have their minds turned around at the show.”

California-themed exhibits such as “West Coast Wonders,” Surf’s Up!,” and “The Silver Screen,” along with the Make It University!, an area devoted to crafts like scrapbooking and rubber-stamping, are among the many features lined up all weekend long.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors 65 years and older and free for children 10 years and younger (who are accompanied by a paying adult). Three-day passes for $25 also are available.

The convention center is at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

For details, call (713) 781-6864 or visit www.quilts.com.