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In the American Tradition 2013

Several years ago International Quilt Festival created In the American Tradition, a beautiful showcase for traditionally influenced quilters.  This special annual exhibit features the very best in contemporary traditional-based quilting. This exhibit will premiere at International Quilt Market and Festival, October 26 - November 3, 2013. We would also like to retain quilts for possible exhibit at our spring and summer editions of Festival.

You are invited to submit work for consideration for the 2013 edition of In the American Tradition.  We are looking for both contemporary interpretations and traditional quilts, either by hand or machine, appliquéd, pieced, or wholecloth.

You may submit a total of two quilts for our consideration. Quilts must be a minimum of 25" x 25". There is no "made after" date requirement. Please do not submit a quilt that was included in a previous edition of In the American Tradition.

Completed submissions with visuals must be received online by April 26, 2013. You will be notified no later than May 24, 2013, regarding the quilts to be included in this exhibit along with shipping instructions. If selected, the quilts will need to arrive in Houston no later than August 30, 2013. Quilts will be returned by the end of November 2013 if quilt does not travel, or arrangements may be made to have a quilt picked up at the conclusion of the show. If you agree to allow your quilt to travel, your quilt will be returned by the end of August 2014.

Visual Instructions

Please read carefully the information for your digital images. The complete instructions may be downloaded here. Visual Instructions (PDF).

Timeline for quilt registration

Announcement and preview: August 2012
Registration open – March 1 to April 26, 2013
Notification by – May 24, 2013
Selected quilts arrive in Houston by – August 30, 2013
Quilts returned to owner – end of November 2013 (unless traveling)

Important Special Note to quilters shipping from foreign countries: While we encourage you to insure your work for its full value for insurance purposes, we must ask you to value it for customs declaration purposes only at no more than $50 (U.S.). A higher customs value may require an expensive bond that may not be refunded upon your quilt's return to its home country. Also mark the customs document with "for exhibition and return, not for sale, no commercial value." We hope you understand that this is for practical purposes only, and certainly does not reflect on Quilt Festival's estimation of your work. If you wish to claim full value for customs purposes, we recommend that you arrange a carnet A.T.A. for your quilt at your expense. If we incur customs expenses due to a decision on your part to declare the customs value of your quilt as more than $50, you will need to reimburse us for any such expense. If you claim less than $50 for customs purposes, and we still incur customs charges, we will pay those charges in full and will not expect reimbursement.

Entries selected from digital images are subject to additional evaluation when the actual quilt arrives in Houston. If the actual quilt is found to differ significantly from the digital image submitted for jurying, the selection committee reserves the right to reject the entry and override the jurors’ initial decision. The decision as to whether the difference is significant is entirely the prerogative of the committee.

Registration

Registration has closed. No further registrations will be accepted at this time.

For More Information

If you have any questions, please contact Carmen Beck, Special Exhibits Coordinator at 512.323.2255, spexhibits2@quilts.com or Amanda Schlatre, Special Exhibits Coordinator at 713-781-6864, ext. 104, spexhibits3@quilts.com.   If you have technical questions about the online system, please contact Lisa Ellis at lisa@ellisquilts.com.