The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show Celebrates 20 Years and Honors the Legacy of Nancy Zieman

Join us for this special episode as we travel to Madison Wisconsin for the Great American Quilt Show which began largely in thanks to the late Nancy Zieman. Nancy hosted Sewing With Nancy on PBS Wisconsin for 35 years and inspired hobbyists across the country to sew, quilt and embroider. What started as an instructional program filmed in her home in 1982 became the longest-running sewing and quilting education show on public television.

 

This amazing event draws more than 15,000 attendees over the course of three days and enjoys the help of more than 430 volunteers.  It features 150 vendors and over 100 unique educational workshops, lectures and presentations. The numbers speak for themselves, this is a notable and must attend event.

We’ll visit with educators, vendors, exhibitors, a special event host, an appraiser and Deanna Springer who is paramount in carrying on Nancy Zieman’s legacy.

 

(1:30) We begin this episode talking to Deanna Springer, head of Marketing at Nancy Zieman Productions. She shares with us the genesis of this amazing event. She explains the health issue that changed her life with her mother’s encouragement, how 4H played a part in her life and where it all went from there.

 

(5:05) Deanna shares her thoughts about how this show has grown and evolved. Hear why she and Nancy “held their breath” the first year! Oh, and how she taught Bucky Badger how to sew.

 

(6:35) Meet Amanda Balistreri, PBS Wisconsin Expo Manager who runs this event as she walks us through all of the behind scenes planning that goes on for this show.

 

(7:52) Amanda explains exactly what an Expo Manager does for an event like this, and shares some of her biggest challenges. 

 

(9:25) How does one become a volunteer for this show? Amanda explains and tells us how to sign up!

 

(9:57) Lina Owen from Blue Bell Designs who came to Milton, WI from Columbia talks about her seminar and the topics she taught. She calls this “My Community” and talks about the importance of representing the Latino Community as a whole.

 

(11:00) Lina talks about her impression of how this event has involved. Then listen as she further explains her commitment to the Latino Community and why this show is important to her.

 

(13:38) Educator, artist and presenter Maday Delgado, who was born and raised in Cuba, Talked with us about what’s important to her about being at the show and what it means to her to share it with her young daughter. She identifies this event as creative and a great outlet for many sub-communities.

 

(14:48) Maday explains how her childhood in Cuba fostered her love for and commitment to sustainability.

 

(15:30) Meet Allison Rainboth an AQS certified appraiser and judge who starts out by explaining to us how one becomes a certified appraiser. She also provides advise about preserving and caring for quilts.

 

(20:03)   Ann Wanke who has been attending this event for 18 years has seen a lot of change…and she was a keynote speaker whose presentation takes attendees through the history of this event.

 

(21:07) Why does Ann think this show is important and where is it headed? 

 

(23:06) Meet sisters Diane Neilson and Peggy Joyce and learn why they were attending the show

 

(23:25)Next, meet mother and daughter Stacy and Hanna West. Not only do they exhibit at this show, but they get to spend cherished time together.

 

(23:55) Jessica Barrera from Sallie Tomato a past guest on this podcast shared why it’s important for her to be at this show.

 

(24:20) Linda Z, long time industry pioneer and store owner shared the evolution of the show, her experiences and why it’s important to her. Here her impression of Wisconsin people.

 

(25:18) Then Linda tells us why she is truly  a pioneer in this industry.

 

(26:08) A