Festival of Quilts

It’s quilt show time, and I was amazingly restrained in photo taking. There are two ways of looking: snapping photos or enjoying the moment. I like both ways. This time,  I’d actually intended not to take any (didn’t even take my camera), but succumbed and pulled out my phone a couple times.

First a modern looking quilt (though it is an adaptation of a traditional pattern):

Lone Star with Rays by Irena Swanson

I love this variation of the Lone Star. Irena is a math professor and she enjoys calculating how to sew tubes of strips and cut them to get intricate, traditional patterns. Often she tells how many seams it took when she shows her quilts at show-and-tell, but she didn’t write it in her description.

And a traditional looking quilt:

Grannie’s Crazy Spinner by Diane Woodruff

This quilt was huge.  And I didn’t take a close up to show the ’30s fabrics.  I have a stash of 30s and may borrow this idea for some of them.

And a miniature:

Monkeys and Monkey Wrenches (top) by Carrie Perkins

She fussy cut the monkeys for the center of the Monkey Wrench blocks. I can’t take photos with one hand with my phone, so I couldn’t put my finger in the picture to show size, but the Monkey Wrench blocks looked to be 2 inches square at the most.

Here’s a detail:

Don’t you love the little escaped monkey hand appliqued on the side? And as you can see this one was hand quilted. Every year the show has a featured quilter and this was Carrie’s year.  She had a wide variety of styles and techniques.

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My Last NW Quilt Expo Photos

If I remember correctly this one was Judges’ Choice.

Golden Days Inger Blood

The center motif was painted then thread painted. Doesn’t it look like a page in an old album? The quilting in the border was exquisite.

I admire representational art quilts, but I doubt I’ll ever make any. But who knows? Maybe it depends on what classes are offered at guild. Or on my seeing something that I just have to create.

Once again my photo program scrambled quilt and tag photos, and I don’t have enough hint of the quilt in the tag photos. So I have one tag and two photos, and I am not sure which the tag goes with.  The tag says Gnome Forest by Barbara Triscari. I think it went with this one.

Then there is this unlabeled one.

I once drove a bug, but I don’t think that was essential to enjoy this one.

Another quilt that I didn’t get a label for–it was made by one of the two featured artists. If I had saved my program I’d at least have the quilter’s name, but alas . . .

I couldn’t get back far enough to get the whole. I’d say it was queen sized. And here it is with my friend’s finger to show how tiny the pieces.

No, she wasn’t touching the quilt. It was the first photo of the day and I forgot to turn the flash off. Here is another to show the hand quilting.

Hand quilting keeps getting more rare except for the occasional accent stitches.

And last, but not least, another densely quilted piece.

Laurel Leaf Cathy Erikson

I wish I could tell you what that ribbon is! But I did get two shots of the quilting.

I really like quilting that becomes part of the design, as this does. I hope to learn to do this kind of quilting.

Till next year’s show . . .

 

Quilt Show Time–NW Quilt Expo

A great annual event almost in my back yard here in Portland, OR. I hadn’t entered any quilts this year, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying what was entered!

I focused on art quilts, prize winners, and dense quilting this year. Or at least those were the items that pulled my camera out of its case.

SAQA (Studio Art Quilters Association) had its Bridges exhibition hanging. I’d seen it before in Beaverton, but some that I remembered weren’t here and there were some I’d not remembered. So I’m guessing both exhibits were partial. (No possibility of memory failure, of course.) While I enjoyed them all, only one brought the camera out.

Linking Europe to Asia Anne Doughaty

Some of the quilts were, like this one, bridges over water; other meanings were also represented: bridge, the card game, bridges supporting strings in musical instrument, and from the Beaverton show I remember one of the bridge of the nose.

I think I remember this one was in small quilts, but I thought it should have been in art quilts. (If that isn’t true of this one, there were several I thought could have been better placed, but I think the quilter makes that decision.)

Dashes and Dots Tami Graeber

Besides the visual impact, this one sported dense quilting design.

This next one was among the Art, non-representational category.

The Value of Value Sheila Staers

The above one interested me visually, but also because I think value doesn’t get enough attention, generally.

I carefully photographed ribbons so I’d remember which prize a quilt won; however, the print didn’t show up on the photo for most of them. I’ll try harder next year. I did remember a couple. This one took first place in Art, non-representational.

Klimpt in Blue Penny Hanscom

I’ll have to go check out Klimpt paintings to understand the inspiration noted in the title.

Next, the best of show.

My Secret Garden Margaret Solomon Gunn

I don’t always agree with the judges, but this year I did. I liked the design, the color choice, the workmanship in the applique and the quilting. Here’s a sample.

This next first was, I think, in the large quilt category.

Colorful Colorado Medallion Sharon Engel

Not only do I love medallion quilts, but the color progression appealed to me as did the tiny triangles. And the quilting.

I think I’d better stop and eat lunch; I’ll post a few more photos in a couple days.

What is your focus when you go to quilt shows?  Is it always the same or does it vary with the show?

Quilt Show Finale

Considering there were over 300 quilts in the show, I have very few photos.  Sometimes I am so into looking I don’t think of pulling out the camera.

First “two” (you can see one is a group) Japanese influenced quilts by Helene Knotts.

Japanese Postcards

Helene said the “postcards” were inspired by 19 Century Japanese nature prints; from them she made a pattern series.  Some of the scenes are of real places and others imaginary. Next a sampler inspired by  Japanese indigo quilts.

Sekura, Helene Knotts

And a detail

And for more applique:

Streams of Life, Yuki Suglyama

This one got a first place in hand quilting; here is a closer view:

The description mentioned that fabrics are from kimonos.  Delicate applique is hard enough, but add in the slippery nature of silk? Impressive.

Another postcard inspired quilt.

Greetings From Oregon, Carrie Perkins

This brought back memories of my childhood travels with family and the postcards we bought and sent. Its award was for art quilt: pictorial. The “treasure hunt clue” refers to a gimmick to keep younger viewer interested. They get a paper listing  items to find among the quilts and a small prize for finding them.

Next a member donated award: this one for curved piecing. Members (for a small fee) could invent an award, and then they got to choose the quilt that won it. There are plenty of curves to qualify this one.

A Rose Grows in the City, Michele Nichols

Her description mentions paint drops, graffiti, a chain link fence and a red rose.Its second place ribbon is for modern quilt.

The next one is named Ruthie’s Quilt.

Ruthie’s Quilt, Nancy Neff

Nancy made this one as a block of the month–lots more than 12 blocks here! I’m drawn to the long narrow points. Wonder if I’ll ever manage to make blocks like that . . .

Believe in Yourself–Chase Your Dreams, Nancy Tubbs

Nancy challenged herself to quilt a different design in each arc. And for her effort she got a first in domestic machine quilting.

These colors caught my eye. And the flying geese. And the setting.

Desert Beauty, Karen Nelson

It strikes me as a modern quilt made from traditional blocks. There is no doubt that the next one is modern.

Abloom, Camille Ainsworth

And the ribbon is for the modern category.

One more modern quilt:

Intersection, Linda Becker

The quilt, a wedding present, captures the intersection of personalities in the intersecting design. The colors are the wedding colors.

I think I have matched titles and photos and ribbon categories. Once again, if you spot a misattribution, do comment.

Until the next show . . .

 

 

Quilt Show–Second Installment

I’ve been slow; it is more tedious when the text and quilt are not together in my files. But here are a few more I have matched quilt to description. Starting with first place large quilt–pieced.

Turquoise to Teal

It is easy to see why this one got the award for piecing! And though it got second place for hand quilting, I neglected to get a detailed photo. Janis Pearson said she used 225 shades of turquoise/teal, overdying some to get the desired shade.

Here’s another with intricate piecing.

Journey through the Cosmos, Betty Dodge

Can’t help but wonder why this one didn’t get a prize too–other than that there are more quilts than prizes.  I am drawn to all those narrow points.

Here is one from the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Parliament

The online challenge  has been going for several years. Each month a color is assigned and quilters make up one or more blocks with scraps of that color. Some make a quilt of each color, others, like Sally Trude, combine them.  There is a monthly linky party for people to show what they have accomplished.  I might play once I sort my scraps. Sally  created this block design herself.

The next quilt comes from a math instructor.

Rows of Squares in Diamonds

Irena Swanson sometimes tells how many pieces (964 here) and always how many seams (109 here–sometimes it is dramatically fewer). She has a website (here) and several YouTube videos instructing in her method. Here is a link to one of the videos, Half Square Triangles,Part I.

I entered Dreaming of Cool, Clear, Abundant Water in Art Quilts—Abstract and got a third place this year. (More were entered, so more competition.) Here are the first and second.

First place went to Anton Haas, Jr. for Polygon Paradise. I think the second place piece is Rain in the Glen by Evelyn Eason. (My photo of the description has no  bit of quilt or mention of category to go by–if you know that I am right or wrong, please comment.)

And you have seen mine before, but here it is hanging straight.

Here is an impressive 3D effect.

Where Do We Go from Here, Gail Planck

Gail says it has 2277 triangle pieces! Here is a detail

The ribbon is for Kazumi Peterson’s long arm quilting.

This is only a sample of the 300+ quilts in the show–as you can see, it was a very good show.

Quilt Show–First Installment

A new challenge.  I purposely take photos of the labels before the quilt so I can remember title and maker. Usually it works well.  This time, doing nothing differently than usual, I downloaded photos and all the labels grouped first and then the quilts–and those not in the order they were taken. There goes my system. So this installment will show you the ones I can reunite enough to attribute! I’ll work harder and do a post with the rest later.

ETA: I did do one thing differently. I selected all (because I wanted to deselect two–which I couldn’t). Doesn’t make sense, but maybe that is what shuffled them????

A wall of quilts greeted me as I looked right

A small group had decided to each make the same pattern. They said that a couple fabrics ran through the series. I could not identify which it was, but it was fun to see the color variations.

And though you have seen my Water is Life quilt before, here it is hanging for a better view than draped on the couch.

I didn’t have time to hang around to see if anyone stopped long enough to find the word ‘LIFE,’ but in the short time I watched, people passed by quickly. (History of the quilt in reverse here )

Next a quilt I recognized by Barbara Stanbro.

Snips and Snails

I’d planned to look for her quilt, but she didn’t remember which category she had put it in. Nor did I remember which quilt she had entered. So I was tickled to recognize it from having watched it grow on her Cat Patches blog. (Her blog here) And more tickled to see it had a second place ribbon for the category of Art Quilt Pictorial. I knew from her blog that she had designed it from a photograph of her brother in a class with Ruth McDowell.

Another quilt I recognized from watching it progress at a guild retreat is Tam Gardner’s Blue Stars with Orange.

After making the blue star quilt, she decided it needed orange. What a great result!

And for some more orange, the first-place miniature quilt.

Orange Feathers, Barbara Schulenberg

You are wondering how small those triangles, aren’t you? Here is my finger for perspective.

On the subject of color, here is the winner of the In Memory of Fran: Best Use of Lime Green award, given to a 3-D quilt. The back story of the award: Fran attended retreats regularly and was quite a jokester. One day she mentioned not liking lime green, so fellow retreat goers all started to sew with lime green. And she was awarded a box of lime green fabric at the final awards section of the retreat. After making a quilt with the pieces, she said she was beginning to like lime green.  She is greatly missed.

Though they doesn’t show as lime green, the leaves at the top are.  And the 3-D shows much better in the detail views.

Here are three of the ancient four elements: air, fire, and water.  Alas, earth is missing, though I was sure I had taken its photo.  Later I remembered that my batteries had died on the earth photo. So after changing batteries, I must have forgotten to go back. And the label for this one is also missing, though I was sure I had seen it earlier. I did see another label that mentions 3D, so maybe I confused them. So I don’t remember the exact title or the maker. If you know, please put information in the comments!

I’ll share some more from the show after I’ve matched text and quilt photos.

Edited to solve the mystery of the missing photos.

 

Protest Quilts at QuiltCon

Longtime readers know of my interest in art as protest; to others, it is new information.

I didn’t make it to Modern Quilt Guild’s QuiltCon this year, nor did I enter any quilts.  I didn’t have any ready that were appropriate to even try. I do have ideas for next year though.

Meanwhile, I really enjoyed this Hyperallergic Article about the quilts with protest statements. ( I don’t know if the article includes photos of all the protest quilts or just a sample. Those who went to the show could comment if there are others that you noticed there.) You will find plenty of photos at the above link to make up for my not having one in this post. I’m wondering how coming upon a protest quilt among others would impact a viewer in contrast to seeing them all together. (If you were there, please comment.)

Click and enjoy. And talk about those that speak to/for you.

I was especially struck by two: “Black, Brown, and White in Orange” is a striking comment about our prison industrial complex.  And the contrast between “Protect and Serve” and the choke hold is stunning.

Threads of Resistance Links

The Threads of Resistance list of traveling quilts has been posted. (No, Deregulation is not in it.) Here is the link for those who want to “see” the traveling show online.

And a reminder, here is the link for those who want to see all 500+ entries.

And for those lucky enough to live where the show will be and want to see it live, here is a link to the show schedule.

Quilt Shows, Virtual and Local

One quilt, mine, is in both.

I did decide on “Deregulation” as its name. Since it didn’t seem to limit what others saw in it, it seemed safe to be directive in naming.  I still don’t know if it will travel with Threads of Resistance, but they have posted all 550 entries online (here). The page is subdivided into categories, so viewing is manageable; artists’ statements are on a separate page in each category for those who like to read them.

The guild show divided art quilts into abstract and pictorial, which I think is a good idea. “Jo’s Last Quilt,” from the previous post, was also in this category as was Anton Haas’ Six Times Five.

Tony’s statement said he was exploring five-point symmetry. I love the way the long swirls maintain the color pattern in the small swirls.

I got only one photo in the pictorial category:

Vintage Falls, Helene Knott

Those who have been to the Columbia Gorge will recognize Multnomah Falls.

I have a few more photos, but they can wait. I want you to have time to view the Threads of Resistance quilts if you are so inclined.

There will be radio silence while I travel outside of WiFi areas this coming week, so don’t feel neglected if your comments don’t get prompt answers.

NW Quilting Expo Sampler

Although I am back from vacation, there is too much unpacking chaos for me to get back to quilting yet. However, that didn’t stop me from heading out to the annual NW Quilt Expo in Portland OR. I saw probably 3/4 of the 700 quilts hanging.

Three special exhibits caught my attention:Western Modern Quilt Guild’s Native American themed challenge, Cover to Cover’s interpretations from two novels, and Latimer Museum’s antique quilts. A couple photos from each.

From the Native American challenge, I appreciated most the quilts that though inspired by history didn’t closely reproduce traditional native images, rather creating new ones.

This one gave the traditional Crossed Canoe block a new meaning.

Fishing Hole by Nancy Schaefer

Schaefer described deriving her design while watching the fish ladders at the Bonneville Dam and thinking back to a time when salmon were so plentiful they could be speared from a canoe.

This quilt also referenced salmon.

Tails and Fins by Beverly Shoger

Shoger, noting that salmon linked the coastal tribes, chose to represent them by abstracted tails and naming the better known groups.

This quilt was based on a collaboration.

Shaman’s View by Kathy White

White’s granddaughter had done a senior project that included shamanism. She drew a sketch that White translated into fabric.

Cover to Cover Book Club Quilters is a group that designs quilts based on novels, usually doing two a year. One was Gone With the Wind. There were quilts showing Tara, quilts with abstractions in blue and gray, and quilts representing grand living and the Atlanta fire. This humorous one caught my fancy.

Flowered and Southern Fried by Patricia Goodwin Andrews

(Not so humorous from the chicken’s point of view.) Andrews says, “It’s Saturday and this chicken has another day till it is Sunday and southern fried chicken day.

The group’s second book was All the Light We Cannot See.

The Map in Her Head by Dianne Kane

Several of the quilts referenced Marie-Laure’s blindness; the fabric selection in this one appealed to me.

Last, but not least, are the antique quilts from the Latimer Museum collection.

Nine-Patch Medallion

This one was dated ~1840.  It looked to be double-bed size.

Here is a closer view of the trapunta and hand quilting. Notice some of the old fabrics are beginning to shred. Those early dyes were harsh.

The next one was dated ~1880 and looked to be twin size.

Ohio Star

The center square in the Ohio Star blocks looked to be about 3/4-inch on each side–the blocks about 4 inches.

If you live in the area, you have one more day to see the show. I hope the rest of you enjoyed the sampling.