I spent the day at PIQF with Julie. I had a nice time. I looked at quilts. I looked at vendors. I examined stitching and patterns. I, generally, had a good time.
I found more Scrumptious mini-charms, another Sunnyside mini-charm, a few pieces of fabric, and some Cosmo embroidery floss. I did not buy the Splash Bali Pops or a Sew Steady Table for my Jem. As I said yesterday, there was a story behind the mini charms. After driving home Wednesday, it occurred to me that I could use the mini-charms to make a Midi bag. I knew had the pattern, but wasn’t sure where it was or if I could find it before I went back to the show. So I asked Katie on Twitter and she knew. 108, which meant that I needed to buy some more mini charms. Of course, I went back to the booth to buy more and they were out. I was sad, but it wasn’t the end of the world and I did find some more Sunnyside mini-charms and will probably make a Midi bag out of those as well. I was sad, but undaunted and was pleased to find more of the Scrumptious mini-charms at the Prairie Queens Quilt Shop booth! that is a relatively local shop but one with which I am not familiar. I’ll have to check it out.
See through Bernina
6 hours is not enough time to see everything. I feel good about the number of quilts I saw. I am sad that I didn’t see all the vendors, though I know my wallet is happy. I thought the vendors stepped up their game a bit this year. It was nice to see some of the new products out for sale. The vendors were friendlier and their booths were very appealing.
I really liked the quilts. I saw so many that had fabulous design or details. Let’s Go Party! (above)has wonderful lines and those circles amaze me in the way they are made with tiny strips of fabric. The lines of the design are wonderful.
Baskets by Diana Roberts
I also really liked the combination of hand embroidery and bright sashing. The combination is unexpected and pleasing. I always like hand embroidery, but I have thought that it needed to be freshened up a bit, in general. This piece has taken hand embroidery and incorporated into a really fresh quilt. It takes hand embroidery and gives it new life.
Baskets by Diana Roberts
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
The San Jose Quilt Museum was there with a display of crazy quilts. I didn’t take photos of the entire quilts. A lot of crazy quilts don’t photograph (by me) well. They are full of detail. I did take photos of the stitches I was interested in.
I took photos of the stitches that I thought were different than the ones in normal stitch dictionaries.
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
SJMQT Crazy Quilt Example (detail)
There was a bag called a Pasadena bag that I thought was interesting, but didn’t end up buying. I reminded myself that I have plenty of bag patterns as yet unmade. This thought inspired me to dig through my pattern box and look at the bag patterns I have bought with good intentions.
The Mancusos have a preview night before the Pacific International Quilt Festival officially opens. It is held on Wednesday. I went this year, as I have for the past several years, but this time I drove down right after work. The drive down was ok. I didn’t encounter much traffic on the way down – just a bit as I got closer to Santa Clara. I consumed an odd dinner – GF cheese crackers, a bottle of water and a NuGo bar – and listened to an audiobook as I drove. Healthy, I know.
I arrived at 7pm, which gave me plenty of time to park, get the lay of the land and sit for awhile reading my [other] book before the doors opened. I like having plenty of time. Rushing around makes me forget things. People were already waiting in line when I got there, eager to be first. I always wonder what they want to be first for. I don’t wait in that line. I sit and wait for 2 extra minutes past the opening time, then stroll in without waiting. 😉
Flower Field by Emily Parson
TFQ usually comes, though her company’s budget process has been so screwed up (my words, not hers!!!) the past couple of years that we have had to change our plans last minute. This year she couldn’t make it at all. It is ok as we are looking at other shows. The PIQF format is getting a little tired for me. They need to add a display of bags and small accessories. They should change the hanging drapes to white to brighten up the hall and they should look at local talent for some special exhibits and to make the show different from all the others they host. Still, it is a large show in the area and I couldn’t miss it. I definitely need to report back to TFQ on the quilts.
My intent was to wander relatively quickly through the entire hall and get an idea of what quilts and vendors were available. I didn’t want to try to look at all the quilts or take photos of everything in the hour and a half of the Preview. I just wanted to get a sense of the show. I planned to go back Saturday and a drive-by would help me plan that day.
My first impression of the quilts was light and air. Often, the quilts on the black drapes create a dark, oppressive feeling. This year there was more light. The quilts were lighter in color and feeling, which gave the space a lighter feeling. Some vendors were moved slightly – up a booth or two, to a corner where previously they had been in the middle of the aisle. Many of the vendor booths had lighter colored quilts hanging also, though there were plenty of the repro booths filled with beiges, browns, burgundies and black.
Swoon at PIQF 2013
I went to find Swoon pretty soon after I arrived. I did, after awhile, find it near the PENWAG booth and the Wearables. It is actually in quite a prime location except for the tools and supplies pushed behind it and poking out underneath the curtain. Hmpf.
As I said, I only intended to look at the quilts quickly and not take photos. I couldn’t help myself, though, and took a few. I plan to write some posts about the ones I liked later.
I also went and talked to Colleen for awhile. Her booth was filled with fun and cheerful fabrics. She also has a new technique that she will be launching tomorrow at Quilt Market. If you are reading this from Quilt Market, make sure you visit her Schoolhouse. I’d love to see a Modern Quiltmaker make an Instant Quilt from Tula Pink’s octopus fabric from the Saltwater line.
Sylvia Gregorian (PIQF)
I was pleased to see that Sylvia Gregorian won one of the big prizes for her quilt. Sylvia used to be a member of CQFA and I have watched her work through what she has entered and the quilt that won definitely deserved to win.
I loved the border. I have been looking at tree quilts, especially for the width and shape of the trunk in relation to the branches.
The quilting in the border echoes the shape of the tree. The quilting is amazing all over the quilt. It looks like anyone could do it with enough patience. This quilt really inspired me. I have enjoyed watching Sylvia enter and enter every year, gradually winning bigger and better prizes. Congrats!
Saki by Yoshiko Katagiri
My overall impression was of much lighter quilts. My overall impression of a trend among the quilts was birds and squids. No joke.
Bird in a Tree by Joyce Marty
Yes, I visited some of the vendors. Quiltin’ Cousins was there. they have a great booth and great fabric. I also saw some Scrumptious mini charms and bought them on spec. Later, it occurred to me that they would be perfect for the Midi bag, so I got more when I went back, but that is a whole story of its own. Stay tuned.
I hope that, later this week, you will see another finish.
I went and got two quilts from Colleen last weekend while we were out car shopping in her neighborhood and both are ready for binding. I decided to sew the binding on the Original Bullseye first since that project has hung around much longer than the T-Shirt quilt. Also, I am planning to give the T-Shirt Quilt to the Young Man for Christmas. He hasn’t noticed it has returned, which means he isn’t clamoring for it, which means it will be a great gift.
Original Bullseye detail
Colleen did a really nice job on the quilting of this piece. It is flat as a pancake despite all of the bias edges of the circles.
T-shirt Quilt detail
Colleen sees a lot of quilts so I was very pleased when she, and her Mom, Elaine, complimented me on the border. That is a border that is a pain to make, but very effective. I discussed the making of it in a previous post.
I wanted to show the detail, because of the quilting. I told her to do something basically all over, but not to ignore the difference between the t-shirt ‘blocks’ and the sashing. I am pleased with what she did.
After I started the book, which I did read from cover to cover, I knew I wanted to spend time on this review, which is why it took me so long to get it up. I didn’t want to rush, because I want you love this book as much as I do. The short version is that if you have even the slightest bit of interest in blocks, drafting blocks or quilt history, you need this book. It is a fabulous reference, full of inspiration, well written and well organized. Go buy it right now.
This is a follow-up to her 1980 book, The Quilter’s Album of Blocks & Borders. If you see the 1980 book for a decent price, it is useful as well. Make sure it has the plastic grid insert.
The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns is not a sequel necessarily, but Jinny Beyer built on the original idea to come up with this larger and more comprehensive book. The basic idea that I got out of the original book was that if you understand the structure of the block, you can make any quilt. I understand that all quilts aren’t made from blocks, but having a good foundation makes analyzing the structure of all types of quilts easier.
This book lists the all the names by which a block is known. The primary name is listed first and comes from the oldest source she could find. This means that you will see blocks you know by one name entered in the book by another. Have no fear! All the published block names are listed under the primary name and the comprehensive index makes finding your favorite blocks by almost any names easy. She has limited herself, primarily to blocks created before 1970. As she says “This book would be at least four times its size if I had attempted to catalog all designs that have been created since the 1970s. I purposefully limited myself to traditional quilt blocks created for the most part before 1970…”. The exception are blocks Ms. Beyer has designed. You may not find more modern variations or names listed here. I hope she or someone else will do follow-up or a volume two adding truly new blocks to this resource.
The beginning of the book is extensive and includes not only the Table of Contents, Acknowledgements and an Introduction, but also A Primer on Pieced Blocks. The last section includes some history of the block sources, a description of the way the blocks are organized and how to draft a variety of blocks, even the oddly shaped blocks.
I was amazed to see how many catalog offering there were prior to World War 2. People could buy pre-made blocks, quilt pieces and even quilts made up. Some may lament the advent of quilt kits now, but shop owners are following in the footsteps of the “good old days” of quiltmaking.
The blocks come next and are organized by shape: squares, hexagons, continuous pattern blocks, one-patch blocks and miscellaneous patterns. It was amazing to me how the bulk of patterns are based on a square grid.
Beyer talks about the grid and this is the piece that is important to understand that will allow you to analyze blocks in a quilt at a show, draw it and go home and make it. Read this section carefully and make sure you understand before you move on.
The drafting section is very useful. It explains geometry related to quiltmaking, so those of us who tried hard to stay awake in that 9th grade class have a reason to stay awake now. My favorite part was the magic that is drafting the perfect square. Beyer gives, at least, two methods. I also liked her method of making a perfect grid. As a bonus, understanding these drafting instructions really help when you are working with a program like EQ7. Understanding the grid and how a block is drafted makes using that program much more intuitive.
The section on blocks takes up the bulk of the book. Each group of blocks is broken down by the type of grid it uses. For example, the first section is called 2×2 Base Grid Category. The blocks in this category are what we would normally call four patches. Each block is shown in Jinny Beyer fabrics and colors and also as a line drawing. Included on the page is the block name and reference.
Another bonus is that Ms. Beyer has gathered like blocks together into a section called Quick Reference: (theme). This is a good and easy way to find all the blocks with a certain theme to use in a quilt. One Quick Reference is called Boats. There were also Quick Reference pages for leaves, baskets, Red Cross blocks and Feathered Stars. All the blocks on a Quick Reference page have the name of each block and where to find it in the book.
As I moved through the book I marked blocks I liked as well. Most were my standard favorite categories like Baskets all with a twist. In a way I was creating my own quick reference pages, which I, sometimes, found were redundant with Jinny’s quick reference pages. Still, I enjoy seeing my own notes and references.
One of the things that I loved was the names of the blocks. i always knew that quilt blocks had interesting and funny names. This book gathers all of those names. Crow’s Nest, Scroll Work, Night and Day, Open Sesame, and California Sunset are all wonderfully evocative and spur on the imagination, but have nothing to do with the piecing. Like modern paint color names, I guess.
Like the previous book, this one comes with Transparency Grid Sheets as well. These tools allow you to lay the transparency grid on top of the blocks to see why they are categorized as the grid indicated.
There is a comprehensive table of contents, a bibliography, a variety of cross references, footnotes, tables and a fabulous index. All of this warms my librarian heart. This is a well done book and well worth the money.
I went to pick up two quilts the other week from my longarmer. While there she showed me what she was working on for Quilt Market: Instant Quilts. When I hear ‘easy’ and ‘simple’ related to quilts, I can roll my eyes like the best of a teenager. “Instant” stopped me for a second, but as I was about to roll my eyes, Colleen put up her hand and showed me what she meant.
The quilts look like windows and I love the possibility of windows. These quilts are the ‘Big Block of Special Fabric’ type quilts. These quilts do use special fabrics, but the window type design makes it appear that you are looking into a fabric landscape. I saw some of that Octopus fabric from the Salt Water Collection by Tula Pink that would look fabulous in this design. Modern fabrics are made for these designs. I can also imagine hand dyes being used to wonderful effect. Admit it, you hand dyers (ahem, Sandy), sometimes the fabric is just too delicious to cut up into tiny pieces. 😉
I also think some of the Asian fabrics that are popular would look great in this style. My mind was whirling after we talked and I kept thinking of how many different types of fabric would work using this format.
This will be rolled out at Quilt Market, where Colleen is also presenting a game. She has self published a book about the concept, which should be available on her website Monday or Tuesday for those of you who are unable to visit her booth at PIQF. I have to say that I really like the concept.
Children’s cup is a humanitarian and spiritual aid organization. It has feeding programs, medical treatments, and orphanages for hurting people around the world.
Cup o’Noodles
Stacking cups (toy)
Ryder Cup
Quidditch World Cup
Coffee cup
Definition #1: “The cup is a customary unit of measurement for volume, used in cooking to measure liquids (fluid measurement) and bulk foods such as granulated sugar (dry measurement). Actual cups used in a household in any country may differ from the cup size used for recipes; standard measuring cups, often calibrated in fluid measure and weights of usual dry ingredients as well as in cups, are available.
As a result of the fact that the imperial cup is actually out of use and the other definitions differ hardly (±3%), the U.S. measuring cups and metric measuring cups may be used as equal in practice.
No matter what size cup is used, the ingredients of a recipe measured with the same size cup will have their volumes in the same proportion to one another. The relative amounts to ingredients measured differently (by weight, or by different measures of volume such as teaspoons, etc.) may be affected by the definitions used.” (Wikipedia)
Definition #2: “A cup is any of a variety of drinkware used to consume food or beverage.” (Wikipedia)
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
In cooking:
Measuring cup, a measuring instrument for liquids and powders, used primarily in cooking
Cup (unit), a customary unit of volume and measure
I hope you don’t think that I made you suffer through all the other posts to get to the part in which you were really interested? I loved everything about the show and thought there was so much to post. It finally occurred to me to post some more quilts. Hmmm…
Concrete Jungle by Becky Parry
There were a lot of great quilts at the show. I was very impressed with the quality of the quilts selected. The workmanship on many of them was outstanding. I have to admit, though, that the little devil voice in my head reminds me that I couldn’t stick my nose up to the quilts since they were hanging in trees. I am going to move through the voice and tell you that it doesn’t matter.
I don’t know anything about the judging or selection process for the quilts, but I thought, in general, from what I could see, the quilts were well selected, interesting and diverse.
Becky Parry’s Concrete Jungle is one of my favorites. I love the design, which I consider to be a modified Chinese Coins pattern. It might have another name or be a new, modern pattern. I also love the fabric. This pattern would work very well with the Philip Jacobs prints I own. Of course, I would add in others. Mrs. K and I put our cameras on super telephoto, because we wanted to see how it was made. I will study the construction a little more before I pass judgment. I love how much interest and movement there is in this piece.
To Natalie with Love from Quilt Bug Patterns
I am also always, as you know, looking for interesting uses for large scale print fabrics. This is a pattern called To Natalie with Love from Quilt Bug Patterns. I wasn’t able to easily find a link to buy the pattern, but the quilt was hanging outside the In Between Stitches booth and you might contact them to find it, if you nee a pattern to make it.
What I think makes the quilt interesting is the sashing. Yes, the fabrics are, of course, interesting. No matter how interesting the fabrics are, the quilt is boring to me if it is just a bunch of big squares (or rectangles) of fabric. This quilt would be a great leaders and enders project, because you could sew the four patches using the leaders and enders method. Chunking the sashing to the blocks would also help keep the piece straight. Again, I wonder how this would look with Philip Jacobs fabric?
To Natalie with Love by Quilt Bug Patterns (detail)
This sample is well pieced. The corners aren’t cut off and I like that. I mentioned chunking above, because I think sewing smaller pieces of the sashing to the ‘blocks’ would facilitate that high level of piecing. My only concern would be that chunking might add extra, possibly unattractive, seam lines. Choice of background could hide such a ‘problem.’
I notice that the fabrics chosen for the four patches do not help to distinguish the pieces as four patches. I think that is fine, as long as it was a conscious decision. Some of the darker fabrics help move the eyes around the quilt, which is great and was, perhaps, planned.
I didn’t, yet, do all the cutting as instructed in the first clue, partially because I wanted to see if I could find a better way, more preferred way to cut. I also didn’t want to delve into my stash completely yet. I still wanted to try and use as many scraps from my scrap bin as possible. Some of the drawers are getting pretty full.
EZ Companion Angle Ruler
In order to cut from my scrap bin, I had to be able to cut from smaller scraps. I don’t have a lot of 5.25″ scraps laying around. It occurred to me, as I was thinking through this process, that I had a ruler that would make cutting the quarter square triangles a bit easier. I found the EZ Triangle Companion Ruler (I think I bought this for the Easy Street Mystery quilt) and the Fons & Porter Half & Quarter Triangle Rulers. Neither had been opened (ooops!), so I examined them and, for no particular reason, chose the Fons & Porter to try first.
I cut one 5.25″ square the way Charlotte suggested so I had a sample. I used that to determine the size I needed to to cut using the HST/QST ruler. The directions on the Fons & Porter ruler tell you to cut a strip size of 2.5″ to get the size QSTs I needed. This cut off the tip of the triangle at the top (see that tiny black triangle at the tip of the ruler in the photo below?). I wasn’t sure why I would want to cut off the tip since it didn’t create the bunny ears. This made me wonder if that ruler would work. I didn’t want a hole at the point where those triangles intersected with other piecing. Nobody was around to answer on Twitter, so I cut the strips 2.75″ and used that dimension as a guide for cutting additional triangles.
“Strips” is a bit of an exaggeration as I was using scraps. I tried to find scraps that were at least 2.75″ wide.
Fons & Porter Half/Quarter Square Triangle Ruler
Using this ruler took a lot longer than cutting already cut 5.25″ squares into quarters would, but I was able to use a nice variety of fabrics and I was able to clear out my scrap bin a little more.
I found that I had to have a nice straight cut line on which to line the correct cutting line.
One confusing thing, which I have found with other rulers, is where to put the fabric under the ruler. Some of the lines, including the one I needed to use, were quite thick. Do I line the ruler on top of the fabric with the bottom of the thick line even with the cut line? Or something else?
I just decided to be consistent. I can always trim.
If you haven’t done the triangle step of Scrapitude, I hope you’ll try using one of these rulers to vary your fabric selection.
I saw this design at the Alden Lane Quilt Show somewhere. I have always liked the tin ceilings and faux tin wall treatment seen in many Victorians in San Francisco. I thought this example would make a particularly nice quilting pattern. Perhaps modifications would be required for machine quilting, but hand quilters could use the designs as is.
I don’t always chastise myself very vociferously for making a big mess in my workroom, because happy accidents happen with messes.
I found a new Philip Jacobs print at Roxanne’s in Carpenteria (you really MUST go there as soon as possible). The tan background isn’t really my color, but I love Phil and those mums are to drool for.
I was unpacking stuff from my trip and the Philip Jacobs flowers were flung onto my cutting table temporarily. They happened to land near this Lori Wisburn print from several years ago. It is from the Tufted Tweets line. I don’t know why it was in the pile, but it was a good thing it was, because I saw the two together and thought “hmmm, that could be the start of something”.
I dream of a beautiful garden. I find green things and flowers so attractive. Sadly, I don’t want to do the work required. Periodically, I get a bug in my ear and do some work on one part of my yard, feel great and then do nothing for months until the next bug gets in my ear.
Sigh.
One of the things I loved about the show was the non-quilt inspiration I got there. Everywhere I looked the employees had gone out of the way to make the gardens attractive to look at. Even the tables filled with flats of flowers and other plants looked wonderful. This place is no Home Depot; it appears that the owners and employees actually care about their work.
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
One part that I liked were the random sculptures. I don’t know if they would fit the ‘official’ definition of sculpture, but I thought the displays were sculpture.
I really liked the one on the side of a shed that looked like windows. I suppose a person could make something similar with 1x1s and some larger wood for the outside. It might look nice hanging on the back of my house in some pleasing arrangement. It would require some work, though, and I don’t know that I am up for it.
Part of what was so great was the weather. It was a beautiful day: sunny and not too hot. Not only did the wonderful weather make it pleasant to walk around, but it also made gorgeous shadows, which added to the look of the non-quilt ‘art’. (The shadows on the quilts was a little bit frustrating.)
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
I am sure Alden Lane is serious about their plants, but they have a sense of humor, too, which was exhibited at the entrance.
It made me laugh. I am not sure I would put it in my yard, but given the right space, I wouldn’t count it out either. I love the humor and wonder if it says something about the owners? Perhaps a worker has a good sense of humor on which the owners capitalize? In either case, I think they should do more.
I might like a tub like that in my bathroom, though…
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
TFQ loves coleus. I saw this arrangement and thought of her.
It is a particularly appropriate arrangement, because we write letters back and forth. I can’t see her putting a mailbox like this in her yard, though.
I think TFQ was on my mind, because she was planning to visit that weekend and I thought it would be fun to go to the show together.
In looking at the color of the coleus and the color of the mailbox post, I wonder how the arrangement would look with a blue post? Red and green are opposites on the color wheel and the success of the look might hinge on that relationship. Still, it would be interesting to see a series of tableaus like this in different colors.
I think often of the type of outdoor rooms or living spaces that I see in glossy home and garden magazines. I know they wouldn’t really be practical for me because I would be able to use the “room,” maybe, four weeks out of the year. Still, a girl can dream.
Nice outdoor living! – Alden Lane Nursery
I do dream about them when see an arrangement that includes a chandelier outdoors. I can’t imagine that this one would work, but in my imaginary house set in an imaginary place that has the perfect climate, mine would work and cast a soft glow over my perfectly cooked kebabs.
Sigh.
Good thing dreams are free, right?
And from the Excellence in Marketing Department:
If I – the reasonable and authoritative side of me – didn’t know that my yard needs a lot of work before it will be at the stage where I can buy flowers to plant for a few weeks, I would have bought pots and pots of flowers simply because of displays like this red window box. Doesn’t it make you think that your life would be more beautiful if you had such a thing at your house?
There were two Featured Artists at the show: Sandy Klop and Susan Else. Sandy Klop is the designer of the American Jane patterns and fabrics lines. While I am not completely on board with her color choices, I don’t hate them either and her patterns are fabulous – not the easy stuff. You have to think about her patterns.
Pretzel Party, the interlocking beauty on the right is my favorite of her quilts, though there are many that I like.
She also has something or everyone: applique’, piecing, squares, hexagons, straight seams, partial seams. She also has different skill levels. Her designs, with the confines of piecing and applique, vary widely, too. She uses interesting borders, panels, and has a quilt depicting classic game boards- playable game boards! If a person cannot find something to make, I don’t think it is because of Sandy Klop’s lack of trying.
Sowing Seeds detail by Sandy Klop
Sandy’s quilts were everywhere. I estimated that she had 80 quilts on view. While her color palette is slighty dusky (e.g. she uses gold vs. yellow), I wouldn’t turn down most of her quilts if offered one. Her patterns are bold and bright and either are complex or look complex because of the fabrics.
I loved the diamond border in the Sowing Seeds quilt. I like the combination of pieced and whole diamonds. I also like the way the pieced diamonds fade in and out. It adds interest and made me look at the quilt a bit longer.
Starry Crown by Sandy Klop
The picture of the Starry Crown quilt shows the benefits and frustrations of an outdoor quilt show. The blue sky, the beauty of the tree bark and the greenery all make an outdoor quilt show pleasant.
The wind, however, did not make for easy picture taking. I finally just took the photo, because the wind was not going to die down even for a minute for me to take the photo. Also, I was really just interested in the piecing of the block and the interplay of fabrics Sandy used. Both of those are covered in this photo. This isn’t a quilt with a complicated border, so I think I could replicate the layout, if I wanted. The bonus is that the wind gives you a view of the back and front at the same time.
Susan Else piece
TFQ and I saw Susan Else at the Road to California show a few years ago. I really enjoy looking at her 3D pieces. I wouldn’t necessarily include figures in my own work, but i love looking at what Susan has made. She is very willing to talk with people, too. Her stories aren’t prominent in the show, but I had her tell Mrs. K and Vicki the story of her Lifeboat piece, because it rings so true with me.
Lifeboat by Susan Else
Susan explains that she, metaphorically, kept inviting people into the Lifeboat and serving them soup until her husband and daughter suggested that it might capsize. It is, for me when looking at the piece, a statement about women and how we try and take care of everyone.
Susan’s pieces are large, which is also appealing.
Susan Else’s Chess Set
Susan’s pieces are also hard not to touch. I really wanted to pick up a chess piece and feel it. Fortunately, Mrs. K asked so I didn’t have to surreptitiously stroke a queen or a rook! The people in Susan’s pieces really have a lot of life. I kept looking at them thinking about the giant chess set in the Sorcerer’s Stone and how all of those pieces moved. Susan’s chess pieces deserve to move!
Do people use the word magenta anymore? It doesn’t come up that often, but I really felt an Autumn-ish word was required. Since we are scraping the bottom of the barrel on words magenta was the closest I could get. Orange, Autumn and leaf have all been used. Even stem, branch and tree have been used. What’s a girl to do?
Definition: “Magenta (ma?gen?ta, /m??d??nt?/) is a purplish-red,[1] purplish-crimson,[2] or purplish-pink color.[3] It is a primary color in color printing which, combined with cyan, yellow and black in various combinations, can be used to create all other colors. The name comes from the dye magenta, originally called fuchsine, discovered in 1859, and renamed after the 1859 Battle of Magenta near Magenta, Italy where the French army defeated the Austrians and helped secure the unification of Italy.[4]” (Wikipedia)
The color magenta means universal harmony and emotional balance. It is spiritual yet practical, encouraging common sense and a balanced outlook on life. (Empower Yourself with Color Psychology.com)
Magenta -samples from Google
Magenta – The leader in Pro AV signal switching, extension and distribution over category cable and fiber.
Magenta Labs
Magenta – character from the Rocky Horror Picture Show
Magenta Theatre Company – Vancouver, Wash
skateboards
Magenta Boutique – Leavenworth’s newest fashion boutique specializing in the latest goodies for the fashionista at heart.
Hotel Magenta, Florence Italy
Magenta Agency is a social strategy and marketing agency based in Los Angeles California.
Magenta is Blue’s best friend from school who serves as a recurring character in Blue’s Clues.
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
The Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane Nursery 2013 was held on September 28-29, 2013. It is held this weekend (last weekend??) every year. Alex Anderson comes every year and I saw that she taught classes this year as well. My understanding is that she had a hand in starting the show.
I have been to Livermore, which is miles and miles east of me, only a few times. Most recently I visited In Between Stitches, which is a great store with a great space, when my SIL was in town a few Christmases ago and we went on a shop tour.
I took the train and Mrs. K and her cousin, Vicki, picked me up from the station. It was nice to sit back and be driven around. They go every year to look at the quilts and shop for plants.
I was surprised when we got close to the nursery as it is right in the middle of a really nice suburban neighborhood. It was at the equivalent of the end of the end of my street. I thought it was an odd place for a nursery, but realized that the houses must have been built up around it.
Parking karma was with me (us) and we got a space on the premises. We didn’t have to park on the street and walk for miles. Yes, I know it is good for me, but ….
Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane Nursery 2013Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane Nursery 2013
Quilting in the Garden 2013
I got excited when I walked up. The whole front of the place displayed quilts. It was a feast for the eyes. It was beautiful.
Once we walked in, everywhere I looked I could see quilts. There were, mostly, outdoor spaces, but there were a few buildings that had quilts hung up along the walls. Where quilts were not, were other gorgeous displays of plants, pottery and other inspiration worthy displays. I took so many pictures! I have included, as you can see, a few here, but there is a whole Flickr Set for your enjoyment as well.
Alex & John Anderson
After entering the facility (no entrance fee!), the first thing I saw was a table where Alex Anderson and hubby, John, were sitting and chatting with people, selling their wares, including The Quilt Show DVDs, and signing books. I was glad to see them and don’t know what I was surprised, but I was a little surprised. She is a such a big star and I am sure she has better things to do than sit in the sun all day and answer the same question over and over. Still there Alex was and I have to say that I was impressed!
I did not stop to chat. The clear space through which I took the photo was the only one I saw the whole time.
Quilts in Trees
The nursery has giant, old oak trees on their land and the quilts were hung with clothesline and clothes pins from the trees.
The quilts look like they are low to the ground, but they weren’t, for the most part. The quilts were hung so that viewers could easily see the front and the back. Mrs. K really liked looking at the backs and we had fun discussing blocks, trying to figure out how to make the quilts, etc.
Sisters in Motion by Becky Perry
One of my favorite quilts was a turquoise Dresden Plate. I really liked the turquoise on chocolate and something about the ratios of turquoise to chocolate was very appealing.
I would have thought that all of that color, all of that complex piecing, all of the different fabrics would have been an overwhelming riot of color, but I have to say that the green of the other plants really softened the whole effect. The quilts were framed nicely by the trees and plants. Perhaps it was all of the dusty greens?
If I didn’t say, the day was gorgeous. There weren’t any clouds, but it wasn’t too hot. At one point I really needed to sit and there was a lovely patio near the pavilion with the featured artist and near the food vendor.
I was exhausted from a week away, but I am glad I went to the show and glad that Mrs. K kept nudging and encouraging and made it so easy for me to attend.
If you have thought of going to the show, but never made it, now you have a little more info to consider!
