Artquiltmaker Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 😉

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.

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.

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!

My overall impression was of much lighter quilts. My overall impression of a trend among the quilts was birds and squids. No joke.

 
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.