Why go to a quilt show?

     I hear this all the time. I have been fortunate to be able to attend some large shows, like AQS, Houston, Quilt Canada, and other regional shows. It takes time, money, and energy. So why go?
     Because quilting is something I treasure putting time, energy, money, and effort into, I need to look beyond myself at times to see what others are doing who are not like me and are much better. I need to hear what other quilters are dealing with, solving, or discovering. If I was content to make one designer's quilt pattern line or focus on one type of quilt or kits, maybe I would not need to go. I have a pretty clear idea of what types of things I want to design/work on, but I would be foolish to think that others have nothing to teach me. Creativity is often putting together disparate ideas and distilling something new. 
     I have no desire to compete in a show. I have observed that nine times out of ten, I can predict what wins: complicated traditional patterns, photorealism, and supercomplicated piecing/applique in a traditional vein. The innovative or unusual ideas do not win. Ok, I get it. The problem is when viewers only look in awe at the ribbons and not the gorgeous others in the show.
    Getting to AQS Lancaster was costly, had difficult snow conditions (no restaurants open on Wed.), and was fatiguing. Yet, the quilts inspired me, taught me, new products were tried, some bought, new fabric lines, met quilters of all stripes, and was a bigger step in my quilting journey.
     Because I took my little point and shoot, the photos are not great due to low lighting, so I apologize. If anyone has a small camera that shoots great photos in low light, let me know. My big Canon DLSR was too heavy to lug around, so it stayed home. The photos below are a few of those that inspired me. The next post will have some of the Cherrywood Challenge Van Gogh quilts and Korean.

Quilt made into a plaid by color stitching

Improv quilt with sections

Improv quilt detail

Wholecloth quilt all in black thread

Dellightful quilt called Carrot Breath

Neat idea of a colorwheel

Happy coneflowers, cool background

Gorgeous multiple methods quilt

Confetti detail

Quilt made by someone I know locally, Karen Sienk

Not sure how the spools fit in, but a very fun quilt

Detail

A cut work tablecloth layered and quilted by Cindy Needham, who had an extensive display.

Pretty amazing wall quilt

Another amazing scene and fabric

Extra special quilting made this quilt unique

Over the top piecing and detail

Detail

Such a unique perspective on vases on glass shelving

Detail

Karen Kay Buckley applique- she taught our fall workshop

And finally, the one quilt that I thought truly deserved a ribbon-
a difficult perspective on an old block done exquisitely, also not a tall enough display hurts the look

Did it get there yet?

     Over the past couple of days, I have moved every block of the OBW multiple times. Quite sick of it, but I did not want to take it down and throw it in a box. I want it done. I realize that the fabric, although it looked promising has some issues when cut and assembled in tone similarities and tones. I refuse to give up. I decided to do away with the swath of red and put it more center and swirl the other colors around it- the oranges and blues and then have yellow top and bottom. I think it works. I will leave it on the wall another day, and then evaluate again. Otherwise, it is getting sewn up.

Last iteration of the red swath

 

Hope, hope this is it

OBW shuffling and shuffling...

     I had started another One Block Wonder a while back, this was the fabric.

 I finished the blocks at the retreat. I grouped them loosely in similar piles on the ironing board at home before putting them on the design wall.

     I have messed around with the layout for 4 days. I took maybe 20 photos. I think I am close but it doesn't scream ready. I wanted the red to flow across the middle. There was a lot more orange and other colors than I thought. It does not at all look like I thought it would when sewing.

 

After lots of shuffles, still doesn't grab me

Magic Fabric

     Magic fabric is that which appears in your mailbox, totally unsolicited and not agonized over in a digital cart.
     It was a blessing to me that fabric arrived during my recouping epoch. The first was goodies from Maureen. I am treasuring the envelope that it came in because it has my name on it and a New Zealand postmark, wow. Thank you, Maureen.

     Next, floral strips came from Debbie. I already used some to start a new floral quarter log cabin .

    And maybe not so magic, but the day I got home from the hospital, I ordered a bunch of Kaffe fabric that I thought might disappear due to FreeSpirit being discontinued. False alarm, fabric still loved.

 

Retreat rail of progress

     As we finish projects at our quilt retreat, we drape them over the railing coming into the work room. I think there were more, but some people left early.

    In addition to the quilts, I made fifteen butterfly blocks, but I will need a lot more. They are piecing good fun.

Retreat forward progress

    On our guild retreat at the beautiful Stella Niagara facility in Lewison, NY, I was able to finish sewing up three quilts, a variety of blocks (butterflies, One Block Wonders, and teeny wonky stars), and two small projects we were taught at the retreat.
    The quilts were Exploding Squares, Red, white and blue rectangles, and Strawberries and Licorice (Connecting Threads). These, after quilting, these will all be comfort quilts.

LIttle things

     I am on my way to my guild's quilt retreat. We do this every year. I love it because I can sew uninterrupted and my Birthday always happens when I am there. This year, I am grateful that I get to see my birthday.
     I have some photos that I realized I never posted that are some random things, so let's see them.

Small inprov from the pieces left from the Valentines cards.
Don't know whether to add some other colors or not. In progress.

Sample of the two styles of Valentine's cards sent this year.
Just 4 left.