Sayonara

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Plaid Portico

It’s now time to pass the reins. I enjoyed creating this blog and photographing quilt exhibitions and highlighting the work of quilters I met along the way. Now I’m more interested in actually creating quilts than reporting on it and while I am retiring from the Plaid Portico, I am thrilled that the Plaid Portico still lives on–and images of all the quilts that are on it too. Lisa Carey has generously offered to take over the blog, and it will still be about quilts, though curated through a new lens. Thank you Lisa, and thank you all for tuning in, and happy creating!

Carol Van Zandt

Sharing a few of the last things I’ve work on as my final sign-out! Enjoy!

by Carol Van Zandt. quilting by Hello Stitch

By Carol Van Zandt, quilting by Hello Stitch

Quilt back by Carol Van Zandt, quilting by Hello Stitch

Shirt quilt by Carol Van Zandt. Quilting by Hello Stitch

Tux Shirt by Carol Van Zandt. Quilting by Hello Stitch

Curtains by Carol Van Zandt

Happy Trails!

The Quilts from Stitch Modern 2017

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Plaid Portico

Here we have the quilts from Stitch Modern 2017, an exhibition put on annually by the members of East Bay Modern Quilters at the Piedmont Center for the Arts.

Rosetta by Daniel Rouse

Color Valleys by Joel Ignacio

Wall of Words by Pati Fried

Untitled by Amelia Terry

Sequestration by Stacey Sharman

We Are United by Margaret Glendening

Untitled by Patricia Smith, quilted by Sue Fox

Holloway Brooch 2017 by Birgit Hottenrott

Maya’s Quilt by Kathy Grady

Hugs and Kisses pieced by Kirsten Hosemann

Untitled by Fern Royce

Untitled by Alice McCain

The Jean Wells Quilt by Alison Schmidt

Spiky Swirls by Cathy Roha

Spain in My Heart by Ashley Nickels

Shoo Fly or not Shoo Fly by Kristen Takakuwa

Primal Code by Kathy Grady

Nine-patch- Another Rainy Day in Berkeley by Sue Mary Fox

Memory Lane by Carol Van Zandt, quilted by Alethea Ballard

Lift Off by Chancy Fessler and EBMQ, quilted by Sue Fox

Improv Stars by Claire Sherman

Helenite by Anna Carloni

Green Energy by Lynn Crook

Elephant and I , pieced by Jennifer Sampou, quilted by Jocelyn Marzan

Four Directions by Michelle Wyman

Balancing Act by Lynn Crook

4 Square at the Shed by Mary Burnett and Kristen Takakuwa, quilted by Kristen Takakuwa

#feministquilt by Darci Read Alexis

Quilts from Quilt 2017 by the San Francisco Quilt Guild, part 3 of 3

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Plaid Portico

Here we have part 3 of 3 of my selections from Quilt 2017, put on by the San Francisco Quilt Guild. Enjoy!

Note: My time on this blog is winding down. If anyone is interested in taking it over please contact me. In the meantime, it will stay up indefinitely as there are a lot of quilts on record here, and I may still contribute from time to time.

diamond back by Sue Fox

Red Rock Island by Cathy Miranker

Color Study V by Freddy Moran

City by Karen Stern, quilted by Sue Fox

Whimsical Logs by Letitia Chung, quilted by Laurie Grant

Hazy Day by Lelitia Chung

And A Door Opened by Caroline Cory

City Block by Lee Schulstad, quilted by Diane Torres

Hunderwasser by Freddy Moran

Birds of a Feather by Gloria Mille

Give Me Silver and Gold by Betty Tang-Fitzpatrick

Rainbow Squared by Dianne McCutcheon

LIke a Prayer Wall- A meditation for world peace by Leonard Pinna, quilted by Rebecca Rohrkaste and Sue Fox

periwinkle dream by Sue Fox

Not A Four Patch by John Maxwell, quilted by Sue Fox

R4-9P by Catherine Sherman & Sue M. Fox

Tomato & Tangerine by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

tropical #4 by Sue Fox

View from the Zenana by Joy-Lily

Part 2, Quilts from Quilt 2017

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Plaid Portico

Part 2, here we go! Selections of quilts from Quilt 2017, put on by the San Francisco Quilt Guild. Enjoy!

Explosion 4 by Barbara Strick

Finding the Grey Area by Diane Torres

Linda’s Frame-Up by Joy-Lily

Fade Into Blue by Claudia Shearer

big logs by Barbara Strick

Baby Bricks by Adrienne Hickman, quilted by Laura Lee Fitz

For Shoowa by Julie Scribner

Out of the Blue by Claudia Shearer

Star by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Sirmione by Barbara Strick

Signs by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

The Triangle Variations by Cathy Miranker

Untitled by Carolyn Kotner, quilted by Lori Atwood

What do you Sea? By Carol Cislowski

What’s the Message by Kenan Shapero

Untitled by Juna Carle, quilted by Teresa Silva

X Marks the Spot by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Scrappy Jewels by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Quilt 2017 by the San Francisco Quilter’s Guild part 1

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Plaid Portico

Here we have a selection of the more modern quilts from Quilt 2017 put on by the San Francisco Quilter’s Guild. Many of the quilts are from the Bee Modern group within the guild, an active modern quilting group. This is part 1 of 3, enjoy!

Time Out by Claudia Shearer

It’s a Girl (Chimpanzee) by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Scraps by Joy-Lily

Eggsplosion by Carol Cislowski

The Face of Human Trafficking by Joan Anyon

Anesthesia- Ali’s Achievement by Holley Arbeit

Cabin in the Woods by Joy-Lily

Climate Change by Joan Anyon

Fibonacci Sunshine by Dianne McCutcheon

Modern Re-Leaf by Bee Modern Members, quilted by Claudia Shearer

Petals by Letitia Chung

Swimming Pool by Barbara Strick

Never Again by Holly Arbeit

Kira’s Modern Quilt by Anna Chan

Turner’s Morning Star by Joy-Lily

Hidden Gardens by Carol Damm

Nevertheless She Persisted by Lorraine Woodruff-Long

The Elements- Air, Water, Earth & Fire by Carol Damm

Not Sushi by Letitia Chung

Rum Raisin by Carol Damm

Hopscotch by Dianne McCutcheon

Time for Stitch Modern 2017

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Plaid Portico

It’s time again!!

Stitch Modern is a modern quilt show put on by the East Bay Modern Quilters at The Piedmont Center for the Arts. This will be our 6th annual show. It’s a good one!

In conjunction with the show there are also several events. The opening night, Friday, April 7th, starting at 7PM, is always a good time AND a good time to see the quilts and meet the artists while enjoying refreshments.

There is also a workshop, Making Prints out of Solids: Lines and Shapes with Maria Shell Saturday April 22nd. I think at this writing there are still a few places left. Details below! And a community day SUNDAY, April 9th (mistype on the invite; it’s Sunday, not Friday). Plus presentations by Kathryn Clark and Sara Trail on Friday, April 21st. More details and photos below!

The gallery will be open Noon – 3:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from April 7-April 25.

We’ve also got several amazing events throughout the month. Please join us!

Community Sewing Day
Sunday, April 9 from noon-3:00 p.m.
Join The East Bay Modern Quilters and the East Bay Heritage Quilters for an afternoon of making charity quilts for The Children’s Quilt Project. Fabric kits will be provided, bring your sewing machine or just bring yourself for an afternoon of sewing and good company. People new to sewing are welcome!

Lecture: Kathryn Clark and Sara Trail
Friday, April 21, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
$10 suggested donation
The East Bay Modern Quilters are excited to present an evening with artist Kathryn Clark (http://www.kathrynclark.com) and Founder and CEO of “Social Justice Sewing Academy” Sara Trail (http://www.sjsacademy.com) as they each discuss their work and the intersection of quilting with social justice issues.

Refugee Stories by Kathryn Clark

Trayvon, Rest in Power by Sara Trail

Workshop: Making Prints out of Solids: Lines and Shapes with Maria Shell
Saturday, April 22, 12:00-6:00 p.m.
This year Stitch Modern is pleased to offer Maria Shell’s workshop, Making Prints Out of Solids: Line & Shapes. From her website (http://mariashell.com/classes/) the description is: Using solid colored quilters cotton, students will learn how to stitch an assortment of pieced prints including stripes, chevrons, polka dots, and pointy shapes. While learning these new techniques students will also be given information about selecting a color palette, improvisational piecing techniques, and ideas for taking these techniques and creating original quilts.

by Maria Shell

If you are interested in joining us, tickets are $85. Tickets are non-refundable, however, we will do our best to refund you if there is someone to take your spot. Click here for tickets.

The workshop starts at noon, so we suggest eating an early lunch beforehand; water, coffee, tea, and light snacks will be provided. Irons and ironing boards will be provided. You will need to bring your own sewing machine and a list of class supplies will be provided closer to the date of the workshop.

We think this will be an informative, inspiring class and look forward to seeing you there.

Quilter Spotlight: Darci Alexis

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Plaid Portico

Darci Alexis has been active in the East Bay Modern Quilters, teaches, and is a new (and amazing) long arm quilter. A graphic designer and art director by trade, she sews, she pieces and she quilts. You can also find her on her site Darci Sews.

We all saw Darci take to longarming so easily and are pretty excited to have another modern longarmer in our midst. Though truth be told Darci traverses through modern, traditional and just about ever style seamlessly. We’ll show some extra close-ups of her quilting along with sharing some of her quilts.

Enjoy!

The Feminist Quilt by Darci Alexis

Many of you have probably already seen her beautiful “Feminist Quilt”, which by the way, has a pattern now, here.

The Feminist Quilt by Darci Alexis

Window: Embers by Darci Alexis

Happiness by Darci Alexis

Study in Purple by Darci Alexis

Flower in a Square by Darci Alexis

Dutch Darlings by Darci Alexis, pattern by Christy Fincher

Circuits by Darci Alexis

Log Cabin Retreat Swap by Darci Alexis

back of Log Cabin Retreat Swap by Darci Alexis

Window: Healing By Darci Alexis

Made of Stars by Darci Alexis

Seed Patch by Darci Alexis

Darci Alexis

The Power of 12 Exhibition at Bay Quilts

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Plaid Portico

The December exhibition at Bay Quilts in Richmond, CA featured “Artwork from Five Years of Creative Expression” by “The 12×12 Challenge” alumnae. The premise: 12 Women commit to creating 12 works of art in 12 months each measuring 12’x12″. The 12×12 groups meet monthly at Textile Dream Studio in Berkeley.

Here we have a selection of the pieces in the show (there were a total of 150 works!), followed by a little look-see into Bay Quilts, so scroll down for that!

Enjoy!

Metro 2 by Margo Carroll

Metro 3 by Margo Carroll

Metro 1 by Margo Carroll

Wanderings in Red by Jan Etre

Wanderings in Red by Jan Etre

Docked by Jane Voytek

Wonky Squares by Jane Voytek

Jojo’s Dream (study #C-2) by Sue Fox

Jojo’s Dream (study #B-2) by Sue Fox

Jojo’s Dream (study #A-2) by Sue Fox

Black Blossoms 2 by Jan Etre

Ice Water by Catherine Sherman

Sunset Sunset by Catherine Sherman

Improv Squares #1 by Claire Sherman

Liberated Star by Claire Sherman

Knot My Problem by Mary Spadaro

West Hawley Full Moon by Julie Oyle

Tree too by Julie Oyle

Treeform by Janet Mednick

Twelve Seven by Marilyn Handis

Mosaic Quilt by Mary Spadaro

Moonrise by Lynn Koolish

Improvisational Stained Glass by Claire Sherman

Urban Deci by Jo Magaraci

Sunrise by Suzanne Dura

Stitches Are The Notes by Madelin Wolf

Sierra Morning by Jane Voytek

Shadowboxing by Mary Spadaro

Where’s My Flamingo by Diana Berry

West Hawley Winter Meadow by Julie Oyle

Spinal Tap by Jo Magaraci

For those of you who live anywhere near the San Francisco Bay Area or who travel here, there is a new fabric shop in town! I had heard about Bay Quilts, but didn’t really get it until I visited in person. Their huge selection of solids of so many varieties is a dream for the modern quilter. Located right off Central Ave from either 80 or 580 in Richmond but on the edge of Albany, this new fabric store has an astounding selection of fabrics with lots of room to move, a gallery wall and Angie Woolman’s long arm services upstairs.

They have every single kona cotton color ($6.50 range/yd) color a variety of shots, peppered cotton, hand-dyed muslin, chambrays and yarn dyes. There is hand-dyed wool, hand-dyed silk-cotton, Azure Blue Textiles, Kasuri Dyeworks, Dyesmith Gradations. There are batiks, Japanese prints from Kokka, Echino, Lecien, Kona Bay and Daiwabo. There are organics from Mona Luna, Cloud 9, Birch and Art Gallery. And then prints from the usual suspects: Alexander Henry, Kaufman, Westminster, Riley Blake, Andover, In The Beginning, Art Gallery, Hoffman, Clothworks, etc etc etc.

Here is a partial visual tour–

Kona’s

Shots

Kasuri Dyeworks

Hand Dyed Silk Cotton

DyeSmith Gradations

Azure Blue Textiles

Batiks

Australian fabrics

Art by Abbey Shane

Modern/Minimal, The Quilts of Cathy Miranker

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Plaid Portico

There is a dedicated gallery space at the new Bay Quilts in Richmond, CA at which I was lucky enough to see Cathy Miranker‘s exhibition Modern/Minimal. A member of the San Francisco Quilters Guild, and Bee Modern (an SFQG sewing circle), Cathy is also an individual member of the Modern Quilt Guild and the Studio Art Quilt Associates.

I’ve run across Cathy Miranker’s quilts in other California shows and they always make it on the blog – they are modern, original, thoughtful and with an attention to detail that doesn’t compromise any improvisation. A wonderful body of work is represented in this show, and I hope to see more shows from modern quilters in this space!

Enjoy!

Red Rock Island by Cathy Miranker

Six Patch Study by Cathy Miranker

Can’t Get There from Here by Cathy Miranker

Gridlock at Sundown by Cathy Miranker

Gee, Gwen! by Cathy Miranker

Mostly Marcia #1 by Cathy Miranker

Six Patch Study #2 by Cathy Miranker

A•B•C•P•O•P by Cathy Miranker

Megalopolitan Graffiti by Cathy Miranker

Baby Quilt by Cathy Miranker

Cirque du Couleur by Cathy Miranker

Square Dance by Cathy Miranker

Window of Opportunity by Cathy Miranker

Patch of Blue by Cathy Miranker

Miniature quilt by Cathy Miranker

Front of Mood Swings by Cathy Miranker

Back of Mood Swings by Cathy Miranker

Quilter Spotlight: Fern Royce

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Plaid Portico

At the Sweet Adeline Bakeshop in Berkeley, California, a selection of Fern Royce‘s quilts were on display throughout the month of August. I’m a fan.

Fern Royce started sewing at age 10 and began quilting in 1995. Self-taught without the use of patterns, she studied books on Amish quilts, African American quilts, and antique quilts, among others. She cites the influence of Gwen Marston‘s “liberated quilting” improvisational movement, and she now teaches students to make their own quilts in the Bay Area.

Enjoy!