QuiltCon 2015: Improvisation category quilts Part 2!

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Here we have the second installment of the improvisation category of quilts from QuiltCon 2015, including the award winners in this category. Scroll down!

Juicy by Charlotte Newland. London, England, UK.

Northwest by Stacey Sharman. Berkeley, CA.

Tuning Fork #13 by Heather Pregger. Fort Worth, TX.

Fade into Gray by Stephanie Ruyle. Denver, Colorado.

Yin Yang by Serena Brooks. Los Angeles, CA.

Intersection by Neva Asinari. Hillsborough, NJ.

Improvisation by Patricia Lutteral. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Infinite Whispers by Jennifer Chon. Shadow Hills, CA.

In Anniston by Chawne Kimber. Easton, PA.

Abby’s Abstract II by Amanda Jean Nyberg. Clearwater, MN.

Untitled (Improv Half-Log Cabin) by Heather Jones. Springboro, Ohio.

Fade into Black by Sarah Lowry. Carrborro, North Carolina.

Kelly Quilt by Maritza Soto. Cambridge, MA.

A Dance for Emily by Rossie Hutchinson. Manchester, Michigan.

From This Day Forward by Tina Michalik. Santa Cruz, CA.

Mosaic by Pamela Rocco. Santa Cruz, CA. Quilted by Susan Spencer.

Full Bloom by Latifah Saafir. Los Angeles, CA.

Face #1 by Melissa Averinos. West Barnstable, MA. Judge’s Choice, QuiltCon 2015.

For Tanya by Emily Coffey. Lane Junaluska, NC. Judge’s Choice, QuiltCon 2015

This Way by Tricia Royal. Chicago, IL. 3rd Place, Improvisation category, QuiltCon 2015

Aleph Bet by Serena Brooks. Los Angeles, CA. 2nd Place Improvisation category, QuiltCon 2015.

The Rabbit Hole by Nydia Kehnle. Monroe, NY. 1st Place Improvisation Category, QuiltCon 2015

QuiltCon 2015: The Improvisation category quilts, Part 1

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Plaid Portico

One of my favorite categories, here are half of the quilts from the Improvisation category this year at QuiltCon 2015. The other half, including the prize winners will be up next post. Several of these quilts were also test quilts from Sherri Lynn Wood‘s new improvisational quilting book, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters. We’ll be giving you a preview of that also here on the Plaid Portico in a few posts. It’s really wonderful.

Please enjoy all the joy in these quilts!

You Can’t Rush Art by Amanda Jean Nyberg. Clearwater, Minnesota.

Sunburst Quilt by Tara Faughnan. Oakland, CA.

Score for Modern Block Improv: Flying Geese by Sherri Lynn Wood. Oakland, California.

Entropy by Elisa Albury. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lite Brite by Maria Shell. Anchorage, Alaska.

Bird’s Eye View by Nathalie Bearden. The Woodlands, Texas.

Spiraling Out of Control by Christa Watson. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Folded Flock by Jenna Brand. Dexter, Michigan

I’m a Fan of Fabric by Rachel Kerley. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Tidy Towns: Irish Houses by Andrew Steinbrecher. Cincinnati, Ohio.

Shifting Impressions by Marianne Haak. St. Albert, Alberta, Canada.

Mahjong by Leslie Schmidt. Brooklyn, New York, Quilted by Cami Cress (aaquilting.com)

Tune in Next Week by Chawne Kimber. Easton, Pennsylvania.

Pickle Jars by Jamie Gonce. San Mateo, California.

Through the Open Window by Amy Anderson. Asheville, North Carolina.

Shades of Grey by Terry Aske. New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Emerald City by Charlotte Newland. London, England. UK.

Off Centre by Andres Rosales. Ventura, California.

The White Quilt by Shannon Page. Dallas, Texas.

Modern Sunset by Lauren Palmer. Lexington, Kentucky.

Wild Geese by Penny Gold. Galesburg Illinois.

Blocks from the Crayon Box by Carolyn Griffith. Abilene, Texas.

Las Ventasas by Kristin Shields. Bend Oregon.

Arne by Rossie Hutchinson. Manchester, Michigan.

Transposition by Anne Hammond

Primary by Elisa Albury. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rainbow Remix by Rebecca Bryan. Wildwood, Missouri.

Gradient by Alys Gagnon. Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia.

QuiltCon-Modern Traditionalism

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Now we have quilts from the Modern Traditionalism category from the QuiltCon exhibition. We will follow in the coming weeks with all the categories, and then the special exhibits. I’ll be putting the prize winners for each category at the end in case you’re wondering! The rest of the quilts are in a random order.

These quilts are as described– modern but incorporating a traditional quilt block pattern. Entrants to the show could submit as many quilts as they wanted, and after they were selected, the quilts were put into categories by QuiltCon. What makes them “modern”? Always a good discussion. For this purpose QuiltCon describes modernizing as “applying design elements such as alternate grid work, asymmetry, color, scale.”

Next up after this, we will have all the quilts from the Improvisation category. While you’re waiting, feast on Modern Traditionalism:

Half Square Triangles by Tara Faughnan, Oakland, California

Freeflow by Lee Heinrich, Mequon, Wisconsin, quilted by Anne Books

Spiderweb by Leslie Schmidt, Brooklyn, NY. Quilted by Cami Cress, aaquilting.com

Under the Sea by Barbara Cline, Bridgewater, Virginia

Steps by Carrie Strine, Forest Hills, New York

Harlequin Star by Ara Jane Olufson, Seattle, WA

Absent Minded by Lauren Palmer, Lexington, Kentucky

Melon Ice by Amy Friend. West Newbury, Massachusetts.

Modern Amish II by Mickey Beebe. Santa Cruz, California. Quilted by Toni McAuliffe.

Modern Chevron Remix by Cynthia Whitten. Ladera Ranch, California. Quilted by Helen Baczynski.

Apples Stars by Amy Garro, Indianapolis, Indiana. Quilted by Emily Sessions.

Color in Flight by Cynthia Whitten. Ladera Ranch, California. Quilted by Helen Baczynski.

Wavelength by Lee Heinrich. Mequon, Wisconsin.

Modern Lily Bean by Claire Jain, Austin, Texas

Anni by Jaime David. Roeland Park, Kansas.

Woodcut by Holly DeGroot. Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Prill by Rossie Hutchinson. Manchester, Michigan.

Gypsy Wife by Catherine Mosely. Cameron Park, New South Wales, Australia.

Fifty Shades of Geese by Patricia Roche, Chandler, AZ

Sunset by Corinne Sovey, Austin, Texas

Spiced Chai Quilt by Katie Blakesley, Portland, Oregon

Improv Double Wedding Ring by Natalie Sabok, Attleboro, MA

Back to Basics by Melissa Corry, Cedar City, Utah

Grand Pineapple Dichotomy by Alison Lee, Raleigh, NC

Untitled by Lindsay Stead, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sunrise Sunset by Katherine Dithmer, League City. TX. Pieced and quilted by Christina Powell.

Ducks in a Row by Rebecca Bryan, Wildwood, MS. Quilted by Angela Walters.

LeMoyne Mum by Melinda Bazzelle, Lewisville, TX. Quilted by Dina Dye.

Star Bright by Faith Jones, Lisle, Illinois

Aqua by Nathalie Bearden, The Woodlands, Texas

Fly Away by Heather Jones, Springboro, OH

Refresh by Anna Boenish, Seattle, WA. 3rd Place, Modern Traditionalism Category, QuiltCon 2015

Deconstructed Lonestar by Amy Struckmeyer, Oak Park, Illinois. 2nd Place, Modern Traditionalsim category, QuiltCon 2015.

Long Island Modern Sampler by Kim Soper, Centerport, New York. 1st place Modern Traditionalism Category. QuiltCon 2015.

QuiltCon Charity Quilts Part 2

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Here we are with the second batch of shots of all the charity quilts at QuiltCon, presented by The Modern Quilt Guild. In case you missed it, Part 1 can be found here with an explanation of the show. Next up, let’s see… quilts from The Modern Traditionalism category? Minimalism? Negative Space? Tune in to find out. We have about 1300 quilts to show!

Again, if your guild had a quilt in the show, shoot me an e-mail or make a comment with the information for the credits. I would be glad to add it to the image. Don’t forgot to tell us where your quilt will be going!

QuiltCon Charity Quilt

QuiltCon Charity Quilt, “West Coast Migration” by individual MQG members from the west coast

QuiltCon Charity Quilt

QuiltCon charity quilt, “Temporal Shift” by Essex County Modern Quilt Guild in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Original design and quilting by Adrian Hansen-Kelly, collaboratively pieced by the guild.

QuiltCon Charity Quilt

QuiltCon Charity Quilts Part 1

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Well, I am back from QuiltCon with enough shots of quilts to last for weeks, and weeks it will take to process them and load them up. So hang on for a fun and inspiring ride. QuiltCon was great–REALLY enjoyed it personally and thought it was very well done and well organized. The excitement was palpable. This IS a movement.

If you don’t know what QuiltCon is, this was the second conference put on by the national Modern Quilt Guild, which included workshops, lectures, a huge exhibition and events, all for the modern quilter. The first two, this year and 2013, years ago were in Austin, Texas. Next year it will be in Pasadena, California, and 2017 will be in Savannah, Georgia.

Normally I curate exhibitions and only take photos of the quilts that really speak to me. In this case I took photos of all the quilts, partly because the majority of them I did like, and partly because I really think the modern quilt movement needs to be documented.

The first thing we all saw were the QuiltCon Charity quilts which were lining the ballrooms that were the site of all the keynotes and lectures throughout the conference. The charity quilt challenge required “Modern Quilt Guilds to work collaboratively to create quilts using a pre-determined color palette and alternate grid design work.” The quilts were twin size and were sewn entirely by each guild from design through finish quilting, and will be donated by each guild to a children’s shelter in their area. The challenge was sponsored and fabric provided by Cherrywood, Pink Castle Fabrics, Rock Paper Scissors, Sew Modern and The Intrepid Thread.

The quilts were hanging uncredited which I do think is in the spirit of a charity challenge, but for this venue I am glad to credit the guild who created them. So if anyone contacts me or comments with the guild info, I would be glad to add the credit information. Inquiring minds might want to know! And please forgive some of the photos. It was hard to get an unobstructed view of some quilts to take a whole quilt shot and some photos turn out better than others. But rest assured all the quilts could be viewed quite well in person!

Over the next 4-6 weeks I will be posting all the rest of the quilts in the exhibition by category, so stay tuned!

QuiltCon charity quilt

QuiltCon charity quilt by Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild. To be donated to the annual fundraising for SAVE, a local animal shelter.

QuiltCon charity quilt

“Silly Goose, Catch Me if You Can” a QuiltCon charity quilt and collaborative effort by the Jacksonville Modern Quilt Guild. Will be donated to a children’s charity to be auctioned off to raise the most money possible for the charity.

QuiltCon charity quilt

QuiltCon charity quilt by the South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild in California.

QuiltCon charity quilt

QuiltCon charity quilt by The Lake Superior Modern Quilt Guild in Duluth, Minnesota. Bridge motif inspired by Duluth’s iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, and is also a replica of the guild’s logo designed by their president Deb Westerberg.

QuiltCon charity quilt by The Lake Superior Modern Quilt Guild

QuiltCon charity quilt

QuiltCon charity quilt by the Silicon Valley Modern Quilt Guild

QuiltCon charity quilt

Amish: The Modern Muse Part II

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Plaid Portico

So excited to see the second installment of the Amish: The Modern Muse at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. It did not disappoint! It struck me as quite dramatic as I entered the gallery room. The exhibition goes until March 1st so if you are in the area, head down there! There is nothing like seeing quilts in person, plus the larger exhibition of Antique Ohio Amish Quilts from the Darwin D. Bearley Collection is NOT to be missed.

The show was curated by San Francisco Artist Joe Cunningham, and includes quilts submitted by East Bay Modern Quilters, the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild and the South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild.

Enjoy!

Squared Repeat by Terri Carpenter

Striped Amish by Pamela Rocco

A Shot of Amish by Margaret Glendening

Songs of a Distant Lancaster by Tami Levin

Triple X by Terri Carpenter

Amish Modern I by Mickey Beebe, quilted by Toni McAuliffe

Bar Fly by Rhonda Ludwico

Amish Stripes by Linda Hlady, quilted by Terry Carpenter

Amish Stripes by Linda Hlady, quilted by Terri Carpenter

Diamonds and Jewels by Tina Michalik

Churned by Linda Sinclair

Mistakes Were Made by Stacey Sharman

Joseph’s Stars by Claire Sherman

Complementary Reflection by Karen Maple

Dad’s Amish Pants by Michelle Sullivan

Ben’s Quilt by Wendeanne Ke’aka Stitt

East bay Mini Composition by (L-R, top to bottom) Terry Carpenter, Kristen Takakuwa, Chancy Fessler, Linda Hlady, Stacey Sharman, Margaret Glendening, Terri Carpenter, Claire Sherman, Linda Hlady

East Bay Mini Composition by (L-R, top to bottom) Terri Carpenter, Kristen Takakuwa, Chancy Fessler, Linda Hlady, Stacey Sharman, Margaret Glendening, Terri Carpenter, Claire Sherman, Linda Hlady

Mini Quilt 12″x12″ by Stacey Sharman

Amish: The Modern Muse

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Amish: The Modern Muse at The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles runs in two parts. The first part goes through January 10th, then the second part through March 1st 2015.

The museum asked local modern quilt guilds to submit quilts inspired by Amish quilts but with a modern take. The East Bay Modern Quilters, the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild and the South Bay Modern Quilt Guild gladly participated, and after being curated by San Francisco artist Joe Cunningham, it was decided to run the show in two groups. Good news, as there will be more marvelous quilts to post in January!

Alas this is my last post of the year, but the Plaid Portico will be back mid January with coverage of the second round of Amish: The Modern Muse, coverage of some up and coming designers doing cool things,and then some pretty comprehensive coverage of QuiltCon.

Happy New Year in advance!

Striped Amish by Pam Rocco, 2014

Tribute by Pati Fried, 2014, machine quilting by Kerry Reed, both machine and hand quilted

We Are by Anne Sullivan, 2014

House Top Quilts by Tara Faughnan, 2013

X by Stacey Sharman, 2014. Cotton, linen, wool, denim, and upholstery samples. Machine and hand quilted.

What I Had by Kim Andersson, 2014. Quilted by Terry Carpenter

Zyklen by Vanessa de Fabrega, 2014

Amish-ish by Ruth Beeby, 2014

Look Who’s Walking by Karen Foster, 2014.

Center Diamond, Up Close by Michelle Boyd, 2014

Tic-Tac-Oh by Erin Metzler, 2014

Capitola Crossing by Karen Foster, 2014

Amish Electricity by Claire Sherman 2014

Almost Amish by Lyndalee Korn, 2014

1500 by Vanessa de Fabrega 2014, quilted by Angie Woolman

Feeling Blue by Linda Hlady 2014

MacAmish by Carole Rossi, 2014

Circus Improv by Carol Van Zandt 2014, using Andover textured solids

Antique Ohio Amish Quilts from the Darwin D. Bearley Collection, Part 1

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Fantastic exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles of antique Ohio Amish quilts from the Darwin D. Bearley collection. I’m going to let the beautiful quilts do the talking here, but first you must know that the exhibition is on until March 1st, 2015, and is comprised of over 40 bed, crib and doll sized quilts made between 1880 and 1940. Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

We will cover the quilts in the Antique Ohio Amish Quilts exhibition from the Darwin D. Bearley Collection in two postings and then will cover the accompanying exhibition, Amish: The Modern Muse, comprised of with modern quilts inspired by the Amish tradition.

Enjoy!

Log Cabin, Light & Dark Variation, c. 1880-90, unknown maker, Holmes County, Wool

Ocean Waves, c. 1920. Purchased from Roman E. Miller, made by his mother. Sugarcreek, Holmes County. Cotton

Nine Patch Variation “Winter Quilt”, 1884. Unknown maker. Initialed and dated in the quilting “R.T. 1884”. Know County. Heavy Wool.

Sampler, c. 1890-1900, Unknown maker, Holmes County. Cotton.

Log Cabin, Straight Furrow Variation, dated 1914. Made by Marian Yoder. Holmes County. Wool.

Tumbling Blocks, c. 1900-10. Ann K. Yoder, formerly from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Purchased from Sam E. Hershberger. Holmes County. Wool.

Broken Star, c. 1925-30. Made by Katie M. Yoder, mother of Mrs. Henry A. Raber Baltic, Holmes County. Cotton.

Zig Zag Nine Patch Variation, c. 1890-1930 (top made c. 1890, incorporated into the quilt, c. 1930). Unknown Maker. Geauga County. Cotton.

Diagonal 16-Patch, c. 1880-90. Unknown maker. Mt. Hope, Holmes County. Purchased at auction of Burkholder Family. Cotton.

Log Cabin Crib Quilt, Light & Dark Variation, c. 1910-15 (top). Unknown maker. Holmes County. Wool.

Courthouse Steps Center Medallion Crib Quilt, c. 1910-20 (bottom) Unknown maker. Bunker Hill, Holmes County. Wool.

Chinese Coins, c. 1930-40. Unknown maker. Plain City, Ohio. Cotton.

Log Cabin, Courthouse Steps Variation, c. 1880-90. Unknown maker. Holmes County. Wool.

Ocean Waves Variation, c. 1930-35. Unknown maker, Holmes County. Cotton.

Railroad Crossing with Zig Zag Border, dated 1928. Made by Mrs. Albert V. Schlabach (Christina Yoder Schlabach) Benton, Ohio. Cotton.

Split Bars, c. 1920. Unknown Maker, Initialed M on the back. Holmes County. Cotton.

Plain Quilt with Double Inner Border, dated March 5, 1904 and 1925. Made by Susan J. Miller for her son Alfred D. Miller in 1925. Initialed A.D.M. in center. Purchased from Alfred D. Miller. Holmes County. Cotton.

Split Bars, c. 1920. Unknown Maker, Initialed M on the back. Holmes County. Cotton.

Plain Quilt with Inner Border, c. 1915. Unknown maker. Origin unknown. Cotton.

Plain Quilt with Double Inner Birder, dated March 4, 1915. Made by Katie M. Erb. Signed and dated. Holmes County. Cotton.

Four Patch with Zig Zag Border, c. 1890-1910 Unknown maker. Cotton.

Bars Variation, c. 1890-1900 (top) Unknown maker. West Salem, Wayne County. Wool.

Peppermint Pinwheels and The Carnival Quilt

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels did the most amazing Carnival Quilt with Pop Rox, though I am not surprised and you will see why when you see some of her other quilts here!

Founder of East Bay Modern Quilters (Formerly The East bay Modern Quilt Guild) and their annual show Stitch Modern, Stacey also teaches around Northern California and the San Francisco Bay area. She can most often be found teaching at the fabulous A Verb for Keeping Warm, which is kind enough to host the last Tuesday of the month meetings of East Bay Modern Quilters.

She has a lovely and active Etsy shop Peppermint Pinwheels with baby play mats, digital patterns, baby blankets and more. And if you’re in the area, watch for her lecture and trunk show at The Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild April 18th meeting.

Hope you enjoy her Carnival Pop Rox quilt and views of some of her other yummy quilts!

The Carnival Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Back of The Carnival Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

The X Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Silk Arithmetic by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Blue and White Split Log Cabin Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Detail of Blue and White Split Log Cabin Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

The Embers Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

For Stitch Modern by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Black Circles by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Turquoise Circles Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Blue and White Diamond Crib Quilt by Stacey Sharman

The Confetti Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Scrappy Wagon Wheels for Max by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Code by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Linen and Denim Stripe Block Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Blue Flowers Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Colorblock Quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

New York Beauty by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Red & Turqoise quilt by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Impovisational Split Log Cabin by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Pacific International Quilt Festival 2014, Part 6, the final installment

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Sort of sad to finalize coverage of the exhibitions at PIQF 2014. The final quilts come from a number of categories, including the special exhibition on Maps, and Mountain Art Quilters. Have a few more exhibitors on the docket to cover over the next few months so stay tuned.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!