Pacific International Quilt Festival, Part 4, Wall Category

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Just had a grand time on Monday with the Monterey Peninsula Quilt Guild and Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove. Nice place to visit and I WOULD like to live there! Great people, beautiful store. Thanks so much for inviting me! And now we can continue the coverage of the Pacific International Quilt Festival 2014 with my selections from the wall category. Next up will be the International category (several posts–lots of pics!)

Here goes:

Class Act #174 by Cathy Miranker

Detail of Class Act #174 by Cathy Miranker

Up Against a Brick Wall by Janet C Sears

Detail of Up Against a Brick Wall by Janet C. Sears

Floating Flower by Laura Ryle

Detail of Floating Flower by Laura Ryle

Easy Curves by Claudia Shearer

Detail of Easy Curves by Claudia Shearer

Boardwalks of Asilomar by Jody H Rusconi

Detail of Boardwalks of Asilomar by Jody H Rusconi

Spilling Over by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer

Detail of Spilling Over by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer

The Second Day by Bevalee K Runner

Detail of The Second Day by Bevalee K Runner

Sanmyaku by Rasa Read

Detail of Sanmyaku by Rasa Read

Gotta Love Purple by Gayle M. Scott

Detail of Gotta Love Purple by Gayle M. Scott

Imaginary Geographics #1 by Cathy Miranker

Detail of Imaginary Geographics #1 by Cathy Miranker

Poetry of Home by Jean Wells Keenan

Detail of Poetry of Home by Jean Wells Keenan

Trees with Yellow Sky by Jan Soules

Detail of Trees with Yellow Sky by Jan Soules

Ancient Meets Modern by Barbara C. McElroy

Detail of Ancient Meets Modern by Barbara C. McElroy

Canyon Shadows by Carolyn Villars

Detail of Canyon Shadows by Carolyn Villars

Pacific International Quilt Festival, Part 3, Gee’s Bend Revisited

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Plaid Portico

“Gee’s Bend Revisited”, a special exhibition at the Pacific International Quilt Festival, consists of replica’s of Gee’s Bend quilts made by “master quilt artist and storyteller” Allyson Allen. She uses some different fabrics, and they are smaller than the original quilts, but she has used the same name as the original quilts.

Work Clothes with Center Medallion by Allyson Allen, Original by Annie Mae Young, ca.1976

Four Generation Quilt by Allyson Allen and Krysta Wright

Framed Bars and Stripes by Allyson Allen

Lazy Gal Variation by Allyson Allen, Original Quilt by Arcola Pettway

Diamond Blocks by Allyson Allen, Original ca. 1960 by MoMo Moore

Diamond Blocks by Allyson Allen

Bars and Stripes by Allyson Allen

Big Blocks and Bars by Allyson Allen

Stripes by Allyson Allen, Original by Mary Lee Bendolph

Roman Stripes Variation by Allyson Allen, Original quilt ca. 1960 by Deborah Pettway Young

Blocks and Stripes by Allyson Allen, Original quilt by Missouri Pettway ca.1942

Housetop 8-Block Variation by Allyson Allen, Original quilt by Linda Pettway, ca.1975

Pacific International Quilt Festival, Part 2

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Plaid Portico

The next quilts we’ll cover as part of the Pacific International Quilt Festival exhibition are selections from the Traditional category. If you’re in to Modern don’t skip this as what is interesting is the modern overtones in many of the quilts. I am going to mix these up between the ones that seem a bit more modern and the amazing palettes, detailed quilting and phenomenal piecing workmanship of the more elaborate traditional quilts.

There were a lot more in this category in the show, these are merely ones that I gravitated to. Yes, I know, you are always at the mercy of my eye. Next up after this, in Part 3, we will do the Gee’s Bend Revisited portion of the exhibition.

Enjoy!

Woven Forty Two by Arleen Kukua

Jackie Got Into Aunt Millie’s Garden by Jackie Aguilar

Greeple by Jeanne Ichnowski

Delft Garden by Gail Smith

Graduation Day by Leona McCann

Pajama Game by Leslie Bixel

Forever And Never Again by Joan McWilliams

Silken Glow by Karen Litvinchuk

New York Beauty, Color Theory I: Color Doesn’t Matter by Deborah Lancaster

Not All That Modern by Luanne Chittenden

Medallion Meadow by Alethea Ballard

Summer Stars by Debbie Simmons

Color Fondue by Swan Sheridan

Boston Commons Tradition by Patricia Bryan

Pacific International Quilt Festival 2014 Part 1

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Since I couldn’t make it to Quilt Market this fall, (packing up our kitchen in prep for a big renovation) I was glad to be able to cover the Pacific International Quilt festival at the Santa Clara Convention Center last weekend. It gave me my fix of looking at gorgeous quilts from around the world since I missed the exhibition at Quilt Market, which is absolutely my favorite part of market.

A bustling floor with booths of fabric, pattern, tools and all things sewing galore, the exhibition runs in and out through the whole space. As usual, I go in and just look and shoot any quilt that looks interesting and appeals to me. We will have several posts as I took photos of almost 150 quilts so stay tuned!

The first set are selections from “4-Way Dialogue by ab-strakt-ed”, a retrospective of works created for a series of invitational, 4 person exhibits that were presented by this group over the past three years. It features improvisationally pieced, abstract art quilts by Santa Barbara ab-strakt-ed artists Lou Ann Smith, Patty Six, Debra Blake, and Maren Johnson.

Standing Together by Patty Six

Portals and Pathways by Debra Blake

Red Moon by Maren Johnston

Santa Barbara to Denver by Lou Ann Smith

Seeking Space by Debra Blake

Seeking Balance by Debra Blake

Live Oaks 6: Sun and Shadow by Lou Ann Smith

Live Oaks 5: Fall in Paris by Lou Ann Smith

Succulents Abstracted 4: Grey by Lou Ann Smith

Peru by Maren Johnston

Parallel Lives by Patty Six

Kapa Kai I by Maren Johnston

Hilary by Patty Six

Margaret Glendening and MGmade

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Plaid Portico

I met Margaret Glendening through the East Bay Modern quilt guild, and am always enamored by the quilts that she brings in to show. Attention to detail, great color stories and fabric selection make her quilts stand out, along with how prolific she is. So pleased with the quilt she made using Pop Rox and some Andover Fabrics textured solids, with a back as handsome as the front!

And because I’m such a fan, I’m also going to show you some shots of more of her quilts and don’t forget to check out her Etsy shop, MGmade especially if you want a well made affordable baby or lap quilt as a gift for someone!

Hexagon quilt by margaret Glendening using Pop Rox fabric

Hexagon quilt by Margaret Glendening using Pop Rox fabric

back of Hexagon quilt by Margaret Glendening using Pop Rox fabric

Hexagon quilt by Margaret Glendening using Pop Rox fabric

Shot Thru by Margaret Glendening

back of Shot Thru by Margaret Glendening

Exploding Diamonds by Margaret Glendening

Primarily Grey by Margaret Glendening

Dream On and On by Margaret Glendening

Danilo’s Quilt by Margaret Glendening

Garden Windows by Margaret Glendening, pattern: Elizabeth Hartman’s Kitchen Window

Garden Windows by Margaret Glendening, pattern: Elizabeth Hartman’s Kitchen Windowg

Greenery Quilt by Margaret Glendening

Retro Cars Stripe Quilt by Margaret Glendening

Coverlets: I never met a textile I didn’t like

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Plaid Portico

On my annual summer visit to western NY, my Dad had planned an outing for us to Palmyra to the “Alling Coverlet Museum“. I wasn’t actually sure what a coverlet was and my Dad’s descriptions didn’t help, but it sure was a fun thing to do given my passion for fabric, textiles and quilting. And in the category of “I never met a textile I didn’t like” he was right. These woven spreads had been a fixture from childhood and seeing a whole collection of them and the looms that made them was intriguing.

There is a rotating display of these coverlets here and it takes six years to go through them all, so there is always something new up. And the Pops bought me the museum book American Coverlets and Their Weavers by Clarita S. Anderson which is brilliant as it seems to have the best of the best of the six years of coverlets in there. Most of these coverlets were made between 1820 and 1880 and the books covers the origins of the weavers and it divided up by state–New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, the Virginas and Indiana. They also have a room of quilts and other textiles of course! (Doesn’t everybody?)

Alling Coverlet Museum, Palmyra NY

Unconventional & Unexpected by Roderick Kiracofe

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Plaid Portico

An advance copy of Roderick Kiracofe‘s new book is in my hands, and wow! It is another must-have. Unconventional and Unexpected: America Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000, a substantial book at 225 pages, is full of photos of 150 “eccentric, maverick and extraordinary quilts made predominantly by anonymous quilters”. Ok, I clearly should not have read the inside cover before doing this review because it just says it all so perfectly. These quilts “represent a twentieth century quilt movement that remains mostly undocumented–until now…..these..represent a freer, more casual, soulful yet bold aesthetic..”.

Roderick Kiracofe COLLECTS quilts. Yes, I continue to be jealous of this. Collecting fabric is great, but collecting whole quilts, ..yum! The introduction is its own soulful rendition of Roderick’s journey to quilt collector and quilt authority. There are incredible essays by quilters, quilt historians and curators that form the structure of the chapters, all sharing in the joy and importance of this collection in different ways.

I am interested in modern quilting, whatever that is. If one is given to speculate about the origins of the current modern quilt movement, with established quilters saying that it is nothing new, then this book sheds some light on the subject. For me, it is an exploration, through actual quilts, of the influences that decidedly are part of what we call modern quilting today.

These are mostly everyday quilts, created for warmth and utility. But what results are quilts that are outside of the box, improvisational, expressing the artistry of the maker. Each makes an indelible mark. Looked at not through current trends, but through a historical lens and a curator’s eye, these mostly anonymous, unique, one-of-a-kind quilts share so much love and history.

Reading this book or just leafing through the pictures is a journey of discovery itself. Thank you for sharing Roderick Kiracofe. This book is an important work. Highly recommend. Surpassed my expectations.

Unconventional and Unexpected: America Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 by Roderick Kiracofe

Unconventional and Unexpected: America Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 by Roderick Kiracofe (without the slip cover)

Unconventional and Unexpected: America Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 by Roderick Kiracofe

Duo of Jacquie Gering Workshops

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Plaid Portico

How lucky am I that I got to do two Jacquie Gering workshops in a weekend. VERY, let me tell you! They were organized by the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild (thank you!) and took place in the Quiltworks space (excellent–nice big design walls) Afterwards this blog went on a bit of a vacation as did I, and then we both decided to take more of the summer off to complete other things, but it’s about time now to get back so here we are.

First off, if you get a chance to take a workshop with Jacquie Gering, please do! It’s not just working on a project. Her workshops are packed with fantastic techniques and tips and she really works the room helping everyone out with their project, with both technical and aesthetic concerns. And she carries on which charisma and aplomb. There is a reason she’s made such a name for herself. She’s got “it”.

I took both the “Stitch N Flip” and the “Building Bridges” workshops and no, I cannot show you the quilts I did in the workshops…yet. I promise I will finish them, but you will have to wait. MUCH more interesting though, I have some pics of Jacquie’s block samples and quilts from the workshop to give you a taste.

If she won’t be coming out your way or you can’t wait and you don’t already have it, her and Katie Pedersen‘s book, Quilting Modern, covers a lot of these techniques. You will laugh in her workshops, and you will chuckle at some of the notes in the book. If you are interested at all in modern quilting, this is an absolute must have.

Jacquie Gering

from Jacquie Gering Stitch N Flip workshop

Stitch N Flip technique by Jacquie Gering

Blind Co-Pilot technique quilt by Jacquie Gering

Stitch N Flip Blocks by Jacquie Gering

by Jacquie Gering

A little preview of my efforts. I’ll make something out of it soon I promise!

Day 2! Building Bridges Workshop.

Jacquie Gering

by Jacquie Gering

A version of her Shattered Quilt by Jacquie Gering

by Jacquie Gering

The start of my Day 2 quilt…stay tuned…

Sew Sundays Baby Quilt

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Plaid Portico

Well I have finished a small and supposedly simple baby quilt for some friends and a very special little one. I designed it in Adobe Illustrator as a sort of plaid using the Pop Rox fabrics with white to keep it modern and clean. Why it wasn’t simple was because I was sewing it and quilting it all myself and am still finding my way. And this is my first non-improv piece (which made me want to do a crazy improv next) But in the end I let all the little errors fall as they may and it’s still a cute little quilt.

And it’s pretty easy to make one like this using any fabrics you want. It’s 44×44 so you can use a backing selvedge to selvedge (I was dying to use the Pop Rox main border print so this quilt was an excuse to do that!). And I used either 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 inches for each column on each side. Hmmm, let me see what order it was in. The horizontal was 7,5,2,3,4,6,8,9 and the vertical was…6,5,2,3,4,7,8,9. But you can do whatever you want. This would also be really fun using all prints or using different colors of solids.

Pop Rox plaid baby quilt by Carol Van Zandt

back of Pop Rox plaid baby quilt by Carol Van Zandt

Pop Rox plaid baby quilt by Carol Van Zandt

What was really fun about this is that I got to use the whole collection on the white color way…er I actually didn’t use the pink/melon zig-zag, but it was originally going to be the border, but then I found out the baby in question was a boy…so I went all traditional and did blue. But you know I know his dad wears pink so I should have been braver.

Pop Rox by Carol Van zandt

Diana’s sampler quilt

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Plaid Portico

On a visit to Diana McClun’s studio, she pulled out the sampler quilt she made with Pop Rox while teaching a class on beginning samplers–from her and Laura Nownes‘ book Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!!, chapter12. It combines a variety of beginning sampler blocks that you can compose onto any configuration you want and the book gives 4 samples of compositions if you don’t want to design your own. This one is a fifth. I’ll have to try one some day!

She let me borrow it to take photos to show you so here it is!