tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116301692024-03-21T19:12:26.759-04:00CityquiltPieced, patched and quilted life in the CityLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-11431204860796606822018-09-24T17:18:00.002-04:002021-10-20T10:29:53.137-04:00 EPP and Me<table
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Evelyn, no. 24 <br>
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<span
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><span face='"arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif'
><span
style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"
>I have become interested in, o</span
>ne might say obsessed, with EPP or English paper piecing. I've been
working from
<a
href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Hexagon-Blocks-English-Paper/dp/1604683848/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="
>The New Hexagon</a
> , a book by Katja Marek, for several months. The blocks
are all numbered and given women's names. The block above is number
24, Evelyn. </span
></span
>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonja, no.38</td>
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<span face='"arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif'
>I've made this particular set while participating in the Glorious Hexagon
Facebook sew-a-long using all, or mostly, Kaffe Fassett fabric. I had
liked, and purchased Kaffe fabric for years prior to starting this
project. However I was always just a bit overwhelmed by it. It
tends to be bright and busy. It was hard for me to combine it with other
fabric. Using pieces of the pattern like this is intriguing. </span
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>It is also very satisfying to make the 3 inch hexies. They are complete
little works in and of themselves - but they are also modular and will all fit
together to make a much larger final work. </span
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<span face='"arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif'
>I've also enjoyed leaning to fussy cut the fabric to make kaleidoscopic
designs. </span
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<span face='"arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif'
>However recently a new EPP quilt block, </span
><a
href="https://brimfieldawakening.com/"
style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"
>Brimfield Awakening</a
><span face='"arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif'
>, has caught my eye and now I'm working on that one too. I'll post
about that another time.</span
>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-24111382904553650992018-09-17T09:57:00.002-04:002018-09-17T14:08:09.858-04:00PNQE: Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild Represents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp6JIylLMYKPC7MltkfYObd6rAM-Xa1f6OfEA1azkREkeHBz5_cZiuwCFGD_NtFnwduJ6QdH30bzTPPXI0I5nB-X1nvW41sF5-ICJ8qW-7w31PA0Q_Me0Gxk2mKX3A76O74p37Q/s1600/IMG_5456v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1557" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp6JIylLMYKPC7MltkfYObd6rAM-Xa1f6OfEA1azkREkeHBz5_cZiuwCFGD_NtFnwduJ6QdH30bzTPPXI0I5nB-X1nvW41sF5-ICJ8qW-7w31PA0Q_Me0Gxk2mKX3A76O74p37Q/s640/IMG_5456v2.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Guild, the Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild (#phillymqg), wanted a Guild quilt to represent us at shows, meetings and events - and just because everyone else has one! :-) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TXCHGkUBlwGBlHaYNVpNiXatG0I_zlZbL5XVyklQJr1tfwyfErkaFvcWkeQtYBWH-yvqL0dYgyEantC_xhFb9pUjny41iXl13xSu88D7Y0-TFrqMC0s_fv8nHqY2DU-Q4XTPvg/s1600/IMG_5456v2_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TXCHGkUBlwGBlHaYNVpNiXatG0I_zlZbL5XVyklQJr1tfwyfErkaFvcWkeQtYBWH-yvqL0dYgyEantC_xhFb9pUjny41iXl13xSu88D7Y0-TFrqMC0s_fv8nHqY2DU-Q4XTPvg/s640/IMG_5456v2_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The red, pink, yellow, blue and green are our Guild colors. To represent them in fabric we used:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kona Red 1308 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kona Valentine 451 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kona School Bus 1482 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kona Turquoise 1376 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kona Peapod 414 </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a background of Kona Shadow (457). I love Kona Shadow and Kona Ash BTW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All blocks were to be paper pieced. The subject matter could relate to anything connected to Philadelphia or sewing. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU_GPSwzkYiNsq-sZvcwwmWt872pPN6D9_urfd1O60snTXAUkMO0w-PLxgCJ0zHITxS-GANfmPa2lCjvenI1K9mRswbHn4Ba46L6QCgxSknZvL-Dmc1SBM7gSPD35qEUQDWANbw/s1600/IMG_5457v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1447" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU_GPSwzkYiNsq-sZvcwwmWt872pPN6D9_urfd1O60snTXAUkMO0w-PLxgCJ0zHITxS-GANfmPa2lCjvenI1K9mRswbHn4Ba46L6QCgxSknZvL-Dmc1SBM7gSPD35qEUQDWANbw/s640/IMG_5457v2.jpg" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>My Block</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sewing machine is the block that I contributed. It is a foundation paper-pieced pattern from Quiet Play on Craftsy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoKkC5rD6i5irnzDKsc_u9cFq_SI32FbyOenEMHlC9HheWbWNfkUEy2aDThvP4PdDU8ZntwyqUNST7i-ma9pcBqKZRIINa8xBrt7ySy9WDuSH8j80I3fzncqUMODCGgPDa5t5lw/s1600/IMG_5458v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoKkC5rD6i5irnzDKsc_u9cFq_SI32FbyOenEMHlC9HheWbWNfkUEy2aDThvP4PdDU8ZntwyqUNST7i-ma9pcBqKZRIINa8xBrt7ySy9WDuSH8j80I3fzncqUMODCGgPDa5t5lw/s640/IMG_5458v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love sculpture and the Liberty Bell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jgBJGYeuYllKRxUVbsq38XVpp2Ssuv8ZLr1r-4C9cAFvvwmwPZ1Se_zqOErBTIP64gHLiMp6o3IklnyHcfxngexthzbp5l4fuAag3cqR0Qzzhpcn4wE4Yozdym2tPB2SRyzEOw/s1600/IMG_5459v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jgBJGYeuYllKRxUVbsq38XVpp2Ssuv8ZLr1r-4C9cAFvvwmwPZ1Se_zqOErBTIP64gHLiMp6o3IklnyHcfxngexthzbp5l4fuAag3cqR0Qzzhpcn4wE4Yozdym2tPB2SRyzEOw/s640/IMG_5459v3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewing notions and tools and a pretzel</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-17904316421646225552018-09-16T23:27:00.000-04:002018-09-17T10:00:41.871-04:00Old South Philly VS New South Philly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the neighborhood. We took a walk down Passyunk Avenue. My goal was a glass of bubble tea at </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.teasnmi.com/" id="id_d831_6590_9fd9_c9f1">Teas N’Me</a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (honey jasmine with aloe and boba). The neighborhood has changed quite a bit in the 23 years that I’ve lived here. I would have not been able to get a glass of boba tea, for example, when I first arrived. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">I likely would not have seen a sign for this march in South Philly 20 or even 10 years ago.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This very large store sign has been removed and the building it was on has been replaced by condos. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklsmdbt-j3bRdrIL5mxW-g8YThqVBOqmV7i9CPA63rWj6FVK9BcO-Y64hmu7DsSD7GOm5ewB5u1JXVOpah6Jiio1KUGR9zn94RRwDIAGhot4Ji2H8RWKTeTEbI0c01oPgz1vG/s1600/king+of+jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklsmdbt-j3bRdrIL5mxW-g8YThqVBOqmV7i9CPA63rWj6FVK9BcO-Y64hmu7DsSD7GOm5ewB5u1JXVOpah6Jiio1KUGR9zn94RRwDIAGhot4Ji2H8RWKTeTEbI0c01oPgz1vG/s640/king+of+jeans.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sign has been memorialized in an ironic way with this one. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This photo, by the way, is from the <a href="http://www.passyunkpost.com/">Passyunk Post</a>, whose tag line is "For the New South Philly.</span>"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE81OmtJ3VM4IKS-_1bWWP-HmN6zQJGl83kcJ2xMXxdW4aK7q_cYHdRdptUynKoZ2BYBAihf1-BWwTdQDIpfztHnMDqnzSnBSsktc7AMyWut9bCdgv_NvblTV_YRDXlYaQIcC-Q/s1600/42904856490_08bfa93bb6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE81OmtJ3VM4IKS-_1bWWP-HmN6zQJGl83kcJ2xMXxdW4aK7q_cYHdRdptUynKoZ2BYBAihf1-BWwTdQDIpfztHnMDqnzSnBSsktc7AMyWut9bCdgv_NvblTV_YRDXlYaQIcC-Q/s400/42904856490_08bfa93bb6_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This collage of trending symbols over a "No Parking" sign was fixed to a alley gate. Trending symbols didn't used to make their way this far south. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure exactly where Isaiah Zagar comes down on the new vs old South Philly. I think there is more of his work around and I just like to take pictures of it :-).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">South Philly is still full of people who like to find ways to grow green things. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe0kHQlnuJS9vYMs-BIJxuV6rVoo2bM4xp7kjheFyQV72eDMSPs3-8qtOBZPi29t3uu8i8sH86jAwLVUyHLOR5RWDuagEFPdV_TxLZSA5Tt4sulf4yG0mqejw4TSS5UL5WfOqjg/s1600/43805818485_76b79eb8f2_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe0kHQlnuJS9vYMs-BIJxuV6rVoo2bM4xp7kjheFyQV72eDMSPs3-8qtOBZPi29t3uu8i8sH86jAwLVUyHLOR5RWDuagEFPdV_TxLZSA5Tt4sulf4yG0mqejw4TSS5UL5WfOqjg/s640/43805818485_76b79eb8f2_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-14264116061093651222018-09-16T14:07:00.000-04:002018-09-16T14:07:11.969-04:00PNQG: Best of Show Innovative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqAmfdJk2yEme6vrJ0I06J5aAZB6sx6y-BleGXKr5GcdfEslQEHwWxlgPjC6Ec7u8pqAJZDJFVXCfcjFY-LHPnu-Mp3CxkLCMKzsezq7aSkHshSPwMTALPwvnUnJB1r2JdwStUA/s1600/IMG_5325v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1600" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqAmfdJk2yEme6vrJ0I06J5aAZB6sx6y-BleGXKr5GcdfEslQEHwWxlgPjC6Ec7u8pqAJZDJFVXCfcjFY-LHPnu-Mp3CxkLCMKzsezq7aSkHshSPwMTALPwvnUnJB1r2JdwStUA/s640/IMG_5325v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This won Best of Show Innovative. It’s an original design. At first I thought it was English paper-pieced. Very close inspection revealed that the “paper lantern” shapes are filled out with triangles to make a rectangle then sashing and cornerstones that match the triangles create the illusion of an identical tessellating off-set shape.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ng7Kp_rVQ4mpBrSOu1wPWqTK2FJ_Ypwdn3kGGTHtDYr4_SUASDuNMkft8Rtb8ppWqVqracANv46htGmAJirw6wnHZ6o061XQMNcSs2DA5f0DbxzuMySA3EC3-nPUh5Gk0UXQFw/s1600/IMG_5327v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ng7Kp_rVQ4mpBrSOu1wPWqTK2FJ_Ypwdn3kGGTHtDYr4_SUASDuNMkft8Rtb8ppWqVqracANv46htGmAJirw6wnHZ6o061XQMNcSs2DA5f0DbxzuMySA3EC3-nPUh5Gk0UXQFw/s640/IMG_5327v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> Ingenious engineering. Made by Loretta Painter.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-73184663561394042322018-09-15T13:17:00.000-04:002018-09-16T14:08:34.186-04:00African Geese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g8EiFuEw4E_TpjsSge-q-KUHNov3ZMd5e79lbIwRXl2DJROn7ugXFomgcVGPH5Hb6rsiKmF431iaCjoCcE-j7YCI87zcoXW90cWpv6q5gWOL4E3ItY_vSHo-FxLpnqXfXegg4Q/s1600/IMG_5468v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1308" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g8EiFuEw4E_TpjsSge-q-KUHNov3ZMd5e79lbIwRXl2DJROn7ugXFomgcVGPH5Hb6rsiKmF431iaCjoCcE-j7YCI87zcoXW90cWpv6q5gWOL4E3ItY_vSHo-FxLpnqXfXegg4Q/s640/IMG_5468v2.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My African Geese quilt at the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza hanging in the Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild exhibition.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started this in a mini-class at the Mid-Atlantic Mod </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">retreat</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a few years back. I have a shelf full of African prints but I had never used even one because the perfect quilt had not presented itself. The class instructor is notably unafraid of prints of any kind. She inspired me to cut up my precious prints and use them! I'm glad I did because I really like the quilt. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Pattern is Release the Geese by Sarah Bond.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> It</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> went together neat and clever. I especially appreciated how she engineered the large concave borders that the rounds of geese fit into. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQoykJMoyB5um-ffYdHch6didyPCfaN398CoaTCps-i7Af-jTUBdlk9vuQVdLi0EQMFgGCrZ7XAU1vOQFiHwNcG-1lGj3eMCbyEGO4A8OIHM2SozcChCmZwz2gqTCxE6tRkv2IA/s1600/IMG_5469v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQoykJMoyB5um-ffYdHch6didyPCfaN398CoaTCps-i7Af-jTUBdlk9vuQVdLi0EQMFgGCrZ7XAU1vOQFiHwNcG-1lGj3eMCbyEGO4A8OIHM2SozcChCmZwz2gqTCxE6tRkv2IA/s640/IMG_5469v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was quilted by </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tricia Patton Scott </span><span style="background-color: white;">and she did an amazing job. The fabric I used in the center is from another African print that actually has geese printed on it. She quilted around them very delicately with gold thread. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeTjXnHo3jpvK0g9JakBebIclNb-cIR3pa0QLRNFKRvOjIaetw4MrWabdZf6DvlzkFBVBe99lEqClqiIZs4R0A0vrbt3TCgxhCGhKz9w5sq6zb9JSXQggM9GzOdUWpNi_dDd04w/s1600/IMG_5469v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeTjXnHo3jpvK0g9JakBebIclNb-cIR3pa0QLRNFKRvOjIaetw4MrWabdZf6DvlzkFBVBe99lEqClqiIZs4R0A0vrbt3TCgxhCGhKz9w5sq6zb9JSXQggM9GzOdUWpNi_dDd04w/s320/IMG_5469v3.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-37741786870747923492018-09-14T23:01:00.002-04:002018-09-17T09:53:44.911-04:00PNQE Best in Show: Master Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtsJrARY-8zYMRtrwGGVOGd14keYJUMuFlrbfD1M639YBfjuCahHJANeAK66yZtV1iTkMuggds1ZNhlGsOlZJeVGThxoEvHTsxYLmY4lsN5duItIAtcLSOQoL0S8XNr5gFKoP5w/s1600/LincolniPhone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1593" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtsJrARY-8zYMRtrwGGVOGd14keYJUMuFlrbfD1M639YBfjuCahHJANeAK66yZtV1iTkMuggds1ZNhlGsOlZJeVGThxoEvHTsxYLmY4lsN5duItIAtcLSOQoL0S8XNr5gFKoP5w/s640/LincolniPhone.jpg" width="635" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This won Best in Show at the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza. Although it is not similar to anything I would make it stopped me in my tracks. I think it is a master work. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5BnQx9Agh9oGnFx__74hUPUc-7qIvwU3XRERLZRt6Hew9odN2lftrRMaJ9-GQcQ9cpAha4uPYLu-nGPd5_mmuQa0QlJojD3NC2qxz9IIPpOLaXhR1TXKqeb8ShJJ-qkLN11reA/s1600/IMG_5322v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1553" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5BnQx9Agh9oGnFx__74hUPUc-7qIvwU3XRERLZRt6Hew9odN2lftrRMaJ9-GQcQ9cpAha4uPYLu-nGPd5_mmuQa0QlJojD3NC2qxz9IIPpOLaXhR1TXKqeb8ShJJ-qkLN11reA/s640/IMG_5322v2.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
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<i>Back </i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It is double-sided. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The back repeats the elements from the front with black, white, grey and tan. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Many of the back figural elements are composed solely of black, grey or tan thread on white or parchment fabric. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8KitesueOWii-_xuT5LOVNOZgH7_wTod298q9fGfMAy30ZsnPvyGxkkGJe2quZwBiZbCdjTRFhrwQRMuO_JiB3pzFWqGCWSqk2FmGokLlTFfkynUSyyuag7_FjM-T__eWQHukQ/s1600/IMG_5323v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8KitesueOWii-_xuT5LOVNOZgH7_wTod298q9fGfMAy30ZsnPvyGxkkGJe2quZwBiZbCdjTRFhrwQRMuO_JiB3pzFWqGCWSqk2FmGokLlTFfkynUSyyuag7_FjM-T__eWQHukQ/s640/IMG_5323v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Detail on back</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pqUviUVq2NH3qrvkVyTnsVZT-vwMqWVAWy-QthCibS_AOk1Uvi4juNLz35n-do31QylxDwSwwtUYdlBKFXtfyH5B8gNLeYxlIb41UM9SOBWopKcQYNvRColtMSzitrtXMv8epA/s1600/IMG_5324v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1586" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pqUviUVq2NH3qrvkVyTnsVZT-vwMqWVAWy-QthCibS_AOk1Uvi4juNLz35n-do31QylxDwSwwtUYdlBKFXtfyH5B8gNLeYxlIb41UM9SOBWopKcQYNvRColtMSzitrtXMv8epA/s640/IMG_5324v2.jpg" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Detail of label</i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The label lists the names of the blocks, created in both traditional Civil War fabrics and neutrals, the maker placed around the Lincoln portrait. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">More details below.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg7B3ifA6xBoLIh3gW_W3nhMzixj0fus0BOrkjeGjVhbourEYpHnDeCWtwoVxX_bhRrOcA3dQ1t2zQd3DqPUrs_bmwJmLreFYHheXfvuc1f_-pQBzCKd8da0Dtjp806i7BZP2fw/s1600/LincolnDetail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="900" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg7B3ifA6xBoLIh3gW_W3nhMzixj0fus0BOrkjeGjVhbourEYpHnDeCWtwoVxX_bhRrOcA3dQ1t2zQd3DqPUrs_bmwJmLreFYHheXfvuc1f_-pQBzCKd8da0Dtjp806i7BZP2fw/s400/LincolnDetail2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Detail</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ-2gtAGGfTQrjxmuWYDfY7DdA8IJiCHa4xNdh8gpyeiS9nR7weySEo9mFmAkjeKibNypbcUAxWpv0QxN_EH5pf63st_NKWx0qLW5Hi2HT7TykdeBUFAIWKgVC-AvXkqCeKktWg/s1600/LincolnDetailB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="910" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ-2gtAGGfTQrjxmuWYDfY7DdA8IJiCHa4xNdh8gpyeiS9nR7weySEo9mFmAkjeKibNypbcUAxWpv0QxN_EH5pf63st_NKWx0qLW5Hi2HT7TykdeBUFAIWKgVC-AvXkqCeKktWg/s400/LincolnDetailB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Detail</i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-90842608834093776662011-03-17T00:56:00.000-04:002018-01-23T10:31:09.255-05:00AQS in Lancaster, Day 1My feet are aching! I didn't want to sit down today. That is always an indication of a good quilt show experience. I had a class with Diane Hire this morning. It was her free-form curve block. I really love the look of her work and this was a chance to learn some of her techniques and hear about her color ideas. Her approach seems particularly well-suited to hand dyes and I have quite a stack at home that I don't really know what to do with. And I'd love to make more!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hsivaNYu9J4Pulcw22d_AoCLH4q51tpjX_E9rcl0WF5TqTlw9foevQuYNk4-NHVCCARMx0QN6wJBfzpYV_B3FhWfFlA_soRZsh61xT_A8AYj3AqHoQga-nYgAA2JpHerHD_t0A/s1600/DianeHire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hsivaNYu9J4Pulcw22d_AoCLH4q51tpjX_E9rcl0WF5TqTlw9foevQuYNk4-NHVCCARMx0QN6wJBfzpYV_B3FhWfFlA_soRZsh61xT_A8AYj3AqHoQga-nYgAA2JpHerHD_t0A/s320/DianeHire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I nearly finished one block in class, but of course, my vision is more ambitious. I brought my machine with me because I remember wanting to have it last year so I was able to come back and finish that block and make two more and start the cutting and piecing for two additional.<br />
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I think I'd like to make 6 blocks altogether and add two borders. <br />
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<b>Quilts at the Show</b><br />
Here are some favorites:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityquilt/5533992370/" title="IMG_4202v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4202v2" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5533992370_3c7a5b1026.jpg" height="500" width="354" /></a></div>
There is actually a sunflower quilt exhibition at the show and sunflowers are even more of a theme than usual. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityquilt/5533992624/" title="IMG_4301 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4301" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5533992624_3580e4b05f.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a></div>
This is applique constructed and embellished with what I believe is a combination of free motion satin stitch and great use of all of the fancy, patterned stitches that come on machines these days.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityquilt/5533461093/" title="IMG_4302v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4302v2" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5533461093_e7dd995cbd.jpg" height="438" width="500" /></a></div>
The fiber embellishments are abundant and add great texture. This was created by Karen Linduska and is titled Mexican Sunflowers.<br />
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<b>Japan</b><br />
An unrelated and underlying topic of the show for me is the ongoing crises in Japan. I, and many other quilters and lovers of fiber arts, have much admiration for Japanese quilts and fabric. Several Japanese artists have send quilts to the show and there are several vendors here who are Japanese or who travel back and forth regularly. All of my hopes for the best possible outcomes for everyone affected by all of the things that are happening there now.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityquilt/5533490343/" title="IMG_4272v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4272v2" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5533490343_9f4ca09c12.jpg" height="500" width="377" /></a></div>
Run! Run! Run! by Hiroko Miyama of Chofu City, Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityquilt/5533490607/" title="IMG_4273 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4273" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5533490607_28c622572e.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a></div>
<i>Detail</i>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-90031060270212458572011-03-15T21:30:00.001-04:002011-03-15T21:33:44.287-04:00Quilt Show EscapeI am ensconced! At the Convention Center in Lancaster, tucked up in a huge fluffy white bed, with my laptop, a cartoon on the TV, room service a phone call away and a fun quilting class tomorrow morning -- and another one the next day! It isn't heaven but for a Wednesday in March in Pennsylvania it is as close as I can reasonably expect to get.<br />
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I haven't felt like blogging recently but I have done lots of things since I made friends with the Hummer (my 830) and got my sewing mojo back. Maybe this will re-inspire me to live the examined creative life...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-76891368212151234052010-10-10T22:31:00.054-04:002012-01-10T23:22:40.822-05:00Getting to 49<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasFmWMhj07v4EHtrn_RAJGRQmWsUHGMb2pOZGuwZA3tsahMR7gTui6L9KQ5RXM1XJyyyEbIoRsm4RnpsAd31hxjxR6kDkwX1tsfnRplu_Z8rx9uCu-0g-BXnnYelRwO7DfAAG8w/s1600/IMG_3337v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fTLcG8nxIFm2qip07fvrxpYPX8F4Z-F7PCGdwYxdBGbyEPBXTUlNgIDp0Kq3uuuhA3LV8mhP2nN-qs6SPrj63xGFiDGEx1oGcKcbugW_9XTJJCevC1aL_rDvBktdUKNt5NYV_A/s1600/IMG_3321v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fTLcG8nxIFm2qip07fvrxpYPX8F4Z-F7PCGdwYxdBGbyEPBXTUlNgIDp0Kq3uuuhA3LV8mhP2nN-qs6SPrj63xGFiDGEx1oGcKcbugW_9XTJJCevC1aL_rDvBktdUKNt5NYV_A/s320/IMG_3321v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Applique finished on blocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I worked on my Moon and Stars quilt on Friday and and Saturday morning. It was one of my many stalled projects.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting away the background block fabric. It makes the design lay flatter and look "inlaid" into the block.</td></tr>
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I had 38 blocks made and a vision for an appliqued border. I want to put the blocks together so I can start playing with the border design and the plan is to actually use the quilt on the bed. It has to cover a queen-sized mattress so it will take 49 blocks to make a generous enough quilt, with the borders, to look nice. After counting and recounting I think I got to 49...or 48.....? Well, when I put all of the rows together I'll find out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasFmWMhj07v4EHtrn_RAJGRQmWsUHGMb2pOZGuwZA3tsahMR7gTui6L9KQ5RXM1XJyyyEbIoRsm4RnpsAd31hxjxR6kDkwX1tsfnRplu_Z8rx9uCu-0g-BXnnYelRwO7DfAAG8w/s1600/IMG_3337v2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasFmWMhj07v4EHtrn_RAJGRQmWsUHGMb2pOZGuwZA3tsahMR7gTui6L9KQ5RXM1XJyyyEbIoRsm4RnpsAd31hxjxR6kDkwX1tsfnRplu_Z8rx9uCu-0g-BXnnYelRwO7DfAAG8w/s320/IMG_3337v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have I made 49?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After I put several rows put together (yay!) early Saturday afternoon I wanted to have some time to go out and enjoy the day. Philly has ridiculously hot, humid summers and long miserable winters but October is what we get in return. Temperatures around 70, intensely blue skies, fresh breezes and liquid gold sunlight pouring over the City.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTSMI3VmGa9VhY8-qQj3sgIVUzfRrrVIZqGnZs4SUwM5lfM-1TiHJRkLIuqMbAwSIRdTQDaxMXmbTo2uQ6cwK-cUaMoONhRYTCwAtd2_F-SAxv8ng3wFkNZggoIgMfTCwWTRL_w/s1600/IMG_3338v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTSMI3VmGa9VhY8-qQj3sgIVUzfRrrVIZqGnZs4SUwM5lfM-1TiHJRkLIuqMbAwSIRdTQDaxMXmbTo2uQ6cwK-cUaMoONhRYTCwAtd2_F-SAxv8ng3wFkNZggoIgMfTCwWTRL_w/s320/IMG_3338v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October pumpkins and gourds on 9th Street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Everything glows in October and it is the perfect time to visit the Italian Market, or as folks are likely to say on my block "go down 9th Street.." I've been planning to get some Roma tomatoes to make sauce and this long weekend is the time to do it. After a trip to DiBruno's I bought three pounds of tomatos and turned them into marinara by bedtime.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeuZLdrTRnyc-Y1I3CoVQQlsGgyBCAQuvYY5advD1utWro3Z3yMfrIrKVIryhkn2Qqnb5qn0vpcuXcyt944bE3JdyMvtUU9URHOzqes06CGQ7LCVu3ZV_HfPAhipJbVQw5XQJSw/s1600/IMG_3344v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>I've lived near the Italian Market since moving to Philly over 15 years ago. Grocery stores are more convenient but 9th Street is an adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgSNLezfZv8I4lwLfNHf3Liup2rOmkEQsYIRKTizFRfYzHM0ZVZFt9P4JDq1GqbNyeMXUL1iXlZ7kOboJY2aNWfA2zS7OHcqKI0Z6SCRi_07DvoQcpB7ILn6vUByIJAqPzkiM3Q/s1600/IMG_3345v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgSNLezfZv8I4lwLfNHf3Liup2rOmkEQsYIRKTizFRfYzHM0ZVZFt9P4JDq1GqbNyeMXUL1iXlZ7kOboJY2aNWfA2zS7OHcqKI0Z6SCRi_07DvoQcpB7ILn6vUByIJAqPzkiM3Q/s320/IMG_3345v3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The husksters, the awning, a momentary clear spot on the sidewalk. The Market is timeless</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDyNPpzX1w__jk6QEEPYkr3S9UGZV7AsPGn__mXxNGTQOCIMKaw2LYDbMh9hEhHGtnRKlhXwuMUCjD7wI7ab9BHSgAVqCsWPkmSmzpd_7YRIMtNaDm5CMq3EhJBtl6sGXIzbtqw/s1600/IMG_3345v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-27043401877482386672010-10-04T16:56:00.003-04:002010-10-04T23:55:25.062-04:00The 830 and MeNo, I haven't fallen off the earth or used up all of my fabric. <br /><br />The year before my last post, September 2009, was such a productive year for me as a quilter. I had completed more quilts/fiber pieces than ever before. I felt I was learning and growing and that I had reached a new relationship with my ability to create. All good things. <br /><br />I was so excited about my new direction that I thought about purchasing a new sewing machine. I attributed my momentum in part to the Bernina 200 I had bought a few years before. I loved my machine. I would sit down, turn it on and it would sew beautiful stitches. I learned to free-motion quilt. She was powerful and responsive. Together we were unstoppable. We ate up yards and yards of cotton. We reached out and conquered new worlds: gessoed canvas, painted broadcloth, laminated plastic bags, melted synthetics, thick yarns and wools. We machine embroidered really, REALLY fast. <br /><br />And when she was snarled up or messy I popped out her bobbin case, picked thread out of her hook race and soothed her with canned air. Then I put her up to rest for a bit and we'd be back in tune and ready to go the very next time I was available. It was a beautiful relationship.<br /><br />But the machine had been a floor model, probably one of the early 200s. Her CD rom reader went and I had to have her upgraded to read USB sticks. Even so she read them so slowly and poorly that the process would almost always time out. I'd have to haul the laptop upstairs and connect it to transfer embroidery designs and that process was unpredictable also. Her embroidery field, compared to other, newer, machines on the market was small. Adding BSR capabilities would be expensive and clunky and I knew her internal memory was limited. <br /><br />My attention began to wander to the new, huge Bernina: the 830. It had two USB ports and read sticks like it was born to it. The BSR was integrated into the machine and the throat was twelve inches deep. But maybe best of all it had a 15 x 10 embroidery field. I could really use quilting embroidery patterns and since I was becoming proficient at digitizing I could create my own. That had the potential to help me finish more work. <br /><br />I watched sales and waited for the best price. I agonized over trading in my 200 but I knew it would ease the financial commitment and where would I put another machine in my small city sewing studio? A trade would be for the best. Finally the day came. The machine had been on the market for over a year so all those new-model bugs were worked out. I was convinced I had the best deal I was going to get. I packed up my friend, exchanged her for the gigantic new machine and drove home.<br /><br />We started out slowly Gigunda and I. I tried to learn to use the auto-threading feature and worked on breaking myself of the habit of reaching around behind the sewing head to raise the presser foot. I watched all the YouTube videos about threading the bobbin, started to stitch out all of the specialty stitches on scraps and practiced free-motion quilting on left-over batting and muslin. As long as I was just doing getting-to-know-you tasks - what I think of now as courtship activities - Gigunda behaved perfectly. <br /><br />However I had the <a href="http://cityquilt.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-class.html">painted Phil Beaver quilt</a> that I wanted to finish. Nearly all of the raw-edge applique was done and I had been dreaming of quilting with my new BSR. That would make quick and neat work of the background stippling I needed to do. But the moment I settled down to do actual work Gigunda would not complete a stitch. She spit bobbin thread, she refused to auto-thread the needle, she sent me endless nasty errors about the thread path. If I took the quilt off the sewing bed and went back to "practicing" on batting remnants and scraps she behaved like a pro. The minute her sensors saw the hand-dyed and painted fabric of my project she dug in her heals and refused to cooperate. This went on for weeks. I was so close to being done I couldn't let go of my work and accept delay and Gigunda wasn't budging. <br /><br />In addition to our free-motion woes I couldn't thread the bobbin for machine embroidery. Beginning with the first Pfaff I bought with my first real salary I had always owned machines with bobbin cases. This machine has an integrated case that rotates out automatically for threading. You must bring your eyes to it. That means crouching down in the shadow of the sewing bed and trying to slide the thread into the correct slots and springs UNDER the bobbin case. I still have to ask "what were they thinking?" A poorly threaded bobbin combined with the superfast sewing speeds that Gigunda offers resulted in snapped needles. Needles breaking at high speeds frighten me. I worry they will fly into my face or drop into the mechanics of the machine - that would mean expensive repairs. <br /><br />So I went to my Guide classes. Gigunda acted out in class also and I spent most of my time sitting next to the technician as he cleaned sensors and worked on getting the machine to perform whatever task was at hand. My local quilt shop offered to let me retake the classes whenever they were offered and for the first time maybe ever I felt like a remedial sewer. It was depressing and demotivating - - needless to say no quilts were finished or begun.<br /><br />As time passed and I practiced more, at first in annoyed bursts and then regularly, Gigunda and I reached a détente. Now I can use the automatic threader 9 times out of 10 and load the bobbin by touch, even for embroidery, most of the time. She hasn’t spit thread at me in several months and I’ve started being more adventurous, edging mixed media paper projects with stitching. I’ve nearly finished piecing a Moon and Stars pattern and I’ve finished all of the applique for the painted project and started sketching a free motion pattern for the background and testing it on practice fabric although I’m still a bit nervous about starting to stitch the hand-dyed fabric. <br /><br />I still think the machine is a bit of an experiment but also a technological marvel and maybe a paradigm shift for me - and honestly, I'm a person who wants to use tools that push limits. I do love the huge embroidery field and I hope this will be the year I start to use machine designs to boost my quilting progress. I'm now sure that getting the new machine was not a mistake. I’ve learned new things and this will be the tool to help me use those lessons and let me learn more. Its going to be alright...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-49271310144077765352009-09-28T23:31:00.006-04:002010-07-28T10:31:48.969-04:00Pennsylvania National Quilt ExtravaganzaReal life nearly completely prevented me from visiting my favorite local quilt show this year! It was a real struggle to get away from work but in the end the quilts prevailed. Here are some of the top prize winners.<br />B. J Titus from Coatesville, PA received the ribbon for Best Machine Workmanship, Innovative for Nocturnal Iridescence. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3936330684/" title="IMG_0750v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/3936330684_ecdf5a594c.jpg" alt="IMG_0750v2" height="500" width="483" /></a><br />The background appears to be whole cloth and the motifs are appliqued on, even the embroidered ones. That makes the designs really stand off the background.<br /><br />The orange and dark blue color pallet is a mini-trend this year. It is 63 by 63 inches, and according to the artist's statement, part of a series. From statement: This is the third quilt in a series exploring the use of one or more elements common to all in the series. Having raised the bar each time, this was undoubtedly the most difficult quilt to design to date. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3935537925/" title="IMG_0749 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3935537925_1512ef8b3e.jpg" alt="IMG_0749" height="375" width="500" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-21457178085965428702009-08-18T21:17:00.006-04:002009-08-19T01:06:03.548-04:00Summer Class<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3835233261/" title="IMG_0564v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3835233261_b3e528e250.jpg" width="468" height="500" alt="IMG_0564v2" /></a><br />My beloved camera journeyed to Egypt with my more-beloved loved one. I felt a bit like one of my eyes was missing. But they are both back now and I'm able to update my activities. In July <a href="http://www.philbeaver.com/">Phil Beaver</a> taught a class at <a href="http://www.quiltodyssey.com/">Quilt Odyssey</a>. I have always thought his quilts were amazing and Hershey is fairly close so off I went. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3835202377/" title="IMG00203v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/3835202377_597394ab77.jpg" width="436" height="500" alt="IMG00203v2" /></a><br />His quilts are large and he has such a distinctive style. I wondered how that would translate in a two day class. It was a mix of technique, hands-on quilt building and a smidge of art theory lecture. He pays quite a bit of attention to teaching his style of painting fabric and it does produce beautifully colored fabrics. I can also see how one could experiment with different brush strokes and paint application patterns to produce different effects. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3835199451/" title="IMG00217v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3835199451_5fa70a10f5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG00217v2" /></a><br />He was an art teacher for a some years. That is evident in his class. He is encouraging and generous with his time and attention and he takes the trouble to try to teach some larger design principals. It is also evident that he is inspired by his imagery. <br />As usual I got more ambitious than I thought I would. The class is geared towards completing four or five blossoms but once I started looking at his samples I got my own ideas for an autumnal scene.<br /><br />Large pieces that I built in class.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3836026634/" title="IMG_0560 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3836026634_e46f263f3d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0560" /></a><br /><br />Core design, using four sunflowers in a rough diamond.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3835296935/" title="IMG_0664 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3835296935_c30c93671b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0664" /></a><br /><br />Small pumpkin and leaves. I'm particularly pleased with the little pumpkin.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3834832171/" title="IMG_0668 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/3834832171_bc6d028419.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0668" /></a><br /><br />Rabbit and large pumpkin. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3834831205/" title="IMG_0665 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3834831205_b2f578c9e7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0665" /></a><br /><br />All of my pieces are cut out for this quilt. This is what I have left over. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3835714938/" title="IMG_0676v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/3835714938_d78aa6e043.jpg" width="500" height="456" alt="IMG_0676v2" /></a><br /><br />I've nearly completed the quilting for the applique portion of the quilt. The entire project has gone quickly and I'm pretty thrilled with the process. Despite the fact that I love sunflowers, I'd like to experiment with other color pallets using this painting method. The paint stabilizes the fabric just enough to make the raw-edged applique easy to deal with. That allows some pretty detailed shapes to be cut.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-49826600924493707662009-07-14T22:41:00.001-04:002009-07-15T22:49:43.702-04:00The Blue Hour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3648467729/" title="IMG_0669 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3648467729_971b05e4c3.jpg" alt="IMG_0669" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div>Summer has been so amazing here this year. Day after golden day the sun has shone but the temperature has remained mild. It has rained in the evenings after sunset but not produced the suffocating humidity that Philadelphia is famous for. It is how I remember the summers of my childhood.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3649290404/" title="IMG_0692v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3649290404_278b168b12.jpg" alt="IMG_0692v2" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div>Without stunning heat and mildew-producing humidity my city garden has done well. Things have grown and flowered that have never flowered before. One day last month I took some photos in that time that begins when the sun is going down and ends when you can no longer see distinct colors. It was almost as though I was taking picture through a filter that both darkened colors and made them more vivid. I'm also trying to get better at using the macro setting on my camera.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3649290820/" title="IMG_0697v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3649290820_f3d9620215.jpg" alt="IMG_0697v2" width="337" height="500" /></a><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-20440153084357995822009-07-13T20:46:00.008-04:002009-07-13T22:39:06.910-04:00Better Than a Spa DayRecently I took a Friday off of work to spend at my local quilt shop for a raw-edge applique lesson from Debra Gabel of <a href="http://zebrapatterns.com/">Zebra Patterns</a>. The project was to make one of her flower patterns. The patterns capture the spirit of the flowers well, I love flowers and I was very willing to simply spend the day playing with the pretty colors.<br />Several things made the class special. One was Debra's clever method for weaving the work into the fragmented, interrupted time that I, and most women, have to spend on their creative projects. Another is her really remarkable personal story. I can't seem to link directly to her blog so I'll summarize: In 2003 she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which resulted in nearly a full year of bed rest, chemo, radiation, and finally a stem cell transplant. During this time in her life she promised herself that if and when she got better she would pursue her passionate interest in art quilting.<br />The last remarkable thing Debra did was share her creative and business goals. In 2004 she set a goal of focusing on and applying real effort to creating a line of patterns that would appeal to most quilters. She wants to grow her business to a national audience and she wants to compete nationally in the mixed media art categories at all the top shows in the US. She brought some the art quilts that she has entered in national shows and they are beautiful.<br />Here's is what I made. I cut the pieces out in class and put it together later at home. She covers the raw edges with a narrow satin stitch that matches the fabric colors. I will give that a try also. I like the results so far a lot.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3719275646/" title="IMG_0714v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3719275646_38a04ea517.jpg" alt="IMG_0714v2" width="300" height="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Coreopsis.</span><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-34696291416751689222009-06-21T20:57:00.006-04:002009-06-21T23:10:10.859-04:00Common Textiles<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3649257156/" title="IMG_0639v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3649257156_e227d5ce34.jpg" alt="IMG_0639v2" width="500" height="304" /></a><br /></div>I have many sets of old pillow cases. They are pretty but that is not the primary reason I have them. I bought most of them in the 80s at the Salvation Army, thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales. I could spot them in almost any setting and the amazing handmade detail would compel me to buy them every time.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3649261468/" title="IMG_0641v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3649261468_41811d79b2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0641v2" /></a><br /></div>Although some of them are probably quite old I've use them all. I hardly ever make the bed without vintage pillowcases on it. They are all one hundred percent heavy cotton. Most of them are made from actual pillowcasing fabric, woven in a tube without a side seam. They have been washed over and over again so they feel velvety and I iron them (yes, I do) so that they are crisp AND velvety.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3649326822/" title="IMG_0637v3 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3649326822_ed2fb0cb8e.jpg" alt="IMG_0637v3" width="500" height="494" /></a><br /></div><br />I noticed the colors in the roses on this one this morning. I wonder if the fabric has faded from a more brilliant pink to the salmon or if she was thinking of a particular rose that she had seen and reproducing the shading on the petals with thread she chose to edge the applique with. The two-tones of pink seems to argue for deliberate shading.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-8227954279416287332009-06-15T21:12:00.004-04:002009-06-15T21:35:32.147-04:00Sew or Die<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3630297035/" title="IMG_0462v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3630297035_4935b66aae.jpg" alt="IMG_0462v2" width="500" height="460" /></a><br />I love everything about this little quilt! I love that it is inspired by tattoos, I love the tough imagery, I love the Virgin of Guadalupe, I love the sewing tools appliqued on, but most of all, I love the title!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3630301847/" title="IMG_0465 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3630301847_1d6a1fec1b.jpg" alt="IMG_0465" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />The artist is Marcia Zimmerman. She won my personal prize for Best Sense of Humor, Wall Quilt.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3630300019/" title="IMG_0464v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3630300019_8b25cbfd7e.jpg" alt="IMG_0464v2" width="500" height="347" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-28488394467816486912009-06-14T14:32:00.011-04:002009-06-15T16:11:46.790-04:00PeaceAn extended family member died suddenly and unexpectedly this weekend. Someone who, I think it is fair to say, was challenging to herself and others. No matter what happened during or after her life she is at peace now. But because of who she was many in my family are left to sort it out.<br /><br />There have been people in my life who have died that I miss greatly. I expect to miss them for as long as I am alive. Because we are human, and so imperfect, there is always a list of regrets but I see and read things that I know would make them laugh or that they would love and I feel a familiar mix of emotion that always ends with a kind of pure sadness. I have come to think of that feeling as what grief is transformed into.<br /><br />It is harder by many degrees when loss is so intermingled with anger, relief and shock. In the days ahead everyone will get to make their choices about all of the unfinished business she left behind.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-23850740632213177782009-06-13T01:16:00.006-04:002009-06-13T01:38:09.972-04:00The Sweetest Yo-yos<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620466183/" title="IMG_0468v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3620466183_3d1ca77ac4.jpg" alt="IMG_0468v2" width="389" height="500" /></a><br />By Anna Macaluso this is called Sweet Hearts and it is.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3621282510/" title="IMG_0466v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3621282510_5d5db5db3a.jpg" alt="IMG_0466v2" width="322" height="500" /></a><br />I have not seen yo-yos doubled like this with a very tiny yo-yo used as a center for a larger. The edging is great also. I have all those hearts left from my quilt-as-you go quilt. Could I combine them with yo-yos and make a wall quilt...?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3621284014/" title="IMG_0467v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3621284014_c450e97380.jpg" alt="IMG_0467v2" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />It is a reason to make more yo-yos. The tool makes it fun and just about perfect every time.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-20578302439239726292009-06-13T00:19:00.010-04:002009-06-14T23:34:19.981-04:00Yo-YosIn the last few weeks I've bought several <a href="http://www.shopatron.com/index/181.0.4815.22025.0.0.0">Clover Yo Yo makers</a>. Two in Paducah of the large size, one to keep and one to give away to one of the Library quilters. I liked mine so much that I bought two more at my local quilt shop, the small and the jumbo -- so I've been making yo-yos. And apparently lots of other people have too.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620451997/" title="IMG_0382v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/3620451997_f19e93c922.jpg" alt="IMG_0382v2" width="460" height="500" /></a><br />This yo-yo wreath appliqued quilt is by Barbara Smith and won first place for an appliqued bed quilt. Please notice that each yo-yo has a blending or contrasting color laid inside.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620452533/" title="IMG_0595v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3620452533_79b886b6d0.jpg" alt="IMG_0595v2" width="394" height="500" /></a><br />This one, Blue Poppies, by the same artist, uses yo-yos as centers for the dimensional blue flowers. Her descriptive sheet mentions that the yo-yos are padded with batting.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620454873/" title="IMG_0438 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3620454873_0353a85db5.jpg" alt="IMG_0438" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />I particularly like the orange and blue color scheme. This combination showed up several times.These are wonderful crisp, classic quilts.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620456083/" title="IMG_0436v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3620456083_4dce4723a5.jpg" alt="IMG_0436v2" width="490" height="500" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-64976188145558582882009-06-12T20:39:00.011-04:002009-06-13T00:12:17.471-04:00New Jersey Quilt Convention 2009My own projects are sitting alone. Work is as frenetic and stressful as I have ever experienced. The poor economy has meant budget insecurity but also the need to prove our value, seemingly in every direction at once. The result has been many extra hours on the job.<br /><br />But today the weather was beautiful and it was time for a drive and a quilt break. I didn't get lost going or coming home, that's a first. When I got to the Expo Hall I had to hunt a bit for a parking spot and I was glad. I've thought about the impact the economy could be having on quilting, crafts and the arts. Today is the second day of the three day show and it looked well attended to me.<br /><br />I did buy a few things but mostly I looked and I took pictures. Here are some favorites:<br /><br />Sunflowers quilts always catch my eye and there seems to be endless techniques and design arrangements. This one won "Best Innovative Design." The artist is Raina Lynn-Knapp.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3621290030/" title="IMG_0572v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3621290030_8179184c1a.jpg" alt="IMG_0572v2" width="315" height="500" /></a><br />The center looks to be woven strips of fabric. They are wonderful colors, so luminous that they look like they might be satin but I think they are cotton. I love the way she has chosen to weave the colors together. Wonderful shading results.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3620470569/" title="IMG_0569 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3620470569_413034021c.jpg" alt="IMG_0569" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />I think some of the petals are hand-dyed velvet. Many are dimensional and stand away from the background.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3621292570/" title="IMG_0574v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3621292570_72c9ce98d3.jpg" alt="IMG_0574v2" width="500" height="390" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The petals, leaves and stalk are also a combination of raw-edged and satin stitched applique. Some of the pieces have such a sculptural quality they almost look as though they are wired, like french ribbon. I often have mixed feelings about dimensional applique, understanding the idea and the attempt but not so convinced by the final product. This is a case where the dimensionality really adds to the piece. The use of the texture and color direction in the fabric is also outstanding. I came back to it at least three diffrent times to admire.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3621289814/" title="IMG_0571 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3621289814_c7194fb76e.jpg" alt="IMG_0571" width="500" height="375" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-27954889795355822262009-06-04T01:13:00.002-04:002009-06-04T01:46:32.995-04:00Because I'm not sleeping<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3593865547/" title="IMG_0027v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/3593865547_2db9bc26c2.jpg" alt="IMG_0027v2" width="500" height="495" /></a><br />I'm wandering through older quilt show photos. This is one of those nearly traditional or, traditional art quilts (take your pick), that I seem to love. The grid/block arrangement is there, and in this case the block content repeats but the pattern is in no way traditional and there are lots of non-repeating elements straying out side the lines. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3594674796/" title="IMG_0028 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3594674796_953ffd9d90.jpg" alt="IMG_0028" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Then there is this fellow. The art nouveau-influenced heart jungle provides a great context for him. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3594675888/" title="IMG_0029 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3594675888_e4b729acf5.jpg" alt="IMG_0029" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />I believe the quilt is hand appliqued, at least partially hand pieced and certainly hand quilted. The surface also features some beading. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3594677268/" title="IMG_0030 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3594677268_4dab3f2464.jpg" alt="IMG_0030" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />The whole thing is whimsical without being cartoon-like.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-12855396807262769452009-06-01T21:12:00.011-04:002009-06-01T23:08:20.149-04:00What I've Been DoingTwittering. I signed up for Twitter because I didn't "get it" and I needed, both professionally and personally, to understand what it was - AND - I will confess I like all of the words that go along with Twittering. Like Tweet. I actually started to use Twitter as part of my day job, tweeting through "webinars" and on line conferences as a kind of widely distributed on line chat. Now I like it. It is a quick way to record what I'm thinking about or doing to some extent (although, honestly, I don't use it much that way). A convenient way to promote anything I want to promote and an easy way to connect to others across a wide spectrum of my own interests. For example, someone sent out the URL to a great blog the other day: <a href=" http://www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com/">http://www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com/</a>. I love all the content it is packed with. It makes me want to try to do something different with my own blog.<br /><br />Cleaning my sewing studio. I've been taking stock of everything that I actually do and putting away or getting rid of materials and tools that I seldom use. I've also purged some projects that I accept that I will never finish. This is part of the Paducah effect of looking at quilting more seriously. It is like walking around what I do and looking at it from an entirely other direction. Interesting. <br /><br />Piecing and thinking. I am working on piecing my moon and stars quilt. I have been quilting some off and on since undergraduate school. Over the years there have been various parts of the process I didn't like. Now I like all parts of the process. Maybe some more that others, but there is nothing that stops projects from moving forward. An illustration, in part, of skills building through classes. Thank you to all the wonderful and diverse teachers I've had over the years.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-13301900983758093602009-05-11T10:47:00.008-04:002009-06-03T18:51:51.045-04:00Princess StuffThis morning an update from Luana Rubin was in my inbox. Soon I'm sailing along in <a href="http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/home.html?sid=93LKiA2DRK3O3ln-46109064406.45">eQuilter</a> adding things to my wish list, browsing my favorite fabric categories and twitching towards my credit card. I have been in love for years with autumnal rusts, oranges and purples but this spring I am infatuated with the pastels and chalky brights that many of the <a href="http://www.freespiritfabric.com/">Free Spirit</a> designers are using. I'm also fascinated by the <a href="https://www.tinagivens.com/Fairy_Tip~Toes.html">flattened, layered patterns</a> that are the latest evolutionary version of the collaged prints of the past few seasons.<br /><br />But, shockingly, I ended up, as I have recently, looking at the <a href="http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=244&sid=93LKiA2DRK3O3ln-37109085206.85">fairy prints</a> by Michael Miller. Flowered, faintly sparkly dainty children with wings. I can't seem to help my attraction to Cicely Mary Barker's illustrations. I also still want a canopy bed, or at least a tall, dramatic one. That's part of the reason we don't have a new one yet. I fear it is all a symptom of the same problem: not enough princess stuff as a child!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-78314209759557488452009-04-23T23:47:00.011-04:002009-05-18T23:24:31.767-04:00More Paducah: Caryl Bryer Fallert<a href="http://www.bryerpatch.com/">Caryl Bryer Fallert</a> opened her studio to the public during the show. I love her work and it was incredibly neat to see her work space. It also made me think about quilting in a new way. The show in general exploded my thinking about quilting and fiberart. It, of course, gave me new ideas for quilts. Looking at quilts and anything to do with fabric and fiber always starts my mind racing ahead with things to try and ways to solve problems. <br /><br />But being immersed in all things quilty encouraged me to take quilting and creativity in general more seriously. Fallert creates, teaches and lives her commitment to her art and she is a three-time prize winner but it was great to see lots of other folks, with maybe less exalted abilities also mange to make their way in the creative world. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3478003093/" title="IMG_0409v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3478003093_3e75aa0979.jpg" width="390" height="500" alt="IMG_0409v2" /></a><br />Feather Study #30 by Caryl Bryer Fallert. Winner of 2009 AQS Machine Workmanship Award, Wall Quilt<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3478812966/" title="IMG_0410 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3478812966_e53ac562ff.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0410" /></a><br />Detail.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/3478007275/" title="IMG_0413v2 by Laura333, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3478007275_4f76bd973a.jpg" width="328" height="500" alt="IMG_0413v2" /></a><br />The back. Beautiful.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11630169.post-13826811521429258232009-04-23T23:46:00.007-04:002009-05-19T01:30:13.286-04:00After PaducahI had a wonderful time at the quilt show. I took many, many picture, spent time at the show everyday, explored the town and ate the most amazing piece of coconut creme pie. I also got a bit overwhelmed with quilts, ideas and inspiration. I overheard show goers around me exclaiming over the beauty and imagination on display and more than once expressing near-despair at ever approaching the level of accomplishment on display. I could certainly empathize with the feeling. On the other hand it was amazing to be immersed in all things quilty for 4 days.<br /><br />Next year, or the next time I go to a big show, I will take a class. The quantity and quality of the classes looked amazing.<br /><br />Pictures are being uploaded to my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99742597@N00/sets/72157617202531540/">Flickr set here</a>. More to come about the quilts and the show.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109691726435729778noreply@blogger.com0