The Winner Circle

I entered "Gouldians" and "Honorable Mention?" in the Sheboygan County Quilt Guild Show last weekend.  They were both in the same category of art quilts.  Voting is done by the attendees.

I was really curious which one would possibly take a ribbon.  I heard spectators talking and one person commented like this:  "Awww that chicken deserves more then an honorable mention.  I am voting for him!"   Well, guess a lot of people felt that way because "Honorable Mention?" took first place and "Gouldians" second.  Humor wins out!

I have been contacted by a Quilt Calendar publisher and she wanted me to enter "Gouldians" as a candidate for her upcoming calendar.  I have done that so we will see what happens. 

I have also sold another quilt down in Illinois to a Retirement Home.

"Three Poppies" will now make some elderly people happy at its new home.

In the meantime, Bob and I finished our landscaping.  It was back breaking labor hauling wheelbarrows full of dirt across the yard to our bed by the new fence.  Two truck loads later it was finished and all the plants replanted when it started to rain.  I could not believe our luck.  Now today
we are having a big thunderstorm with 40-50 mph winds.  Thank goodness we do not have a pile of mud in our driveway anymore.

Now I am on to do another Poppy Quilt for a customer who is becoming a friend.  She wanted to buy
"Three Poppies" but instead will get a custom piece just the size she wants. 

Quilt Expo 2011

 Well here I am in Madison at Quilt Expo next to "Gouldians".  It failed to win a ribbon but the winners in my category were very deserving.

So what is in the overstuffed bag you ask???

A new foot for my Bernina, thread, a chicken pin cushion pattern, a great book, a new ergonomic rotary cutter I can not wait to tryout and lots and lots of new fabric of which here is a small sampling.

It was a great day all in all.  My only comment is the show did have several quilts in it that were clearly inferior in all aspects.  I do not understand how they were allowed in and why.  The construction, technique and quilting were beginner standards and in one case below beginner standard.

I have not seen this in previous shows and was very disappointed to see it this year.  They had more quilts on display than ever before but as they say "Quality over Quantity".

In my humble opinion this brought the show down. 

The objective should be to make it better each year, attracting the top quilters to enter.

I hope they get enough negative feedback to get back on track next year.

The Critic

It seems the critics at Quilt Expo did not like my quilt enough for it to win a ribbon.

But it was still in the show and that made me happy.

More from the Fair

This is another two sided one with a musical theme.  

This is Jean Well's piece. It is two sided.  Here are more pictures with closeups too.

Perfection down to the hanger!

More to come on Friday.  

Sure wish I could see this.  I am trying to find out if this show will travel.  

Tomorrow I will be at Quilt Expo in Madison.

Oregon State Fairs Quilted Forest

My Sister, Vicki, who lives in Washington State went to the Oregon State Fair this Labor Day and saw this display of quilts.  Here is the write up:

A Quilted Forest - an installation of original art quilts during the Oregon State Fair. Art quilters from around Oregon were invited to create their impression of a tree in fiber. The vision of the exhibit is to have many Quilted Trees hanging from the ceiling where visitors can walk among the art work as if they were walking though A Quilted Forest. Each piece is approximately 20 inches wide x 8 feet tall. The imaginative artists have created visions of trees that are literal, figurative, inspired, interpretive and stylized! Well known art quilters have work in the exhibit, Jean Wells Keenan, June Jaeger, Vivienne Moore, Maureen Erhardt and more. She said it was spectacular! How I wish I could have seen this.

Great Bonnie McCaffery Vidcast!

Working like crazy on my Self Portrait and my IT quilt for the month of April.
Will be showing my Self Portrait on the 15th and a "hint" of my April Interpretation.

In the meantime I found this Vidcast of Bonnie McCaffery at the Dubai International Quilt Show.
There are some wonderful quilts here so for those who have not seen it I thought I would share the website.

Dubai International Quilt Show

Enjoy!

More from Quilt Festival

Sylvan Ambience #5
by Noriko Endo
This was my favorite quilt in the show. Unfortunately the crowd kept me from getting a decent photograph and I meant to go back later to get a better one and never did.
The detail on this was exquisite. Just a beautiful quilt to see.

"Fresh Outlook"
by Joan Sowada
I loved this quilt. The thought behind it touched my heart and having two boys made it personal to me. A beautiful art piece.

"Spring Encounter"
by Ruth Powers
I recently saw a photo of this quilt in one of my quilting magazines, so I had read a lot about it before the show.

What I loved about seeing it in person is the vivid colors, texture, fabrics and most of all the quilting! The way she quilted this piece was out of this world. Just beautiful. Since I was concentrating so much on that I never got a full shot of the quilt but only details.

International Quilt Festival '09

The quilt show was spectacular. Here are a few of the winners to share with you.
"Splendor In The Grass" by Melinda Bula
BEST OF SHOW
(Sorry for the poor photo. There was a crowd around this quilt, so I kept getting bumped.
I did get to talk to Melinda for a while. She is so nice and does not put pressure on herself to be perfect when making her quilts. She uses 30wt. Sulky rayon thread matching it in her bobbin so the back of her quilt is thread art of the front. She uses black fabric for the back. Thank you Melinda for spending the time to talk with me.)

"Bird Bath Social"
by Ann Horton
2nd Place
(This quilt had a lot going on. Definitely a quilt that reflected the theme "Celebrate Spring"!

"After The Rains"
by Betty Busby
Honorable Mention
(This quilt was unbelievable to me. I have seen it in magazines before but in reality it is
an outstanding piece and such an unusual subject matter. The colors are just a beautiful
range of subtle changes. The quilting was perfect. I would have placed this higher than HM.)

"Celebration"
by Marlene Shea
White Ribbon
Love how this artist achieved making such a strong statement for all of us.

"Little Stinker"
by David Taylor
Pink Ribbon
(David won Best of Show last year for his Rooster quilt. This one was just as detailed but perhaps too close of a theme to lasts year to win again. But he did get a ribbon.)

I will post more when I have more time. Hope those of you who were unable to attend enjoy seeing these here, but there is nothing like seeing them in person.

Not Your Grandma's Quilt, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

I went to the Oshkosh Quilt Show "Not Your Grandma's Quilt" on Saturday. The Museum there is an old house built by a Lumber Baron and has the most beautiful Tiffany windows.
Here are the 3 panels on the main staircase landing.

A view of the staircase.

The doors going out on the terrace.

Then in each of the rooms in the mansion are the quilts hanging. Here are few of the ones I was able to photograph.

"Poppies Rule" by Kathleen Erbeck.

"Moth Fairy" by Julie Duschack

"Loco Log Cabins" by Wendy Butler Burns

"Ginko Frenzy" by Kathleen Erbeck

"El Paso Landscape" by Toni Bergeon

Claudia observing "Red Dance" by Lois Wolfe

"Abstract Doodle" by Tracey Noack

"The Artist Inside" by Connie Darkow

"Moonlight Feast" by Tracy Noack

It was a great time. We had a nice lunch afterwards, made a stop at my daughter's house to see her dogs, Bella and Bailey as well as her cats, Toddie and Jasmine.
Then it was back home again.

I finished "Red Barn". Put the binding, sleeve and label on last night while watching Dancing with the Stars. I will download pictures tomorrow.
I have Urban Sprawl layered and under the needle now.
Then it will be back to "The Girls" as I am ready to quilt with all my quilting designs in my head.