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There was a wonderful exhibit at the Houston International Quilt Festival, Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts sponsored by Westminster Fibers/Lifestyle Fabrics Division and featuring the Quilts of Kaffe Fassett, Liza Prior Lucy with quilting by Judy Irish.

This exhibit was wonderful because it gave you great ideas for using large floral prints, striking stripes, and wicked plaids in a way that pleases the eye.  Even "plain" fabric is turned into something spectacular. There are also some great ideas for quilting and embroidery, that you might not have considered. And these quilts show no preference to old or new "styles,"  some are hand-pieced, hand-quilted, and hand-appliqued, and some are machine made all the way.  If these don't get your creativity juices flowing, you aren't trying.

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The Signature Art Quilters is a group of fiber artists that meet monthly to critique and learn from one another. Every year they create a challenge for the group and have 9 months to complete their quilt. This year the challenge was "7" based on seven design elements: balance, rhythm, unity, repetition, contrast, value, and line. The quilt had to be 35" x 42". The exhibit was shown at the Denver National Quilt Festival put on by Mancuso Show Management.

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Join TQS as we step inside the home and studio of Lauren Vlcek, a talented doll and mixed-media artist. Lauren's joyous and colorful personality is evident from the moment you enter her charming home.

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Triangles in Changing Patterns by unknown maker.  Photo by Anthony Scoggins

Quilters throughout the ages often work with materials that are readily at hand.  Even though necessity dictated this early form of recycling, exuberant and bold quilts often resulted.  Bold Expressions: The Collection of Corrine Riley celebrates the work of African American women quilters of the South between 1910 and the 1970s. 

Made entirely by women the quilts are celebrated for their bold improvisation and modern take on traditional quilting patterns, such as the House Top or Log Cabin, Star of Bethlehem and Pine Burr.  Many of the quilts are made from...flour sacks, old blue jeans and work clothes and fabric remnants.  The collection is on view at the Mingei International Museum through November 6, 2011.

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Sharon Garrick of Harnham, England and Jenny Rundle of Anodver, England suggested that every team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London receive a handmade commemorative quilt.  This project, A Gift of Quilts, has now officially become part of the Cultural Olympiad.  They were hoping to receive 500 quilts and as of today they have reached their goal with contributors ranging in age from 7 to 87.  An exhibition of A Gift of Quilts will be held at the Stitch & Craft Show at Olympia II, London, in March 2012.

To learn more about the project, its goals, and its patron, Kaffe Fassett, click here.  Here are three of the quilts from their website.

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The Hoffman Challenge was started in 1988 by Hoffmann Fabrics, and has become quite a quilt, clothing, and doll exhibition.  In its 24th year, the Challenge which began with 94 entries, has grown to over 700 entries from all over the world. Each year the top entries are grouped into traveling exhibits. These are just a few of the entries that could be found at the Denver Quilt Festival. To see the exhibit schedule, click here.

Here is a look at the 2011 Challenge fabric. (Hoffman Challenge 2011 Fabric H8709 Moss Gold #98G)

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Carol Moellers made a wonderful smilebox of the Machine Quilters Showcase 2011 show recently held in Overland Park, Kansas.  You'll see great examples of quilting on some of the TQS BOMs, as well as, a few quilts from some of our TQS Members.  This was Carol's first year at the show and she didn't come home empty handed, she bought herself a Gammill Vision 22"!  To learn more about Carol, visit her TQS Member Spotlight.

Thanks for sharing, Carol!

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Cheryl Lynch is sharing some of her fabulous quilts with TQS.  When talking about her creative process Cheryl says, "I find that I "build" my quilts one section at a time. Putting together the pieces of the puzzle is both challenging and energizing. This process sometimes necessitates the development of a new technique or use of a non-traditional fabric."  Discover what she means!

Cheryl is featured in Episode 811: Quilt a Fiesta with Tile-Inspired Quilts, click here to watch. 

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The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles has two new exhibits which will run from May 17 - August 7, 2011.

Primary Structures and Southwestern Banded Blankets: Three Cultures, One Horizon.  Here's how the museum describes the exhibits:

Primary Structures  - "explores how innovative artists using simple linear elements in combination with unconventional materials can broaden our understanding of the familiar by transforming the stitch structures of knit and crochet into large scale and compelling art."

Included in this exhibition are works by: Xenobia Bailey, Arline Fisch, Susie Freeman, Lori Goldman, Yvette Kaiser Smith, Sheila Klein, Tracy Krumm, Valerie Molnar, Adrienne Sloane, Mary Walker Phillips, and Tatyana Yanishevsky.

Southwestern Banded Blankets: Three Cultures, One Horizon - "This is a unique exhibit and the first of its type to focus exclusively on banded blankets. These utilitarian and simply striped blankets showcase the rich cultural tradition of the Pueblo, the Navajo, and the Spanish Colonial Rio Grande blankets of the “Four Corners” area of the American Southwest. United by common elements of stripes and indigo coloration these blankets are elegant in their design composition, sophisticated balance and amazing variety."

This blankets are from the collection of Jean and Roger Moss.  Curator Deborah Corsini states, "The understated simplicity of the stripes is a powerful contrast to the visual graphic intensity that resonates with kinetic movement.”

For more information about the museum, click here.