Daily Blog - TheQuiltShow.com

Libby Update in Her Studio

Clara Lawrence visited Libby in her studio and the progress is promising!

"Libby and I had another studio adventure today. I have been noticing some changes in her approach to working on a project and it is exciting. She was very nervous in the beginning, but intensely focused when the task was in front of her, only able to do the one task at a time. Today the intensity had softened a bit, but allowed her to be able to do a couple of things and get back to the task where she wanted to be at. Example: She was thread painting an edge and noticed an area where the stitching wasn’t how she liked it. She stopped and worked with scissors and worked out those stitches and got back to the stitching. She did about 3 times the amount of work in the same amount of time because of this. Stop adjust a situation and then continue. She looked like she was having a lot of fun. We have been continuing to work on the piece that she and Ricky started, she directing where she wants to go. I help when she needs it. Mostly with the machine and some ripping out of stitches so she can re-cut a shape to flow better with the one nearby. You can see her making more and more design decisions today. We changed thread color 3 times. Before, she stayed with the same color and had no desire to change. She has finished stitching down all her flowing shapes with her decorative stitching and now she has homework from me. (I smirked as I mentioned it.) She gave me a look like 'You are giving me homework?' I smiled and answered that with a 'Yes, you have homework. Decide where you want to go from here and when I come back, that’s where we will start. Feel free to doodle if you need to.' "She grinned and gave me a big hug!

"It was the most promising day ever. My goal is to come as much as needed, until I can see that all there is to do is tweak the machine for her. At that point, I will be giving some lessons to family members (Lester, you are definitely on the list) and whoever stays with her the most, to be able to do basic preps on the machine and then let her go. We will come to that road when it is time. Today was a very good day."

Clara

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Kaffe Fassett Exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

Coming to the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles March 12 - July 3, 2016, is Blanket Statements: New Quilts by Kaffe Fassett and Historical Quilts from the Quilt Museum and Gallery, York, England. It features 20 new quilts designed and created by Kaffe Fassett inspired by 15 significant historic quilts, dating from 1780-1949, selected by the artist from the York Quilt Museum and Gallery.

"Color is my absolute passion~and that's what I concentrate on," says Kaffe Fassett of his vivid textile designs.

The traditional historic quilts provide contrast to Fassett's bold fabric designs and explosion of color. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is one of only two American museum venues to host this spectacular exhibition.

Additional loans from Fassett's family and a private collector represent over fifty years of the artist's work in painting, knitwear, needlepoint design, and ceramics, illustrating the full range of Fassett's prodigious talents. The additional material provides visitors with a rich experience and deeper understanding of Fassett's lifelong creative journey.

Born and raised in Big Sur, California, Fassett studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but has made England his home since the mid 1960s. Fassett transformed the hand-knitting world in the 1970s with his bold use of color, incorporating an unprecedented 20 shades of yarn in one sweater! He continued to explore needlepoint, mosaics, rug making, tapestries, yarn and fabric design, costume and set design, and as this exhibition brilliantly illustrates, quiltmaking. His influence in the quilt world has been as profound as his effect on knitting, needlepoint and other fiber arts.

Now in his seventies, one of world's foremost fiber artists and designers continues to be extraordinarily prolific and shows no signs of slowing down.

Lecture: Glorious Color by Kaffe Fassett, May 21 11 am:
Fassett's inspiration comes from his continual travels and this lecture is designed to empower and inspire the audience to create and develop their own "mind's eye". Audiences leave invigorated - entranced by Kaffe's sense and use of colour. They are ready to try it themselves and are encouraged to do so. Fassett highlights works from his latest projects, including his patchwork quilt, fabric, needlepoint, mosaic, painting and knitting designs. The slide presentation lasts approximately one hour, followed by a question and answer session, and book signing.

Want to know more about Kaffe? In this video he invites you into his studio and gives an exclusive interview on his quilting career.

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A Stitch Placement Tutorial from Laura Wasilowski

Laura was asked how she decides on the hand embroidery stitches used on her small art quilts. Here is a tutorial on stitch placement which shows you how to use it to create the focal point in a design.

Star Members can watch Laura in Show 303: Fearless Fusing and Show 1009: "Stamp Out" Fabric.

(photo: Laura Wasiloski)

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Meg Cox and Liza Prior Lucy to be Featured at The Quilt & Sewing Fest of New Jersey

Mancuso Show Management has announced that Liza Prior Lucy of New Hope, Pennsylvania is the featured instructor, and Meg Cox from Princeton, New Jersey is the featured lecturer, at the 2016 Quilt & Sewing Fest of New Jersey, March 3-6, 2016 in Somerset, New Jersey.

A well-known quilter in her own right, Liza Lucy is also famed as Kaffe Fassett’s collaborator in quilt design and is co-author with him on many books, including Glorious Patchwork. Liza specializes in re-interpreting traditional quilt patterns using contemporary fabrics and unexpected color combinations. Visit Liza’s online fabric store, GloriousColor.com. Liza is teaching 2 full-day, 9 am – 4 pm, workshops at the Quilt Fest: Glorious Hexagons on Friday and on Saturday, Bright Squares.

Meg Cox is a journalist and expert on quilting and its traditions, who lectures at guilds, shows and museums. She contributes articles to the Wall Street Journal and many national magazines. Her popular newsletter, Quilt Journalist Tells All!, features news, reviews and monthly giveaways. You may subscribe to her newsletter at www.megcox.com. Meg’s 1:30 pm, Sunday, March 6 lecture, Celebrate! Rituals for Quilters, will be enjoyed by quilters and their non-quilting friends and family alike.

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Lessons About Needles

Rhonda Pierce, Marketing Director and Sewing Educator for SCHMETZneedles.com discusses SCHMETZ Household Needles and Needle Basics. Topics include: how to open the needle pack; how to insert the needle; and how to thread the needle.

Visit SCHMETZneedles.com for more information.

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Tickets for Denver Taping are Still Available

Free Tickets are Still Available

Here's the Guest List:

Nancy Arseneault / Lois Podolny

Sherry Rogers Harrison

Gina Perkes

Jill FInley

Barbara Yates Beasley

Carol Morrissey

Jane LaFazio

Janet Lutz

Tamara Leberer

Allie Aller

Here are the dates, guidelines and policies for requesting tickets:

Studio Location:

WESTWORKS STUDIOS (Inside the Comcast Building)
4100 E. Dry Creek Road
Centennial, CO 80122

Dates: Friday-Tuesday, March 4-8, 2016.

Two shows are taped each day. Attending the entire day is required.

Cut-off date for requests is February 20, 2016, or when sold out.

Who can get tickets? Free tickets are available for Basic and Star members.

Free tickets are offered on a first come, first served basis.
To reserve a ticket, you will need to provide the following information:
        Full given name
          Profile name
          Email address
          Day you would like to attend

If you are requesting tickets for more than one person, you will need to provide this same information for each additional person.

All requested tickets MUST be used. Please do not request tickets if you are not committed to attending. Seating is limited to 50 and we do not overbook the seating area, so unused tickets result in empty seats, which diminishes the energy of the show and denies someone else the opportunity to attend. If you have reserved tickets that result in a "no-show" or "partial-show," you will not be eligible for tickets to future show tapings.

Tickets will be distributed for only one day of attendance. Confirmation of tickets will be in the form of an e-mail document.

To make your request for free tickets, or to get further information about tickets and our ticket policies, e-mail lilobowman.thequiltshow@gmail.com . Please note that your e-mail request for tickets should state the word TICKET in the subject line in order for it to be processed in the order it is received.

**Large groups should contact Lilo directly at (817) 367-9363.

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Let's Get Organized: Week 4 - Scrap Projects, Part A

Scraps have a way of growing without anyone noticing, and before you know it, they can take over a studio. Are you still on the hunt for some of those wonderful vintage suitcases (we mentioned them last week) that Susan Carlson uses? Or maybe you haven't finished that last bit of lettuce in the clear plastic container? Why not put those unruly scrap bits to good use with something fun? While we don't want to add another UFO to your already-long list...come on, we know you have one... these little projects/ideas might be just the ticket for taming that scrap pile into submission while you find the perfect way to store them.

1. A string quilt is a perfect way to use lots of scraps. Ricky shares a stunning string quilt design idea (Show 305) using scraps left over from his classes.

2. How about using scraps to make "fabric" that can then be made into a block? Make a sawtooth star following Victoria Findley Wolfe 's (Show 1404) demo. The idea is from her book 15 Minutes of Play. Check out this WIP on Lilo's design wall.

Star Members can download the project.

3. Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts sewed together all of the scraps into a fun and colorful scrap quilt. Check out the binding - it's also made from scraps! Here is a tutorial from Heather at The Sewing Loft for making binding out of scraps.

4.Stop throwing out those little breath mint boxes. Green Bee covers them with pretty fabric to store basic sewing/knitting items. They make great little quilty gifts. One more idea: Life at Cloverhill shows how to keep that iron cord under control with a cute cuff.

5. Ebony at Love Bug Studios makes dog beds and use the scraps as stuffing. She donates the beds to her local shelter. It's a great way to do something good for a dog and utilize some of your unwanted scraps at the same time.

6. And how about making some nifty boxes out of your fabrics? Another clever idea we found from Crazy Mom Quilts.

Need more ideas? You will have to wait till next week, when we share Part B of what to do with your scraps.

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Visit Joe Cunningham's Studio

Our very first guest on TQS, Joe Cunningham, just did a walk-thru of his studio. Come along with him. He was holding the camera himself, so it's a bit shaky, but you'll get the idea.

Want to have even more fun? Star members can watch that first episode, Show 101: Get a Life! from 2007. It's fun to watch and see how times have changed the shows.

Click here to watch Show 101.

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Get Creative with Jen! No-Sew Valentine Wreath

Want another great way to use up your scraps? Watch Jennifer from Shabby Fabrics and learn how to make a gorgeous no-sew wreath that can be customized for any holiday!

Click here to download bow pattern.

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TQS BOM Captures 1st Place Traditional at Road to California

TQS BOMs have won numerous awards and ribbons at shows. We thought you like to see one of the latest winners. Did you guess which BOM it was?

This fabulous quilt, Celestial Sedona, was created by Norma J. Ippolioto of Chester, VT. It was based on the Sedona Star pattern, the TQS BOM for 2012 designed by Sarah Vedeler. It won 1st Place Traditional at Road to California 2016.

Artist statement: This quilt features a variety of construction techniques: piecing, raw edge applique, and embroidered applique with decorative stitching. Building from the center out, it became a three-year journey resulting in the most challenging quilt I have made and also the most rewarding.

Whether you use a kit or your own fabric, when you finish the quilt, enter it into a contest. We think you will be happily surprised.

A limited number of kits are still available in the shop, including last year's BOM by Lynette Anderson currently discounted 50%.

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