Daily Blog

  1

fShare

Tweet

Our Office Manager Extraordinaire, Suzanne, is also an extraordinary quilter. We asked what her favorite quilting tool is, and she instantly responded "the Quilters Select Rotary Cutter!"

Why does she love it so much?

She says, "I love the weight of it, and the shape of the handle is ergonomic so it it fits right in my palm and feels great in my hand. It also rolls very nicely when I am cutting- it is a good quality product!"

If you haven't used your 25% off Star Member coupon yet, this is a great way to do it!

  3

fShare

Tweet

It's a "two-fer" with Timna Tarr and Mary Fons.

Alex and Ricky welcome contemporary quilter Timna Tarr to the show, where she talks about her new series of quilts devoted to maps. Timna shares a fast and fun way to use your state as a graphic and a contemporary quilt and also a technique for creating a contemporary flower quilt mosaic.

Quilt historian Mary Fons shares the interesting history of quilt making in the United States. From quilting in the 50s to the revival in the 70s, Mary discusses how quilters found their voice as quilting continued to evolve and today's Modern quilt movement.

Watch Timna and Mary in Show 2501, when it debuts Sunday, June 30, 2019.

  6

fShare

Tweet

We showed you Wendy Grande's quilt, Americana Baltimore, on Wednesday. (Click here to see it.) Today we start showing the individual blocks. They are amazing and Wendy tells about her approach and work on the blocks. Ruching, ribbons, and ultrasuede...here are her stories for three of the blocks, more will follow.

I spent ages looking at pictures, drawings and carvings of eagles and couldn’t find the right one for my quilt.  Warren watched my frustration grow and said he might have something I could use.  He brought me his fathers USN Retired pin and there was the perfect American eagle, complete with the star banner and stem of roses!  It was just right for this quilt especially given the inspiration of the Clipper Ship!

I started with the top outline of the wings of the Eagle and then, working from the bottom up, stitched the feathers directly on the fabric adding each feather and layering the remaining colors and feathers using the back stitch.  When the wings were in place I added in the ruched roses, ultrasuede stems and batik fabric leaves.  The Eagles head, back and tail feathers were stitched into place and an ultrasuede eye and beak were added using a pigma pen to add definition.  The banner was drawn and shaded with brown pigma pens on a separate piece of muslin.  The blue and red shading was added using oil pastels.  The completed banner was then needle turn appliqued with a thin piece of batting behind it.

Design by EllySienkiewicz - Dove and Anchor

The details in this block are wonderful!  The wreath stem is bias cut silk ribbon from Hanah, folded and appliqued.  The buds are made from ombre ribbon – the calyx is appliqued in place, open at the top and then the bud is added and the calyx is closed up.  The leaves are needle turn appliqued, with a slight bit of batting underneath the batik fabric.  The ribbon is a vintage ombre ribbon tied in a bow and stitched down, then the bits of wheat were added.  The Anchor is cut from ultrasuede and the chain is also ultrasuede.  I drew the chain links on the back of the ultrasuede and using micro serrated small scissors, carefully cut out the chain in one piece.  The Dove is in three pieces of wired ribbon that were stitched together and needle turned appliqued over a thin batting.  The Dove's eye is cut from a piece of gray ultrasuede with the center inked in with a pigma pen.

Elly Sienkiewicz pattern.  The center branch is made with hand-dyed bias silk and the leaves are fabric with center lines drawn with a pigma pen.  The cherries are fussy cut from hand-dyed fabric and the stems are thin cuts of ultrasuede couched down with silk thread.

  9

fShare

Tweet

Based on a photograph of the Lake District in England, The Gate by Irene Foss was so realistic it had us wondering what we would see if we could just get passed it and into the wonderful wilderness beyond. Irene used many different techniques to achieve the effect including Fused Appliqué, Collage, Confetti, Free-Motion Quilting, Fabric Painting, and Thread Painting.

The Gate was on exhibit at AQS QuiltWeek Paducah Spring 2019.

36" x 31"

Quilting Method: Stationary Machine. Quilting Techniques: Fused Appliqué, Collage, Confetti, Free-Motion Quilting, Fabric Painting, Thread Painting.

Design Source: photograph of the Lake District, England and Snippet Sensations: Fast, Fusible Fabric Art for Quilted or Framed Projects by Cindy Walter © 1999 Krause Publications.

  1

fShare

Tweet

We recently ran photographs of Ian Berry's Hotel California exhibit of denim quilts. Many of you asked to see close ups, so here they are, close ups from the various quilts.

Click here to see "Hotel California" quilts.

Ian was named as a top 30 under 30 in the world a few years ago and has been creating these painstakingly detailed works for nearly 15 years has now landed another accolade, but he needs our help! He is on the final 100 shortlist for the top 50 influential people in denim for 2019. Give him your vote at www.rivet50.com (It is on the last page of five and looks like the image below.). VOTING ENDS TODAY JUNE 28, 2019.

  5

fShare

Tweet

It is hard to believe that the countdown has begun!! My friend Kathleen and I took at walk to Fika Sisters Coffeehouse so I could pick up a gift card to include in the auction basket that I am putting together as a fundraiser for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show when we passed the Event Office.

The Event Office is where every one of the over 1200 quilts are checked in and then organized by where they will be hung for this outdoor one day show! The volunteers start hanging the quilts at 7 AM and by about 9 AM the show is officially opened! It is an incredible process that even requires the state of Oregon to close the highway through town so the 10,000+ visitors can safely walk on the highway to view the quilts hanging from the buildings around town. The show is in its 43rd year and couldn't be the success it is without the 100's of volunteers. And just so you know, each quilt is handled and treated as if it was the volunteers own creation.

The floor of the Event Office is covered in plastic to protect the quilts from dirt, and the rows are labeled according to the location/building they will be hung. Already quilts have been trickling in, but within a couple of days it will be wall to wall quilts! Truly this show takes a village, which is organized and supported by our new Quilt Show Director, Dawn Boyd!

I hope you will add this show to your bucket list, and this year the Quilt Roadies is doing a Meet 'n Greet at Fika Coffee at 11:30 AM on Quilt Show Day...hope we see you!!!

Stay tuned and travel along with us on Quilt Roadies.

Click here for Anna's blog.

  7

fShare

Tweet

The Artist who was named as a top 30 under 30 in the world a few years ago and has been creating these painstakingly detailed works for nearly 15 years has now landed another accolade, but he needs our help! He is on the final 100 shortlist for the top 50 influential people in denim for 2019. Give him your vote at www.rivet50.com (It is on the last page of five and looks like the image below.). VOTING ENDS ON JUNE 28, 2019.

  10

fShare

Tweet

Capt'n John:

"I stumbled across this quilt draped over a chair in Alex's office. "What's this?", I asked. Alex said it was Wendy's quilt that had been left at the Comcast Studios in Colorado during our last taping. They found it and sent it to Alex in California. I called Wendy and asked for pictures. She had some, but not as close as I wanted, because the work is amazing. So here is the full quilt with Wendy's explanations of how it was made. But this doesn't show even half of what makes this quilt stand out.  I took pictures that get within 2 inches so you really see the work. There is a lot to see so we are showing this today with close ups on Friday and Sunday to get it all in. My favorite is the woven basket (coming Sunday)."

Enjoy Americana Baltimore by Wendy Grande, and read her explanations for why she did what she did below the quilt.

WATCH FOR UP CLOSE PICTURES OF EACH BLOCK ON FRIDAY AND SUNDAY.

WENDY GRANDE ---I started this quilt in a class offered by Elly Sienkiewicz to make the Clipper Ship as a large center block.  Warren, my husband, was very excited and provided the inspiration for the flags and helped me understand the mechanics, from a Sailors perspective, of what was being added to the ship.  I did not add all the rigging and sails (like the ship model we have at home) as I thought it started to get to “complicated”, let alone all the extra work!  I used 5 blocks from Elly’s Books and added 5 of my own.  I love the separation the sashing provides, but I want it to remain subtle and in the background.  I also wanted a border that had bold lines but not a heavy design.  I decided to simplify flourished borders on china to create the border design.  Blue and gold 7mm silk ribbon was stitched on the foundation fabric using a split stitch.

Once the Center block was finished (17” square finished) I was excited to surround it with Baltimore Album Style Blocks that were made on a smaller scale (8” finished).  I knew I wanted an Eagle at the top (4thof July is HUGE at our house) with wreaths.  Then baskets and vases of flowers.  My sister, Lezlie,  is a floral designer and she and I have taken years of Ikebana.  I have a Masters in Ikebana and Lezlie is a 3rddegree Master of Ikebana.  When we are together no flowers, greens or arrangements go unnoticed!!  The 4 blocks at the bottom are “heavier” and are all designs from Elly Sienkiewicz.  I chose them because they “grounded” me with the trees, lovely birds and intricate work.

  24

fShare

Tweet

Alex's quilt, Anchors Aweigh, was made in tribute to her father Joe Sladky and featured in the A Better World Exhibition at Houston International Quilt Festival in 2019. In addition to Houston, it was displayed in many other wonderful venues, including the New England Quilt Museum, the Visions Art Museum, and many more. Below is what Alex has to say about the quilt and the exhibit: 

"I'm beyond thrilled that my art work has been accepted into "A Better World", an art quilt exhibit highlighting heroes in our world who have worked for the greater good. I chose my Dad, Joe Sladky.

You won’t find a monument with his name on Main Street, or a statue in the town square, but he’s a hero nonetheless. How else to describe a man who spent much of his 94 years in service to others, in ways both large and small? A lifetime sailor, he served his country honorably and proudly as a Navy Lt JG during World War II, eventually settling his young family in Northern California. There, his dedicated commitment to giving—often quietly, behind the scenes—helped to build his small town’s educational, medical, and humanitarian communities. From serving on the school board to playing Santa at the local Senior Center, he was always ready with a hand and a smile. His philosophy was simple: to provide a solid secure mooring; to teach, support and encourage; and then—when the moment was right—to let go for a smooth sail, guided by the stars.

 

A hero? Yes. But also an outstanding citizen, friend, husband, father . . .

my father:

Joseph F. Sladky (July 19, 1923 – August 12, 2017)"

 

Learn more about the A Better World Exhibition by watching Show 2710.

 

Anchors Aweigh by Alex Anderson