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Judy writes about her quilt, Three Handstands:

"I have a lifelong love of gymnastics and respect for all women athletes. This is a celebration of women in sports and the tremendous effort it takes to not only balance one’s family with work, social, or school life, but to add the challenge of keeping up with a busy training schedule. Since the 1970’s women have enjoyed more freedom in competing in sports at the international level and professionally, as well as earning athletic scholarships to college that were not available to our grandmothers."

Star Members can watch Judy in Show 2110: Creating Collage and Fabric with Your Computer.

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 35 Pieces Non-Rotating

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 99 Pieces Non-Rotating

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 300 Pieces Non-Rotating

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 35 Pieces Rotating

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 99 Pieces Rotating

ThreeHandstandsbyJudyAhlborn - 300 Pieces Rotating

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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Judy writes about her quilt, Three Handstands:

"I have a lifelong love of gymnastics and respect for all women athletes. This is a celebration of women in sports and the tremendous effort it takes to not only balance one’s family with work, social, or school life, but to add the challenge of keeping up with a busy training schedule. Since the 1970’s women have enjoyed more freedom in competing in sports at the international level and professionally, as well as earning athletic scholarships to college that were not available to our grandmothers."

Star Members can watch Judy in Show 2110: Creating Collage and Fabric with Your Computer.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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The results are in for the Quilting in America™ 2017 Survey. Quilting in America™ is presented by the Quilting Company and Quilts, Inc., but conducted independently by ORC International and Advantage Research, Inc.

Find out how many quilters there are in America, how much money they spend on quilting, and what they buy. See where quilters get their inspiration, how they use the internet, and just how big the quilting market is.

Find out where you fit in. Click on the button below to see all the survey results.

 

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Ricky Tims' Quilt Luminarium is a comprehensive quilt symposium that demystifies seemingly complex concepts, teaches mastery of unique techniques, and harnesses the power of the ever-elusive muse of creativity.
 
Ricky Tims brings Quilt Luminarium to several regions in the USA in 2018. Registration is open for all 2018 events. Each venue has early bird registration deadlines, so click the link below to get all the registration information. Quilt Luminarium is a two-day, intensive learning experience unlike anything in the quilting world. It is jam packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, as well as insights on design and creativity. The curriculum targets all quilters: from beginners to advanced, traditional to contemporary, and art to modern.
 
Come as a group! ROAD TRIP!
Click here for all the details and registration.
 
 
 
 
“So many of us work in our own comfort zone. Some of us are afraid to take risks in working “outside the box” in our creations. But experiencing what Ricky presented to us we gained the courage PLUS the know-how to try something new. The gamut of his seminar was profound!”
 
 “I must say, it was the most exhilarating, personal, confidence-building, entertaining, freedom-releasing, energizing Seminar I have ever experienced!”
 

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Kayoko Hibino of Japan has created her interpretation of Grimms' Fairy Tales in her quilt, Marchen (Fairy Tale). Her imagination supplied the amazing imagery created by hand piecing, appliqué, embroidery, and trapunto. Marchen (Fairy Tale) was exhibited at the Houston Quilt Festival 2017.

 

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When we saw the wonderful quilt by Judy Ahlborn of her daughter, done in the style of Alphonse Mucha, it reminded us of a special quilt at Houston 2017 that was inspired by Mucha's "La Primevere," Mariko Miwa's I Love Mucha.

Capt'n John:

I take so many pictures so fast that I missed seeing the woman in the middle. I concentrated on the birds and didn't realize what the main feature was until I saw the picture "La Primevere" (last picture below) that it was based on."

Did you miss it too?

 

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Mariia Nelga, President of the Ukrainian Quilter’s Association, sat down with Ricky in Houston and asked him questions from Ukrainian quilters. In this short video, Ricky addresses losing your inspiration and talks about the "Passion Index."

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The quilting world has a huge variety of styles and we all tend to lean towards a particular genre. Even though your happy place may be one specific type of quilting, as a quilter, when visiting a show you know what it takes to create and finish any type of quilting project, even if it isn't your desired type of quilting. If I were to put myself into a quilting box, it would be traditional. I like traditional piecing, needle turn appliqué, vintage embroidery, Sashiko, and wool. I am also in love with the folk stitching of Sue Spargo...but, let me tell you...when I hear there is going to be a new display of art quilts at the Stitchin' Post I rush on down!!! The Central Oregon Studio Art Quilt Association is an amazing group of artists who transform fiber in ways that open the heart and mind of this traditional quilter. 

I know that no matter what type of quilter you are...you'll enjoy the interpretation of "Pathways," a challenge by The Central Oregon Studio Art Quilt Association.

Click here for Anna's YouTube Channel.



 

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

 

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There have been three Cherrywood challenges featuring Wicked, The Lion King, and most recently Vincent Van Gogh. The challenge this year is taking a bit of a different turn and will be featuring a musician associated with a very particular hue. Did you guess who it was? It's Prince and it's purple!

 

DUE: JULY 2, 2018

GOAL:
Be inspired by Prince and his music - an iconic musician who lived in Minnesota even though his fame could have taken him anywhere. The Cherrywood studio is just 200 miles from Paisley Park, Prince's home and recording studio. Our challenge is to take inspiration from Prince's music, style, movies, and distinct look, to create your own unique quilt using our gorgeous hand dyed fabric in saturated purples.

We want you to push yourself creatively, think outside the box and create new fiber art. The contest is open to anyone. All the quilts will be the same color, fabric, size and theme.

Click here to learn more.

 

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Marianne Lettieri, Somewhat There (detail), 2017

It's hard to believe, but the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. To honor the occasion, the museum will be featuring four new exhibits:

JUNCTURE I: BIENNIAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION (Now – November 26, 2017)
EXPRESSIONS OF IDENTITY (Now – January 14, 2018)
IDENTITY TAPESTRY: MARY COREY MARCH (Now - January 14, 2018)
JUNCTURE II: BIENNIAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION (November 29, 2017 - January 14, 2018)
 
Since our 35th anniversary, the Museum has focused its collecting efforts on historic and contemporary quilts and fiber art since 1940, with an emphasis on California artists” said Executive Director Nancy Bavor. “This exhibition, which includes over 40 art works acquired since our 35th anniversary, is tangible evidence of that concentrated focus and includes important art works by some of California’s leading fiber and quilt artists, as well as works by other internationally known fiber artists.
 
Expressions of Identity: 40th Anniversary Exhibition is currently on display in all galleries (excluding the Porcella Gallery) thru January 14, 2018. The Museum describes the exhibit as follows:
 
Inserting one's identity is inherent in the process of an artist and their body of work. As San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles celebrates its 40th year, we reflect on our own identity and highlight pieces from the permanent collection acquired in the last five years.
 
Juncture 1: 40th Anniversary Member's Exhibition is currently on display in the Museum’s Porcella Gallery thru November 26, 2017. It will be followed in the Porcella Gallery by Juncture 2: 40th Anniversary Member's Exhibit (November 29, 2017 - January 14, 2018). The Museum describes the Juncture exhibits as follows:
 
Now in its fortieth year, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is at a juncture in time, where we can both reflect on the past and look forward to the future. A juncture can also be an intersection of place or events, often one laden with symbolic potential: In many folk traditions, junctures as represented by crossroads are a potent metaphor for transition. Though a juncture can be a time for reflection, the word can also describe a critical moment or crisis that demands immediate action. With the concept as their point of departure, artists may take the exhibitions theme for "juncture" where it leads them. 
 
Identity Tapestry: Mary Corey March is currently on display in the Museum's hallway thru January 14, 2018. The Museum describes the exhibit as follows:

Through a variety of mediums, artist Mary Corey March explores questions of individuality, humanity, data, and expression. March’s participatory installation Identity Tapestry will enlist SJMQT visitors in creating a portrait of our community. Participants choose a ball of yarn to trace along the framework of statements pinned to the wall. These statements begin with basic biographical information, such as “I am a woman,” but splinter off into more complex facets of identity: “I have seen someone dying,” “I stop to enjoy a beautiful moment,” “I am fortunate.” Connecting point to point with their yarn, participants trace out the paths of their identities, making visible the ways in which we are the same and different from one another. In each of its locations, including San Francisco, Pepperdine University, Southern Vermont College, and Pfäffikon, Switzerland, Identity Tapestry thus becomes a work of art as unique as the people who contribute to it.
 
Museum Hours:

11:00am-4:00pm Wednesday through Friday
11:00am-3:00pm Saturday and Sunday
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays.
 
WHERE: San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, 520 South 1st St. San Jose, CA 95113
 
ADMISSION: Admission is $8.00 general; $6.50 students and seniors; and free to Museum members and children 12 and under. Admission is ‘pay what you can’ on the first Friday of each month. For more information, call 408-971-0323 or visit www.sjquiltmuseum.org.