Daily Blog

  0

fShare

Tweet

Here is a fun stitch.  Libby shows how you can use this in an amazing way on your quilts.  

Or need underwear?

  0

fShare

Tweet

Photos by Gregory Case Photography

You won't want to miss this show (Episode 1207), as (self-taught!) textile artist Hollis Chatelain visits us on location at friend Caryl Bryer Fallert's Bryer Patch Studios in Paducah, KY.

Hollis  reveals how her previous experiences as a photographer and as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa - as well as her vivid dreams! - have informed her amazing, award-winning work. She also shares how she combines a fast-and-fun reverse appliqué technique using recycled denim and hand-dyed fabric to create texture, as well as insight into her incredible threadwork.

Then quilter and AQS Executive Director Bonnie Browning drops by to show Hollis, Caryl, Alex, Ricky, and Justin how the fun, relaxing, and improvisational art of the Zentangle can translate to quilting.

  0

fShare

Tweet

How cute is this new rotary cutter from our friends at Olfa?  Doesn't it just scream Springtime? It works for Lefties (Alex) and Righties (Ricky).  

  0

fShare

Tweet

Get Close To See The Hidden Pictures

This amazing quilt, Innocence, by Hollis Chatelain is 103" x 78." It is made from a hand dye-painted with thickened fiber reactive dyes and machine quilted.   It is 100% cotton and has wool/polyester batting.  This quilt won Viewer's Choice in Houston, 2011.

Here is her artist statement regarding the quilt which can be found at www.hollisart.com.

Innocence is based on a dream I had last fall.

In the dream, I was standing at one end of a very large room. At the other end of the room was a huge orange portrait of an African boy. He seemed wise, innocent and mischievous all at the same time. As I walked toward him, I suddenly realized that there were images of many children floating over his face. Images that I couldn't see from the back of the room, children I could only see when I was willing to stand close to the child.

The children were from all over the world and in many situations. They were laughing, playing, eating and working. There were also child prostitutes and even a child soldier was represented. The boy (whom I affectionately call Ernest) seemed to be telling me to pay attention to the children in our world, to speak for them and tell their stories, for they are the innocent ones, they are in peril in many places, and they have no voice.

Over the many months I worked on Innocence, I seemed to feel a closeness and compassion for these children. Many of them had come into my life at one time or another. Two of my kids and my niece are in this piece, along with some of their playmates.

(photo: Gregory Case)

  0

fShare

Tweet

Hollis Chatelain-Amazing Quilts with Denim

You won't want to miss this show, as (self-taught!) textile artist Hollis Chatelain visits us on location at friend Caryl Bryer Fallert's Bryer Patch Studios in Paducah, KY. Hollis she reveals how her previous experiences as a photographer and as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa - as well as her vivid dreams! - have informed her amazing, award-winning work. She also shares how she combines a fast-and-fun reverse appliqué technique using recycled denim and hand-dyed fabric to create texture, as well as insight into her incredible threadwork.

Bonnie Browning-What's A Zentangle?

Then quilter and AQS Executive Director Bonnie Browning drops by to show Hollis, Caryl, Alex, Ricky, and Justin how the fun, relaxing, and improvisational art of the Zentangle can translate to quilting.

This episode debuts, Monday, March 25, 2013

See this show & all 2013 shows.  Here's how.  

  0

fShare

Tweet

Precious Water took Best of Show at the 2004 International Quilt Festival in Houston. It measures 77" x 85" and is made of 100% cotton fabric with polyester batting.  It is hand dye-painted with thickened fiber reactive dyes on cotton fabric and machine quilted.

Artist Statement:

In the spring of 2000, I dreamed of a yellow piece that spoke to me of the continual droughts that threaten so many places on our planet. Our fresh water is precious and limited. This is a worldwide problem that affects us all which is why the images represent four different continents. "Precious Water" is painted with dyes using six values of yellow, then quilted with over 200 different colors of thread.

Go to Hollis' website to see more of her work.

Precious Water - 36 pieces non-rotating

Precious Water - 100 pieces non-rotating

Precious Water - 300 pieces non-rotating

Precious Water - 100 pieces rotating

Precious Water - 300 pieces rotating

  0

fShare

Tweet

Superior Threads Thread Quiz

Which of the following is not correct thread terminology?

1. Mercerized Cotton
2. Staged Cotton
3. Gassed Cotton

       

  0

fShare

Tweet

You've watched Lauren's show (Episode 1206: The Magical World of Mixed Media) and visited her classroom (Fabric Fancifications), now take a look at some of her intricate, detailed, and wonderfully embellished work.

If you haven't watched her show or visited her classroom, click on one of the buttons below.

You can find Lauren on Etsy, click here.

  0

fShare

Tweet

The San Jose Museum is in desperate need of your help to keep it's doors open.  We can't let the doors to this great display of quilts close.  

Read the letter from Marie Strait, President of the Board of Directors and see if you can help-their deadline is March 31:

Dear Friends:

It has come time to share with you the difficult news that the Museum is under serious financial duress and if we don't raise $80,000 for operating costs by March 31 the Museum will be forced to close in the near future.

All areas of revenue at the Museum have experienced a decline in the last fiscal year with the most significant being support from foundations and corporations. The staff has been incredibly diligent and has taken advantage of every appropriate available opportunity to seek funding and write grant proposals to corporations, foundations, and government. More grants have been written in the last year than in previous years but foundation dollars have been reduced and overall funding for the arts is dwindling. Admissions revenue only accounts for 3.5% of the Museum's total operating budget of $710,000.

The Board in partnership with the Executive Director has made numerous reductions since July 2012 that include closing the Museum an additional day a week, reducing non-essential expenses, reducing staff hours, and eliminating positions. The Museum's Executive Director also agreed to a pay reduction of 20% that has been in effect since October of 2012. But no matter how much we reduce expenses, there are bills that have to be paid-the PG&E bill alone is $2,600 each month.

We've made new fundraising efforts, we recently added a new lecture series FiberTalks, launched a request for proposal process for artists to teach classes at the Museum, and added a new membership category at $35 for our quilt guild and fiber art friends to encourage every quilter and fiber artist in Northern California to support the Museum. We have also sought the help of several longtime funders of the Museum including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which is committed to help, but cannot give us the funds to cover the entire deficit.

If the Museum is important to you, now is the time to show us that you want the Museum to continue to promote the art, craft, and history of quilts and textiles.

If you are asking yourself what will happen if you don't make a gift-the truth is-the doors will close. It is only through the dedication and efforts of the staff and volunteers that exhibitions and programs have not yet been affected by the downsizing. But we cannot continue without additional support from individuals like you.

Please join or make a gift today so that we can ensure the future of the Museum. The Board of Directors is heavily invested in seeing the Museum succeed, remain open, and thrive for years to come. Won't you join us?

Sincerely,

Marie Strait
President, Board of Directors

Make your gift online or by mail to:

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
Emergency Appeal
520 South First Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Or make a gift by phone: 408.971.0323 x14, VISA and MasterCard accepted