Quilting inspiration and tutorials; dimensional wool and cotton applique; stories of quilts; applique patterns
I was so excited today to get an email from Mathilde at Quiltmania. They had posted the videos of the show in Nantes this spring. Here's my House. It was such an awesome experience. And this week if you preorder (we're expecting more books any day now) a copy of Country Quilts for your Soul you can get a Monkey Wrench kit for 15% off - It's the large quilt behind the bed. You'll need to email Byron at [email protected] to order the book and the kit together. We still haven't figured out coupons :). The only quilt in my "House" not in the book is the one on the bed. It's Jubilee which was on the cover of Quiltmania awhile ago. They had made one for the magazine cover and brought it to put on the bed. Here's Jubilee. I take that back, the other quilt that is pictured in the book and video that doesn't have patterns in the book is The Bible Quilt. If you want to make it, you can order it here. They also posted the interview with me but it's overdone in French so I can't really hear me much. If you can put up with not really being able to hear what I say while looking into the sun -(I'm saying that I developed a style of needleturn applique that allows me to do the designing and prep work during the day and then applique at night while I watch TV and then in the morning while I drink my coffee). If you can wade your way through that, I'm starting to teach a star. Then Valerie translates to the class and it was great to see and hear her again. If you want to see the other "Houses" and interviews go to www.pour-l-amour-du-fil.com/pages/videos-edition-2011.php. All in all, an awesome experience - fond, fond, memories. I can't thank them enough. And many thanks to Laurie Simpson who told me how to put the videos in my blog - while teaching a workshop, even.
It's time to get back to my blogging routine. I lost my computer charger and now that we've spent $50+ to replace it, I'm back in business. Believe me, I could kick myself for that loss, but it's time to move on. That said, I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the darling little art quilts I found just before "the big loss." This one is especially unusual. You have to really look at it to see that the hibiscus in the center actually extends out to the edges of the quilt, even past the first frame or two. How unusual and artistic is that? from Murray Johnston Art Quilts Most of these seem to be smaller quilts, but it's difficult to tell the size exactly. That's one of the problems with Pinterest. Well, that and the missing or broken links. I can't believe that I was so gun-shy when I first discovered Pinterest and now I have couple of boards with 1000+ pins! I suppose I got over my trepidation. Go by and visit my "heart, quilts" board and take a look. And if you'd like to see even more pins of fine art paintings, visit my "fine art, masterpiece" board. Happy Pinning, Mary
In my journey to learn more about the history of quilting and fiber arts, I have discovered some incredible makers, artists, thinkers and leaders. A couple weeks ago we talked about one of our founding Quilt Mothers, Nancy Crow, Marti Michell, Rachel Clark and Judith Scott. Today, I bring you someone who is not justContinue Reading...
Mary Lou Weidman is an artist. She creates whimical art quilts that tell a story with her painted fabrics and hand stitching.
Angela from Cut to pieces makes the most darling mini quilts in the whole entire world! seriously! I just about died about a year ago when ...
Mary Lou Weidman is an artist. She creates whimical art quilts that tell a story with her painted fabrics and hand stitching.
With EPP we can get stuck on detailed designs and their creative use of fabric. This quilt isn't that. Valentina is a simple quilt perfect for precious fabrics.
Quilt artist Denise Sheridan's hand-sewn, hand-quilted works of art are part personal narrative, part sociopolitical statement.
Explore Old Chum's photos on Flickr. Old Chum has uploaded 2804 photos to Flickr.
Nationally-known storyteller Donald Davis once said, “Stories are like quilts. They come from scraps and bits of life and when done right, they remind us who we are and where we came from.” Conversely, our quilts are themselves laden with our stories. We put a little bit of ourselves into each one we make. Not only do
What a whirlwind two weeks it has been for Teri and me! We hit the ground running at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts and didn't stop until Teri hopped on a plane to return home. With all that activity behind us—trips to France, castles, and cathedrals—posting about the amazing quilts we saw at the quilt show is now possible. There were so many wonderful quilts, that it would be challenging to show them all in one post. Today's quilts are from the exhibit hosted by the British Quilt Study Group (BQSG), while some of the other quilts from the festival will have to wait for another time. The BQSG began in 1998, and you can read more about their aim and purpose here. Of course, any time there is an exhibit of antique quilts, Teri and I make a beeline for it, and this one did not disappoint! Here is a gallery of just some of the splendid quilts from the past and a little information from the display about them. Whole Cloth Quilts Red wholecloth quilt, circa 1900. Detail: red wholecloth quilt. White wholecloth quilt, circa 1920-30. Detail: white wholecloth quilt. Blue wholecloth quilt, circa 1920-30 This quilt was quilted in the "Hawick Style," which included motifs such as thistle, hearts with spiky-leafed centers, and daisies, The thistle motif. Crazy Quilts The level of detail in this crazy quilt is fantastic! The Seward Wall Hanging, circa 1889 This quilt was made by an invalid, Emily Seward, who passed away at the age of 29. Center with signature of maker. Very detailed dancers. The shading on the lions mane is perfect! This quilt was a history lesson in and of itself! Crazy quilt, circa 1900 Made by Mrs. R. Ruttle What a clever way to make this posy. We can't wait to try these flowers! Another spectacularly embroidered crazy quilt! The maker of this quilt used the smallest scraps to create this masterpiece. What a creative way to use a Log Cabin square. Center medallion Signature Quilt Bratton Baptist Church Bazaar Coverlet, circa 1913 Made by the members of the church to raise funds. Detail of a few of the 270 squares. Patchwork Quilt This patchwork quilt, circa 1800-20, is pieced with four different sizes of half-square triangles. Some of the scraps in the center are from the late 18th century! Finding out how to become a member We had such a wonderful time examining these beautiful examples of Britain's quilt history. The members supporting the exhibit were so helpful and willing to share their knowledge and passion. Who made the quilt? What was going on in society at the time the quilt was made? How old is the quilt? Why were those fabrics used? These are just some of the questions asked by those whose research and dedication allows the stories of these quilts and others to be brought to light and shared with the world. Do you have a passion for old quilts and their stories? No matter which side of the pond you live, there is a quilt study group for you. To join the British Quilt Study Group click here and to join the American Quilt Study Group click here.
It’s time for another Quilt Story. For those who haven’t been following the blog for long, this is a series of posts where I talk about the quilts I have made—their origins, what I lear…
Mary Lou Weidman is an artist. She creates whimical art quilts that tell a story with her painted fabrics and hand stitching.
Flickr is nothing without you, our community. We want to make sure this community continues to thrive, grow, and inspire, so we've made some big changes.
Listen to Laura Wasilowski's story about her quilt, On a Leaf and a Prayer for an interview with Quilters' Save Our Stories from the Quilt Alliance.
Spotlight at 40 Quilt
Last week, I (Teri) went on vacation to San Antonio, Texas. As always, when we travel, we stopped in several quilt shops and antique stores during our day trips to visit wineries or eat barbecue. My favorite day trip was definitely our drive to La Grange, where we went to the Texas Quilt Museum. It was everything I could have hoped for, and more! How lucky am I to have a husband who will drive two hours each way during vacation so that I can look at quilts?! When we arrived at the museum, I was a tiny bit disappointed that pictures were not allowed; however, I was given permission by the manager to take a few photos so that I could share them with you. The current exhibit is only there for a couple more days, but I was thrilled to have been there to see the magnificent quilts they have on display now. The main room was hung with Antique Indigo Quilts from the Poos Collection, by Kay and Lori Lee Triplett. The view from the front of the museum was breathtaking! Since I couldn't take photos of each quilt to study further when I got home, I purchased the book, which includes the quilts hanging in the exhibit. Now I can relive the beauty of those indigo quilts from my easy chair! Indigo Quilts, by Kay and Lori Lee Triplett This was one of my favorites! After examining each quilt in detail, we entered the next room, which displayed some of the quilts that were on exhibit in Houston last fall, at the International Quilt Festival. As you know, Kara and I love fairy tales and stories, so you can guess how excited I was to see two quite diverse quilts depicting stories. The museum manager, Julie Maffei, offered to take photos of me with the quilts for our blog. Try to zoom in to study the details. The work on both is magnificent! Marchen (Fairy Tale), by Kayoko Hibino; Japan There is nothing about this fairy tale quilt that I don't love— from the stories that are illustrated to the color and fabric choices, and of course, the spectacular embroidery and quilting. Adventures in Wonderland, by Fabia Diniz Mendonca; Brazil The more I studied this quilt, the more I found. I am in awe of anyone with a talent for quilting this kind of detail. And there were so many fabulously quilted elements of Alice's adventures included! Cheshire cat, detail The Mad Hatter, detail The Queen of Hearts, detail Alice, detail Many thanks to Julie, who allowed me to take a sampling of photos to share, and who walked me through the displays to be sure I didn't miss anything. The third exhibit included quilts by San Antonio artist, Jane Dunnewold, whose innovative quilts are creatively Inspired by the Masters. Each piece includes various types of vintage stitched pieces—including crewel, needlepoint, punch needle, doilies and quilt blocks—stitched together to portray a renowned masterpiece by a notable artist. To see more about this display, you can go to Jane's website to see her work: http://www.janedunnewold.com/inspired-by-the-masters. Julie then took me to The Pearce Memorial Library, which houses an extensive collection of books and resources about—you guessed it!—quilts. They started with a couple hundred books, but now have more than 6,000 books. This is a room where one could spend a day, getting lost in the pages of the quilt world! Stumpwork flowers based on Shakespeare works An exhibit of toile, from Mary and Joe Koval's collection. Each drawer held a piece of antique toile, and the story told in the fabric is detailed. In the drawer above is The Story of Joseph, Red and white French toile on linen, c. 1806. The current exhibit is soon ending, but the upcoming exhibits look just as promising. If only I lived closer! Next to the museum is a flower garden, and what quilter does not love a flower garden? This one, indeed, is inspired by a quilt, or quilt blocks; even the name, Grandmother's Flower Garden, is a popular quilt block design. Won't you join me on a pictorial stroll through the garden? I love irises! The sundial in the center of the garden The redbud trees were abloom, while at home, we were getting a foot of spring snow. My husband found a cool, comfortable resting spot. He even told me to take my time at the quilt shop next door! He had a pretty nice view of the garden from his shaded bench. The left side of the mural... ...and the right side. What a great day we had in La Grange, Texas, visiting the quilt museum, its garden, and the quilt shop right next door. There were even a few antique shops in the town. If you are ever in that area of Texas—even if it's a two-hour drive—it would be well worth your time to visit! For more information about the Texas Quilt museum, you can visit their website by clicking here. What about you? Have you visited a quilt museum that you could recommend to all of us? Please leave a comment below, so we all know what should go on our quilt museum bucket lists. Inquiring minds want to know!
Sometimes I wonder if I’m a “serious” artist. I mean, I don’t really worry about it, but it crosses my mind. Anyway, do I really want or need to be a “serious” a…
The techniques used for making story quilts, with many photos as examples, including fabric choice, photo transfer, appliqué, , embroidery, words, and embellishments.
Explore carlylehold's 17339 photos on Flickr!
Now I've finished all the blocks for my Angel Story Quilt designed by Anni Downs. Thank you Stina for teasing me into this abandoned project. And Stina started the "Angel Story Club". Suddenly we were 15 girls making this quilt. And I still get mails from other who wonder were to get the book. I've suggested to try Anni Downs website or Honeysuckle cottage. I started these blocks about two years ago....or is it three........never mind.........now they're done. And I can start cutting all the frames and squares the will go around each block. I proudly present for you: Best Friends Zoe & Prudence Charlotte the Shopper Libby the Librarian Fran's Flying School Two heartblocks Pot Plant Penelope Sarah the Sewing Angel Angela the Animal Lover Sophia the Social Butterfly Becky the Bookworm Harriet the Homebody Millicent the Magnificent Mum. Hettie at the Hat Shop Tillie the Tea Lady Dimity the Dreamer
We have begun our ambitious crazy quilting class with seven lovely and talented ladies. As we mentioned in a previous post, Crazy Quilting—Start to Finish, we have created a six-month crazy quilting class that teaches our students how to piece their blocks, stitch and embellish them, and finally put them together in the format of their choice. Taking photos of the class models for reference All our ladies had been eagerly awaiting this class and were ready to get started. Each student was instructed to bring at least 24 different fabrics, which could include cottons, silks, satins, or any other fabric they liked. We did have some fancy fabrics for sale to help their collection, but some of our ladies had been collecting fabrics over time, just for a future crazy quilt. A rainbow assortment of silks, satins, and velvets Many of these fabrics were sourced from thrift stores. One student's collection Each lady received four different patterns, as well as a fabric Little Red Riding Hood vintage postcard print to use as a center for one of their blocks. Most of the patterns were put together the same way, by having a center piece and then sewing each section around that center piece. We had the ladies bring in four 9" squares of flannel to be used as a base for the block, and Teri demonstrated how to construct the block with the flannel base. The flannel base provides a great support for the future block embroidery, and it also helps manage some of those slippery fabrics. The first piece is centered on the base. The second piece attached. As each piece is added, the excess underneath is trimmed away. Ready for embroidery After the demonstration, the ladies got to it and began constructing their blocks. Getting ready to choose fabrics Going around the center block with the next piece Checking if this fabric is a good fit This block is ready to be trimmed to its finished size. Such beautiful, bright colors We designed the patterns to be 8.5" finished, so having 9" base allowed for a little wiggle room as we pieced. An 8.5" square ruler was used to bring the pieced blocks down to their finished size. Trimmed and ready to go After the block was finished, the ladies basted around all four sides, and their blocks are ready for next month's embroidery session. Some of our students' finished blocks: The silver fabric in this block is a lacy overlay. Most of these fabrics were found at local thrift stores. As an unexpected treat, one of our students brought in some antique crazy quilt blocks that she had purchased. The blocks were in various stages of completion, absolutely beautiful, and she has more of them to bring to the next session. We can't wait to see them, and we will be sure to share them with you as well. Such lovely embroidery This unfinished, basted block is mostly made of silk. Another block a little further along in regard to the stitching Everyone was able to complete one block and will have the other three ready for our February meeting, where we will be focusing on motif selection, transferring design, and stitching the motifs. Thank you for joining us as we build these crazy quilts, and please come back to see the outcome of our next session.
There’s a long tradition of artists making self-portraits. Often the reason (or intent) of these self-portraits was simply exploratory. They needed to practice or try something out and they u…
Explore Pine57's 5770 photos on Flickr!
The more times I’ve returned to a particular location to teach, such as the Quilt Gallery in Kalispell, Montana, the more chances that I’ll get to see finished quilts from past students…
I've seen the book Story Quilt showing the work of Yukari Takahara on several blogs and while it's truly a lovely book, it seemed a little indulgent for something I'd be buying primarily for the pictures. But I was finally...
Going to sleep under your average, run-of-the-mill, storebought duvet feels nothing like snuggling under an artistic quilt that you or your loved one made for you. With affection. With care in every stitch. With countless hours of skill and dedication.
In my journey to learn more about the history of quilting and fiber arts, I have discovered some incredible makers, artists, thinkers and leaders. A couple weeks ago we talked about one of our founding Quilt Mothers, Nancy Crow, Marti Michell, Rachel Clark and Judith Scott. Today, I bring you someone who is not justContinue Reading...
It would be impossible to describe the International Quilt Festival in Houston to one who has never attended. There were roughly 55,000 attendees from over 35 countries, with more that 1,100 vendors' booths and over 45 special exhibits of quilts and related needle art. It can be overwhelming, but oh, the inspiration that abounds! All quilters should put this experience on their bucket list. We took a plethora of pictures, which we will spread out over several posts, so as not to overwhelm you (though that would give you a more accurate feel of Festival.) We will share a couple of the quilt exhibits in their entirety in their own posts. For today, we'll show you a few highlights. Above are views of the exhibitors booths from the second floor. We were not alone in loving the Dutch Heritage reproduction fabric in this booth with Petra Prins. She sold out of all of her stock before the Festival was over! The samples below show why. Stunning!! One of the exhibits that we found intriguing was The Millefiori Quilts, sponsored by Quiltmania Editions. The attention to detail in composing these intricate quilts is almost beyond imagination. Polychromatic Medley, by Christine Belding; hand-pieced using English paper piecing, from the book Millefiori Quilts, by Willyne Hammerstein. Detail: Polychromatic Medley Detail: Polychromatic Medley Hexagons were everywhere! Here are the girls in the Moda booth demonstrating English paper piecing with hexies, using mini charm packs (Moda candy) of Grunge fabric. They even handed out a sample of the Moda candy so we could all try it. Start small, and you, too, could end up stitching a Millefiori quilt, totally by hand! Why not? And we just have to say that the David Bowie quilt hanging in the Moda booth was incredible!! For your viewing pleasure, here are a few more quilts in exhibit that we enjoyed. Stop back soon and see some more of our favorites! Winter Memories, Chieko Shiraishi; Japan Hand appliqué, hand embellishing, hand quilting, hand embroidery Detail, Winter Memories Whooper Reflection, Judith Roderick; New Mexico, USA Hand-drawn with soy wax and gutta-dyed, machine quilted; hand-painted silk The Peaceable Kingdom, Margery Hedges; Texas, USA Machine appliqué and quilting; hand appliqué, painting Second Chances, Rhonda Dort; Texas, USA Hand piecing, appliqué, quilting and embroidery; machine embellishment and embroidery Made with vintage linens, doilies, trims, ribbons, laces My Favorite Paisley, Yoko Izumi; Japan Hand piecing, hand embellishment, hand quilting No Bake Appliqué, Wendy Reed; Maine, USA Hand-appliquéd and quilted, potholder method Wendy asked for a photo of us with her quilt; here you go, Wendy! And congratulations on your ribbon! That concludes this taste of the Houston Quilt Festival. There is so much more to see. Stay tuned!
Children's picture books featuring quilts capture the essence of home, heritage, family, and community. There is nothing quite like the heart-warming story featuring a quilter who lovingly passes the tradition to a younger generation. The children's books recommended in this article feature stories of many different quilting traditions.
At London’s Serpentine Gallery, Faith Ringgold tells stories of race and self-discovery which have too often gone untold.
My first post from this years show featured a section on children's book quilts. I don't know why Tokyo Dome and NHK pick out books for eac...
Instead of this week’s regular Throwback Thursday, I decided on a “Throw Ahead Thursday,” looking to my new exhibit that just opened a week ago at the New England Quilt Museum (NE…
A quilt story I really want to tell.
