Sue Nickels is the queen of stippling and feathers. Her quilts are gape-mouth knockouts with lots beautifully detailed quilting. She deserves every single award.
I just finished her two-day EBHQ workshop on machine quilting. She was a fabulous instructor - organized, clear, concise and very patient and upbeat with everyone. Though she claims to be a non-techie, she used a microphone, camera and projector. Hurrah for Sue for embracing technology and enabling her students to see and hear her demonstrations
Despite having no interest in traditional quilting, I learned much even though my free motion quilting did not show any marked improvement. Practice, patience and preserverence was her pep talk cry. No one becomes an award winning free motion quilter overnight. See - there's hope!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Amish quilts
Recently I ventured to the de Young Museum in San Francisco with three fellow Quilt Therapists for Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown. Two of them had seen it before – one went to the symposium and the other had caught a docent tour. So I got the benefit of their commentary. Though a non-traditional quilter, I found much to admire.
The lighting was dim. To discern details, our noses were barely two inches away. Until the museum guard advised us to keep further back.
As expected, lots of traditional patterns. I finally get Tumbling Blocks. Usually blocks are stacked, but in one quilt they really look like they're about to tumble down. Many were very effective variations of traditional patterns. And wonderful unnamed patterns. Here's one of my favorites. Gee, even the Amish had their rebels.
Colors showed up fantastically which may be attributable to the use of wool in some. Still, even when the quilt was cotton, color choices were terrific. The darker and duller colors were great foil for the brighter ones. As a border, they gave breathing space for the lively centers. And they gave weight to the composition. Besides black, variations of purple seemed to predominate.
No prints used at all. So different from all the named designer prints that prevail today. Just terrific colors, designs and compositions.
The lighting was dim. To discern details, our noses were barely two inches away. Until the museum guard advised us to keep further back.
As expected, lots of traditional patterns. I finally get Tumbling Blocks. Usually blocks are stacked, but in one quilt they really look like they're about to tumble down. Many were very effective variations of traditional patterns. And wonderful unnamed patterns. Here's one of my favorites. Gee, even the Amish had their rebels.
Colors showed up fantastically which may be attributable to the use of wool in some. Still, even when the quilt was cotton, color choices were terrific. The darker and duller colors were great foil for the brighter ones. As a border, they gave breathing space for the lively centers. And they gave weight to the composition. Besides black, variations of purple seemed to predominate.
No prints used at all. So different from all the named designer prints that prevail today. Just terrific colors, designs and compositions.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Toot toot!
It has been accepted! Straight Talk is going to Mancuso's Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXI as part of the judged and juried quilt competition, Cheers!
Look for entry no. 3702 3072 if you're there.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Addition to the family
I've started another blog Virginia Says. You can also get to it through my profile.
In fall 2008 after my first Nancy Crow workshop, Strip Piecing & Restructuring, my friend, Karen, and I leisurely drove through Amish country in Ohio. At an antique mall she caught me guffawing over a book, The Intimate Affairs of a Good Girl by Anonymous, published by Goodwin in 1936. Who wrote this stuff?!
Entertainment doesn't get much cheaper than five dollars but it's free for you 'cuz I'm sharing. Though not the whole thing verbatim. Only the best.
Laugh or cry.
In fall 2008 after my first Nancy Crow workshop, Strip Piecing & Restructuring, my friend, Karen, and I leisurely drove through Amish country in Ohio. At an antique mall she caught me guffawing over a book, The Intimate Affairs of a Good Girl by Anonymous, published by Goodwin in 1936. Who wrote this stuff?!
Entertainment doesn't get much cheaper than five dollars but it's free for you 'cuz I'm sharing. Though not the whole thing verbatim. Only the best.
Laugh or cry.
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