PIQF #11 The quilting 10-24-09

One thing that comes up at every quilt show is the amount of quilting on the quilts, hand or machine quilted. For the past five or six years it has seemed that more quilting is done because it can be. Frequently the quilting design has no relationship to the design of the quilt, which essentially detracts from all the hard work the quilt maker has done to create the quilt top. This year was no different. Here are four quilts that the quilting works with the design.. or is the design! The closeup images of the whole cloth quilts are taken without flash so they are darker.

Welsh quilts are a separate and special division of whole cloth quilts with a traditional that reaches back centuries. Usually glazed fabrics are used to help accentuate the light reflection on the surface. These two quilts made by Heather are the best contemporary Welsh style whole cloth quilts I have seen. They are exquisite and need to be viewed "in-the-fabric" to be appreciated. The regularity of the hand stitches and the evenness of the stretched fabric make all the difference in the finished design.








There isn't a lot more I can say about these quilts - I stood in awe of Heather's superb stitching. I do wish people would fold their quilts face out so there is not such an ugly crease across the middle.

Here is a traditional American style quilt with excellent workmanship. I believe that the darker, greyed colors are coming back into fashion. It is machine quilted within an inch of its life.

But it is excellent machine quilting with motifs that go with the style of the quilt. I believe this is done on a long-arm, but, since the sign doesn't say, I can't be sure.

This is a quilt that won't appeal to everyone, but I know four people who photographed it unbeknown to each other. Its asymmetrical layout and unusual color scheme attracted my attention.

I don't believe that the poppy fabric is a Marimekko, perhaps it is a designer remnant - there are several sources for these in the Bay Area. Lisel has quilted additional outlines of the poppies in the background.

NOTE: A friend writes that it is indeed a Marimekko fabric from 1999 - it certain looks like one of their great prints. I rolled out "Summer Lily" one of Ruth McDowell's quilts and it has a white/gold/yellow colorway of this fabric on the back. http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2009/06/tcqc-summer-lily-contd-05-31-09.html

The mind ain't what it used to be! Del 10-26-09

The broadside panel is an unusual striped fabric and she has quilted a different motif in different sections. I think this quilting was done on a home machine - perhaps with a stitch control as the stitches are quite regular. You can see the top of an outlined poppy at the bottom of the image.

The light streak on the right is the background drape. I left it to show that there is no binding, but I don't know if she used a facing or did a pillow-case turn. It is a quilt that does not need a binding to define the edge.

PIQF #10 Barbara Barrick McKie 10-24-09

Barbara McKie keeps growing as an artist. These photos on fabric are greatly enhanced by her meticulous free-motion machine embroidery. What a great thing to do with pictures from an unforgettable tour of the Galapagos Islands.

Yes, I can see that little gleam in his left eye!

These Galapagos Gulls are much like the Bonaparte's Gull we are familiar with.

A moment that a nature photographer dreams of!

The colors she has used are very subtle, just as the colors are on the live animal.

I tried to crop this one to show the red binding. Interesting choice.

This gal does look as though she has a splitting headache, doesn't she?

PIQF #9 Multi-panel quilts 10-23-09

Diptych, Triptych, Sliced - all describe multi panel quilts. I few years ago I noticed how many of these quilts were showing up at the larger quilt shows I attended. I only photographed three this year at PIQF, although there were probably a few more. Contrary to general opinion I did not photograph each of the almost 1000 quilt at PIQF this year.

Carol has put a great deal of work into this piece and it is very striking.

Personally, I feel the bottom 'border' is a little heavy, but her quilt is the one that made it into the show which shows that the jury liked it. And also the judges - it did win a blue ribbon.
And when I have a list of the winners I will come back to this post and add it.

This makes me think of the "fern" ice that grows on windows in very cold weather.

I have posted an image of this slice quilt previously when it was introduced at the member's show at Back Porch Fabrics. I found it just as enchanting hanging at the PIQF special exhibit, "New Quilts From Northern California".

The black at the bottom is the backdrop showing since the bottoms of the quilts are staggered.

Here is another slice quilt of a scene that is known around the world. I think the quilt makers have done an excellent job of presenting the fanciful houses - the little details are wonderful.

It is amazing that the owners of these very old homes are willing to keep them up and in the style they were first built. It is striking to see them with the modern city rising in the background.

I took this detail of the two houses on the left end.

And Mary took this detail of the third from the left. The color is not correct, but I couldn't seem to adjust it to show the true color.

PIQF #8 Top winner - Innovative 10-22-09

This fascinating quilt won the blue ribbon in the Innovative Category.

This is one of those quilts that have to be seen "in-the-fabric" to truly see the depth and perspective. Surely she must have cut each fabric piece separately in order to keep the perspective correct.

"Hong Kong Taxi" Jean Renli Jurgenson 41.5"W x 60"L

First Place ribbon in Innovative Category

Here is a detail of the taxi and the contour quilting on the roadway.

It is always interesting to stand near a quilt to hear what people discuss with their friends. Most of the viewers were busy pointing out to their friends (or at least the person standing next to them) what wonderful details they saw in the quilt. But there is always someone who seems to be looking for something to criticise. One lady sort of snorted and said, "Not realistic, you would never see just one taxi on a street in Hong Kong." I almost laughed out loud. It reminded me of the woman at Visions one year who looked at Britt Friedland's fascinating "Winter Tree" (which I bought) and said, "It is only a photograph - that's cheating." Some people, eh?

PIQF #7 Aileyn Renli Ecob 09-21-09

Aileyn is an award winning quilter and this quilt won the best hand workmanship in the wall quilt category.

Her applique is so perfect one wonders how she does it - very carefully, I suppose.

The goldfinches are posed just as live goldfinches perch on plants to feed on bugs and seeds.

If you click on this to enlarge you will be able to read the poem that inspired the quilt.

This is another Aileyn quilt, every bit as wonderful as the thistle, but no ribbons are given by the Northern California group.

The colors are not true, I'm afraid. The blue-violet has more of a grey cast.

Again, if you click on the pictures you will be unable to see the applique stitches.

Pretty much the same detail area, but I wanted to be sure I had a good image! After the show is over there is no chance of going back to retake pictures.

Re-posted picture in 10-18-09 blog post

I don't know how long the picture of "A Fall New York Beauty" was missing. But I have now replaced it, so you can scroll down to the 10-18-09 post or pull it up with:

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/piqf-4-couple-contemporary-quilts.html

Please don't hesitate to let me know when a picture has disappeared into cyberspace. Del

# # #

PIQF #6 Complex piecing 10-20-09

Among the trends I noticed at PIQF was complex machine piecing such as that developed and taught by Ruth B. McDowell. I haven't a clue if any of these quilt makers took a class from Ruth, but looking at the piecing order and complexity makes me think they did. Ruth is acknowledged in only one of the labels. I don't know that any of these artists took a class from Ruth, I imagine other teachers have started teaching Ruth's process.

The hollyhocks in the center of this quilt are from a pattern in Ruth's book "Pieced Flowers" published by C&T Publishers.

The pattern has been flipped, greatly enlarged and the background surround done in small squares.

Continuations of the flowers are done in outline in the wide background surround.

This is Ruth's original sample done for the book. It now belongs to a friend.

This quilt is a tour de force in complex machine piecing. I can certainly believe the 400 hours!

The feeling of motion is dominant - free wheeling horses in a cloud of dust. The complementary color selection gives a festival feel.

If you click on the picture to enlarge you can trace the seaming from the horses into the background.

June used a great variety of old and new fabrics.

I like these 'shadow' horses in the back of the herd, they contribute a great deal of depth.

Wendy has used the complex piecing in her quilt dedicated to her son. What a loving sentiment.

The figures are balance and play nicely off of each other. The color says "hockey".

Again, if you click on this detail you can figure out the piecing lines that allow the shapes to form.