Quilt Festival - Long Beach 08-06-11

The one part of my brain that doesn't seem to have many black holes is that which stores information about quilts and their makers.  Of course, I can't remember the names of my dearest friends or what I had for breakfast six hours ago, but I can always seem to dredge up what I need to know about quilts - not necessarily instantly, but with a little rummaging around in those little grey cells.  This first quilt was shown this past weekend at Quilt Festival,  but I am also posting a quilt, which I remember well, by the same artist that was shown at Quilt Festival - Long Beach in 2008.  I was fascinated by that quilt as I am with this newer one and I knew instantly that they were made by the same person.  What is Maya's technique?  I can tell she doesn't start in the middle or on any of the sides and work her way outward or inward.  Does she cut all the pieces with "sawtooth" edges or just those that will lay on the top?  And how exactly does she cut them?  Scissors?  Rotary cutter?  Exacto blade?  ?? 

 

I couldn't find a website for Maya, but here is an article about her

http://columbusjcc.org/centerscene-weekly/2011_may5_no18/maya_chaimovich_quilts.php

Rich in texture and color, the impact from a distance is of a lovely painting.

Close views reveal patterned fabric and dense stitching.

Hundreds of fabrics, most of them recycled, create a colorful puzzle.

Several tassels are incorporated into the mix.  [sorry about the poor picture]

This quilt was part of a 2008 special exhibit about space and the sky. 

Bits and pieces of fabric, lace, ribbon, metallics ...whatever.  It all makes a rich tapestry of air and space.

Back to 2011.....

http://www.bluemoonriver.com/

36"W x 48"L   Susan has an awesome talent with a sewing machine and very creative ideas.

Such marvelous control to create these smooth, close-spaced rows of stitches....

..... that make the feathers look like real feathers. 

Paint and stitching combine for an elegant quilt.

http://www.deborahsstudio.com/

Deborah's distinctive details  help identify her quilts wherever they are hanging.  Notice the tiny seed stitching in the center and the row of little "trees" across the bottom  - hand stitching makes a statement.

http://www.sherrykleinman.com/

36"W x 48"L   I wish I could have taken a closeup of this quilt.  The little lines on the fabric are indeed, rows and rows of names.  They give the appearance of seersucker fabric, don't they.  It is a great quilt - a forever  treasure for Sherry's family.

Quilt Festival - Long Beach Traditional 08-05-11

Either there weren't that many traditional quilts shown or I missed them.  The first two quilts are from the special exhibit "In the American Tradition - 2010"

http://lbuske.50webs.com/

Be still my heart!  I do love blue/yellow quilts and this one is outstanding.  I don't understand her method, "...a template that makes 8 blocks at once.", but I am intrigued. 

The white-glove lady kindly held the quilt up so I could photograph the back - it is indeed a two-sided quilt.  The bottom of the quilt is vertical on the left side of the picture - you can just see the doily label on the top left.

I think the quilting should enhance the design of the quilt.  Sometimes that means following the seamlines and sometimes a more free flowing line is effective.  Here the quilting adds to the overall success of the quilt by contrasting with the symmetrical design of the piecing. 

And what a celebration of printed fabrics - a feast from Lynn's fabric library! 

The little tassels hang on the ends of the sun's rays.  Click on the full picture for a closeup. 

http://www.qtailoredquilts.com/

                                 63" Square    Sometimes I miss a picture and this is one of those times.  I took a picture of the label and a couple details, but I didn't take a picture of the entire quilt!  Usually someone stops to talk and I forget to turn back to take the picture, or someone is standing directly in front of the quilt and by the time they move I have forgotten what I was waiting for!   In this case, the quilt happens to be the one on the cover of the show catalog, so I took a picture of the cover and post it above.  Notice that this quilt has been sold - that is what the red dot means.  I was not the buyer!  

Timna has done a commendable job of selecting fabrics that go with the fabrics in the vintage blocks she has used.

Fussy cutting some of the circles is a nice touch.

The labels below go with three quilts in the picture below - left to right.

Quilt Festival - Long Beach 08-04-11

From Tactile Architecture - 2010
Another of the regular exhibits that originate at the Houston show and travel to the other venues.

 

www.kristinlaflamme.com

I always enjoy Kristin's quilts - houses with roots appeal to me.

Lots of hand stitching that can only be seen in closeup.

www.carolannwaugh.com

How interesting to see this quilt from Carol Ann Waugh since I just purchased one of her quilts while I was in Denver.  This is so very different than the work she is currently doing.  I like this quilt, especially the great blue wall, but I'm not sure the suburbs need urban living.  At least in SCalifornia.

 Do they allow  people to lay on the floor and take  pictures?  I tried it at the Monterey Aquarium under the sardine dome and they told me to get up and go away!

A great image - the distortion makes it even more interesting.

Great ribbon done in the style of Libby Lehman. 

 
www.kristinlaflamme.com

Another wonderful "rooted" house from Kristin.   The severe contrast between the light and dark makes it difficult to take a good photograph.

Again, lots of hand stitching and embellishment.

Below is the way the quilt was shown at the Festival.

http://www.janesquilts.com/    http://www.kristinlaflamme.com/   http://sandralauterbach.com

 
             35"W x 25"L                                               24"W x 32"L              

Jane Hamilton,  Kristin La Flamme, Sandra Lauterbach

http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/

Another pieced wonder from Ruth Powers.  Yes, it is pieced, not appliqued.  39.5"W x 46"L

http://www.kvelisturan.com/

A whole cloth quilt with a lot of texture.  Original color combination. 

www.embellishmentcafe.com/NEWwallgallery.htm

 

I'm always intrigued by water towers when I am on a road trip.  Some of them are decorated with designs that reflect something about the town - milk bottles, pumpkins, tomatoes, etc.  I have never seen any towers like these, but I think they are glorious.  Actually, Placentia has a water tower, I'll have to take a picture sometime.