Went to Quilts, Inc. show in Long Beach 08-29-22

The Quilt Festival was in Long Beach on August 4, 5, 6, for the first time since before the pandemic.   I wanted to go, but I just can't stand for very long (sciatica) and I don't have a lot of energy.  However, one of the special exhibits was Zena Thorpe and some of her quilts.  I have admired her work for many years at many different top notch shows and here was the chance to see her in person!  So, on Saturday (the last day) I drove to Long Beach in the afternoon thinking I could handle a couple hours.  No casual seating, but several staging areas for demos and talks with empty seats toward the back of the seating area - thank the goddess.  The exhibits were less than in the past and there were quite a few more antique quilts from various permanent collections, including that of Quilts, Inc.  There were other invitational exhibits but I only photographed a few.  Mostly I was up close and personal with Zena's wonderful hand appliqued and hand quilted works.  Amazing!  She was there and I followed as she spoke to a group of attendees about each quilt.  I said hello and told her I had admired her work for so many years.  She was gracious, but seemed a little tired.  I wasn't surprised after four days of being "ON" and talking to hundreds of people.  I was only there for a few hours and I wasn't on at all and I was exhausted by the time I arrived home again!  

I particularly wanted to see this quilt by Diane Hire that had been used on much of the advertising for the show, but even asking a number of workers I had a hard time finding it.  It was in the far corner facing a wall!  And was intended for attendees to take their pictures with it to show their friends that they had attended the show.  The professional pictures show it beautifully, but mine are not so successful.  A little washed out and I can't correct the color any more than this.

The surface of the quilt is not flat, but has "flanges" as some of the stripes.  They go the length of the quilt. 

On this picture I have marked two of the "flanges" between fuchsia lines, but can't figure out a way to make them show better.  Take my word for it!

Here is a close up.

My crazy computer won't let me post anymore pictures.  I'll try again tomorrow. 

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Pamela Allen quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 08-28-22

This quilt from Pamela Allen has graced my bathroom wall since the pandemic started in 2020.  It has so many small details that I can look at it every day, enjoying the little surprises she has worked into it.  Such an imagination she has and what a wonderful talent for designing and embellishing.   There are fifteen of her quilts in TCQC, from postcard size to several in the 40" to 50" range. 

 

The Haircut"  Pamela Allen - Ontario, Canada  2020  34.5"L X 28"W

Pieced, raw edge applique, turned applique, hand and machine quilting, embroidery, embellishments. 

Looking out the window at imaginative trees that are hand stitched.

Raggedy hair, hand stitched down, but still fluffy.  Pamela prints the eyes on fabric and sometimes uses different eyes like these.  A felt flower mouth!

Some of the quilting is by hand and some by machine.  The embellishments include these tiny clothespins with red beads, blue beads, garter belt clips, hair clips, tiny scissors, plastic curlers, tiny wooden spools, fishing spinners, and....

....this charming little hand (bone?  African?) holding another pair of scissors.  Again you can see the machine quilting and some of the raw edge applique with hand embroidered stitches.  

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