Sue Benner quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 11-12-23

Sue Benner has just returned home from teaching at Art Quilt  Tahoe and has been posting pictures  of the landscape and of her students work. I am in love with this photo of a sunset  over the lake.  It made me hang one of her quilts that is in  TCQC.  Such amazing photos and quilts she creates. 

I haven't  posted this quilt  since Sep 2019 and this is a "reprint" of that long ago post. 

"Marsh #22" quilt by Sue Benner 09-22-19

This is one of the newer quilts in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.  I bought it from Sue last year after she showed it unfinished to her class at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, AZ.   I thought I had already posted it here, but cannot find it anywhere. 

It is part of her series "Marsh" and joins "Marsh #11" which I added to the Collection in 2001.  Odd that I should have both #11 and #22.  Guess I'll have to watch for #33!

"Marsh #22" Sue Benner - Texas  2018  46"W x 15"L

Hand painted fabrics by the artist, fused, cotton batting, machine quilted. 

The color in these pictures is brighter than the actual quilt, but I can't seem to adjust it very much; it is more misty and mysterious.  I have enjoyed having it hanging on the wall in the family room where I see it off and on all day.  And I see different things in it at different times.  Sometimes it does indeed resemble marshes, but also cities on water, sunset or sunrise on the ocean, views in the mesas and valleys of the desert....  I find it very peaceful, very calming.  

Detail of left side.

Detail of right side.

Title and signature on back.  Always in gold paint. 

www.subenner.com

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12X12 quilts in Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 2 08-06-23

 More of the 12"X12" quilts. These are non-representational pieces that I liked.

"Checks and Bars Jumble"  Sue Benner - Texas - 2009

Scrap fabrics, fusing, machine quilted.  2010 SAQA Auction

http://suebenner.com

And the back is an old Marimekko fabric.

"Amidst the Fire"  K. Grace Howe - Huntersville, NC - 2009  12"W x 13"L

Hand-dyed cottons, fusing, beading, machine appliqued and pieced and machine quilted.

2010 SAQA Auction

The artist's statement was:  "There's a constant burning in my brain to produce, produce, produce. I can only do so much in the time given and yet, wonderfully, there is always another spark of creativity ready to be ignited. Much like an eternal flame, passion for the job never wanes."

Here are three in a series by Catherine Kleeman, they look great hung together.

"No Way Out" Catherine Kleeman - Maryland - 2011

"Round the Bend"  Catherine Kleeman - Maryland - 2014

"Scribble #18"   Catherine  Kleeman - Maryland - 2013

All are artist created cotton fabrics.  Raw-edge machine applique, Machine quilted. 

www.cathyquilts.com

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Sue Benner quilt in TCQC 04-09-23

This is a blog post from 05-11-17 when I only had two of her quilts.  The first purchase was in 2001 when I found "Marsh #11" at the Thirteen Moons Galllery in Santa Fe, NM.  I had not met Sue at that time, so I didn't know what a delightful, warm person she is and what a great teacher   But I couldn't leave Santa Fe without her quilt.  I have since added two more of her pieces which I will show some other time.  

 

"Marsh #11"  Sue Benner - Texas  2000  36"W x 18.5"L

Silk and cotton, fused, machine quilted. 

This shows her landscape technique, the class I took at Empty Spools last week. She has made many quilts similar to this, but usually much larger.  

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Sue Benner, artist, teacher, author 03-31-23

I have taken many classes from Sue Benner and always learn something new.  Even this third time in the landscape class was an eye opener.  She presents information in a way that I can understand and gives one-on-one suggestions for the work being done by each student.  She has made samples to help illustrate her techniques.  Here are the samples she had at the class and also some from the previous week when she taught her Flower class.  

For a  pathway through the trees she laid down the mountains, mid-level, and close  up of the path  before constructing the trees. 

See all the shadows done with small bits of varied colored fabrics. 

Working from the top (sky), middle (fields), and close up (grasses). 

Entire background is  built and very close up grasses added. 

Going crazy with strips and squares and very  thin grasses applied on top. 

Difference in values to show distance.  

 From the flower class................

The flowers are cut freehand in different sizes and applied to a background square.  These are then arranged in the different rows - 9-patch, 16-patch, etc. 

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Back 20 years 02-11-23

I started attending classes at Empty Spools Seminars at Asilomar (Pacific Grove, CA) in March 1991.  Except for the Covid years I have gone every year.   I find a favorite teacher and take all the different classes they offer and then repeat them.  I suppose my motivation is to go and enjoy the atmosphere and the people and to restore my creative spirit.  Not necessarily interested in learning a new technique, but most of the teachers I take always have something new to share.  

Sue Benner Landscape class March 2003 

This is a really terrible image, but it is the oldest one from Empty Spools that I have in my computer.  Sue Benner is center front and the classroom is the chapel, the very worst location for a class.  There I am seated, wearing a hat of course.  To my right is Corky Ledbetter who now lives in Savannah, GA, and doesn't come out these days.  Behind me with a maroon undershirt is Elizabeth Byrom who now lives full time in France.   The second lady behind Sue is Mary Leakey, long time friend who lives in San Juan Bautista, CA.  On the far left of the picture the second lady in is Judy House who died in 2005.  I have class lists for every class and I'm sure that some of these students have been in classes with me in the last twenty years.  Some years I took two sessions and once I did three (which is a whole different story).  These days I am not in good physical shape and can barely manage one session.  I am registered for Sue Benner's class in late March and am so looking forward to going; hope I can keep up. 

Such treasured memories over 32 years.  More to come, I hope. 

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A New Year - no resolutions!

I left resolutions behind many years ago.  I never kept them and it seems self defeating to beat myself up over it.  Now I just go day by day and do the best I can.  I can't even settle on a word for the year ahead as some people do.  I suppose two words would be okay - "Keep Going".  The last three years have aged me and I have some physical problems. But I try to keep walking, keep getting out, keep working at something.  I haven't been all that successful, but I keep moving ahead.  It is the best I can do right now.  

I had hoped to go to the Madeline Island workshops in Tucson again, but still not well enough to do it this year, maybe next.  I went in January 2018 for a 5-day Sue Benner landscape class.  It is a beautiful desert setting and the weather was perfect.  Of course I took a lot of pictures   And Sue  had us interpret a photo we had taken there to create a small quilt top.  

The Saguaro cactus are so amazing, no matter how many times I see them. 

This agave grows behind one of the residence buildings with a palo verde behind it.   Such an interesting palette. 

The picture I took is on the left with some additions at the top where the picture was cut off.  It is always a challenge to find good fabrics among the boxes we take along to the class.  Sometimes one must compromise.  I think the sky fabric is too strong, but that is what I had with me.  This remains in the "might complete it some day" pile, which is very, very tall!   

Hope I can go back one day, maybe next January?

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Empty Spools 2020 Continued

More troubles - with phone, with AOL, with sciatica, and KoKo has a lame front left leg!  He saw the vet yesterday morning and she thinks it is mild, perhaps a pulled muscle.  So, he is not allowed to run, jump, climb stairs, etc., and is taking Gabapentin with peanut butter.  Cheese only worked once!   He is much better already in just 34 hours.   As for my sciatica - it looks like I will have to do PTherapy again.  If I could only force myself to do it daily at home I'm sure it would be more effective.  

Here are pictures of some of the "big" projects done in Sue Benner's Abstraction class at Empty Spools.  No size or subject limits on these, but since our space was limited none were very large.  I have not worked on mine since I returned and Andrea has not worked on hers either.  I have done entirely too much sleeping this past week and a half, thus I barely keep up with KoKo and other necessities. 

Irma Lubb

Ann Moats

Jackie Seidell

Alison Lockwood

Annette Bracken

Ricki Selva

Judy Ousterhout

Del Thomas

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Empty Spools 2022 Continued 03-31-22

I have been so wiped out since returning from Empty Spools, mostly I have slept the days away.  In between naps I have gradually put some things away, edited my photos, taken care of KoKo, including two walks a day, and taken more naps.  I don't have Covid, so I guess it is just old age.  I haven't made it to the market, but will have to go tomorrow.  All I have left is some milk, some eggs (from my neighbor's chickens), and a few slices of bread.  Even the freezer is mostly empty!  

Sue Benner's class was very busy and she keeps the tempo up with assignments, slide shows, lectures and demos.  Our second assignment was to make six quilt "sandwiches" (backing, fusible, batting) either square or rectangular and I chose the 8" X 10" size.  Using the inspiration picture that we brought from home we were to make one realistic interpretation and five abstractions.  My inspiration was Angel's Trumpet Flowers and I found abstraction difficult. 

The original image is below my name, below that is a template I cut to use in some pieces.  The piece to the left is my realistic piece with yellow flowers. Below that is just a sort of outline in fabric, but there is something missing and I don't know what!  On top is one cut and fused with lace on the red backing - this will improve with quilting.  Below the lace one is a failure of three birds cut in the shape of the flowers which just doesn't work.  And, finally, on the far left is my REALLY abstract effort which everyone likes best!   The off kilter at lower left is the back of the sixth piece - I used this sale table banana fabric on the back of all the others.  

My tablemate, Andrea Bacal, brought a picture of a sort of garden gate with a wall, some potted plants, and an exit sign.  I think her abstractions are much more interesting.

Jackie Seidell sat behind me and started out with a picture taken in a fabric shop (India, maybe).  The photo is below her name and her realistic interpretation is to the right of her name.  At the bottom of the image are small pieces she made and rejected.  

Nancy Butterfield has her 1st project (12") on the left and her abstractions from a beach photo on the right.  

At the end of the class Irma Lubbe has all her work on her board. Lower right is the first 12" project, on the left the five 8"X10" abstractions with the small inspiration photo.  And her larger and final project on the top right.  

Colleen Babcock's 1st project on the right
is based on a picture of a bunch of people in round hats and a person who might be ill - I can't tell.  Her 2nd project on the left started with the image of the front of a train on a bridge.  

Elizabeth Littlefield brought a bright sunflower as her inspiration and did six abstractions using bright colors.  She also had a little sign posted on her board, "Keep it Simple".  Good reminder for this class.  

I hope I will have more energy and fewer naps tomorrow and will post more images from the class.  We went on to do a larger project, size and subject of our choice.  With the limited space in class my piece is only about 22".  

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At Empty Spools - Asilomar 03-23-22

Sorry I have not been able to blog.  Mostly I have just been so exhausted I go to sleep by 9:30pm, but I also had to figure out how to get online and reset my laptop because I used it at Fed Ex/Kinko's to transfer my class list and that seemed to have re-set everything!   As time goes by I seem to forget how to do much on the computer.   It is 10pm and although I had a nap today I need to get to sleep.  Here are some pictures from out classroom in Sue Benner's "Abstraction" class. 

Well, change direction!  Cannot access pictures I took today, but here are two from the Tuesday evening program when Velda Newman showed her latest quilt "Roses" with the aid of 7 or 8 of her students.  I am not sure about the dimensions, but something like 52" TALL and maybe 16 feet long?  Huge, as are most of her works.

Velda is retiring and won't be teaching at Empty Spools after this year. 

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Bindings 02-03-22

 I am working at binding some pieces made a long time ago.  This one is 5 1/2" X 9" and from a Sue Benner class on landscapes, maybe six years ago. 

 

The scene is from an island in Puget Sound, Washington.  So calm, showing Mt. Baker with a clear sky until a large black cloud rolls in.  I am not happy with the cloud, it looks a little like a submarine, but that is what I could find in the fabrics on hand.  I have tried to lighten it with some white pencil.

Anyway, the finish on the edge is what I think of as blended, overcast binding.  Using the widest zigzag on my machine and changing the thread color to match the color of the fabric.  It is a time consuming process with all the thread ends to bury.  But I do like the look.

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Books 12-21-21

What is Christmas without new books?  In Iceland they celebrate "Jolabokaflod" or "Christmas Book Flood",  the tradition of giving and unwrapping new books on Christmas Eve, cozying up with family, and reading into the night.  (Google)   Not something I have ever experienced, but it sounds wonderful! As a child I could always expect a book or two from my paternal grandmother Ella.  I have two new books this year.  One I bought for myself:

Sue Benner has posted her photographs from walks along White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.  Many of her followers have encouraged her to publish a book of these enchanting images and now she has done so.  It is very calming and inspiring and covers every season of the year.  I'm loving it and so is KoKo.

The other book came in the mail today, a gift from a San Diego friend.

It is about 500 pages and 9" X 11" and has the most fabulous photography I have seen in a long time.  Whereas Sue's book has great images of out-of-doors, this book has unbelievable images of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, along with some history, small essays about many plants, recipes, planting instructions, and, of course, seeds for sale.  Just look at this  picture of Chinese String Eggplant.  WOW!  I'd like to try it and I am not all that crazy about eggplant!

So, I have a lot of "eye candy" to cherish over the holidays and all days beyond. 

In 2004 I copied this flower image from the Internet and never knew what it was.  Now I know it is the flower of the Chinese Python Snake Bean plant.  The beans look like giant green beans and can grow 60 inches long!  And isn't the flower amazing, I wonder if it has a fragrance.  

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Sue Benner quilt in TCQC 07-26-21

This was the second of Sue Benner's quilts I added to the Collection and posted to this blog on Dec 27, 2010.  It was offered at an online auction by San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.  I enjoy the obvious spontaneity of the pieces, all fused - lapping, on top of, repeated, and quilted with a wonky grid.  I have cropped the image of the front so the corner tassels don't show.  

"Checks & Bars Jumble" Sue Benner 2009 11" x 11" Fused and machine quilted.

Various fabrics, commercial and hand-dyed/painted.

Sue is very inventive in her quilt making. I have taken her classes at Empty Spools and elsewhere and she does challenge her students. 

A solid back - Marimekko fabric with title and signature in gold. One of Sue's signature techniques is leaving the tails on the threads she uses to overcast the edges of her quilts. Whenever I hang one of her quilts I fear that some helpful quilter will whip out scissors from her purse and trim off those dangling threads.

www.suebenner.com

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