Quilt Festival - Long Beach 08-02-11

I don't know if there were more than the usual number of quilts depicting animals, or if I just noticed them more this year.  Here are some I think are outstanding.

Barbara McKie has developed her technique to amazing perfection.  There were quite a few of her works in this show and each is exquisitely thread painted.  Barbara does commissions and shows several of these special works on her website:  http://www.mckieart.com/ 

 

This is a photograph of Preston printed on fabric and thread painted using very fine threads.  33"W x 27.5"L

I hope this detail will show you some of the stitched lines.  Click to enlarge.

I suppose that "stitch painting" is the same as "thread painting".  Approximately 30" square.

http://www.fibreartnetwork.com/artists-gallery.php?artist=5

The right side of the quilt is actually squared up - the angle of my photo distorts it.  The group of sheep in the lower right corner are done with fusing - interesting effect of using various greys for these figures.

The rectangles in the background are fused. 

A disembodied wing with wonderful feathers drawn with the quilting lines.  Approx. 30" x 18"

 

This is a different sort of batik work that I am not familiar with.

Notice the little hand stitches in the eyes for the "glint".  Both hand and machine quilting was used.

http://www.goddu.com/carol.html

Another great owl quilt.  Hard for me to decide which owl to show as a detail.  All are amazing.

 

What a personality!  Click to enlarge.

Quilt Festival - Long Beach #7 07-27-10

I enjoyed the special exhibit "America Collects Quilts: Int'l Quilt Festival's Antique Quilts". There were 36 quilts, so it was hard to choose just one to post here. I have no idea why I chose this one, the colors?, the design?, the details? The quilting was not fine, in fact a little quirky.

"Four Block Rose and Coxcomb" Circa 1880 by an unknown maker. Hand pieced, appliqued and quilted. The color in the quilt is much more even than in the photo - those strategically placed spot lights are great for seeing the quilts, but not so great for photography.

Just think about it, she was undoubtedly working by candle light or kerosene lamps.

"Horned Puffins of the Pacific" Emilie M. Belak - Danville, Washington

Machine applique, pieced and quilted. Couching, painting, dyeing [also scrunching of fabric. Del] Inspired by the late Joan Colvin's painterly art quilts. "My favorite Province, British Columbia, has everything to please one's heart: oceans and mountains, fields and waves, beaches and snow avalanches, singing birds, lumbering grizzlies, and playful Orcas. Horned puffins, attractive and charming sea birds, lay a single egg in a deep crevice on cliff or hillside. A hinged bill enables these expert fishers to snap up fresh prey while keeping a firm grip on those already caught." Emilie

I chose this closeup because the fish made me laugh - I find it very witty with its glassy eye!